iChurch?

George Barna in his book Revolution predicts that by 2025 "the majority of US Christians will gravitate out of the local church entirely, and two-thirds will find their spiritual nurture equally in other options.." These will combine together to create "the personal church of the individual."
Our culture's value on human autonomy can be traced back to the Enlightenment which placed humanity as the standard for or the center of all things. Unfortunately, this focus on the individual can shape the way we read Scripture. Take for example the word "you" as it appears in Scripture. We usually read that word "you" as meaning us, ourselves, our person. Yet the word "you" is usually plural, so as to not mean a single individual, but the community of the faithful (even when it is singular). Take for example Jeremiah 29:11 that is often quoted. Try and read it again through the lens that the meaning is all of Israel and not simply an individual. 
Today's Reading: Acts 2:41-47. This time notice the repetition of the word "together."
Questions:
How biblical is this notion of church that begins with our interest and needs?
How might the rise of autonomy work to undermined the authority of the church in our lives?
How might the sheer number of Protestant denominations show the effects of individualism? Is this a positive or negative for unity within the Kingdom of God?
If a friend asked you why they should join a church how would you answer?

iReligion?

Traditional religion seems more and more replaced by iReligion - a religion that begins with our individual experience, our reason, and our resources. Do you see this as a good thing or a bad thing? This tendency to rely on self and internet resources and other professional services has led some to predict the demise of the church in America. In the current book I am reading the author asks, "Does the future have a church?"
Today's reading: Acts 2:41-47
Some of the conclusions I draw from this passage is how important the community of believers were to the early church. They learned from those who passed down knowledge and experience (apostle's teaching and fellowship). They broke bread together which was not simply an act of remembrance but formed their identity together and helped them to be accountability to one another (see 1 Corinthians). As well they were extremely generous toward one another which helped them to do so for others not yet in the community (rest of Acts). Notice also in this passage the emphasis on togetherness.
Questions:
How does the picture of the early church challenge how we do church and religion today?
How would you answer the question about the future of the church?
What are other observations you draw from this passage that speaks to today?

Ecclesiology - Part I

Due to popular demand (or a few nice people's request) my blog with continue. While before it was mainly a daily devotional, now the blog will included devotional elements as well as random wonderings. No doubt my way of questioning will continue and I invite you to see these questions not as rhetorical, but as conversation starters. Feel free to post your opinions and maybe we'll grow and discover where God is moving together.
Today's question comes from what is a growing interest of mine: ecclesiology or what we think about the church. Because we live in such an individualistic and anti-authoritative culture and with the rise of resources on the internet the church's authority and reach is increasing marginalized. My question for you is where does the church rank for you? Is it vitally important to your relationship with God? Is it important only so far as it was established by Christ but has become corrupted by layers and layers of tradition? For many more today, the church is increasingly seen as one resources among many others (google, wikipedia, spirituality fairs, self-help books, etc.) or regulated to the place of archaic and antiquated.
Today's reading: Matthew 16:13-19
What is Christ's Church build on?
What is the connection for you between individual faith and the church?

Lent Day 40 - Mark 16

Easter and fear? The women go to the tomb, not in hopes of resurrection, but to complete the burial process properly. Women were not allowed to be witnesses in court. Yet women are there at Jesus' birth, death, and resurrection. Instead of finding the tomb as expected they encounter an angel who proclaims: "Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him.   "But go, tell His disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.'"

Scholars continue to debate where the original ending to Mark's Gospel should be. Did Mark really want his Gospel to end on the note of fear (and in the Greek it ends with a preposition)? Was there a longer ending that we're missing? Scholars are agreed that the longer and shorter ending to the book is not original to Mark. Later scribes who knew the resurrection accounts from other Gospels felt compelled to tell us the rest of the story.

However, there are some arguments for this being the original ending to Mark (and it is all we have to go on really). Fear may not be theme most preached on this Easter morning, but fear is a logical response to the events of Easter morning. As we've all heard, there are two certainties to life - death and taxes. The frightful events of Easter morning lead the women to fear because if Jesus has in fact been resurrected, what in the world might that mean? When we feel like we are certain of something, when we feel like it is solid rock beneath our feet and that certainty, that foundation is ripped from under us, isn't fear then the natural response? Perhaps we've become too accustomed to the Good News of Easter. Perhaps fear is one of a number of proper Easter response s- God has raised Jesus from the tomb! Jesus has conquered! With God, all things are possible!

Questions:

What do you make of Mark's use of women?

What emotions do you feel this morning?

Why does the Easter story give us such hope for today and for the future?

How might fear lead to a deeper understanding of the resurrection?

How does the notion of discipleship change by following a risen Savior?

If you had to explain to a friend why you believed in the resurrection, how would you respond? How would you respond if you had to explain why the resurrection is the source of Christian hope, what would you say?

Lent Day 39 - Mark 15 Good Friday (Special Edition)

King of the Jews? Pilate, a historically violent figure, is amazed by this silent King of the Jews. When Pilate tries to release Jesus, the crowds beg for Barabbas. In Aramaic Barabbas means - Son of the Father. In Matthew's Gospel, he is identified as Jesus Barabbas. Which Son of the Father does the crowd want? The violent, murderer, insurrectionist leading Jesus Barabbas or Jesus, King of the Jews who rides into Jerusalem humbly on a donkey, who says He can tear down the glorious Temple but will build it up in three days, who heals and teaches forgiveness? Which of these figures is more likely to lead to peace? The religious leaders stir up the crowd against Jesus and Pilate identifies the reason, jealousy (v. 10).

