Everything Must Change

On his page, www.deepshift.org Brian McLaren writes

We are in a Deep Shift

A time of transition
rethinking
re-imagining
and re-envisioning

A time for asking new questions
and seeking answers
that are both new and old
fresh and seasoned
surprising and familiar

What does it mean, in today’s world, to be a follower of God in the way of Jesus?
What does it mean to be a faith community engaged in the holistic, integral mission of God in our world today? How do we, as individuals and organizations, respond faithfully to the crises facing our world?
What is our duty to God, ourselves, our families, our neighbors, our enemies, and our planet in light of Jesus’ radical message of the kingdom of God?
How can we engage in personal formation and theological reformulation for global transformation? Living in deep shift can be exhilarating and energizing, but it can also be disorienting and frightening.

 

McLaren is calling people to a new level of accountability and responsibility to the other and that is not easy for people to hear. McLaren quite rightly points out that this is a new day. It is a day in which we are all re-imagining things; we see so much change and so much renewal. But do we see it in our spiritual lives?  Many people have lost touch with ‘the church.’ They have lost touch with religion. I would argue that it would be more accurate to say that ‘the church’ has lost touch with most people. The church is out of touch with the very culture and milieu in which it exists.  The church is out of touch with the global issues that are in many cases defining what is happening in the world around us. All the while, the religious leadership is sitting by squawking about issues that are irrelevant at best. We raise up mediocrity in the church and embrace complacency. But the world around us is crying out the questions that we all ought to be asking. The debates around justice issues take place without us. McLaren is calling the church to shift it’s attention to the issues that matter in his book Everything Must Change. The call is severe and it is immediate. The truth is that we are in many ways ‘out of touch’ with Jesus.

So the questions that are posed are real and they are concrete – “What is our duty to God, ourselves, our families, our neighbours, our enemies, and our planet in light of Jesus’ radical message of the kingdom of God?” Are we seeking to find are far off ‘kingdom’ after our transitory life or are we prepared to be ‘kingdom builders?’ Can we see ourselves by actions both small and large making the kingdom that Jesus spoke of so often a reality in the world today?

These are the kind of questions swirling around in my head as I read Everything Must Change. I would like to invite you to join me on the following Thursdays, Thursday’s – November 6, 13, & 20, and December 4 & 11 from 7:30 PM – 9 PM so that we can share in our experiences of reading this great book. I have ordered enough books for everyone. The cost of participating is $20 and this includes you hardcover edition of Everything Must Change.  We will meet at the Salvation Army Eastwood Citadel and we will welcome participation by email from those who live outside Windsor. (We already have a participant from London).

 

SOME Q & A

Do you need high education to take part? – NO

Will I have to speak? – NO

Can I speak my mind? – YES

Do I need to know the Bible real well? – NO

Can I miss some nights and still come? – YES

Do I have to be Anglican? – NO

Is there room for divergent opinions? – YES

I am a teenager. Can I Come? – YES

Can we provide child care? – YES

How do I register? –You email markusbookclub@gmail.com or you call Valerie at our Church Office at 519 735 4921.

When will I get my book? – Books will be available locally at the church office after Friday.

 

So please join me! Send along a note and I will get you registered. I have 8 books left – I can order more. Let’s have a great group for study…I await your response at markusbookclub@gmail.com