Practice, Practice, Practice

This blog has existed in cyberspace for about five years. When I first started it, I had the intention of writing about the ancient practices of the church, and how we can use those practices in innovative ways to renew and revitalize the church. I used to write regularly, but then I got out of the habit. Then, I set my New Year's resolution for 2010 - that I would attempt to blog once a week for the entire year.

I did really well, and then I traveled to Ghana to adopt my children. I tried...I really, really did. I blogged while in Ghana...then I blogged when I got home...but somehow, the regular rhythm of blogging on Fridays as part of my Sabbath has no longer become a rhythm. I have children to raise, I need to be a husband, a church to pastor, students to teach, lawns to mow, laundry to be washed, a house to be clean, meals to cook...and...and...and...they're all good reasons, but they quickly become an excuse. If we want something to become a practice and a rhythm in our lives, we actually have to practice it, on a regular basis. If I want to blog weekly, I need to practice doing that.

The ancient practices of the church are the same. If you look at Acts chapter 2, verses 42-47, you see the ancient practices listed; John Wesley's listing of works of piety and works of mercy includes all of the ancient practices - like reading and studying Scripture; praying; worshiping; receiving communion; caring for the stranger; visiting the sick and imprisoned, and more. If you don't practice those "works" regularly, then you do not have a rhythm of spiritual life.

I marvel at persons and churches (and pastors) who do not regularly practice a spiritual life; and for United Methodists, how we can not regularly practice works of piety and mercy. Just this week, I was with a group of clergy, and I was pushing them to move beyond spending our meetings in fellowship to Christian conferencing about community ministry, and about doing hands-on mission work. I met with some resistance, and I was not surprised. Authentic Christian community delves deeper than fellowship and surface relationships. If we, as clergy, cannot delve deeper and practice works of piety and mercy on a regular basis, how can we expect people in our churches to do the same? The simple answer is that we can't.

I believe that the renewal of the present church will come when congregational leaders (clergy and lay), and every layperson engages regularly in ancient practices of faith, in works of piety and mercy. My expectation, if we do so, is that, although numerical growth may take time, we will see people regularly being saved because they see that we live our lives as though our faith transforms us.