Values for the Church & Her Leaders (part 5): Why I am an Anabaptist

January 27, 2011 By Kurt Willems 6 Comments

The final value that we will explore for the church and her leaders is that of being an Anabaptist.  This is the stream from which my faith-tradition flows, and it includes several key elements.  Although the word or idea of “Anabaptism” is not found in the Bible, it is a unique approach to the Scriptures and the way of Jesus that sets this value apart.  Rather than attempt to describe the movement in its fullness perhaps I should give a summary statement and then allow another source to inform us of an overview the Anabaptist way.

The summary I offer is: “The way of Jesus subverts the empires of this age.”  At the heart of what it means to be an Anabaptist is a commitment to follow the teachings of Jesus, and to allow the subversive nature of discipleship to expose the “empires” of the world and of popular culture for what they are; counterfeit realities.  Empires are often powerful nations, but can be any system, person, or thing that culture imposes on our imagination to keep us in bondage, limiting us from experiencing the kingdom of God.  A covenant community is invited to renew her mind, to convert our imaginations into Christ-like actions, and to live as an alternative to the default operation of a fallen world. [Read more...]

Filed Under: (Series) Values for Church Leadership, Anabaptism, Church Ministry 6 Comments

Values for the Church & Her Leaders (part 4): Inclusive

January 19, 2011 By Kurt Willems 8 Comments

A fourth value of biblical leadership within the church is that of being inclusive.  To summarize: “There are no prerequisites to grace and love.”  This value goes hand in hand with all of the others and could have very easily been a sub-category of missional or community, but in my opinion this is one that should be distinguished on its own.  Inclusive is an understanding that the message of God’s grace is for everyone, and it is also the recognition that no one should ever be excluded from the community. Christ-followers are called to tear down the walls of separation that this culture has built to divide us from one another. God’s beautiful and upside-down grace is offered to all people in all places and at all times; therefore we are called to love people and offer them grace no matter what wrongs they have committed.  This is not the condoning of destructive behavior, habits, or lifestyles; but the conviction that God’s grace can change lives.  Our calling is to follow the model of God who loved us before we ever chose to respond to him.  God is patient with people “wishing that all will come to repentance.”  We are invited to choose love over judgment.[1]

The rest of this series can be read here.

[1] See: 1 John 4.19; 2 Peter 3.9; Ephesians 5.1-2; Matthew 7.1-5; James 4.11-12; Ephesians 2.11-22; Galatians 3.26-29; Colossians 3.11

Filed Under: (Series) Values for Church Leadership, Church Ministry Tagged With: , , , 8 Comments

Values for the Church & Her Leaders (part 3): Creativity (I get a bit charismatic here)

January 17, 2011 By Kurt Willems 2 Comments

The third value that I want to explore that is relevant both to the church and to her leaders is creativity.  To summarize this value we could say: “Spirituality unleashes the prophetic imagination.”  The more connected the church and her leaders are to God, the more that imaginative possibilities can prophetically be revealed to our culture.  Notice again that the values of missional and community are necessary for creativity to flourish.  Without God’s action in the world, we would have no creative movement to join.  And without a community, our creativity would be wasted and self-serving.  Creativity needs all the other values.  With that said, what is the basis for creativity?

The primary role of Christian leadership is to equip others to discover their unique calling and role in God’s story, for the good of the community of faith and the world.  As the people of God learn to grow in their ministry calling, each member complements all of the others in a way that cultivates a culture of creativity.  God created humanity in the image of the divine and gave them the ability to express his creativity through various artistic expressions. Our Creator has infused unique talents and gifts within each person that are to be cultivated and expressed.  The more we engage with the creative flow of God, the more our imagination is unlocked and free to dream of new ways of being human.  Creativity that is fueled by the Holy Spirit sees the world in light of possibilities for God’s people in mission, and as a prophetic voice to speak into our broken world.  Imagination is what gives birth to these new realities for the kingdom to be reflected.  This includes new ways of ordering our lives and communities, the arts, gifts from the Spirit, and ultimately the hope that a better world is possible. Our creative abilities are our contribution for the betterment of our faith-community, humanity, and the world.

It should also be said that in the church and leadership, creativity means having an openness to the Holy Spirit.  [Read more...]

Filed Under: (Series) Values for Church Leadership, Church Ministry Tagged With: 2 Comments

Values for the Church & Her Leaders (part 2): Community

January 13, 2011 By Kurt Willems 1 Comment

The second value that is important to both the local church and to her leaders is community.  This is another word that has multiple meanings for various groups, so I want to offer the following summary: “Authentic relationships guided by love can change the world.”

The values of community and missional fit together perfectly.  It is impossible to have one without the other.  Without a community to partner with God, humanity would have no mission.  And without a mission, the community has no reason to assemble.  But the New Testament gives us a beautiful and messy picture of authentic relationships.  [Read more...]

Filed Under: (Series) Values for Church Leadership, Church Ministry, Community Tagged With: , , 1 Comment
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