Well, I just spent a weekend in Portland. I think Portland can teach the church in CA many things – the most important being embracing creativity.
The first thing you learn about God, according to Genesis, is that God is creative. He created everything, called it good, and everything was different.
Why is it then that we keep creating churches that look like churches someone else already created? We have the same general plan in mind – senior pastor, youth pastor, worship leader, building, programs for everyone… now these things are in themselves good (as God declared them so), but can’t we do something different here? And, I would submit that doing something different is precisely what may save us and bring a holistic health back into the church.
On the streets in Portland I saw the Waldo from Where’s Waldo, pirates, every other person had colored hair, and Portland is the land of pubs and coffee shops. So, the culture itself is creative.
I went to two gatherings on Sunday – one called Evergreen and the other Home PDX. At Evergreen I experienced an overall young church meeting at a restaurant/pub type place. The experience was conversational and “heady” around the idea of the judgment of God. At Home PDX I experienced a meal sharing with friends without homes, with all various ages and friends from all over. The band Blessing Tree (you can find them on Facebook and they are coming through CA) played dreamy like songs of God, and Jessica made the experience deep and fun by raffling of things to friends who bid large imaginary sums of money. I got to hang out with Deb and Ken Loyd who are magical and colorful.
These are but two churches sliced out of the creative Portland pie – I could spend weeks there treating myself to new things.
Now, it is our turn. Let’s do it – let’s create gatherings holistic with new friends. If we go in with love, we cannot fail. This has been my experience with creating community at Pershing Park and at the Village, and as spin outs like Holy Chaos come out of the mix. What it takes most is relational energy – the gravity of love holds everything together.
Once you become friends with a given people of a culture – you cannot fail. The model may not look much like church we know, but I would submit that success is much sweeter and deeper, and that everyone can do it, you do not have to have a seminary degree. The degree may help, but it is not necessary. I believe this was the loving and strategic thrive of Jesus – who by calling women and men to be his followers, believes they can do wonderful things.
On the Horizon – a new gathering on Sundays at State at a local restaurant/bar – God just can’t stop being creative and it is the pulse I respond to the most.
Love to you all!