What Is Your Faith Missing?
In the whirlwind that’s…
Become my life lately, I’ve discovered a surprising freedom to engage in new conversations. Who knew health scares, house projects, a grandson on the way, and a broken AC this week could have its perks?
Through these varied dialogues, I’ve been reminded of the value found in two things often separated within Christianity: ongoing belief in the grace that set us free, and the unplanned life of friendship found in faith.
The more I live and listen to others' struggles, the clearer it becomes why people often choose to separate these two camps.
On one hand, the hurt caused in the name of “church” and “mission” has reached epidemic levels. This is the cost of the Church operating like clubs, with boundaries defining who’s in and who’s out. It’s what happens when self-preservation models view the world as existing for their sake, rather than seeing themselves as existing for the sake of the world.
On the other hand, a spirituality divorced from place and neighbor has reached a new peak, estranged from the truth that God is Trinity, and Trinity is relationship. We were created to partake in this relationship alongside others. After all, the first time we see God declare something 'not good' is when a human was alone.
The truth is, a spirituality without neighbor is no spirituality at all.
Understanding this, the late Christoph Blumhardt once said we need two conversions: "From the world to Christ, and from Christ to the world.”
The former comes through the realization that to be human is to belong, and to belong is to be free. This is the good news of the gospel. The latter lies in the realization that we flourish not by gaining everything we can, but by giving ourselves away in friendship. This is the great paradox of human satisfaction.
As we navigate the tension between these two realities, a profound truth emerges: freedom and fulfillment aren’t found in isolation or rigid boundaries, but in the messy, unplanned connections we forge with others. This is where grace and faith come alive—not in neatly packaged practices, but in the raw, unpredictable moments of shared life.
We believe these unplanned and unbranded friendships are the essence of the Church Jesus started; a place where a world uninterested in church services learns to live free alongside others.
If that’s something you would like to step into, you’re not alone. So reach out. I’d love to talk with you. Seriously. Just click the link to set up a call. I’ll make the time.