The Great Gathering
Excerpts from a chapter of Jake Colsen's work "The Great Gathering":
"Jesus saw the church as a reality, not an assignment for his followers to construct."
One way to construct the church? --"stay focused on him.'
"Where Jesus is given first place, the church simply emerges in wonderful ways. He will place you in the body exactly as he desires. And as those relationships grow, you may find yourself surrounded by a group of people who want to walk in more intentional community together. That's an amazing thing when it happens, but still you have to keep your focus on him. Even groups that start out centered on him are easily and quickly tempted to organize themselves to death. When Jesus ceases to be the object of our pursuit, our touch with his body will fade into emptiness."
"Real Community is not something we fabricate by any means. It is a gift God gives."
About the institution: "We are generous about it. We don't overly manipulate people, but nothing we do directly encourages people to live this kind of life. We talk about it, we want people to do it, but our efforts are geared to the growth and success of this institution. We 're not teaching them to depend on him in any practical way, but to find security in being part of what we do."
"Geese fly together not because they are obligated to do so, but because it lightens their load and lifts them closer to their goal. " "That's the gathering. It's not when you meet, where you meet, or how you meet in meetings, but that you are gathering your heart to him. If that's happening, you usually won't find yourself going it alone very long. You'll find others heading the same direction and by traveling together you'll be able to help one another along the way. Thar's why you only hurt yourself when you look for people who want to meet a certain way or think like you do about everything. Every person who crosses your path, be they believer or unbeliever, in an institution like this or outside of it, is a potential partner in this journey. By loving each of them to the degree that they may allow, you'll participate in his great gathering."
"This is his joy he draws you to, not some tiresome duty or empty promise."
posted by Karen @ 8:03 PM
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