What kind of church?

People ask me all the time, what kind of church is Common Table?  Same question, but always really different.  If I've learned anything at all I've learned that many questions like this are contextual ... What I mean is that every other person who asks is really seeking an answer within their particular framework, addressing their particular baggage or background.  For example, some are wondering, are you traditional or modern. for some it means denominational or independent,  for others it could be legalistic or grace centered, liberal or conservative.  All of them ask "where is your church located". I frequently am reluctant to answer what kind of church we are without having somewhat of an understanding of the story behind the question. Along the journey of developing a new faith community, I've learned more than ever before that "church" is a loaded word and that the question is almost never really the question. 

Most who inquire have some sort of experience or history, good and bad, with the idea of church... rarely has it been neutral.  If theirs was a good experience, rarely will they understand or be interested in our version, because we don't really resemble anyone's previous experience.  If theirs was a negative or damaging history, then just by using the terminology, they are turned away without ever witnessing how unlike their memories we are.  Until very recently, I've really just given up trying to explain "church" in general and Common Table specifically to anyone who asks because I find myself between a rock and a hard place and at this point in my life I can just simply choose not to be.  Honestly, in the two years that we've been gathering, standing in the midst of it, I'm pretty sure that I couldn't explain us, and the parts that I could no one would believe anyway.  It wasn't until these past two weeks, as I've been sorting through images of our history, while at the same time wrestling with Jesus' words "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" that I've been given some insight into who we've become.

We really always imagined that we could be a church in the city, that looked like the city, and that loved the city. I'll have to confess that I must have held on to some very different images of that reality because it's nothing like I had imagined.  I never imagined that, like many of our neighbors, Common Table would spend some time homeless.  I never imagined that, like many of our neighbors, one of our homes would be torn down much sooner than we had imagined.  I never imagined that, like some who have called Common Table home, we would spend time doing a church version of "couch surfing" and depending on hospitality in unexpected places.  I guess I envisioned something cool and cutting edge and we are just not that at all, probably more a reflection of my own reality than anything else.  There was a point, ... ok several points,  when I wondered what went wrong ... what did I miss ... and I've asked it out loud to the only one I've felt that I could blame... and all I've gotten is silence mixed with the unmistakable push to keep moving forward.  But I've come to understand that what we so often do is mistake God's silence for his absence. He may in fact be silent, but His activity is most certainly not absent.

We began this Fall with an in depth journey into Jesus words in the beatitudes ... no grand wisdom on my part, it just felt right.  I decided to recognize a fairly unusual birthday to celebrate ... a 2nd one ... no grand wisdom, it just felt right.  Putting together a video recalling the journey of Common Table just felt right.  And through this, I heard the whisper ... this is who you are.  I led you to this part of the city simply to establish a community that was centered around the common table of Jesus.  That's all.  It's no deeper than that.  Be centered around the  Jesus who claimed the beatitudes as the new world order ... all of those "blessed are's" lived out, wrestled with, failed at, only to be wrestled with again, beatitudes. 

Blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are those who mourn, blessed are the meek, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, blessed are the merciful, blessed are the peacemakers ... It's still not what I imagined, but I know now that it's what He did... And most days, that's really all that I need.  What kind of church is Common Table?  We are this kind of church:

Blessed are the merciful

So in the midst of this, in the middle of this manifesto of "set apart" living … Jesus says these words

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy"

Justice is getting what you deserve. We are all too familiar with justice … we learn it from a young age, "it's not FAIR"

Mercy is receiving something that you do not deserve.  (it almost goes against our grain … and it's rarely our first response) but it feels so much different when we do respond that way … almost otherworldly , perhaps because it literally is otherworldly

In other words, Jesus is claiming that "I am on your side, I am with you when you grant to those what they don't deserve (not an eye for an eye) because then you too will be given what you don't deserve … forgiveness, grace, redemption

It's the flashing of lights, being pulled over when you knew you were speeding, and then being let off with only a warning … that's mercy, getting what you don't deserve

It's acceptance, it is a hand up to those who are living their own consequences, it is forgiveness

It is also allowing others (those you are not personally involved with) mercy …

How you extend mercy

How you allow mercy to be extended

Gospel example:

Matthew 9:

9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’[a] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

In other words … be people of mercy (love and grace) not people of the law (judgement and separation)

"INVITING the marginalized to the table not only made them equals; it made Jesus their "friend." … The Pharisees viewed this behavior as subversive to their conviction of what Israel needed for true social ordering; Jesus saw it as a manifestation of a new way of holiness based on mercy."

