This morning I was sitting in a coffee shop waiting for a friend and I found myself (once again) daydreaming about this church. Specifically, I was envisioning conversations with people who God might call to be a part of this one day, and I was wrestling with how to describe this vision. As I've been writing and talking to others (many of you) about the CityWell dream I have been frustrated trying to put labels on the vision God is giving me. For instance, as prior posts indicate, I think it important for a church to embody Gospel reconciliation by reflecting the racial, ethnic and class diversity of its community. So, am I to say "we are planting a multi-ethnic church?" That description just seems too narrow. Or, as I believe churches should exist for those not yet celebrating the reality that Jesus IS their Lord and Savior, should I say, "Yeah... we're planting a church to bring people to faith in Christ." Once again this doesn't capture all of why we should exist. My list of inadequate descriptions goes on, and so as I wrestled with articulation today this thought occurred to me: everything I describe when talking about The CityWell is secondary; all of these attributes, no matter how significant, are derivative of a greater, more encompassing calling. So, here's my latest attempt to put words to the vision:
The CityWell will be a faith community seeking to know and follow Jesus, that our hearts might come to beat and break with the heart of God.
In short, The CityWell will exist
to live out the heart of God. I am excited about this articulation because it encompasses and grounds all of the more particular elements I've been pointing toward, as it begs the question, "Well, for what does God's heart beat and break?" Now that is a question pregnant with implications! Here are a few quick examples:
- The Father's heart beats for Jesus, and Jesus' heart beats for the Father (see John 17:1). Implication: because the Spirit includes us in the life of God, the church is to be a community of worship.
- God's heart beats for all people, so the church must intentionally embody diversity.
- God's heart breaks for the oppressed and hurting, so too the church must practice compassion and ministries of justice and mercy.
- God's heart breaks for those who refuse His embrace (Luke 13:34-35, 19:41-44), and so must the church long to see people come to worship and exult in Christ. Evangelism flows from the heart of God.
We can go on and on (and I'd love you to add to this list). I think this pursuit of having hearts in rhythm with God's heart can govern all of a church's priorities, values and ministries. What do you think?
Whether or not this ends up being The CityWell's purpose/vision statement I pray it will be true, as I don't think we can go wrong having our hearts synced with God's!
A church after God's own heart...David was a man after God's own heart and committed grave sins. IT was never a question of whether or not David was going to sin, it was what he did with his sin. Especially after Nathan confronts him in 2 Sam 12. Psalm 51 is written from which we get the praise song, Create in Me a Clean Heart O God. I've rarely seen a church that is able to deal with it's own sin. It is either hidden, ignored, or often times rationalized. The idea of moral choices dictating their theology as opposed to having out theology dictating our moral choices. How does a church that is in sync with God's own heart repent, worship, confront, and deal with sin. There is no question that at some point the CITY WELL will have to answer these questions. What a great quest.
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