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.