Comments on: The church in deep church…

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 07:35:20 +0000

Thanks for sharing Trish, I hope you had a good break away.

I’ve been in church environments where the focuse as been more thought based and others where it has been more emotions based and some that try and bring the two together. Then again I have friends who are more thinkers and friends who are very emotional and a majority that are varying shades of both. I’ve learnt and grown a lot in all the church environs I’ve been in so welcome the diversity jus like i welcome the diversity of my friends.

Its a good question you ask: can the church do that? Seeing what you wrote before about you sitting in the pub and chatting I’d say the church is doing that in all sorts of places with all sorts of people already.

By: Trish

Trish — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:13:34 +0000

thanks Paul been a bit busy with shopping, ironing, kids etc and wont be around for a few days cause have the rare opportunity to get away for a few days. I am increasingly concerned by the people around me who insist on making our faith something you approach with your intellect. I live in a town where most people are “just normal” and really are we in danger of making the gospel only accessible for clever people? Now there is a question for all …. we sat in a pub earlier talking to two people with very obvious problems….. I know Gods heart wants to connect with them …. can we the church do that???

By: Paul

Paul — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 13:12:46 +0000

Thanks Trish, you’re voice is welcome here and please do help us keep it understanable or ask us what we mean if we start sounding like we’re speaking from another planet

By: Trish

Trish — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 15:30:23 +0000

Thanks so much for this posting. I have been getting Deep Church sent to me for a couple of weeks now and well was beginning to feel that I wasnt quite academic enough to understand or join in. That is something I dont need as the local church around here is very academic based as it is! Trying to process academic approaches to our faith is too much after a busy day at Sainsburys, cooking tea, putting the kids to bed. So for those ordinary folks out here please speak in simple terms? With regard to discovering Jesus in our midst I am convinced that anyone who looks for Him will find Him wherever they go (to be church). Its the life after finding Him that causes the problem, do we think that church (as it is now)is able to contain the person who has encountered Jesus?

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:31:07 +0000

Thanks Rodney, well that should be easy for me, I don’t know much theological jargon lol. But I think it is getting the balance right in being clear and explaining what we are on about and doing it in as many ways as engage. Clearly we want those steeped in technical/theological expertise to share what they know and for ordinary punters to do likewise.

Really though the language issue is a bit of a red herring, we want to be clear what we are about in terms of deep and church that make up for us deep church. We want to celebrate and learn from the past and let it infect the present. We also want to be pro church in all its good and bad mixed together forms.

By: rodney neill

rodney neill — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 10:58:10 +0000

I try reading the church and pomo website which often is way over my head with technical specialised theological language that is used by a mainly academic readership! I personally enjoy the content of this site – the trick is to try use everyday language that avoids theological jargon as much as possible in order to connect to a wider readership. keep up the good work and I look foward to your post on church involvement!

rodney

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:30:27 +0000

Thanks Jonathan. I like the idea of having many voices to help speak about deep church in ways that allow as many people as want to be join in the conversation be able to do so.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:28:24 +0000

Thanks Jason, I’m all for good thinking just challenged in how we write so that we can help as many people as possible participate and add to our understanding from their own experiences.

By: Jonathan Brink

Jonathan Brink — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:48:59 +0000

Paul, perhaps this early stage is about learning your own language for speaking what Deep church is. And you’ll lose some people but gain more in the long run.

By: Jason Reid

Jason Reid — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:09:19 +0000

Paul, it is strangely refreshing that the discussions here are on the less purile side and it brings up issues that require some good thinking. There’s enough shallow dross out there and I for one enjoy having my cognitive functions stretched a bit. Enjoy grace