Adventures in Living: by Jason Salamun

“May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships so that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in the world so that you can do what others claim cannot be done to bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.”

- Believed to be a Franciscan Benediction

When I was in the military, I was introduced to this term:

Esprit de corps.

It describes what happens when a group of people share a spirit for a common cause.

You can’t force it.

It’s produced through a shared ordeal.

In basic training, we learned you couldn’t go it alone.

You needed each other to get through.

I saw this in my city several years back.

We battled the threat of  losing a major military installation.

The city came together in a way I’ve never seen.

It was beautiful.

We see this on television shows like Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

And during the NBA playoffs.

We even see it during national tragedies like 9/11.

A cause creates community.

As a new, start-up church, this is what we’ve discovered so far.

Community isn’t staring at each other in a circle.

It’s standing beside each other on a mission.

Our mission is our cause.

To love God and people.

This is why we gather.

This is why we scatter.

This is how disciples are made.

On the go.

Love is theology on wheels.

It moves. It acts.

Of course, this isn’t an original thought.

Jesus already made it clear in Matthew 5:

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.“

Jesus is right.

May you experience genuine community.

Esprit de corps.

A city set on a hill.

May your lamp shine.

Not collect dust on a living room table.

May others see your mission of love and be astonished by God.

That’s how community happens.

That’s what community is for.

That’s what being missional is all about.

“People criticize what they don’t understand.”

I don’t know who made that statement but I certainly can relate.

Ever since we announced we were starting Project Church last year, we’ve had mud balls throw at us.

Not by non-churchy folks.

But by churchy folks.

I can take the heat.

I expect it.

Thankfully, we have some churches who are all for what we’re doing.

But then there are others.

I wondered why some would talk smack about some small, start-up church.

That is until someone made this comment,

“Project Church doesn’t fit neatly into one particular category.”

That’s so true.

On one hand, some would love to write us off as some heretical faction who doesn’t believe God is sovereign, the bible is true, Jesus is King, and the church has a mission.

But we do.

We’re not looking to invent, or reinvent, a religion.

Just a return to the church as found in scripture.

Theologically, we’re conservative.

Just last Sunday we talked about Jesus, the cross, atonement, propitiation, expiation, God’s wrath, God’s love, sin, and grace.

We believe in grace AND truth.

That frustrates people who want to label us as a liberal church.

On the other hand, we’re unchurchy.

When we say, “come as you are” and “belong before you believe” we mean it.

We aren’t into the whole christian subculture thing.

We don’t beat people over the head with the Bible.

We simply teach it, relate it to people’s real lives, and let Spirit of God do the rest.

We meet in a coffee house.

We’re planning an event in a bar.

One in which many of us have hung out in.

We’re not into religion.  We’re into Jesus.

That’s the kind of stuff that bothers some churchy folks.

The truth about Project Church is this:

We’re all about Jesus.

In him, God became a man, entered our messed-up story, and changed the story.

He died for us so that we might live for him.

As a result of what Jesus did (and is doing), our hope, our project, is to be the church Jesus had in mind.

Not some religious institution of self-righteous, judgmental hypocrites.

But a movement of love of jacked-up, yet growing, people who are exploring and following Jesus.

Who are taking our first steps and next steps in living the lives we are meant to live.

Who are an authentic community of grace, truth, mission, and meaning.

Our style and methods may not be typical, but make no mistake about it, Project Church is all about, all for, and all because of, Jesus.

If you want a label, we use three words to describe us:

Biblical. Missional. Relational.

If you want to read more, click here.

Whether you’re a fan or a critic of Project Church, would you pray for us?

We’re certainly not the perfect church.

Nor do we pretend to be.

We’re just trying to love God and people.

Because that’s what disciples do.

Thank you.

Grace & Truth.

When intangible dreams evolve into tangible realities, it’s pure magic.

Yet one of the great scandals of our day is how many dreams remain just that- dreams.

We reside in a culture that shouts, “chase your dreams” to our face yet whispers, “don’t cause a scene” in our ear.

As a result, we exchange the thrill of dream chasing for the pill of rat racing.

I should know.

My life is a dusty bookshelf of forgotten and neglected dreams.

Sitting still while I seek God’s will.

But God doesn’t make it that complicated.

When you see your neighbors house on fire…

You do something about it.

All around you are fires (needs, hurts, injustices, fears, you name it) that need to be put out.

Do you see them?

God has equipped you with talents, passions, and resources to help extinguish them.

Will you?

We’re not promised tomorrow but we’re here today.

For a reason.

Follow Jesus, turn your dream into a mission of love, and go until you get a no.

At least that’s what I’m learning to do.

Ever had a pebble chip your windshield?

If you have, then you know that the first thing you do is get it repaired.

