Pioneering spirit…
25 Jan 2008
My husband and I often find ourselves trying to figure why it is that we think so differently from everyone else around us. We feel that we are not really like most Christians whom we mix with, at our current church or in other churches we have been a part of. As we speak passionately to people about our desires and thoughts, we can see their eyes glazing over. Our thoughts are often not the same as other peoples.
We have a deep conviction that things are simply not as they were intended to be, and a longing to see the church become all that it can be. When I write about church here I am referring to Christian community, not just a building or even any one congregation. We long for people to see Christians living a wonderful, beautiful life that gives hope and is full of meaning. We long for this to be our own experience of our walk with Christ, and we have set out on a journey to discover this life and to share this life with others. Yet, when we speak of these things, although people don’t verbalize it, it is easy to tell that they are thinking “but church is fine how it is.” Sound familiar?
One element of our journey is that we home educate our children. This probably isn’t too different for those of you who live in North America; however, in the UK there are over 12 million children, yet only 13,000 home educating families. The numbers are on the increase, but most still think you are “weird” if you home educate. We don’t actually do this for religious reasons, like some. We basically saw a wonderful life experience we could have with our children, learning and growing together. We also realised that if discipling our children was an important part of our Christian walk, then we wanted to integrate this into our whole family life. Likewise, they get to witness and experience our God journey in a way which maybe they would not have done otherwise.
Other elements of our journey will have included a family advent devotion, a serious attempt at de-commercialising our Christmas, and even composting our waste as a means of taking steps towards being responsible for our environment. I am not trying to hold us up as some great example; we’re just trying to feel our way forward. You might ask what any of this has to do with church; a good question. All we know is that as we have been trying to seek God for what it means to follow him, these are some of the things we’ve felt ‘led’ into.
In gifting tests, my husband always comes out top with Apostolic. He is a visionary, and sometimes he runs too far ahead of me once convinced of something. I am the one who pulls him back, and says “hang on, let’s hear more from God about this.” I always come out high with the prophetic gifting. We strongly believe, and have had it prophesised over us many times, that God has given us a pioneering spirit. More than anything in life we want God to guide us, we want to be in and to follow his will.
As I look at Christians as a group of people today, I see that there is a group being raised up by God. Some of this group of people fit under the umbrella label of the emerging church (without entering into debates about definitions, inclusions and exclusion which are best left for elsewhere!). We are really interested to see what God raises up through this group, and have valued the different relationships we have made with lots of different kinds of people. The thing we often find in common is a pioneering spirit.
A pioneering spirit often means that you don’t know what you are going to before you get there. You are dependent on God to trust and see what he is doing. You are often entrepreneurial and have a strong sense of journey in your theology. Often people with a pioneering spirit have a strong sense of investing the people in a community. Relationships are important, allowing people to experience and share real life together. It is an adventurous, exciting, yet scary and lonesome journey. Therefore, I think, a pioneering spirit also has moments of complete doubt in themselves. They question what they are doing. Are they insane? Have they really heard from God? Why doesn’t anyone seem to “get it”? The journey can be incredibly painful at times, and you just want to bang your head against a brick wall and give up. At other times something so incredibly rewarding comes along that you realize it was all worth it.
Do you think the emerging church is full of pioneer spirits? I do. The pioneers of the American west were brave men and women who went out to discover new frontiers. They left behind what they knew and travelled into unknown territory, on what was often a dangerous journey. Once at their destination though, the pioneers became settlers and enjoyed comfortable life. We have a story about the pioneers at home. On the back the description states that the American pioneers helped to tame the American West.
As pioneering spirits we know we will, and have experienced a dangerous journey at times. Making mistakes. Shedding tears. Moving the church forward is an unknown territory. Some people may not make the journey; others may become settled along the way. One thing we should make sure we do not do is put Jesus into a box. Jesus is not, and should not be tamed. He pushes us on; He pushes the boundaries. We should always focus on moving ahead, moving in God’s will, not becoming settled and comfortable with where we are.