Jesus is condemned to crucifixion, beaten, and mocked. He is mocked by all people, the soldiers, the crowds, and religious leaders all get in the act. All segments of the population both of high status and of none; both spheres of rule, political and religious are all guilty. Jesus quotes the opening line from Psalm 22 which describes the anguish of crucifixion prophetically. Yet it ends with the theme of hope and trust in God's vindication. Even in feeling abandonment, Jesus trust in God's victory.

When Jesus breathed His last, the Temple curtain was torn from top to bottom. Being 40 feet high, this was a sign God wasn't absent from the events of the day. God was working to defeat that which has separated people from God. It was not a political oppression that was the real enemy, but a spiritual oppressor - sin. Satan, also the enemy, no doubt was thinking he too had won. Satan had defeated God's perfect Son. (But as the poem goes - It's Friday but Sunday's Comin'!)

Mark observes a Roman centurion who saw in the way Jesus died, as evidence that He was God's Son. Ironic that religious leaders mock, the disciples were fleeing in fear, yet it is a Gentile soldier who doubtlessly had seen his share of crucifixions sees God at work through Jesus' death.

There are a few women followers of Jesus who watch from a distance (where are the men?). As well a noble man named Joseph of Arimathea secured Jesus' body and lied it in a tomb. No doubt time was of the essence as the Sabbath was beginning so proper burial procedures would have to wait. The stone was rolled in front of the tomb, but this isn't the end of the story because although it is Friday, Sunday's Comin'! 

Questions:

What does Jesus Barabbas, Pilate, the death of Jesus on a Roman cross, and the charge of blasphemy from the religious leaders tell us about the scope of Jesus' death?

How was Jesus' death a ransom (10:45)? Who did Jesus ransom us from? What was the cost of the ransom? What does it mean to be ransomed? How does it feel that you have been ransomed?

What might it say that a Roman soldier can believe in the God of Israel?

How would you explain to a friend who asked what difference Jesus' death has made in your life?

Lent Day 38 - Mark 14:42-72

Betrayer, Condemners, escapers, and a denier. Jesus is betrayed by a kiss from Judas. While often portrayed as money hungry or simplistic back stabber, there is much more to Judas plot. To me Judas has hatched a plot to make Jesus to be the kind of Messiah, Judas would have him be - a violent revolutionary. Judas is starting a fight by having the soldiers come with clubs and swords to arrest Jesus. As Jesus points out there is no reason for them to come that way. And why might this disciple have gotten this sword? Might Judas have planted that as well?

Jesus allows himself to be arrested. Ten of the disciples escape.  Jesus says little to refute the false accusations against Him, is charged with blasphemy, mocked and beaten as a false Messiah. Jesus quotes from Psalm 110 and Daniel 7:13 as an answer to the main question of the trial in v. 61: "Are you the Christ (Messiah)?" Being a Messiah wasn't criminal, but claiming to be a Messiah in such a way that you share the throne of Israel's God was tyranny. If Jesus was a false Messiah and couldn't deliver on kicking out Rome, then Rome would come down hard on the Jews (which later happened in 70ad). Here Jesus was claiming to be king, but they couldn't grasp just what kind of king. It certainly wasn't the king they were hoping to have. Jesus' ultimate undoing is that He believed God would vindicate them and thus condemning the those leading the trial.

Interwoven is the story of Peter's three denials of knowing Jesus. Perhaps Peter justified by saving his own skin or wondering if he really did know this Jesus as Messiah.

Questions:

What does the way Jesus was arrest and the way the trial was conducted tell us about how Messiahs were viewed?

How do we act similarly to Judas and Peter? How would you feel if you were Judas? Or Peter?

Go back and read Mark 8:35. How are those words coming true with regards to both Jesus and Mark?

What does it mean to lose our life in order that it would be saved?

Lent Day 37 - Mark 14:1-41

On this Maundy Thursday, it is fitting to read of Jesus' last days on earth. In yesterday's passage Jesus instructed His disciples to keep awake. Today's passage shows us that when the difficult time came they were busy sleeping while Jesus was praying for God's will to be done.
This story begins with irony. While the religious plot Jesus' death and Judas leaves to betray Jesus, a woman anoints Jesus (for burial!) with costly perfume. Again the disciples misunderstanding shows their lack of comprehension about what awaits Jesus and what Jesus has in fact repeatedly told them.
Then Jesus and His disciples share the Passover Meal together. Tonight for the Maundy Thursday service, we'll look in depth about the different aspects to the Passover Meal that recounts the story of God's deliverance of the Hebrew people from slavery in Egypt. The themes are rich: freedom, slavery, faith, hope, and love. Yet Jesus breaks the flow of this service by announcing one among them will betray Him and that a new covenant is being enacted by the upcoming events.
Even though Peter insist he will not let Jesus down, none of the three disciples can seem to stay awake as Jesus struggles in prayer. Can they not keep watch? Can they not stay awake at this most crucial time? While they slumber, while plots swirl, Jesus prayer, "Abba, Father! All things are possible for You…yet not what I will, but what you will. Yet the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Questions:
What might this contrast between the men seeking Jesus' death and the woman anointing Jesus be saying? How might the costly anointing oil highlight that?
The Passover Meal served to highlight the identity of God's people but also had political overtones: freedom from foreign oppressors, God's deliverance into a Promised way of life without slavery and oppression, and so forth. How are things coming to a head during this Passover meal? How might Jesus' words about new covenant give meaning for the disciples to grasp the events of the new few days? How might it help us understand better the Kingdom of God? How does Communion serve today as a way that serves as a source of our identity? What other themes from the Passover do you see?
What answer does Jesus receive from God when He prays? What might we learn from that about prayer? How might that help us to "stay awake"?