A new kind of people

So frustrated, disoriented and very confused my wife and I took the plunge. We left the church we had been a part of for years. We also in a sense left the movement we had been a part of for a long time. It was really hard. Being so familiar with stuff and then left without a lot of those familiarities was more painful than we thought it would be. We didn't realize at that moment how certain practices and values had deeply impacted our lives. In many ways we had become slaves. We had been somehow conditioned to not ask questions and never question the status quo. Just go along with the flow. This became more evident when we started to hang out with some of our friends who had also left the church. There was another rhythm to what they were doing. Different seasons. There was also an encouragement almost a gentle pressure to questions things. It was absolutely fine to not agree with each other. As long as we were respectful and remained relationship conscious. Now this group of people was in no way perfect or had it all together. We had our share of relationship issues and fights that didn't end up well but at the core there were friendships that remind and relationships that were starting to form something quite beautiful.
We started to question the notion that the structure we were so used to; meet on Sunday Morning, maintain a very specific rhythm during that gathering at all cost, worship is to be music mainly, teaching is to be done in a very traditional "speaker up towards the front, lecturing" kind of style. This structure did no longer serve us. We had become slaves in serving it. So what grew out of that was a different kind of structure, more flexible, more fluid, more in tune to something we had grown really fond of; the freedom to tend to our personal, ordinary lives as a community of believers and as individuals.
The structure of our gatherings, what we do and how we do it, and when we do it, can be bent and shaped at the need of people, friends and strangers. Slowly there was a Hermeneutics of surprise and interruption being developed. Not only did we appreciate the freedom and the hospitality of such a structure but we also noticed what a wonderful context for spiritual transformation it was. If we are to become a people of hospitality; then what are the boundaries that governs that? What price are we willing to pay for hospitality? Give up the verbal teaching for the service of others? Not meet at all for the service of others?
If we are to become a people of mercy; then what price does that come at? Is it really necesarry for Sunday morning to become the container for all that we do, with an additional Wednesday night Bible study? Is there another way of doing things?
No it may seem like structure has taken a back seat to things in our midst but that is not the case. It is very important. It is important enough that we decide to question and take inventory of it to see if it is serving us or if we are serving it.
We try to set a good rhythm for things, we try to discern what God is doing around us , through us and among us. We also look for, expect and long for times when it seem good to the Holy Spirit and us for an interruption. We have also learned that it is right and appropriate to not overwhelm people with teaching. Most of us are over-taught and under-experienced, meaning we have heard so much teaching but given little space and resources to actually experience the change that the teaching could bring. So there is a new appreciation of time among us. Knowing that God is doing good things among us we are fine with letting things take time.
We have become a people that is learning to wait.
We have become a people who realizes that good teaching leaves room for practice and reflection.
We have become a people that is growing in the knowledge and appreciation of the spiritual formation that comes from living life, tending and nurturing the ordinary things of life.

Tomorrow I'll try to continue with this but go a little in to more detail