Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Community and faith

In an article on churches and reaching the iGen , the 20 somethings, John Peacock who ministers at Willowcreek said this:

 

“People belong before they believe or behave”

 

Very powerful and this is where old school membership gets the horse before the cart, because belong never features at all. Homegroups are key tools in instilling belief and behaviour in people. The old model of Sunday worship is the church is only effective to a point. Makes for some really interesting reflection...

3 comments:

Lenny said...

Belonging first and faith second, might be foundation of Willow creek's seeker friendly model. But it seems to me that the New Testament pattern is: Is faith comes first, as the entrance into the community of God's people,

"Acts 2:41: Those who accepted his message were baptised, and about three thousand were added to their number that day
vs 46. Everyday they continued to meet together..."

Personally I think Willow Creek puts the cart before the horse. You might have many people who belong, you might have great a great loving community. But that does not mean you have a church. If its not a community of believers. It's nothing more than a social club.

Lenny said...

sorry, I should really check my posts for mistakes, before posting.

Brent said...

Lenny,
It is a tough call. The New Testament church also had a hugely different dynamic than the established church of today.

But I agree with the sentiments.

We are retaining membership for believers. But home groups are there for all because many come to faith through those groups.