I had an interesting conversation today that really sparked some needed revelation for my life. As the launching of the first installment of 8 orientation classes for the King's People began this last Sunday, I have started to ask myself some questions about the meetings.

I spent most of that first session tag teaming with my wife--child wrangling. That is our full time occupation. So sitting down and listening to a message or teaching for an hour and a half is not in the landscape of possibilities at this point. Even at our Thursday night home group we face challenges; its clearly the nature of this season of life. We didn't move from Idaho to North Carolina to attend meetings, home group or corporate, established or grass-roots apostolic. We moved here to live life. We moved here to practice and establish a way of life that becomes the Christian culture we've longed for in our hearts.

A question in the air...

"Where is the community I was hoping to find here?"

A Statement of paradox...

“We want the leaders to tell us what to do, and we want the the leaders not to tell us what to do.”

A thought...

What if we saw ourselves as a leader of spiritual servitude?

A consideration...

Is there really a church structure or model that hinders and quenches my ability to love and reach out?

Could it be that, even if we found ourselves in the most family structured, community-oriented church, we could still complain that there is no family or community if we don't understand that family and community come from within?

We can't look to an outside structure to dictate what should originate and be released from our own renewed hearts. Until we believe that community development must come from our depths, we will continue to look to an outside church model that satisfy an internal longing. I am sure you have heard it said, “Even though Israel was taken out of slavery, slavery wasn't taken out of them.” Even though Israel was delivered from an outside bondage, they remained in bondage on the inside. A change in outside circumstances doesn't always mean a change in heart. But when the heart is liberated, our outside circumstances bow their knee to a greater reality—inner freedom.

Check out Paul's inner freedom:

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 2 Tim. 8-10

There is no worldly law which can be applied to the life in the Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Gal. 5:22-23

We need to be convinced of some deep truths: I am the one who is control of my love, my service, my giving, my community, the fruit of the Spirit; It will not be bound up or stopped by what goes on around me; I am now made free on the inside to freely love, freely give.

Have you allowed outside circumstances to put the fruit of the Spirit, which is being produced in your heart, to be put under some form of law?

Just some things to consider...

mjh