Let's take yesterday's post a bit further. When aspects of mobile technology are a lifestyle, and not just a tool, what does this begin to look like to the Body and the world being ministered to at large? How does this change the work of Christ from an institutional one to a spirit-lead one?
There's a simple answer to this to some degree; but we should first make the question a bit simpler so that we grab a better impact:
If Paul had a blog, what would he have done more of or more effectively?
I've explored this question here many times (the original thought, part 2 of this thought, part 7 of this thought, part 9 - eh, I think you get the picture). Each time I come to the conclusion that [aspects of] mobile technology is/are taking us to the definition where people will want to define church not as what happens or is confined by the four walls and a monologue service, but what happens in the context of connecting to other people that leads them to repent to God, and be a life in Christ that speaks to that worship He spoke of to the Samaritan woman (John 4).
A Church Beyond the Walls
The idealism though of a church without walls where leadership is moreso grooming people for missional teaching rather than internal community engagement isn't something new. I just wager that its more possible now than ever. Multi-campus churches are pulling this off to a degree. Cell groups to another. But those are the exceptions. Engaging Christ is still done in smaller more personal levels, then shared moment by moment as or after it happens. If you will, much like Paul went from place to place and documented how the Body engaged the world around it; the church today is largely doing the same thing.
So don't you think that if Paul had a blog, it would look more like this: CNN and National Geographic Put a New Twist to Journalism
I've been banging my head left and right trying to figure out what kind of career works best for my kind of mind. As soon as I read this posting about what CNN and NG are doing it hit me; I've been saying this all along with MMM but haven't really ran out to do it in bunches. Tools needed: Nokia's Sports Tracker application, a capable mobile phone (not necessarily a smartphone), and the willingness to go out and engage the world to share it with others. Nokia, CNN, Reuters, and National Geographic are transforming the news reporting culture. We should be doing the same in the Christ-connecting one.
The enablement of mobile technology allows us to connect with people and directly share Christ in Matthew 5 type ways. And at the same time we are moving from one connection to another, tracking and messaging those places that we've been (letters to Timothy, Philemon, Titus, etc. type stuff), encouraging and equipping those who are in those areas, and providing a dynamic (and digital) witness to what is being done in the kingdom of God so that the emphasis remains on God's glory in the world around us - not on the shiny.
The fun part is, I think some of us do this naturally and don't even know it. We go places with mobile tech and then it opens doors towards speaking about our lives in Christ and all of a sudden we have just encouraged someone, or even better, picked up a disciple. I can probably even guess that given how some of us are in social networks that this same thing happens in the various online communities that we visit. Neat ain't it.
A Piece of the Puzzle to Understand
But like Paul, I realize that this kind of thinking and action is not something that everyone can do (1 Corinthians 12-14). And, at least in the Western church, a church that does not have defined walls or order as we are accustomed to can make people uncomfortable. Like I wrote some time ago, the Internet is not just for those type-A (or type-C) personalities. We all have our place where we excel in bringing Christ's passions and love into the hearts of those around us. As a church, we should be cultivating that so that the Body doesn't just grow in number, but grows in quality-of-representation-of-our-Father.
The Challenge Looms
On a website that I visited recently (The Theos Project), the blogger stated that he was going on a church fast. The culture and conditions of the church caused him more grief than he cared to have as a part of. I responded in a comment that he shouldn't leave if the church he was a part of did not equip him with the tools to relate to the world outside of the church. He should stay there until they do give him the tools and wisdom to make Christ-living a lifestyle that is not marred by the culture we call church.
Hence my view on mobile technology and the Christian faith. In coming to grips with the fact that mobile technology is less a tool and more of a lifestyle, we have to equip those who engage this technology with the wisdom that what they do here has effects that are eternal (not just saved in the Wayback Machine in bits and bytes). It is this type of equipping that will enable us as a Body to reach beyond ourselves and engage towards that Great Commission with great success. Propagating old paradigms with new tech doesn't change anything.
This then becomes the challenge of the next generation of church leaders: teach mobile and technological responsibility while allowing the use of the technology to enhance our abilities to reach, teach, and build foundations and lives in Jesus Christ. Its something I am more than ready to do, and offer this challenge to you as something to take on in whatsoever way the Spirit leads.
My Personal Convictions, and Request
This has been the crux of my frustration with MMM. I've wanted this to be the launching point for teaching people how a church without walls can exist. I totally think its possible - even without the mobile tech that is presented here. However, getting people to see and support that has been utterly harder than I want to say in such a public arena. Its one thing to cast vision, its another totally to get people/companies to buy into it to the point of changing the world around you. This is not a knock on anyone, just how much I see, and how easy it is for me to see, but not translate that to you.
Having written all of that, I'm more ready to ask for sponsors towards living a lifestyle that meets this lofty goal (the how to ask is the part I don't know), rather than sitting on my arse waiting for Jesus to come back. To those who have asked me recently in what ways they can help me, this would be it: prayer and a push. I know we can be more than just an intersection of faith and technology. Using this tech effectively casts a light towards what can happen when Christ is in front of us lighting the way (Colossians 2:6 - 3:4). Doing it, well, that's just bigger than me but more than capable enough for Him (Isaiah 49:13).
Labels: Bible, community, mission, mobility, tech, urban, worship
posted by Antoine @ 5/06/2008 10:00:00 AM
3 comments