What would you say are the characteristics of the pioneering spirit? In what ways has the pioneering spirit worked itself out in your life? Has this expressed itself in ways beyond different styles of church gathering? What is the ‘wild west’ that we are trying to tame?
24 comments
Trackback
Comment by Joe
10.56 pm on 25 Jan 2008
I am a little puzzled as to why you include homeschooling in your post. As you suggest it’s a very American religious thing. Why do it? We live in community and as Christians we are to be as salt and light. We are criticised enough for having our ‘Christian Ghetto Schools’ so how is your homeschooling supposed to help? Taking on an inner city school and influencing it for good as some churches have done, fine, but homeschooling is only really an option for a middle class elite.
Not exactly a pioneer movement is it?
Comment by Jason Clark
10.21 am on 26 Jan 2008
Joe, this is Lyns first post, she has been very vulnerable and open here, and her reference to home schooling is one small comment in an extensive post.
What you might have done is ask a question about that one small comment, and talk about the challenges you face, in your context, and offer your situation as an alternative positive experience of ‘Christian home schooling’.
And you could then have avoided labeling her multifaceted post as being about ‘home schooling for middle classes’, which seems little more than a hostile pejorative, that takes no account of the rest of what she posted.
Comment by Lyn
10.34 am on 26 Jan 2008
Hi Joe,
As I stated in my post home education for us was for must more than religious reasons – as it is for many. My son has autism and wasn’t getting the support he needed in school. The system was failing us in many other ways. We now have very confident and happy children who are enjoying sharing life with us. They explore the world around them and see God working through so much. Our children are able to experience life in a very different way.
For us this is a pioneering thing, no one we know home educates. It took a lot of guts and courage to remove them from the education system, when even our family were against us.
We meet up with other home educating families two or three times a week. Not all are Christians. They come from all walks of life, some are single parents, some are disabled, others are even teachers who work in the public school system! We have plenty of chance to be salt and light with them, as we do with many other people who we meet.
I included this in my post as I wanted to show how God was working within our lives, to give examples. A lot of the time you can read posts about things and think “Well how does this work in your life” Therefore I wanted to show some life application.
I didn’t want to focus on all of the church elements in our life. For example how we spent five years transforming the thinking of our church, how we have encouraged, built into and then saw friends go and plant a house church for their skateboarding friends, how we have been supporting a former homeless friend and encouraged and helped him get a homeless peoples action group off the ground. This is now a government supported agency for homeless people and is therefore helping to transform the perceptions of homelessness within the UK.
Home education is by no means only an option for middle class elite. I know many single parents who home educate. Our annual income is just £20,000 a year, that does not make us part of the middle class elite, we struggle financially, but we think we are doing what is right for our family. What we believe God has put on our hearts. BTW the home education movement actually began in the 1800s in a place called Ambleside in the Lake District, by a lady named Charlotte Mason.
I don’t want this post to be a focus for a discussion on home education. I wanted to know what people thought about the pioneering spirit.
Do you see the pioneering spirit evident within the emerging church Joe? What are your thoughts/experiences?
Comment by Joe
11.27 am on 26 Jan 2008
Lyn, my apologies first for the sharpness of my original comment. I just feel that Christians should invest more of their lives into the state system rather than keeping ‘church schools’, or taking on wholesale the ‘homeschooling’ popular amongst ‘certain brands’ of American Christians.
As to your question re emerging church; to be honest I don’t see any evidence yet of emerging church, never mind a pioneering spirit within it. The emerging church seems to me to be just an academic excercise; a lot of talk but very little in concrete reality. Well that is how I see it where I live. I could probably find a ‘Fresh Expression’ within about 20 miles of here, but real emerging church has not yet reached here.
Apologies again if it seemed like a personal attack.
