Let it out!

The question was asked in an online pastors forum:

Q: Does your church have a place where people can openly and honestly explore their faith?

I think they were looking for programs, systems, materials or classes. So, my answer may have been a bit different. Here’s what I said:

A: Yes, we have a place: my living room, office, car, coffee shop, wherever – even the basketball court or local restaurant.

Discipleship is living.

It means being transparent with all areas of our lives – which, naturally, invites/invokes questions and other opportunities for discovery & development.

We keep trying to write programs & systems – we’re still looking for a box to put it in.

Let it out and live. Flaws and all. Let others explore “us” – diggin into our faith and researching our journey. Finding out that the outrageous claims of Christ are TRUE!

You can be deliberate without looking it.

I think a problem we’re finding in our  older church leadership is that a generation is crying out for mentorship/discipleship and yet we’ve never been mentored or discipled ourselves. We say we’ll mentor them but we find it hard to do – we’re trafficking unlived truths.

Early in my ministry I had to fight to be mentored – no one was volunteering. I started journaling, made myself vulnerable & accountable, and trained my mentors to mentor me. Few will be this direct or bold.

Today, I’m surrounded daily – wherever I am – with people that I’m discipling and/or my wife is discipling. OUR LIVES ARE OPEN.

… still learning & growing, Chilly