Skydiving

Below is a post my wife, Kelley, wrote regarding our recent decision to leave the institutional church (the typical church building with weekly services being led by a licensed minister).

I’ll post, in a future soon-to-be-released series, as to the “why”, the “are you nuts”, the “how we came to this conclusion”, the “what about this”, and the “what about that” questions.  In addition, if you leave comments I will be happy to answer those questions and incorporate them in my future posts.

To a large amount of people this is new so there will be numerous questions, you are not alone.  I did when I first looked into this.

Thank you for taking the time and following along!

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We’re taking the plunge.  Perry wrote our Pastor a letter a couple of days ago letting him know that our family was going to leave our institutional church to embark upon an organic journey in 2009.  I’ve known this was coming for quite some time now, as Perry has scoured book after book on the subject – paralleling his studies with an open Bible by his side.  He has acquired quite an extensive network of friends who are involved, to varying degrees, in the organic church ideology.  I say “ideology” for lack of a better description.  I don’t think the return to a more organic way of doing “church” is a movement or trend, as those terms feel subject to expiration.  Though in its infancy, I really believe that the organic way of communing with God and His people will endure and grow as time goes on.  It is not a fad.

Yet, I’m scared.  I’m scared to have to stand on my own two feet – just Perry and I – and not have the institutional church as backup to our efforts in raising our three teenagers to love God and want to serve Him.  I feel vulnerable.

I’ve talked to the kids about the idea of organic church and have asked them what it is that makes Jesus – and/or serving Him – most “real” or “alive” for them.  Nicole, our eldest, is an adult, and has chosen to continue attending an institutional church with her boyfriend of two years.  Melanie, age 17, feels most connected when she is connected with other believers, but has struggled in finding that “right fit” for awhile now.  She wants to try to make some new connections in a youth group she’s had her eye on (not our former church), while studying the Word individually and with her dad and I.  And Jon, age 14, told me he feels most excited about his Christianity through acts of service.  He likes the idea of “being the church” instead of just attending church programs.  He wants to serve meals at the Salvation Army and be on the lookout for a variety of ways to actively contribute through various projects.

I think my feelings of vulnerability are, in fact, one of my biggest spiritual problems – and something God will deal with me on through this whole endeavor.  I have to learn to trust HIM with my family.

Still, I can’t quite shake the feeling that I’m free falling.  My heart is pounding, my breathing’s labored and my hands are clammy.  But I’ve already jumped.  So my only choice now is whether to close my eyes and hold my breath in fear, or open them and focus on the beauty of the descent.  It’s a choice only I can make.  So I’m making a concerted effort to trust that He’ll direct the wind to land my feet exactly where He wants them.  I’m believing He’ll put me – and my family – on solid ground.