Comment by Lyn
12.29 pm on 26 Jan 2008
No problem Joe. We are all entitled to our thoughts and opinions on things. It is through discussions that we continue to learn from others and broaden our own knowledge etc.
Just so you know, my son was in public school for five years, in a non-Christian school for all but one year of that. My husband was a school governor at the school and also the school chaplain (in a non-Christian school!) It was when my son moved from this school to junior school that we encountered issues. I have nothing against the public school system. I think teachers on the whole do a fantastic job, but for us as a family, we found ourselves being led down a different path.
In regards to the emerging church, I agree there is a lot of discussion out there. This is why I think it is important for people to really share what they are engaged in, how God is leading them etc, rather than just debating theologies etc. Part of the Christian journey is living life together, sharing life together and I would love to see more examples “online”.
God bless you in your journey, and I pray that God will lead you to others who are “emerging” within your locality.
Comment by Paul
5.19 pm on 26 Jan 2008
Thanks Lyn, great post, great questions. I think we need pioneers and we need planters and the tension is that neither are right/wrong just different.
My question is who is building the railroads to connect the wild west and the colonised east and allow insight and help to flow both ways…
Comment by lyn Hallewell
11.04 pm on 26 Jan 2008
That’s a great question Paul. My first thoughts are that the railroads will connect through relationships, through community with others.
I think this will mainly take shape through day to day relationships. However, blogs form a unique web community, and time and time again we are seeing so many people connect together through them. People are sharing and learning in ways which they would not have done in the past.
If anyone has any other ideas as to how the “railroad” will be connected then please share your thoughts.
Comment by mel
9.30 pm on 26 Jan 2008
Dear Lyn, Hello from Michigan. Thanks for your blog and for asking the questions. The characteristics of a Pioneering Spirit seem to me to be embarking upon each new day or circumstance with faith, hope and love. Faith, like you said that God will lead even if we don’t know what is out there and to trust God for His guidance and truth to be revealed. If I see a need to help or serve or bare a cross for my Lord Jesus, I will hope that I will be prepared to do so. Maybe, like having a canteen ready on the wagon, or ready to break new ground. As a Christian I need to constantly remind myself to have my armor on ready for a day of God travel or God fighting spiritual battles so-to-speak. Building bridges instead of burning them.
The wild west referring to unexpected trials or challenges? Jesus seems to me, could flex from what he knew and was taught, into new lights with unhindered means of accomplishing the right things for God (even considering that he encountered sinners). I agree we need clear perception when thinking on terms that tame our Lord, we definitely should not hold back the progress of the Lord. He is able to be at the right place at the right time whether in small or large faith commitments. I agree we should let God and our faith grow to being as beautiful as He is. Even in suffering He is Lord.
Does seem like lots of folk get into the “how it is” routine. But fear was often overcome by Peter especially walking on water to get closer to Jesus. Reaching out to the Lord.
With home school I would like to share in short that I was blessed to complete 2nd grade with my son at home. Even though I have returned him to the area public school for the 3rd and present 4th grade. I am thankful for the experience. We had many strict days of lessons which included the basic requirements of Michigan education subjects and we had outings, library times, and a daily devotional book we read one page each morning with many bible stories in it. Now, I must plan even more diligently ways to place God first in our lives as we walk with Jesus today. This is best on the days we actually read the bible and pray together. Beyond church gatherings, we are ever challenged to compete with the activities that are presented in the daily events and cares of life.
Yes, I think the world globally and specifically is wild, in good ways and bad. But, if indeed railroads are built to help connect and share flows between families, friends, countries and strangers, indeed we will have to sweat. Hard work for us mums and dads and church leaders. And what about our enemies – food and drink?
In my life I am wanting to trust that wherever I go, I will stand on God’s word.
Don’t you think that part of the Pioneering Spirit of adventure is if we see a brick wall in thinking, we step back, analyse, and then maybe share, our best efforts, apply Gods love and wisdom. If the sharing venue is not working possibly we can move on to another area of church support until we see opportunity to help pursue a new project or look for better timing or tools to help the one in need of truth fixing?
