Like metal filings to a magnet, a tribe is gathering. It looks a bit rag tag and broken, but in our spirits, we’ve seen a better day and are moving toward it and each other. Metaphorically, we’re like the children of Israel moving out of the wilderness of our own isolation. If we look a little different, it’s because there are a few things that set us apart. Here they are:
BELIEVERS AND OPTIMISTS
Yes, the world is a mess, but we serve the Lord of all glory and our best days lie ahead. We may not have crossed over the Jordan yet, but we’ve got our toes in the water and have our eyes on the Promised Land.
TROUBLED SEEKERS
We’ve looked inside ourselves and know that we’re a mess. It may not be pretty, but we’re going to press into the pain, confront those hard things that have left us broken, and move toward wholeness. Ken and Barbie don’t exist in our tribe.
GRACE GIVERS
Having stared into the abyss of our mess, we would suffocate without the freedom to coexist without judging or being judged. None of us has a leg up on any others. We’re at peace within ourselves and with each other because we’ve taken the inside look, we know that our brokenness is normal – part of being human.
DEEPLY COVENANTAL
We’re still working this one out since almost none of us were raised this way. We were raised to be independent; we were raised to be consumers. Yet in spite of our tangled motives and tendencies, we’ve committed to each other and the tribe for life. We’ll argue and get mad, but we won’t walk away from the table.
ACTIVISTS AND WARRIORS
We’re not happy with the status quo and we’re going to do more than just discuss the world’s problems. We’re God’s change agents on planet earth. Jesus gave us all authority and we intend to use it to bring hope to all the hopeless we can find. A few of us may be wounded or die along the way; we’re not unrealistic about the price to be paid.
THROW PACHANGAS
“Pachanga” is Spanish for an all-out celebration. Celebrating God, His people, and his creation is our deepest pleasure. We worship and party with equal abandon. We love the exuberance of a multi-generational dance beneath the stars.
Beautifully put.
I love this blog and especially your last line. I’ll take that word “pachanga” away with me.
One comment though under “grace givers”. What do you mean by judging? Our family is going through 1 Corinthians and there must be a distinction because we’re told in James not to do so, yet Paul makes it clear that, as believers, we ARE to judge within the Church. Don’t mean to be picky, but we as Americans seem so overboard on not judging, that we miss the very clear Scriptural responsibility to do so. That’s one of the reasons the Church has lost her testimony to the world. Having said that, we do so much need to feel safe in the love of God expressed through each other. I believe that is what you’re saying.
Good call, Kathy. I don’t have a great answer and am also interested to see Seth’s take on this, but I do know that even for those whom we judge in the church that we need to examine ourselves first. That seems to be the point of Matthew 7 to me: don’t judge someone, because whatever you use to judge them will be used against you. Again, he says watch out for the log in your own eye before pointing out the speck. But yes, Paul does bring judgment against this fornicator in Corinth, and we sometimes need to take corrective action in the church, but do so out of love and towards the end of reconciliation, not just for the sake of judging or kicking them out.
I really like the sound of a multi-generational dance beneath the stars. I want to be a part of that dance where division doesn’t exist and everybody comes together and worships the Lord with complete abandon and deep joy. Where everybody feels safe to be who they are and bring what they have to the table. I can only imagine the beautiful gifts we would bring if we were all able to look past ourselves and eachother and focus on Jesus, whom we celebrate.
Thanks, Jeff, for completing and clarifying the point. The first few verses of Galatians 6 came to my mind after reading your comment. The humble spirit, watchful over your own heart – and yes – the goal is restoration with soaking love beginning to end.
and i absolutely love being a part of this tribe!
You’re welcome, Kathy. And thank you for that.
Amen to that!….
-gRaCe-