TK Chapters 18+ :: Inviting In

Well, today, I'm going to finish up the posts on Tangible Kingdom by combining the last few chapters.  I am glad that we ventured out in this book together, but it's gone a little long and I'm not sure who has read the book, who has finished the book and who is waiting to jump back in when we move on.

Saturday night, I wrapped up our final night at family camp with a lot of Tangible Kingdom thoughts.  I taught about the Living Out and Inviting In at the back of the book.  We've discussed the Living Out, but here's the recap..

• LEAVING is about replacing personal or Christian activities with time spent building relationships with people in the surrounding culture.  Selfishness is the enemy of leaving.
• LISTENING is eally more about what you do with your eyes instead of just your ears.  Arrogance is the enemy of listening.
• LIVING AMONG is participating in the natural activities of the culture around you, with whimsical holiness.  Fear is the enemy of living among.
• LOVING WITHOUT STRINGS is giving your life away to others without expecting anything in return.  We love because that's simply how Jesus lived.  Expectations are the enemy of loving without strings.
  

That brings us to the INVITING IN part of living in God's Kingdom in a tangible manner.  Once we connect with those in the culture around us, we must be clear about what we are inviting them into.  Halter describes three areas in which we invite people into...

1. Communion represents “oneness” - those things that make up our communal connection and worship of God.  The more we become “one” with Christ, the less consumer oriented we will be.
2. Community represents aspects of “togetherness” - those things we share as we form our lives together.  The more we do “together,” the less individualistic we will be.
3. Mission represents “otherness” - the aspects of our life together that focus on people outside our community.  The more we do for “others,” the less materialistic we will be.

Consumerism, individualism and materialism are the greatest enemies of biblical community today.  Every excuse we make about engaging in the life that Christ wants for us.  It keeps us from engaging with those who walk the same journey with us, and it keeps us from living it all out in the middle of the culture that wraps us up in everyday life.

Tangible Kingdom has proven to be a very rewarding read for me.  I have been affirmed by much of the book and challenged by others.  While the book started off a little bit like every "missional" book, and tempted me and others to discard it because it was just another pastor who seems to brag about drinking and riding his Harley, there was enough in each chapter to keep me reading and laughing.  Then it kicked into hyper-drive and was a great read after that.  

I'm not sure if I'll venture down this road again with a book, but I'm glad we did it once.  Next post is back to "embracing the Christ-life in every place with everything, everyday!"