Warren's Reflections

Churches operate best when they are fulfilling their primary function and are therefore on mission. The best church worship experiences are when people within the local community, although previously unchurched or dechurched, have cause to be present ... due to what they have seen and heard about the people who regularly participate. On these occasions, when they know about such an attendance in advance e.g. special services, the church can graciously and sensitively go about their normal worship style and content, trusting in the integrity of what they are about. Of course, none of this will happen unless the church is out in the community i.e. attending the local football and netball, supporting the local cafes and shops, participating in key local events, and taking an active interest in those being left out and behind. Go! 

Jesus sought and enjoyed table fellowship with everyone. For him, hospitality over food was an intimate expression of God's grace. So, when Jesus wanted to initiate a remembrance of loving sacrifice, he did so as part of a meal. Gatherings of the first disciples and their converts could remember the practical outpouring of grace that Jesus brought to the world when they ate their meals together.  It seems that when this remembrance, which became known as the Eucharist, Lord's Supper or Communion, was separated from regular meals, it, in some quarters at least, became pious, inward, exclusive and other-worldly. In the Baptist Church I grew up in, communion was forbidden to a child, and you really needed to have demonstrated a decision for Jesus before you could participate.  Thus you were under pressure to let the plate and tray go by - grace wasn't for you! Grace only proceeded from commitment ... not preceding it! We know that this doesn't make any theological sense - ...

The world needs deeply spiritual places centred wholly on Jesus and following his example and ethics into reconciliation and social justice. The world needs an unequivocal voice and body that addresses poverty, inequality, racism and violence. This voice and body does not waver with popularity cults that look back, but rather follow the Spirit-led nuances into the recreating future God is seeking. This, as I have recently written in a book, is the church the world needs and the quality of church God requires.  Such a church as this will be completely inclusive, open and welcoming - offering new hope, purpose and fulfilment. Such a church, while deeply fuelled by the power of God, will be earthly focussed - for this is where the mission lies. The people currently within this church have definitively and permanently put aside their egos, personal agendas and theological nit-picking - because they have been overwhelmed by the transformative potential of God's grace.