If you don’t, that small chip will turn into a big crack.

I’m guessing there are relationships in your life right now that have a small chip.

This leaves you with two options:

1) Ignore it (and hope it just goes away)

2) Take care of it (and don’t take your chances)

If you ignore it, odds are that small chip in your relationship will grow into a full-blown fracture.

If you take care of it, you may prevent that small chip from becoming a full-blown fracture.

Make the first move.

Take care of the chip.

And don’t do crack.

I love Conan O’Brien.

I even named my cat after him.

He used to do this skit called, “In the Year 2000.”

Where he’d peer into the future.

Funny stuff.

This is my attempt to look into the not-so-distant future.

At shifts I see looming or arriving in churches.

They are coupled together but they don’t all hold pinky fingers.

I’d be curious to see which shifts you dig and which ones you don’t.

What you see as either/or and what you see as and/both.

Read carefully and leave a reply.

.

Churches starting churches.

Churches launching campuses.

.

Pastors leading from out front.

Pastor leading from up top.

.

The development of leaders.

The replacement of a leader.

.

The Bible opened on top of the collected works of Seth Godin, John Piper, and Rob Bell.

The Bible laying beside collected works of Seth Godin, John Piper, and Rob Bell.

.

The peer-to-peer networking of the church.

The power-grabbing consolidation of the church.

.

Discipleship as a first-step, next-step, grow-as-you-go, journey towards Jesus.

Discipleship as an online program, just-take-this-class, activity about Jesus.

.

Iron-sharpening-iron community.

Anonymous-staying-anonymous community.

.

Churches sending Christians.

Christians consuming churches.

.

Becoming the church Jesus had in mind.

Becoming clones of the church you’re favorite leader had in mind.

.

Orthodox in theology, open in methodology.

Open in theology, open in methodology.

.

Jesus as the end.

Jesus as the means to an end.

.

Shaping culture.

Shaped by culture.

.

Preachers and teachers communicating with their family.

Preachers and teachers communicating with hologram technology to an audience.

.

Courage in the face of rejection and persecution.

Compromise in the face of rejection and persecution.

.

I could list more, but that’s plenty for now.

Let’s talk.

What do you like/dislike?

Do you agree/disagree?

What would you add?

I love my city.

But.

My city is a strange brew.

Starting a new church here has opened my eyes to it.

On one hand, there’s a solid Christian sub-culture.

Christian events do very well here.

Christian music concerts & festivals.

Evangelistic crusade-type-things.

There are lots of bumper stickers & fish symbols on cars indicating membership to the Christian sub-culture.

You can often find pro-life picket signs near the local Planned Parenthood.

And there are loads of churches.

Religion runs heavy here.

So why in the world are we starting a church here?

It looks like the “culture-war” has already prevailed.

That’s the thing.

It’s all a smoke-screen.

We’re missing the point.

All that prominent Christian culturalization has had little impact on real issues.

There are still lots of broken homes and broken hearts.

There are still issues of racism.

There are still hungry children.

There is still an us vs. them mentality.

There are still self-righteous, judgmental hypocrites.

I should know, I’m a recovering one.

Don’t get me wrong.

There are some super churches and loving Christians in my city.

But the general impression is this:

Get saved and change into this Christian t-shirt.

Jesus didn’t live, suffer, die, and rise so that we could create a silly sub-culture.

He came that we might have life, and life in full.

That we might bring light into darkness.

That we might change the story.

That we might love others as ourselves.

On the other hand, there are thousands and thousands of people in my city who want nothing to do with church.

For many, Jesus isn’t the issue.

They just don’t want to wear the t-shirt.

Or stick on a goofy bumper sticker.

Or hand out tracts at the mall.

Or give up listening to good music.

Or dump their friends at the bar.

They don’t want to be THAT guy or gal.

They don’t want to be religious.

They want an authentic faith that doesn’t turn people into something creepy.

I don’t blame them. I don’t either.

The good news is this:

Jesus offers something better.

Something real.

His grace.

His love.

Himself.

Too often, Jesus is presented as the means to get to heaven.

That’s incomplete.

He’s not the means, he’s the end.

Love Jesus and heaven follows.

Not the other way around.

Project Church exists for those outside the Christian sub-culture.

For the explorers who are still trying to figure out what they believe.

For the followers who are trying to live out what they believe.

We’re not here to add to the sub-culture.

We’re here to change the story.

Not because we’re great.

Because Jesus is.

Jesus is always better than religion.

If you want to kill a movement.

Institutionalize it.

Make it the norm.

Get people comfortable.

Movements are like kites, they need a wind to rise against.

Movements tell a different story than what is being told.

Movements require an antagonist.

If you look at movements in history, this is a common thread.

Jesus sparked a movement of love against the backdrop of a fallen world.

