A New Alternative
While in Peru, I had this thought regarding our faith community:
"What if we thought of ourselves less as an alternative to church and more as an alternative church?"
Do you see the distinction? It may appear subtle at first, but I think it potentially could mean a significant shift to our ethos. More on this later.
"What if we thought of ourselves less as an alternative to church and more as an alternative church?"
Do you see the distinction? It may appear subtle at first, but I think it potentially could mean a significant shift to our ethos. More on this later.
posted by Mike Bishop at 8:20 AM
2 Comments:
mike, i think the subtlety makes all the difference for some. this is exactly where i have seen such mis-communication and cross-talk going on between people.
one says: "our gathering/group is an alternative to church"
other says: "What the &*^%? Jesus started church, it was His idea, what do you mean alternative to church?"
the subtle wording has great meaning. saying "alternative church", is a tremendous difference for some, because of the way we bound-and-frame things, alternative church means still doing church just different, rather than the previous - "alternative to church", which the emphasis most people hear is on "NOT doing church".
now, the issue with saying "alternative church" is not without its own complexities. because i have seen crest-falen and frustrated leaders seeking to communicate that and other blow them off, demeaning their "ethos" and "essence" as superficially different styles or methods, etc.
so, thinking about, i am very interested to hear you more on this, and read what you think the distinctions and/or subtleties might be in this...and how it all makes a difference, especially for you, but perhaps for others.
cool to read about peru...peace
good stuff. I don't like the language, "alternative TO church." We shouldn't abandon the call of the church but we should rethink it. "Alterntive church" makes more sense to me.
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