Lyn, if you and I agree, we see good and bad and want to focus on the good. Traditions seen by the Word can be good for God or they can be vain traditions, that is where the job really gets tough yet interesting.
May God bless you in any endeavors that are Christ based.
Friendly, In Him, Mel
Comment by Lyn
10.34 am on 27 Jan 2008
Hi Mel,
Thank you for joining the conversation and for sharing some of your journey. You’ve made some great points. We’ve hit plenty of brick walls along the way! God bless you in your journey.
Comment by Richie Rich
1.11 am on 27 Jan 2008
Interesting post Lyn. Cheers. I have one question – how do I get me one of those gifting tests? Would a christian bookstore do em? They’re not like pregnancy tests are they?
Comment by Lyn
10.28 am on 27 Jan 2008
LOL! Dare I say it, but back in the good old days we went through a Willow Creek giftings course at our church. If you are serious about doing one, then Alan Hirsch offers a great APEST here http://www.theforgottenways.org/apest/
Alternatively if you have an urge to try a pregnancy test, then I suggest a pharmacy! ;-)
Comment by Richie Rich
11.58 pm on 27 Jan 2008
Hahaha, just teasing Lyn! I really respect the fact you have the courage to pursue what your family feels is God’s path for you. I love what you said about not putting Jesus into a box (I could attempt another joke, but I better not push you too far as I am attempting to be serious ;)
Very encouraging to hear your comments (much like this blog owners’ sermons – but enough brown nosing..;)
All the best,
Rich
Comment by Lyn
1.47 pm on 28 Jan 2008
Thanks Rich :-)
Comment by Phil from Texas
1.58 am on 27 Jan 2008
Lyn,
I really like your comments about not being understood and how the pioneering spirit is both a blessing and misunderstood by others.
Keep going. Don’t quite
Phil
Comment by Lyn
10.28 am on 27 Jan 2008
Thank you for your encouragement Phil.
Comment by Laura Anne
12.05 am on 28 Jan 2008
Hi Lyn,
This post is a tremendous encouragement. Don’t really know much about this whole ‘emerging’ church etc, and to me, church is just church and that’s confusing enough in itself!!
one of the things me and my friend (both of us became Christians while at university) coined a phrase that ’sometimes we feel like martians on planet christian’. both of us, and her fiance are visionaries, and I guess we don’t conform. We don’t get church culture a lot of the time and for each of us it’s been a tough journey when you think outside the box, and get misunderstood because of it.
I’ll ditto what Phil has said ‘Don’t quit’.
:)
Comment by Lyn
1.49 pm on 28 Jan 2008
Thanks Laura Anne. Bless you on your journey too.
Comment by Bryan Riley
9.48 pm on 29 Jan 2008
I like this post. I think one danger in it, at least as I read it and would have written it (and possibly placing on you my own way of thinking), is that people often believe that their way of thinking and outlook is novel or pioneering, regardless of the actuality. And, I say that only because I agree with what you have written but worry that I feel the same way in a self-promoting kind of way. I believe I am a visionary and a pioneer, but am I really? I just want to be what Jesus called me to be – a follower of Him and a servant and lover of all.
What scares me most about having such thoughts is how quickly they can cross over to judgment against those I deem not on my wavelength.
Comment by Lyn
9.49 am on 30 Jan 2008
Hi Bryan, Thank you so much for your comment. I really understand what your concerns, and I think that had I been writing a comment here I might have written something similar. I was thinking for a long time about writing this post, but time and time again pioneering was coming up in my mind. I really am not a self promoting person, one thing that irritates me immensely is people who are constantly waving their “look at me, look at what I’ve done, who I’m connected with” banner (apologies if I’ve just offended anyone). I believe we should be humble, and very much remember that even if others don’t see/know about what I am doing that God does, and that is what is most important. Likewise I have the same questions as you. The most important thing to me is being where God wants me.
