BuildingBridges

THE PURPOSEFUL, BUT NON-DRIVEN, LIFE

“Jesus was never ‘driven’, he was led”, declared Roy Searle of the Northumbria Community at the 2005 Future Church conference. He said that he hoped for a fresh emphasis on community, character and commitment – as a critique of, and act of resistance to, the “drivenness” of modern, consumer life.

In identifying signs and examples of a ‘new monasticism’ which is also missional, Searle (who this year is president of the Baptist Union of Great Britain) said:

• Advertising is not part of our DNA. Anonymity may not be everyone’s gift, but there is a grace for some in waiting for God to motivate and call people.

• We need the spirit of generosity – giving away what is not ours to own and control.

• God moves especially on the margins, rather than the mainstream.

• We need spirituality in the Johannine tradition of ‘come and see’. Invitation not recruitment, Emmaus rather than the Damascus Road, is the norm.

• Authenticity and transparency matter more than attempts to be ‘relevant’ that are often 30 years out of date.

• A church-without-walls arises from a mission of wandering and visiting. Spirituality is ‘wandering for the love of Christ’ and seeing serendipity as gift.

• Seek Jesus not on holy hills but on the streets.

• Contemplation, holiness, charismatic, Pentecostal, ecumenical and social justice traditions need to inform our theology and action.

• Culture has disabled people. “I can’t dance.” Yes you can. Creativity awakens humanity and gives us our life back. Ordinariness is special.

• Liturgy needs to be consciously connected with everyday life.

• Partnerships can be varied, with the liminal as well as with the traditional (in both church and non-church terms).

[Picture: A 'very young' version of Roy Searle with the Historical Music Group]

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