A Mending Shift

Piggy backing a little on what Jonathan Brink dreamed, I envision three aspects also being redeemed in Tribe. All three help combat our felt-need for religious control:

Baptism: When someone believes and recognizes the forgiveness they have in Jesus, the entire community gathers down at the river to witness and celebrate in baptism. It is not a pastor who baptizes them, but rather it is their Tribe of 10-12 brothers or sisters that are in the water with them. The person shares their story and what Jesus and the community means to them. Their Tribe then immerses them into the water with the rest of the community witnessing and celebrating alongside them. Baptism becomes an event in the life of the community. We also would not control or demand someone be re-baptized because they were baptized as an infant or sprinkled. If they want to and that is how the Spirit is leading them, fine. If not, fine.

Communion: Modeling the heart and “table” ministry of Jesus, all are welcome to partake in Jesus’ meal…and yes, I mean meal. Communion will not consist of a wafer and some juice, but is a meal shared by the community with the bread and wine being a part of the meal. As an expression of God grace to all, all are invited and welcomed, regardless of belief, to share in the Eurcharist. It will be Open Communion in practice, not just name only; God’s grace and table fellowship extended to all sinners, not just the ones who “get it”.

The Tithe: With a goal of 80% of the community funds going towards needs in the Tribe, the surrounding community and other justice/love issues/projects, we seek to restore a Godly and proper view of stewardship. Early on when the 10% “rule” was established, it was intended to go towards helping restore justice and feed and take care of the poor. Farmers were to leave a portion of their crops un-harvested so the poor could be fed. A year of Jubilee was to be celebrated with debts forgiven and land given back to the original owners. I believe even the provision of the priests by the people was an act of justice. Imagine if the organizational structure was lean and was created in such a way where 20% of giving would go towards operating costs and 80% would be given away and/or set aside for “loving on people”. If people know that 80% of their financial gifts are being used to care for and look after the needs of others, and that they also have the freedom to use their tithe at their own discretion for God’s kingdom in their lives, not being pounded by their church that they are commanded by God to give 10% to the church, and anything else they want to do for God’s Kingdom is “above-and-beyond” their normal tithe, then I believe that the stronghold of money will be broken and a more generous community will be realized. I also believe that the surrounding community will take notice and praise their father in heaven because, “Oh, how those Christians love and give.”

Tags: Baptism, church, Communion, Community, Emerging, Giving, missional, Tithe, Tribe

This entry was posted by Jeromy Johnson on Friday, December 21st, 2007 at 8:07 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.