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TOM and the Goldfish Bowl, Part 2, C

THE KINGDOM, THE CHURCH,  AND THE TRADITIONS OF MEN

THE TRADITIONS OF MEN

A Fight

Here is the section of our book where it is acceptable to use references like Catholic, Protestant, Baptist, House Church, Mega-Church, Armenian, Calvinist, The Celtic Way, Anglican, Independent Charismatic, Missional Community, Organic, Reformed, Orthodox, Progressive, Emergent, Traditional, Liturgical, Evangelical, just to name a few. These are all the creative ways we—with feet of clay and minds of dust—have chosen to identify ourselves and divide ourselves from others who are following Christ. We have given these classes formal names. These are the well-financed ways we have divided ourselves from one another.

Congratulations, Church, for creating and sustaining the multiple personality disorder that has plagued us for generations. So, how has it been working out for you?

That was rhetorical.

TOM and the Goldfish Bowl, Part 2, B

THE KINGDOM, THE CHURCH,  AND THE TRADITIONS OF MEN

THE CHURCH

The Wife that Jesus Loves

I sat beside Bob Terrell years ago on the front row of a little fellowship in west Texas. I had just played a song for the gathering, and he was getting ready to take the stage and teach, probably on 1 John. I had just “retired” from a staff position at a local fellowship and had begun my experimental career as an musician and minister—sort of an arts missionary. He turned to me and said, “Ben, do you worry sometimes about where your provision [money] is going to come from?”

“Yes.”

He said, “Well, you take care of the Bride and the Bridegroom will take care of you.” The fellowship leaders introduced him and he moved up to the podium and began to teach. I just sat there thinking.

TOM and the Goldfish Bowl, Part 2, A

THE KINGDOM, THE CHURCH,  AND THE TRADITIONS OF MEN

THE KINGDOM

I hope the first section of “Tom and the Goldfish Bowl” has been like a light flare over the fields of our collective imagination. Sometimes just a little light is enough to sponsor a “eureka” moment that can change us forever. Though I will not refer to the three-part allegory again in the remainder of this book, I do hope that it will continue to illuminate our thoughts as we go.

We Are More

What is the single most popular phrase that flows over the modern Christian’s lips in an effort to connect with someone’s spiritual journey for the first time? I think it is this: Do you go to Church?

I think the second most popular question would be: Would you like to go to Church with me?

Surely, we are more than meetings. Meetings are in many ways like handshakes. Handshakes are supposed to be the entry point into deeper relationships, but the world has grown tired of our culturally-relevant-rock-star-level-cause-driven-highly-orchestrated Church handshakes because there seems to be nothing beyond them except more meetings.

TOM and the Goldfish Bowl, Part 1

THE WATER, THE FISH, AND THE LITTLE HOUSE

Society for the Ethical Treatment of Goldfish

Henry stood, motionless, in front of the wall of fish choices. It was early in the morning—at least by his standards—and his  ability to make a quick choice was stunted.

No coffee yet.

The fish tanks were stacked high and wide on the display wall, bubbling and humming and constantly moving.

They say this lowers your blood pressure, he thought.

He blurred his eyes at the wall to diminish all of the fish motion and he focused on the price tags alone.

Cheap is good; cheapest is best, he chanted to himself.