America was a movement of freedom against the backdrop of a monarchy.

Rescue Missions are a movement of generosity against the backdrop of poverty.

But.

If you want to ignite a movement.

Don’t just find an enemy.

Find a cause.

A rallying cry.

A better story.

Fix your eyes on it.

Advance in that direction.

And don’t stop.

When you encounter some wind.

Grin.

Because it’s not just resistance.

It’s traction.

And you’re on your way to becoming a genuine movement.

Just make sure you’re moving in the right direction.

Project Church is all about Jesus.

In him, God became a man, entered our messed-up story, and changed the story.

He died for us so that we might live for him.

As a result of what Jesus did (and is doing), our hope, our project, is to be the church Jesus had in mind.

Not some religious institution of self-righteous, judgmental hypocrites.

But a movement of love of jacked-up yet growing people who are exploring and following Jesus.

Who are taking our first steps and next steps in living the lives we are meant to live.

Who are an authentic community of grace, truth, mission, and meaning.

Our style and methods may not be typical,

but make no mistake about it,

Project Church is

all about,

all for,

and all because of,

Jesus.

As a result, this is the church we strive to be.

Biblical.

We believe in the timeless truths of the ancient scriptures.

We aren’t looking to invent some new religion.

That’s lame.

We also aren’t seeking to push the Bible down your throat or beat you over the head with it.

That’s not how we roll.

But we do believe the Bible is relevant to our lives.

And since Jesus said it was all about him, we recalibrate our lives according to it.

It’s our supreme court and ultimate authority and no person, philosophy, or teaching is above it.

We figure if God says it’s his very word, then it should be a big deal to us.

It’s in the Bible where we discover the gospel.

The good news of the grace and truth of Jesus Christ.

Grace means God can’t love us any more or less than he already does.

There’s nothing that can separate his love from us.

It sounds too good to be true

yet

there’s no purer truth in all the universe.

In Christ, we get what we don’t deserve.

Him.

And his ever-flowing, over-flowing, love and forgiveness.

We simply need to believe it and receive it.

And because we get what we don’t deserve, we are free to give grace to others.

It’s not always easy- but it’s always good.

We all wrestle with doubts and none of us have it all figured out.

But at Project Church, you can belong before you believe.

Missional

Our mission is to do what Jesus said:  To go and make disciples who love God and people.

It is a collision of what’s known as the Great Commandment & the Great Commission.

We will stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves and offer hope to the hopeless.

We will fight against injustice and guilt-based religion by our actions and the Gospel.

In serving others, we serve Christ.

We will never forget that our ultimate mission is to bring good news and be good news to those around us.

We are to tether ourselves to Jesus and go as far as He leads.

We are called to be carriers of grace and infect all those around us.

Too often, the church has attacked the culture in which we live.

This is the equivalent to throwing rocks at the house of the very people you’re called to love.

Jesus showed us the way to change a story is to enter a story.

All around us are a multitude of stories that need to be changed.

We can’t make all the stories better.

We wish we could.

But we can make some better.

And some is better than none.

Our greatest hope and mission is for folks to meet the One who restores stories.

Relational

Project Church boils down to relationships.

We get this from God.

After all, He is in relationship with himself as Father, Son, and Spirit.

When He created humanity, He designed us for relationships- with Him and one another.

It’s in the fabric of our being.

This is why God calls us to essentially love Him and people.

Love can only travel on relational highways.

The very highway He constructed.

Our challenge is to love like God does.

Right where people are.

At Project Church, our aim is to be real with God, ourselves, and each other.

Church was never meant to be a bunch of people who sit in pews, put on masks, and go through the motions.

Instead, we’re to be a family where no one stands alone.

Because relationships are so important,

we seek less churchy activities and more friendships with people despite where they are on their spiritual journey.

If anything, the church is to equip people to go through everyday life to build and develop genuine relationships.

Not keep them corralled in church buildings like cattle.

This may seem to be a given, and perhaps a bit elementary,

But we are about intentional, genuine relationships.

This is where the rubber meets the road in terms of following Jesus and being the church Jesus had in mind.

Other people and places will do a lot of things better than the church.

U2 concerts have better production (and music) than the church.

United Way helps more people than the church.

Disneyworld has more entertaining kids environments than the church.

Neighborhood bars often have better community than the church.

Facebook has a better online presence than the church.

I could go on.

But.

There’s one thing the church has to offer that no one else has.

Grace.

Because of Jesus.

No people or place should outdo the church on grace.

Ironically, it’s not what folks generally associate the church with.

Sad.

Sad indeed.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

As you focus on your systems to improve your church experience.

Remember this.

Someone, somewhere, is doing it all better than you.

But what they can’t do…

Is outgrace you.

Or can they?

I guess the answer is up to you.