Why we do what we do…
September 23, 2008
At vintage we often ask the questions “Why do we do this?” and “why don’t we do that?”. Our goal is to follow Jesus and his teachings so that they affect our every day lives. After 2000 years there are many things we have learnt, but there are also many things we have to unlearn. Indeed- most reasoning for not taking up the Christian life has more to do with the spoilt 2000 years than Jesus’ original words.
Our desire is to strip away all that is unnecessary.
Our desire is to throw off the things that hinder.
So for a moment I will ask you to dream with me of a gathering of people centered around the teachings of Jesus. Good news that has not been overtaken by aspirational ideas, but aligned with serving our neighbours and the poor.
I ask that you dream of a spirituality which is not dependent upon one weekly meeting, but upon the people of the church meeting together in clusters throughout the city. Where it’s okay to admit you’ve had a crappy day. Where we stop relying on a weekly meeting for top-me-up, but instead seek Christ to build and disciple us through each other- where the priesthood of all believers is practised and not just preached.
… Imagine a faith where we are able to call the homeless our friends. Instead of soup we give them dignity and identity. Instead of gold… hope.
So this is what we do:
We look at the Bible and we look at our lives, and we look at the way we ‘do church’ and we ask “does this add up?” Does my life relate to the teachings of Jesus. A way of life that was so dangerous he had to be put to death?
We call ourselves ‘a community’ instead of ‘a church’, primarily because there is only one church. In fact- if we’re feeling super-spiritual we might even get up early on a Sunday morning and visit another congregation. Secondly, because not all who come to our gatherings are believers.
We ask questions when we do not understand/disagree, because we learn together. Although there is often one main speaker/discussion leader we believe the Holy Spirit is in all believers, and to paraphrase C.S.Lewis we all have our own little piece of God that nobody else has. When those who are not yet believers talk we are still able to listen in to the quiet voice of God, because we do not know it all. Doesn’t it get tiresome when someone is trying to answer your question before you’ve even finished.
We don’t always sing songs, because singing isn’t the only way humans express themselves. Our gatherings can contain poetry, art, spoken word, scripture reading.
We rarely take an offering, because we try and have minimal costs. We encourage all members to give to local charities or grab a tea with someone who is homeless.
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It blesses me to go back to the basics of our belief. The more we live this way the deeper we’ve felt in God and so have those around us. I’m excited and confident to be a part of the church in Wolverhampton, praying the words outlined above are realized with clarity- not so that we broaden the intellectual or even revel in the joy of the new or the old- but so we may love deeply and in-love with him and one another find and seek our father’s presence.
Ellis came to our bible college last week to talk about ‘Vintage’. Having listened to Ellis, and read some of the website, I just want to say what a brilliantly simple and courageus approach. I get fed up of ‘traditional church’, but I love our people. I really like the authenticity of what you appear to be doing. Bless you loads!