Michael H. Crosby, Spirituality of the Beatitudes

Living it out in Seattle

The challenge is not to "be part of Common Table" simply because we tend to seek out ways to extend mercy … the challenge is to become a "merciful person" yourself

How?

The good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)… (read …. "actually the parable of the "merciful Samaritan")

Mercy:

• Feels
• Acts
• Sacrifices

it's rarely our first response) but it feels so much different when we do respond that way … almost otherworldly,

Perhaps because it is, and something deep within us knows this to be true, and we feel deep within us the deepest extension of mercy granted to us

Kingdom practice -  Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy

Prayers of mercy – As you reflect on mercy this week, who comes to mind as someone who has wounded you? As they come up, practice this prayer.

        Place your hands open in front of your chest and pour out your heart to God. Imagine you are spilling out the contents of your heart into your hands and offering it to God. Be honest about what bothers you about this person. How you have been hurt by him or her withholding mercy?

        Keeping your hands in front of you, humbly put yourself in the other’s place. How might he or she be bothered by you? Is there some way you have failed to extend mercy?

        Now consider with God what needs to change within you to be able to show mercy to this person. What are some specific actions you can take to extend mercy?

        Finally, explore with God what would need to change within you to be able to receive mercy from this person. He or she may not be ready to extend mercy, but what would you need to do to be ready?

Eyes of mercy – Choose to be intentional about seeing the image of God in others this week. C.S. Lewis said “you have never talked to a mere mortal.” How can you recognize the presence of God in everyone you interact with this week in your car, at the store, in the office, and in your home? What would it look like for you to see people with whom you disagree with eyes of mercy?

Words of mercy – How can you show mercy and compassion in your speech this week? Make a commitment to avoid all critical speech. Choose to hold your tongue when you are tempted to criticize someone, speak ill of someone behind their back, post a negative comment on social media, and engage in negative self-talk. In the place of critical speech, intentionally speak words of encouragement and affirmation. Extra credit if you speak words of affirmation directly to the people you would normally criticize.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness … for they will be filled

Substitute the word "righteousness" for just about anything else … is the answer (they will be filled) the same?

Power / fame / influence / wealth / health

Answer this question:

I am hungry and thirsty for a world where ____________

Righteousness defined -  about 1200 times in scripture (restorative justice) … 

Righteousness is when God restores everything that was shattered when sin entered the world and pieces it back together

• Sin destroyed not only how we relate to God … but also each other and creation itself … it's relational

• Relational breakdown is at the root of every symptom of injustice that we see around us … it's our reality, but the restoration has been underway ever since Jesus appearance

It is a struggle though … between our own version and the righteousness of God

Your own …

"within the character of (what you claim) and where it matches what you do

If you identify as a follower of Jesus … righteousness is what you claim (belief, internal) vs what you do (actions, external)

Matthew 6:1-18

Read this Lectio style

• 1st reading … listen for a word or phrase that stands out to you
• 2nd reading … what is it about that word or phrase that is calling to you
• 3rd reading … what is it calling you to do

Bringing in harmony what we claim with what we do: (restoration/redemption)

Blessed (it is well with) those who hunger and thirst for

Righteousness of God

"within the character of God and where it matches what he has done (and is doing in the person of Jesus)"

Only in the pursuit of that will we be filled … not in our own self centered pursuits

In the "public sector"

 examples of social injustice and brokenness, how do we step into those? … with everyday practices?

Racial brokenness  … who do we know, whose stories are we listening to?

Economic … Where/how do we shop?  What do we buy, where does it come from?

