People ask me about where I've been going to church during the pandemic. I'm always happy to tell them about The Catch. I've long been a reader of John Fischer and when he started the catch as a ministry to real people out in the real world, I wanted to give it a shot.
It's no shock to anyone who knows me that I used to love my former physical church for it's "Church of the Misfit Toys" model of outreach. Then that changed and we became much more "modern contemporary" (in structure, not just overly repetitive music) and "first Baptist-ish" in terms of merely paying lip service to welcoming the least of these and reaching out to those who don't look and act like typical modern Christians. Then again, it's tough to make budget when the bulk of the church members aren't in positions of power or money in the community, so it's only normal that the most successful churches cater to the "norms and muggles" so to speak.
When John and the ministry team at The Catch put together this statement, I resonated with it on pretty much all cylinders. At first I was taken back by the term "marketplace Christian" because so many treat the church like a marketplace nowadays, trying to find the best "services" and even "coffee house." But John and the team's approach is more the idea of Christians becoming part of the marketplace (real world, "in the world not of it") rather than standing outside it and yelling at it or making a list of everything that's wrong with it or trying to change all it's cool stuff into "safe" Christian versions (of the world not in it).
I share it here with a link for those who has asked about it, and for those who wonder where an very non-traditional believer can find a church home that embraces my understanding of the life of faith.
=============================
Declaration of a Marketplace Christian
Whereas: We are followers of Christ who are wary about things that are given the cultural label “Christian”; and
Whereas: “Christian” has become a term that has more to do with how one aligns oneself politically and socially, or how one behaves in relation to certain cultural mores, than it does with anything of the heart; and
Whereas: We want to be Christians – but with a new definition;
We have come to the following conclusions:
We are not trying to create a place of safety in the world. Instead, we have found a place in our hearts where Christ dwells, and this gives us courage to face the world as it is.
We realize our overall purpose is not to change the world (that kind of thing is beyond our control), but it is to bring comfort, peace, warmth, love, and aid to people who are in the world, in the name of Jesus and His gospel.
Even if we were able to control the moral standards of society we understand that we would not necessarily be furthering the cause of Christ by making people better. In fact, we recognize a selfish motive in wanting a better world so we can have a safer environment in which to live and raise our own families. This gives no regard that to the fact that “better” people without Christ still perish in their sins. A more moral society means little or nothing if people do not come into relationship with Christ.
We may not look or talk like traditional Christians because we hang around non-Christians a lot and have learned to play down our differences rather than exploit them, as some Christians before us. We have discovered that by identifying with sinners we are in a better position to introduce them to Christ than when we remain separate and aloof because we think we are “different” (which usually translates to “better” in their minds). The only people who are looking for perfect Christians to model their lives after are other Christians who have bought the lie that perfection is attainable.
We will not be offended by the language and behavior of non-Christians. We realize, because we know ourselves, that sinners sin. There is no reason to be appalled at this. If we were perfect and had no sin of our own, we could be appalled, but we are not without sin. The only thing that should offend us is the same thing that offended Jesus: self-righteous hypocrisy. We realize that in choosing to be offended by the normal behavior of non-Christians, we are turning ourselves into the very thing Jesus hated. We, who are worried about being offended, make ourselves an offense to God.
We have decided not to put any real stock in having famous people endorse Jesus and have concluded we would be happier having Jesus endorse us. Character is superior to fame and glory.
We realize that we live in a world dominated by secular minds and philosophies. Because of our love for all people and our desire for them to know the love of Christ, we choose to learn about and interact with these philosophies rather than categorically reject them. When it becomes obvious that we have to part ways with the world to avoid compromise of our beliefs, we will do this in such a way as to not judge others who don’t feel as we do.
Though our hearts are connected to eternity, our feet are firmly planted on earth. For this reason we will strategize, barter, study and grow in two kingdoms. We have found that these two kingdoms need not always be warring against each other. We have found the things of God in the earthly world, and we have found evil in the kingdom of heaven, just as the parables of Jesus indicated we would.
We have learned to appreciate the artistic expressions of those who may not be following Christ. We will not begin with the assumption that they are wrong so that we can condemn them, but with the belief that they are right about something so that we can communicate with those who value their work.
We will not be threatened by “other paths to God” knowing that there is only one God and one way to reach Him, and if people are truly seeking Him, they will ultimately find their way to Christ even if they started out by way of another path.
We believe that wherever we go, God got there first. This means at least three things:
1) There is always something to find and embrace in the world, since God’s truth is everywhere.
2) We are never alone because there is nowhere we can go on earth or in heaven where God is not present.
3) There are many shoulders people are riding on other than our own. We do not have to finish everyone’s search; we are merely helping them along the way. If we happen to be there when someone comes to Christ, we will be overjoyed, but we will realize we are only part of a long line of witnesses who have prepared the way.
We do not have to determine whether a person is a Christian or a non-Christian before we know how to talk with him or her. We speak to everyone in a universal language. Some may be drawn to us; others may be repelled. We do not know who is who – nor is it our responsibility to figure this out; we only point the way.
We can be fearless in the world because we know that Jesus is praying for our protection (John 17:15), and there is no power on earth or in heaven that can stand against Him.
Therefore, and for all these reasons, we do not have to hide in a subculture, nor do we have to spend all our efforts fighting society. We are not at war with the world. We love the world as God does because it is full of people for whom He gave His Son so that those who believe in Him might not perish but have everlasting life.
Since Jesus did not come into the world to condemn it, neither will we. And since, instead, Jesus came to save the world, we will put all our efforts to that end, knowing that He has already completed all the work necessary to save people. It remains only for us to let them know.
Originally posted at The Catch: Declaration of a Marketplace Christian
