I love Next-Wave. "Humbling" does not begin to describe my feelings about this opportunity to serve as editor. I know the story behind Next-Wave because my dear friend and mentor, Charlie Wear, told me all about it. I know that Charlie has been plowing this field long before anyone was using words like "emerging" and "missional." His passion for whatever God is doing to gather a generation disenchanted by church and religious culture to his kingdom is something that I am continuously inspired by.
Charlie is one of the only people that really "gets me" when I talk about what I'm hearing from the Spirit and how I'm trying to follow his lead. In the mission that my wife and I are on right now, laying the foundation for what might be a church in Northwest Indiana, it's Charlie's counsel that I seek. Mostly because I know he's going to force me back to the Lord. "Listen to God. He'll talk to you," he says.
To me, that's what Next-Wave is about. That's what comes out through so many different voices, every month. I catch a whisper from the voice of the Spirit with every issue. This is my goal as editor - to continue to listen to God and let him do all the talking through Next-Wave.
Church as I have known it (American, cultural Christianity) is no longer serving God's purpose of intimacy and relationship. So that's why the conversation that goes on here is so important. It may have been ordained and sanctioned by God and maybe it was serving His purpose at one time. I do not believe it has the ability to go on serving Him in the future. The next wave or "new wine" that He is bringing into the fold of His kingdom needs a new wineskin.
In Isaiah Chapter 1, God speaks through that prophet to condemn the religious practices of the Jews of that day. What suddenly occurred to me while reading the chapter is that God was not dealing with idol worship. He was talking about the religious system inherited from Moses. The system he once allowed had lost all of its original meaning.
They were going through all the correct motions but it was not serving the purpose of drawing them into relationship with him. The challenge was to surrender their notions of serving God and accept the "new thing" he was trying to give birth to within them. God seems to force this type of confrontation in several places throughout Scripture. Another encounter I think of is found in Mark 6, when Jesus sends his followers away in the boat while he stays on land to pray. The gospel makes a special point of telling us that the storm blew up when they were "in the middle" of the sea. They were too far to turn back and not far enough for the safety of shore on the other side. In this journey out of conventional church, I've often felt out in the middle with nothing to grab onto at either side. It's pretty scary even when I remember it was Jesus who told me to take this trip in the first place.
Jesus does something wild and dramatic to come to the aid of his friends. He walks on the waves and then quiets the storm with his presence in the boat. I think he's ready to do these things again. I think he is glad that we've gotten ourselves out here in the middle, with no more props to cling to and no more comfortable "normal" to soothe ourselves with. I thinks he's on the water now and heading toward people all over the world who have followed his call into rough seas.
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So how can we go about building this new wineskin idea of service and worship? God gives us some great direction in Isaiah chapter 1:
Verse 18a - "Come now, and let us reason together..." One translation says, "I, the LORD, invite you to come and talk it over."
Think about your intimacy and relationship with God in these terms. If all the props of church were removed, would there be anything left? Have you had that encounter yet? Are you too far from shore to turn back, but not close enough to the other side to be certain that you'll make it?
What if He did away with the praise and worship band and all the external stimulants? Would you still find ways to worship? What if there were no more children's programs or church ministries to kids? Would you still find ways to lead your children (or any children) to be disciples of Jesus? If God eliminated all the missions programs and "outreach" initiatives, would you still find ways for the Gospel to be advanced through your life? If there was no more church to receive your tithe, would you still be a fountain of giving and generosity?
What if God really is finished with our systems of service and worship, like He was expressing in the days of Isaiah? What if His soul hates them (Isaiah 1:14)? Are we ready to leave it behind and find other ways to serve His purpose of intimacy and relationship? Again, I see direction coming from Isaiah the prophet:
Verse 17 - "Learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow."
That is the mission and all these centuries later, it still needs doing.
I'm thrilled to be part of this Next-Wave community. I love the risks that are taken here and the passion that is expressed here. Next-Wave People really wear it on their sleeve. You can feel it in the comments and emotions ebbs through each article. But I'm most excited just to be included somewhere in the story that our Lord is writing.
To this Next-Wave community: Thank you for the fire you've provided to purge and refine my life. I look forward to serving you!
Scott Bane is the husband of Sheryl and father of Ben, Luke, Ethan and Aisling. They live in Northwest Indiana and are trying to build something that is all about mission and community. To pay the bills he works for an online school. This is his first month as editor of Next-Wave. |
