The Jesus Underground

Jason and Chris had two great posts today:

This Hurts

Church, Money, and the Future

One of the questions that I think needs to be raised in our church culture is not "Are we being successful?" but rather, "Is what we are doing sustainable?" What I mean by sustainable is not if we can advance our ideas about church so that we are influential to the next generation. Sustainable means that we can continue on the path God has for us without having to rely on big organization, huge amounts of funding, or keeping up with the latest church trends. It means that we work without a lot of visibility, but will be able to minister right where people are hurting and in need of the good news of God's kingdom. This is a Jesus-led underground movement.

What we can give away to other churches is our experience - not a step-by-step plan to being a successful church - but rather an extended hand and a listening ear. We can say to them, "We'll walk with you as you step out into the unknown, where the Holy Spirit is your guide and you might have more questions than answers." Believe me, there are not many people out there who are willing to say that. We have that opportunity.