Bryan, in terms of judgment, I think that is something people suffer with right across Christianity. If people think differently to us that we run into the problem of judging. We can see this in the emerging church, through more conservative churches, charismatics etc. There is always danger in thinking that our way is best. We must learn to celebrate the good things in everything. That is the danger the emerging church is falling into when people start to totally reject traditional church. We must remember that most of us became Christians through traditional congregations, and a lot are happy with them. We must embrace the good things from traditional church as we move forward in our “emerging” journey, and take those good bits with us. I’m getting off track now, this is another post in itself!
Comment by Paul
7.42 pm on 30 Jan 2008
or maybe some pioneers head east as well as west??? ;)
Comment by Laura Anne
6.24 pm on 31 Jan 2008
Well if we’re going to get pernickety about that, then what about heading north or south ;)
Comment by mel
3.11 am on 30 Jan 2008
Good point Joe above, I believe we are to be Christ-like salt and light in Community too. I also believe that we should follow the example of our savior and wherever we go represent Him. Sometimes he moved on and sometimes he converted even Matthew a tax collector.
To Bryan, I agree we are all a work in progress, with various levels of faith, and how great it would be if we could esteem others better than ourselves as the scriptures tell us to and promote humility and that love you refer to and use our talents without fear.
Lyn, thank you for the blessing. Today was great a day at work, some more walls were broken down for the Lord, and one of my new friends wants to partnership with me in the Lord for evangelism. Hope it will pan out to something this blog is eluding to with the pioneering spirit. Because to join hands with another believer is surely going to be exciting and challenging and hopeful. I think it is a possible railroad to building faith and love in our immediate community and perhaps God will bless this effort with His greatness. We need prayers. Kinda want to think of it as new adventure with old time values. The same Jesus of yesterday, today, tomorrow.
Don’t you find it interesting how the apostle Paul pioneered new congregations, whilst still concerning over the ones already up and running. Once the Lord adds us to His church, we pickup the cross of serving. I know there is scripture that says to pray for revelation. Lyn, do you think possibly the Lord works through each new member of the Lord’s church as one to one, Lord to Christian, responsible warrior for him and collectively as we unite in church gathering/assembly to admonish towards the full riches in Christ with brethren?
I wonder what scriptures go into taming anything. Possibly Gal.6, which gives us permission or God’s guidance as you say, to help a brother overtaken in a fault, as long as we use spiritual wisdom and gentleness to do so. Maybe tame the tongue into subjection, difficult. Abounding in good works seems to ring in my ear. What do you think?
Comment by Lyn
9.56 am on 30 Jan 2008
“Lyn, do you think possibly the Lord works through each new member of the Lord’s church as one to one, Lord to Christian, responsible warrior for him and collectively as we unite in church gathering/assembly to admonish towards the full riches in Christ with brethren?”
I’m not really sure what you mean above? I might be reading this wrong, but are you asking me if God works one to one with us and collectively as a wider community/congregation? If so, then my answer is most definitely. Mel, I pray that God blesses you and your friend as you partner together in your evangelism.
Comment by Timothy Wright
3.09 am on 9 Feb 2008
Hiya,
Our family home educates because we believe that we have the responsibility before Jesus how we educate our kids. Our kids went to state school for a few years.My one daughter cried every day on the way to school for two years. She is a a Kinesthetic learner. She only learns while she is moving. Not very good for all the kids around her at her old school. Home Ed is an option, not the best way for everyone but a viable one for some families. In Carlisle, we have Consultants who home educate, to lowly church workers.
We continually talk to our children about state school but no takers yet. . We want to keep that option open for them and see how the ir unique gifting of Jesus manifests itself in our two daughters.
Will they be pioneers, in some ways maybe but they will be very open to new experiences, because they have them all the time with the variety of learning situations and experiences that they are exposed to every week.
Tim
Comments are now closed.