Environmental … how do we care for, (clean water)

Remember: "righteousness" is a relational word … and it describes the relationship between He and his creation.  It is a broken relationship that he is seeking to redeem … and his method of redemption flows through us … not in heroic feats necessarily, but also in everyday practices:

Obstacles to the pursuit of righteousness:

We can always find someone else (the faceless "they") to blame

We tend to believe the lie "what can I do, I am only _____________ or what can we (Common Table) do, we are only"

Our mission is to join in his redemptive and restorative plan … the righteousness of God

 

Kingdom Practices

    1. Holding brokenness before God every day this week, will you join us in holding injustice before God? You may choose to hold the specific brokenness you identified before God each day, or perhaps as you see injustice around you, you will hold it before God as you move about your day. Pray for justice, and listen to God. Is he inviting you to join him in any way?  Find those organizations in your neighborhood or in your social media feed … pray for their efforts

    2.   I am hungry for a world… so I will… How can you join God in bringing righteousness to the relationships around you in tangible ways this week? Where do you see brokenness and how can you begin to bring or influence healing?

    3. Connect with an organization committed to bringing justice. There are organizations all over Seattle making a difference in the areas of our hunger and thirst for righteousness. Spend some time researching these organizations and find a way to join them this week.

Blessed are the meek

We spent this past Sunday digging in to Jesus' words "Blessed (it is well with) are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth"

In doing so we first looked at another form of teaching this principle ... found in a parable

Read this Lectio style

• 1st reading … listen for a word or phrase that stands out to you
• 2nd reading … what is it about that word or phrase that is calling to you
• 3rd reading … what is it calling you to do

Luke 18:9-14

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

After meditating on this parable and how it illustrates the beatitude, we then looked at Jesus living out the concept in John chapter 13:

 

2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not everyone was clean.

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Blessed are the meek …

We have the impression that it's you against me, and I'm either better than you or you are better than me … we are surrounded by it, it forms our political interactions, it forms our relational interactions, it separates us and divides even the Christian community.  May we be a people who rejoice in others and celebrate them rather than find fault … may we seek opportunities to serve and not to conquer … as 

(Bow with hand on heart)   We pray to the Lord, Lead us in the way of humility

This led us into an invitation to join around the table of communion where we lit a candle of someone who God had brought to our minds that we might seek ways to serve in the coming days.

 

Blessed are the poor in spirit

Last night we walked through the first beatitude ... "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven".  Our intent within this series is to examine a teaching of Jesus and then to search the gospels for the practical ways in which he lived them out.  This will lead us into some practical ways that we can live out the counter cultural message in our own lives.


"Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven"

• the example that we looked at can be found in Jesus encounter with the individual known only as the "rich young ruler" found in Mark 10
• ¹⁷ As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
  ¹⁸ “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’^[d]”
  ²⁰ “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
  ²¹ Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
  ²² At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
  ²³ Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
  
  As you read this ... consider a few things:
  
  1. What was his (the young mans) image of obtaining eternal life?
  2. In the end, where did he place his trust? 
• Henri Nouwen identified 3 lies that we listen to in determining our worth
• I am what I have
• I am what I do
• I am who others say that I am

Reflect on a fear that you have based around one of these lies ... how does it control you?  How tightly do you hold on to it?  In our reflection time we took a moment to meditate on what it feels to live with clenched fists and how Jesus calls us to live with hands held open.  We are called to release the lie that we cling so tightly to out of our insecurities and to trust that only He is enough.

• What was the lie that the young ruler could not unclench his fists from?
• What is yours?
• We finished our time with eyes closed, hands open, and praying for Jesus to "lead us in the way of trust"

How do you know that you're following?

In Mark chapter 1 we see another version of last weeks account in Luke and we can add some practical identifying characteristics to a "follower" of Jesus.  In other words, these are the "lived out" qualities of the life of a follower.

16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.

19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

From this passage (and other supporting teachings, we concluded that:

1. Following begins by making an informed decision to accept Jesus as Lord

 At first glance, this sounds very disturbing--like Jesus walked up to total strangers and mesmerized them and/or they were gullible cult candidates. But this was not their initial encounter with Jesus, but rather an important juncture in their relationships with him that had been developing for some time

For about a year, they developed a relationship with Jesus while still working at their jobs. (NOTE: Many young Jewish men did this with rabbis of that time.) They watched him turn water into wine, clear the Temple, converse with Nicodemus, reach out to the Samaritan woman, etc. Sometime during this period, they each entrusted themselves to him as the Messiah.

