OIKOS DOIKOS

How many of you have sat down at a dinner table or a living room discussing whether an actor "connected" to Kevin Bacon by 6 degrees of separation or less? This little ritual began with a group of friends who had too much to drink...obviously. A recent sociological study discovered that the average person has over 1500 acquaintances over his/her lifetime. Think about that 1500! If each of us have at least 1500 sets of acquaintances, surely they are bound to overlap at some point, right? One would think so. The game has evolved into groups of people trying to determine where each member is relationally connected...by 6 degrees!

In the New Testament, an interesting word is used to represent our most basic unit of relationships. The word is oikos. I actually just enjoy saying the word. The word is used to describe our relational circle - our family, our friends, our neighbors, our work associates. You and I both have an oikos and this oikos has a divine element to it, that we may not often think about, but God does (Acts 17). Over the past 30 years, churches have done their best to come up with the most creative series titles, the most attractive bands, dramatic elements and events, to help people find this Jesus love. There is nothing inherently wrong with these events, but it is quite a different method than was employed by the New Testament church and Jesus in particular. Check this out:

When you enter a home (oikos), greet the family, ‘Peace.’ If your greeting is received, then it’s a good place to stay. But if it’s not received, take it back and get out. Don’t impose yourself. Stay at one home (oikos), taking your meals there, for a worker deserves three square meals. Don’t move from house (oikos) to house (oikos), looking for the best cook in town. (Luke 10:5-7)

I am amazed by the thought that my fundamental relational circle is where Jesus wants me to stay. I've been taught my whole life that my goal should be to bring my oikos to church. Start with my family, move to my friends, then my enemies. Get them to church and they'll handle the rest. Sounds good, but not what Jesus was teaching. I must enter my oikos with a bent toward unity and harmony among the members. I need to stay there, not bouncing from relational circles to relational circles, looking for the one that will satisfy my hunger. This is revolutionary to how we do church. As a church, we must be equipping people to stay in their oikos and share their lives in that relational circle. Then, we can saturate the community where we live. Then the Church can be a positive influence in the community, rather than just another busy place on Sunday morning. Remember, we are not the church that meets at the YMCA, we are the Church @ The Springs; you are the Church in your oikos!

I have a feeling this issue may be blog fodder for the next few days. Join in on this one...