1. The obvious benefits of living in an intentional community stem from the word community. Which means, "a group or class having common interests." (The American Heritage Dictionary). So, if everyone who is part of the community is there because they want to be, then everyone will be working toward the same goal. However, the pitfall occurs when the communities governing body begins to become too strict and instead of encouraging freedom for its inhabitants, it imposes restrictions. This pitfall can be seen in most any homeowners association. Every home owner is part of that community because they chose to be there and when the association was first established it was created to ensure positive outcomes for the community. However, as time wore on there were certain people on the board who began to loose sight of the reason why the association was created and in turn used it to benefit them and not the community. The next thing you know they are making up laws stating that you can't have more than 2 cars in front of your house for more than 24 hours. And if you do then they will tow them and charge you for it. Never again will I live where there is a home owners association!
2. Volf's comment truly captures Matt 5:38-40 "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well." God is viewed as a father figure an so Volf's comment demonstrates God's perfect example for us to follow. The word "reception" in his comment implies that God knows that we, as hostile beings (sinners), are coming and therefore he is prepared for us.
3. I'm sorry, but I really struggled with this chapter and in particular this author. It just seemed to me that he droned on and on and on, but never seemed to get to his point. I got more out of the title of the chapter than I did in reading the chapter. I wholeheartedly agree that there is still segregation in the Christian world. I have personally seen it. When we lived in NC, we were trying out different Church of Christ churches. One of them turned out to be an all black congregation. Reflecting back now I realize that they showed my wife and I more of Jesus' love than any of the white congregations we visited. Naturally, we felt out of place but after our initial reactions, we worshipped right along with them. However, when I was in Iraq, I saw the exact opposite in the Gospel service I attended. True there were a lot of blacks, however, one of the preachers was white and several whites and other ethnicity's attended and I truly believe it was because of the love of Jesus that flowed from the people of the church.
4. In regards to being a novitiate in a NM, I think you run the risk of isolating that newbie in such a way that when they do return to the real world they are set up for failure. I think churches should take the culture and environment they are currently in and train their disciples, which should be everyone who is a member of that church, on how to interact and over come the world. In the Bible we are commanded to be in the world and not of the world. This means that we are to be reaching out from our churches to purposely interact, touch, come into contact with the people of our community. Anyone in our church who is not willing to learn and continue to grow should be treated the same way Jesus treated the Pharisees and scholars. They felt they were too learned to learn anything from Christ, but in reality even the most learned man has only begun his journey of life long learning.
5. I disagree with your comment that koinonia living is the nature of the NT church. I think that koinonia living is the nature of the EC, the church at Antioch and beyond, but not the church at Jerusalem. Yes the believers in Jerusalem spent time together, but they were more worried about the rituals (circumcision) and acts than allowing the Holy Spirit to flow thru them. At Antioch, the church was truly living in an intentional community. They fellowshipped together, they sold off their possessions and used that money to provide for those in need. And they didn't limit or restrict the Holy Spirit(Pentecost) but allowed it to work thru and with them in order to accomplish God's plan of bringing the lost back to him.
6. I really struggled with this chapter also. Having been a part of the military and having actually spent a year in Iraq, I just really struggle with some of the views. In fact I am dealing with a major struggle in my mind right now. My training and background tells me that what I did was right. Jesus himself commended the Centurion, so to say that military service is bad, is wrong. However, I think about a story about my step dad. He drives tour buses and occasionally semis for a little extra cash. One trip he was driving a semi and sees a hitchhiker and picks him up. Now my step dad is definitely non-violent, he was raised Mennonite. He is also a very devout Christian and always has his Bible with him no matter what. So, he gives the hitcher a ride to where he is going and it was only later that he found out that the hitcher was armed and had been avoiding the law. My mom was extremely upset and shaken but my step dad just told her that she didn't need to worry because he was "packing". When she asked him what exactly he was "packing", he told her his Bible. He said that before the guy got in the truck he placed his Bible on the seat between them. He said the guy looked at it and just sat there until they reached where he was going. Upon learning that story, I think of how much faith my step dad has, and hope to some day have the same.
7. All in all the Rutba book looks at good, wholesome, Christ like acts that we should try to emulate. However, the fact that people are involved inherently dooms any NM community. Why? Because we are all imperfect. Therefore, by bringing other imperfect people together only compounds the problem. I am not putting these ideas down, but rather saying that we have to keep in mind the reality of things. In the last chapter the author talks about being in Iraq and what a great experience he had. What he failed to tell us was, that when the wind kicks up over there you can't hide from the blowing sand. And when it finishes blowing you find you have sand in places you didn't think you could have sand. Or he didn't talk about having to share sleeping quarters with other men and praying that you fall asleep before the guy next to you, because his snoring is so loud and disruptive.
All I am saying is that if an intentional community masters some of these ideas then they should consider themselves blessed. But to think they are going to master all of them is unrealistic.
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2 comments:
Thanks Jason for sharing deep insights and experiences from your life and perspective. Your analysis of NM is realistic regard to issues of control, human brokenness, and idealism. To some extent the Armed Services operate as ITCs (Intentional Task Communities), your illustrations drive home the agonizing realities of life in the 21st century. Volf had to deal with his own issues of welcoming the enemy in his war torn country; welcome/generousity/ hospitality are powerful theological principles and ministry initiatives.
You raise valid issues with the NT/EC contrast that Anderson addressed; I agree that Jerusalem was not fully developed in its missiology but they did demonstrate the reality of a spirit community in their initial apostolic era (Acts 2-5). Acts 6 demonstrates that the roots of tribalism were intact which supports your position of the Antiochian missional spiritual community becoming more of normative missional model. My reference to NT koinonia was inclusive of both Jerusalem (Acts 2) and Paul's apostolic missional church planting network. On another angle, C. Peter Wagner describes koinonitis as a church disease; in other words, churches can become myopic, caring, spiritual communities; this supports your position of the EC as the norm, which I agree and included in NT label. My reference in the Rutba House discussion is that koinonia is one of the marks of a NT church.
You didn't comment on my reference to an annual membership covenant to maintain a fresh commitment to the NT ideals of a kingdom community. This would be sort of like re-enlisting in an ITC.
Thanks again for sharing your perspective, our discussions will be intriguing/not boring as a Marine student and a Mennonite professor discuss/debate kingdom issues. Sometime this summer at Fremont, we can discuss further the just war position and NT ethics.
Dr J.,
Just to clarify, I was in the Army, not the Marines. That is like calling a dog a cat. In fact I have several Marine jokes if you would like to hear them. I look forward to our time at the Pines. Make sure you bring your bike.
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