2. Following demands living in vital community with other followers.

    There are a host of metaphors in the New Testament to emphasize this feature of discipleship. We are the family of God, brothers and sisters who have the same Father and Teacher. We are the Temple of God--each of us living stones indwelt by God’s Spirit, but being built together by him into a living building that manifests his presence. We are the Body of Christ--each of us like different members of our physical bodies, but interdependent upon one another as dependent on Jesus as the Head. 

    The bottom line is this. When you respond to Jesus’ call to be his disciple, he calls you into real community with other Christians. There are no exceptions to this rule. It is not possible for you to develop as a healthy and productive disciple of Jesus with only minimal  interaction with other followers. To say “I want to follow Jesus, but I can do this alone/with my spouse” is simply wrong. A huge amount of Jesus’ personal guidance, correction, encouragement, and character development is designed to come to you through the network of close Christian friendships he calls you to form.

3. Following leads to embracing Jesus’ call to influence others for his kingdom.

Jesus called his disciples into community with one another, but he also called them to influence others for him (re-read Mk. 1:17). The phrase “fish for people” does not mean that he would teach them how to manipulate people, or to treat them as sub-human objects, etc. It means that he would teach them how to what he was doing--reaching out beyond himself to gather more people into God’s kingdom, to build them up in God’s kingdom.

    Jesus called them to himself to be with him together--but he also sent them out to tell others (Mk. 3:14). He called them into community to be him and with one another. But always his eye was on those outside

4. Following results in allowing Jesus to continually change your life.

 Responding to Jesus’ call had immediate practical implications for these four men. In their case, it meant walking away from their vocations so Jesus could train them full-time. It also meant a change in family relationships. And this was only the first of many times that Jesus “rocked their worlds.” For the next three years, he introduced all kinds of changes into their lives--geographical mobility, multi-ethnic exposure, conflict with the religious authorities, ministry situations way beyond their human abilities, Following was always strictly voluntary, but Jesus never apologized for the challenges and changes.

 

What does a follower of Jesus really look like? - August 7

This past Sunday we began a journey of discovery to answer the question "What does a follower of Jesus really look like?".  Back in the earliest days of Common Table we centered ourselves on Jesus call in Matthew 28 to "go and make disciples".  He didn't call us to make Christians or church goers or nice people.  He didn't call us to humanitarianism or socialism or any other -ism in particular.  He called us to make disciples ... otherwise known in our terminology as followers.  Now Webster defines a disciple as literally "someone who accepts and helps to spread the teachings of an individual" ... in our case that person is Jesus.  Notice that this implies not just an acceptance of Jesus, most do not struggle there.  The overlooked implication is that a true follower helps "spread the teachings of that individual (Jesus).  This is admittedly where the majority of us fall short.  
It is my belief that we struggle with what a follower looks like (and does) because we are intimidated by the word "disciple".  It seems to be one of those deep, complex, never able to attain, bible concepts reserved for the saints of old.  So we are going to spend some time over the next several weeks taking a look at just what those first "disciples" really looked like ... at what it really looked like to "walk in the dust of the Rabbi" as the ancient Hebrews referred to the process of becoming a disciple (follower).
This past Sunday all began with an examination of the early calling of Simon (Peter), James and John into a life of following.  You can read about it in Luke 5:1-11.
Here are some things we discovered there:
 

Characteristics of a "Jesus follower"

1. (vs 2) Regular people leading regular lives (fishermen, tax collectors, activists, ___________, __________, _________)
2. (vs 5) Regular people leading regular lives with regular doubts
3. (vs 5) Regular people leading regular lives with regular doubts making irregular choices

4. (vs 8) Regular people leading regular lives with regular doubts making irregular choices having an irregular awareness of their need
5. (vs 11) Regular people leading regular lives with regular doubts making irregular choices having an irregular awareness of their need while pursuing an irregular path