The Way

The collective members of early Christianity were known to the Mediterranean world as "The Way". The modern concept of "church" did not exist so to speak. There were no buildings, no church activities, no softball leagues. There were, however, small pockets of people who met regularly, whose lives were transformed, and whose mission was clear; make disciples.

They were a movement.

They were a movement the likes of which the world had never seen. They were a movement that changed the course of history.

And to think, it all started with a Jewish rabbi who had claims to the throne of David. A rabbi who called himself "I Am". Ironically, He was killed by the very nation He was supposed to rule. His surviving legacy was a rag-tag band of uneducated misfits, who had abandoned him when the going got tough.

How was something like this supposed to change the world? The idea is completely mind blowing. I mean, only God Himself could actually make something from this seemingly ill-fated sect of Judaism.

I guess that is just what He did, and as pastor Rob Bell put it, maybe "weak [became] the new strong".

God turned this failure completely around. The followers of Jesus who were once dejected, became empowered. They went from abandoners of the faith, to abandoners of the self, willing to die for the sake of Christ.

There is a lot to be learned from this early movement of christianity. And I think a lot of what can be learned is in the idea embodied in the very word "movement".

A movement is something active, moving, changing, growing, continually becoming. A movement is something that impacts the world, changes lives, drives toward a goal with purpose. A movement is not something you just do.

A movement is the purpose of your meaning, the essence of which is as air, more important than food, more valuable than life itself.

Contrast this idea of a movement with our modern day concept of Church. In American culture, church has become synonymous with an establishment. Church is more or less an exclusive club, unwelcoming of newcomers and often with no other purpose than to socialize.

It is all too sad. This shift of church from a movement to an establishment has taken the church out of everyday life. It has emptied the church of purpose and passion and denigrated it as simply another activity, like book club, soccer practice, or boy scouts.

The church building has become more than just four walls. It is a physical barrier between the world and the kingdom of God. And if the kingdom of God is so much greater than the world, then why are we trying to capture and hold it within the confines of a fellowship hall?

It is high time we follow. Jesus bids us "come, follow me". His request is a call into His movement, a kingdom which is continually advancing. We must capture and embody the true meaning of "Church" as the physical manifestation of God's metaphysical kingdom. The likes of which is built not of brick and mortar, but of HIS laborers, soldiers, and scholars.

"The Way" is a movement, and it is something which you can still be follower.

-- There are still many more snippets of ideas I will want to post, but take this as is for now.