This past week I had the privilege of going to England to stay at the L'Abri branch in the town of Greatham. For those who do not know what L'Abri is, a loooonnng time ago there was a man by the name of Francis Schaffer who realized that there wasn't a place for Evangelicals to go and openly ask real questions and engage with people without fear of being shunned or mistreated. L'Abri is a French word that means "Shelter", and that's exactly what Schaffer created...a shelter.
During my stay I was required to participate in a daily work schedule that was surprisingly restful, despite its appearance of intensity. I (and all the other students there, including eight other student form my college) were assigned to either work in the morning and then study in the afternoon, or vice versa. Working included either food prep, cleaning crew, gardening crew, or laundry. Studying was independent and personal in nature. Whatever you desired to study (that was available via books in the library or lectures on tape). I was blown away by what I experienced during my stay.
I have found that I am severely lacking in the area of community. While it is not completely void in my life, there is very little true community being exercised. However, while I was at L'Abri I was able to experience what it means to have "community" and to be able to be open and honest and to true engage people. While I found it considerably more amongst my fellow classmates rather than the students of L'Abri, it was being in the atmosphere that L'Abri provides that allowed us to truly connect. It was a life-giving experience and was very revealing.
I think that what makes me most angry is the realization that churches in my home town (and in my country and worldwide etc etc etc) are not practicing community. They do not allow space for openness to questions or discussing problem areas. The Church of Evangelical America has become closed-minded and her leaders have chosen to give unsatisfactory answers to question or to ridicule people with questions. It seems to me that the Church's leaders have lost focus and have misplaced their priorities.
What do you think? Does your church practice community? How about your family?
During my stay I was required to participate in a daily work schedule that was surprisingly restful, despite its appearance of intensity. I (and all the other students there, including eight other student form my college) were assigned to either work in the morning and then study in the afternoon, or vice versa. Working included either food prep, cleaning crew, gardening crew, or laundry. Studying was independent and personal in nature. Whatever you desired to study (that was available via books in the library or lectures on tape). I was blown away by what I experienced during my stay.
I have found that I am severely lacking in the area of community. While it is not completely void in my life, there is very little true community being exercised. However, while I was at L'Abri I was able to experience what it means to have "community" and to be able to be open and honest and to true engage people. While I found it considerably more amongst my fellow classmates rather than the students of L'Abri, it was being in the atmosphere that L'Abri provides that allowed us to truly connect. It was a life-giving experience and was very revealing.
I think that what makes me most angry is the realization that churches in my home town (and in my country and worldwide etc etc etc) are not practicing community. They do not allow space for openness to questions or discussing problem areas. The Church of Evangelical America has become closed-minded and her leaders have chosen to give unsatisfactory answers to question or to ridicule people with questions. It seems to me that the Church's leaders have lost focus and have misplaced their priorities.
What do you think? Does your church practice community? How about your family?
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