The "worst kept secret in town" is out. The Ring is becoming a church. Slowly. And we're all pretty excited about it. Some of us are as giddy as a kid in a candy store. Others are too cool to show how topsy-turvy excited they are. At the Elder Q and A session they had Sunday night, I almost panicked. After the questions about very adult things like membership classes, pastor salaries, and church discipline, I realized that this is actually a big deal. It'll ask a lot of me. Time, effort, patience, money, love, faith, and a whole lot of prayer. I need to decide if I'm still as committed to the Ring as a church as I was when it wasn't.
Last night I had dinner with a friend of mine at Outback. On a sidenote, the quickest way to my heart would involve Chinese or a great steak. Outback is one of the few places in Baton Rouge that I deem worthy enough to order a steak. It in no way compares to one of my Dad's Texas T-bones hot of the grill, but oh well. So we were giggling about how great it was that the Ring Community Church is going to happen, when she asked me a question that I didn't have a witty answer to. "What do you see your role in the church being?" Me? I don't know. There are a few people who already have an idea of what they want to do or be involved in when it comes to the church. Me, not so much. Right now, all I really do is smile a lot and play with the words on the screen during worship and the sermon. And even that I don't really do well. One of these days the higher ups will realize that I'm learning as I go and half the time, I'm flying by the seat of my pants.
So what's my role? Sheesh, you're totally asking the wrong person. My sister, for instance, is amazing with prayer. She can pray down heaven. It's wonderful. I'm great at acting a fool praising God in my truck. Or playing devil's advocate in theological discussions to push people into standing up for what they believe. Or recognizing the spiritual gifts in others. I can do that. Recently, in the past 3ish or so years, I've grown into the role of encourager. I love doing that. Oh and serving. I love giving of myself to others to point people to my God. It doesn't matter whom. I just see it as a chance to glorify God in my actions. I'm ok with not knowing my role in the new church just yet. I know God's got a plan for me no matter what, and I do love His surprises.....
11 comments:
I don't know, sounds like you have a pretty good idea of your role.
It's great that you are coming to God with this, it shows that your focus is to what His will is for your life not your own. I wish I did that more often, it would cause a lot less pain to the back of my head when He needs to get me back on His path for my life.
I hate churchy answers (not aimed at you, Nate), so let me ask a question instead.
If we, as a church body, as HIS Body, are to avoid the me-ness that has permeated and broken PBC, should not our response be, "Here am I, LORD" as opposed to "What about me"?
Our worth is determined, as well as our role, by HIM, and HIM alone. HE is faithful.
It is my belief that the Elders desperately want to avoid looking ANYTHING like our childhood churches. The Ring is the Ring - it always will be - official church or not. Josh is still our pastor, the E's are still the E's, the vision is still HIS, and HIS alone.
Things will change, but His vision will not, His love will not, and please God, their hearts will not.
We all share at least one role, one we've been playing all along. We are to pray, to encourage, to love, to serve, to point people to HIM, for HIS glory. What's the motto? Let's see if I can remember it, since I haven't managed to get my hands on a t-shirt...
Bringing people to greater intimacy with Christ, for His glory.
That is our role. Always has been, always will be.
I don't know. This question has been around in our realm of influence just as long as the ring has existed. To say that I've figured out the answer is ridiculous.
Sometimes it seems like people feel like they are settling when they don't like "shoot" for a leadership role. When I really think about it, being one of the consistent members of the body is nowhere near settling. We need people to be committed, to be strong mentors, to be the body. If churches were filled with only the leadership and then the flakes who come in once every three months then we'd have a big problem.
It's a real tough call. I witnessed a good fight one evening due to this very question. One friend was so frustrated that nobody had "plugged her in" to the ring and that she just couldn't find her role. The other friend, angered at hearing that phrase for the 9000th time basically just said "do it, go out there and do something." There ended up being shouting and tears by the end of it. And to be honest, the next day we all started back in as normal but it always comes to mind when questions like ya'lls discussion come up. On the one hand I know your frustration. We're all adults and we don't want to feel like we're slacking and on the other hand a lot of times we do have to go out there and make it happen. I think if you're waiting on the E's (just in the context of the Ring)to plug you in somewhere then I think you're a square peg running real high danger of being shoved into a round hole. How intimidating it is to think that me or somebody would try and tell you what you needed to do to unleash your spiritual gifts. I'd probably run across someone who has the gift of healing and ask them to stack chairs.
I love you guys. I'm sorry, I appreciate the respect and restraint you've shown with your words because I know it is and can be frustrating.
I know if i had to do power point, I couldn't resist putting a fart joke up in place of one of Josh's scripture's. Ha Ha, gotta keep him on his toes.
Jake
I'm so glad I've finally hit a nerve that gets people talking!! It kind of sucks it had to be a person's involvement with the Ring. After reading everyone's comments, I feel the need to expound a little on my blog. I'll do my best to respond to everyone's comments, but that would make for a really long drawn out commentary.
Nathan, kudos on the encouragement. I'm usually the one doing that, so its refreshing to have the shoe on the other foot.
Ok, Ann. Uh huh, sunday school answer. I know we are a collective body. But as this body (the Ring) matures, people's spiritual gifts and talents are used within that body. I'm learning about mine daily. But I respectfully disagree with "the Ring is the Ring always is always will be." I think (personal opinion) that the Ring as a college ministry is different from the Ring as a church. There has to be a difference, or the many hearts involved would not be going to all this trouble to follow God's leading in becoming a church.
