Acts 2:40-42
And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation." Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
More thoughts about what a true Recovery Church would look like. Not so much the aesthetics of the meeting, but more of the dynamics and purpose behind it. In other words....why it exists and what should be the business of a recovery church.
Those who would become family and community in a Recovery Church would be spiritual "babes" or "children." The common bond in the group should be a hunger for God as we increase in understanding and wisdom in His word. A hunger for Him to come as we worship. A hunger or desire for His presence in our meetings. It is my estimation that when such a dynamic is at work in a group of people, God will honor it with His presence. From this place, our theology will be birthed and formed as we all grow in Him. I know that the initial reason most would begin to come to a meeting would be the desire to be free from the darkness of addiction. But as the continue to be a part of the group, my prayer is that they see the larger picture of what God can and will do to them and through them if they give themselves daily (surrender of will) over to His care.
We desire to have meetings that are raw, real and profoundly holy. We do not seek after a spiritual "feeling" or experience, but we should not shy away from such either when God does manifest Himself in a meeting. The basic feature that we would want to pass on to those who come would be the idea of "You should come expecting!" Every time we gather, we should come with the expectation that God is going to reveal Himself and we are going to leave that meeting changed.
I want to see a "people" who grow in Christ. Who are moving and living under the unction (guidance)of God's Holy Spirit. The one thing that God has been dealing with me is the idea of salvation. Every church has as its mandate the call to see people come to Christ and be saved. But if the truth were really shown, not much happens after that event. Those who are saved are kind of left to flounder on their own. Join a Sunday School class....take on a leadership role in the church.....give your tithe. I think God expects more of us than this. To me, when someone is brought to the Cross of Christ, the battle has just begun. Now the real work begins. Now that new babe in Christ has to learn how to live in a new way. They need to be taught how to pray. They need to be taught how to hear the "voice" of God. How to read and study the word. If we don't help with the cultivation of being hungry for God in the life of a new believer, they will wither and die spiritually. To them, relationship with Christ will simply be attending a meeting, singing some songs and putting $5.00 in the plate when it is passed.
If you read the verse from Acts 2, you'll see that after these were saved, a new dynamic took place in their collective lives. A hunger to learn was birthed among this group as the studied the Apostles "doctrine". Sounds dull doesn't it. When we think of doctrine or theology we almost cringe with the thought of "Oh no...there is not way I could do that." Well, the study of God's word is to find the life...the direction God desires for you. It isn't a dissection of the Greek and Hebrew (not that there is anything wrong with that). It is learning how to live a new way surrounded by others who are on the same journey.
To me, the downside of most recovery meetings is that Jesus has become a means to an end. He is the medicine I take to move on in my sobriety. Come to Jesus and have my sin slate (record) wiped clean. While this is true, Jesus is the Power we have been searching for, the means opens the door to a greater reality and way to live. I never want to push or peddle Christ as medicine. I want to always point to Jesus as the only one who can save us or as the 12 steps so aptly states...Jesus is the POWER greater than myself who could restore me to sanity. Jesus is not just an answer to our problem, but rather a new way to live, breath, eat, sleep and work in this old world that has sought to devour and kill us. That through the salvation that Jesus offers to all who would accept, not only do we have a new life, but we get to participate in the Kingdom of God. Or as John Wimber put it..."We get to Do The Stuff!"
God on you....
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