One of my favorite episodes of the Sci-Fi series Babylon 5 is the final episode of season 4, a backwards looking analysis of events leading way into the future as viewed from different peoples perspectives, some factual (in a fiction sort of way, I know it's not real) and some misinterpreted.
One iconic aspect of Christian life for me in the 20th & 21st centuries has been and still is the intentional Christian community.
Disciples who had taken the call to have all things in common and literally done that and have moved themselves into some form of intentional communal living.
(Post Green Community/Community of Celebration, The Bruderhof, Jesus People USA, New Creation Christian Community, The Simple Way etc.)
We are at a time in history when many, but not all, of those communities are going through a period of deconstruction for various reasons.
Just like one of my favorite sci-fi series "Bab5" there will many who will take a backwards look at why this is happening, viewing it from different perspectives and often misinterpreting the signs.
One thing they won't be able to do is look back from the future, for unlike fiction that part hasn't been written yet, humanly speaking and possibly kingdom wise as well as I still have a somewhat open theology.
What we can do however is look at those who are deconstructing/reconstructing.
I read recently that deconstruction can be exhilarating at first but soon becomes boring, then the energy for reconstruction has gone, so some won't make it.
It's ok to be getting rid of bad practice, irrelevant practice, out of date practice and any other man made up damaging, abusive and even criminal practice but if you haven't the energy to listen and hear from the Holy Spirit you will just end up with much of the same... and off we go again not really learning from our mistakes and just saying things that pacify the angry and upset.
Happily there are some who are listening and they have the courage to try something different, learning on the way, prayerfully listening to God and prayerfully correcting mistakes before they become religious practices.
So what would we notice that's different if we were to encounter one of these groups?
Firstly the isolationism has gone, no more living in a massive property in the middle of nowhere but in small semi's and detached houses on estates, in cul-de-sacs, on streets in the middle of impoverished communities, knowing their neighbor, where feeding the neighbors cat or knocking for the loan of some sugar or milk happens naturally.
Smaller groups, some single, some married, some with small children, homes that look lived in and are comfortable and welcoming.
Projects like this have been pioneered before. Groups like the Message trust have established projects in needy neighborhoods and are continuing to this day.
These small extended families often find employment in the local community and are available to get involved in other projects in the area, they tend to be less diary orientated than the larger more institutional communities, allowing time to build real ongoing relationships with their neighbors.
Fire and Shaking
Often deconstruction involves some burning and shaking, after all our God is an all consuming fire.
The problem with fire that is not restrained is that it will consume everything, that means everything good as well as bad.
Yea I know, before you get on my case about God destroying the good stuff let me just say, Its not Him, its us, we do it.
Some times because we haven't prayed and listened, but mostly because the heady feeling of pulling something apart in the areas that have bugged us for years, remembering the pain and frustration we've felt while living it, gives us the motivation to say "it's got to go chuck it out".
This type of deconstruction is very shortsighted and comes from not being able to see what was good, what is good and what brings life and purpose.
There is almost a guaranteed time to come when the realization comes that something important is missing and the ability to get it back has gone (those who have ears to hear).
One of the new initiatives i'm aware of seems to have as one of it priorities the establishing of a prayer room in the house where they are based, it might not be the first thing they do but to them it is important to get it established for the benefit of their common life together, they also decided that on most Sunday mornings instead of trotting off to join a larger congregation they hold a gathering in their home, in the neighborhood where they live.
The spiritual life of the household is important to knowing what to keep and what should go and what should be started.
Other things are important too especially food, and fellowship along with regular bible studies. (Emphasis on food is mine... but one that is shared by many😊)
Having lived in the larger more institutional community i'm aware that some structural things were actually helpful, along with those structures that had a negative effect, mainly causing unhealthy co-dependency and over bearing abusive control.
The danger is getting rid of the good with the bad, because living a less structured lifestyle requires effort, you have to work at it.
The area of biggest concern will be those who are not living in the residential community but who live in their own homes and are intending to be a full part of the communities life.
The home being the castle and all that means that a real effort will have to be made to maintain the togetherness that was there in the more organised situation.
From our experience many will fail, gradually pulling back from meeting together and finding pleasure in their own company and the freedom that they feel they had been denied for such a long time, a common life will require determination on every ones part.
Some will need help and support, dependency will have crept in and the ability to function outside of the bubble will have diminished.
Many of the hurts and abuses that have plagued some of the larger intentional communities have been caused by the decisions made by leaders who have lived in the bubble so long that they no longer know how the world around them functions. Isolationism and a siege mentality that keeps the world out at all cost has been responsible for much of the pain and hurt that has caused some groups to deconstruct.
It's worthwhile saying here that much of the deconstruction has been forced upon them by the current social climate and had this not been the case they would have continued on in their merry blinkered, myopic way, a bit like the dwarfs in CS Lewis' Last Battle ( Chronicles of Narnia ).
One of the sad outcomes of this is to see and hear those who with the best of intentions have been serving the King of Kings for many years, suddenly come to the realization that in the name of Jesus they have caused hurt and pain while thinking they were moving in love. Deconstruction is messy, and reconstruction isn't for the faint of heart.
So respect to all who are building on the good of the old but moving forward in the new, may you impact your communities with the power of the Love that clothes the naked, feeds the poor, heals the sick and cares for the prisoner in His Name.
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