Jake, I think this is the first time you've posted on my blog. Thanks! I agree that people should go out and get involved. That's exactly what I did. I don't regret it. And I never once asked the Es permission. As I've grown in my own walk and within the Ring, I've come to the knowledge that I'm a servant. And I love that. I don't need fancy titles or good lighting to determine my worth within the Ring. This is the community that accepts me with all my flaws and insecurities and still loves me for it. So I'll stick with it as long as God allows me too. Truth be told, I wouldn't trade it for the world.
As for the fart jokes, its tempting, but I'll be dad gummed before I make any of you, Josh, the Es, Mitchell and the band, look bad up there.
Much love friends. Thanks for letting me be a part of you.
Well, I do think that the Ring is changing. The seed of what it will be has certainly always been there, but I've talked to a few people already about this very thing. If it wasn't changing, I don't think people would be feeling this kind of tension.
So, I think a couple of things. First, although I definitely don't know the whole story, I don't think the problems at PBC have to do with people genuinely seeking what role God has led them to fill. There's certainly a "me-ness" to what's going on there, but not the kind that says, "Lord, what would you have me do?"
Having been VERY CLOSE to Jake's anecdote (I think), I can say this. As the ring becomes a community without the safety net of PBC, I think everyone should evaluate very seriously if God is calling them to move with the Ring, stay at PBC or to actually go somewhere else.
Although I don't remember the crying that Jake does (of course, I'm usually oblivious) the argument he referred to really shows how hard it is for leaders who don't think their job is to tell everyone what to do and churches that are very used to that model. If we really believe God is in control of what's happening, we'll be even more open to hearing what He is saying to those who don't consider themselves "leaders".
I definitely agree with Ann, that our attitude should be "here i am, Lord", but a person who won't take the time to see how God has uniquely shaped him or her will always be a bit of dead weight in the Body. I think the leaders should play a very close role in helping people discover this (in fact, I'm usually tempted to say it's their only true job) but it's definitely up to each person to decide and the community to help the process along.
So, as far as you're concerned, Allison, it seems like you're on a pretty good track. I know you like to worry about things that are months away ;), but it really looks like you've got a good idea of your role there. There's no official job title for "encourager" in the modern church, but there probably should be. Your discernment is always sharp and you're unassuming enough with it that people feel better when you've shared with them what you think (unless you get riled, of course). You also are not afraid to do a little work and that's always a good thing!
I've read and re-read all the comments, and I don't know why I'm always amazed at the way He so intimately and graciously draws out our fears, our worries, and our questions. He started us with a simple question, and it has brought to light many more thoughts and things to bring to Him in prayer.
I have to be honest here. Last night, as I was reading through all the comments from my brothers and sisters in Christ, I have to admit to feeling a bit frustrated, that I needed to defend my words, for I SO hate to be misunderstood, or my words to be misconstrued by my feeble attempts to communicate some pretty "deep" thoughts. This morning, the only allowance I will give to those feelings sparked last night is this - I can see how my words could be miscontrued as criticism or flippant. Hear my heart - that was not what I meant to portray.
Nate - as always, your humor and encouragement are a balm to my soul.
Jake, I deeply admire your humble spirit, honesty and candidness.
Jared, I am always amazed at your depth of insight and wisdom.
Lebraix, my heart sings at your protective response for your friend.
It is my belief that He is blessed by our willingness to openly discuss difficult issues, knowing that the community in which we live and love is a safe place to do that.
Blogging is so cool and so freaking frustrating at the same time. To know or try and discern the spirit that something was written in is difficult. Maybe that's where supplemental human contact could be beneficial.
Allison,
I certainly wasn't pointing a finger or the finger at you. if anything, I'm glad you are serving now in the capacity that you do which is an extremely large one. Issues of "Regret" or "E's Permission" confuse me because....well, I basically don't know why those terms were actually typed by you.
I did what Lebraix said and reread your original post. If the general consensus is that we've derailed then I'm very sorry but even in my derailment it was a story for everybody's benefit. It was, again, not a shot back at you.
Jared, the only tears where from me. I snuck out of the room and wept because of the tension in the room and the fact that I knew it was hurting the spirit of the naked chiceaux couch. I didn't know if buffy could or would ever be comfortable there again.
Sidenote:
Even though I hate being misunderstood, I like this. I don't want to just pick fights so we can all be passionate about our stances but having the emotional stock that we each have in this feels better than just trying to reply with witty comebacks and I'm the king of "trying" to make a witty comeback.(Jared, how many run-ons can you find in that sidenote?)
Hey Jake!
I used the terms regret and E's permission in response to "if you're waiting on the E's (just in the context of the Ring)to plug you in somewhere then I think you're a square peg running real high danger of being shoved into a round hole." Which I understood as people don't need to ask the "Es permission" to get involved.
I used the term "regret" as in I don't regret getting out of my comfort zone and jumping wholeheartedly into the Ring a couple of years ago.
Was that as clear as mud?
Uh, do ya'll even say that here in Louisiana? ;)
Sidenote: I love the dialogue between everybody. It shows our heart and passion for the ministry God has been gracious enough to let us serve in.
i agree with andy...
Wow, we're all over the place. Is it wrong that I just want Jake to make fun of Travis' dog (Buffy) some more?
Jared, you ruined it. I so much more enjoyed the witty repartee when I thought Buffy was a person...
I just wish somebody would tell me what Andy said...
:P
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