{ things i'm mulling over }

" We have come to see that it is all about Jesus and not just a methodology. It is not about mission, not about church, but it's about Jesus and his glory, his life. To know Jesus is not an event, a ritual, a creed, or a religion. It is a journey of trust and adventure. We don't believe in any religion anymore--including Christianity--but we do believe in following Jesus. We no longer need religion with its special buildings, dogmas, programs, clergy, or any other human inventions that displace genuine spirituality. Why do we need a name and address to be a church? We've come out of religion and come back to God. " (thoughts from Jonathan Campbell, as read in Emerging Churches (p. 47)).

** I think I could replace all the "we"s with "I"s in this passage. I could make it my own declaration.

-- what significance there is to the fact that "the church" is a modern institution trying to function in a postmodern world

-- the fact that, when a public poll was taken in Seattle (I will try to find a more concrete reference for this), 95% of people had no problem with the person of Jesus; what then do they have the problem with (in regards to "Christianity")? (this is a bit of a rhetorical question; I know the answer)

-- centrifugal (outward) vs. centripetal (inward) focused church/community

(So I've started reading this book and I don't know if I've ever encountered anything so simultaneously exciting/encouraging/shocking/challenging. I'm fifty pages in, with a massive handful still to go. I'm sure I will have more to say once I gather my thoughts in a more organized and presentable fashion.)