Reunity

I am in Texas with 9 of my closest friends. We all lived together our senior year in a shabby house known affectionately as the "Fine-A" house...or the "Fine Arts House."  It was a powerful little community centred on video games, humour, our then-girlfriends (now-wives), and deep talks into the night about God, humanity, homework, and other unmentionables.  It was a beautiful experience.  I was the Hong Kong kid; we were all very different and brought those differences to what can only be known as an authentic "Fine-A-experience."  I am reliving that experience now.  It's now 6am local time, i'm the only one awake, and surrounding me are the snores of those whom I can genuinely call my brothers.  Bacardi 151 is behind me--I had my first shot of it tonight--75% alcohol--and the fridge is filled with bottles and more bottles of lovingly prepared home-made beer.  (Bryan, who's kindly hosting us, is a beer-connoisseur...and he makes his own to satisfy his refined taste.)  We have spent the day watching Jesse the Clown dominate us in Tekken and--at the same time--share with us his rich knowledge of church history as it pertains to us evangelicals, from the Desert Fathers to the Eastern Orthodox tradition.  We have watched Will continue in his tradition of farting jokes, nudity, and book-referencing (he helped me choose some key books which I will take back with me to HK for continued study.)  I in particular asked for Will's help on some greek phrases--particularly the one tattooed around his biceps:  "A new commandment I give to you: love one another.  By this shall all men and women know. . . ."  (In greek, of course.)  We have watched the new additions to our community--the wonderful wives--laugh and joke and cringe at our boyishness...yet when all is dark and the alcohol has had its effects--right then the conversation almost rhythmically breaks into a field rich with passion, knowledge, and a depth which I must admit I have missed since college.  We have begun to talk about seminary--one of us visited one just today--and a number of these guys are already planning their Ph.Ds.  Some are in the process of writing books.  We are all about 24, or 25. 

Dietrich Bonhoeffer says that "Christian community" is never something that we can expect to always have, but a sacred, temporary gift.  I have felt that in these hours of reunity.  On his way here Jesse summed it up well when he told his wife to expect something like "a theology conference with beer and profanity".  The last thing he expected was me (I was a surprise show-up--no one save for Bryan, Mark and Will knew I was going to fly out for this.)  It is a good feeling to be here.  I sense we all needed to get away from our normal lives and meet for two things: vision and encouragement.  Most likely we will not talk about any of these (much) in the next few days.  More likely, the simple event of being together will push us toward our calling and encourage us where we are most tired and weary.  Our being together is vision itself.  This room is filled with rock-hard realists, guitar virtuosos (I am really nothing beside these guys), and dreaming revolutionaries.  I'm glad that, once upon a time, we shared the same roof. 

And it is from that roof that we are now sent out, each into the world, for the sake of the world.  But seriously, I am grateful beyond words that we can once again find solace, comfort, consolation, bravery, and fire under the same roof.  And did I mention laughter?  =)

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Communities are forming all over the world, all over the Church.  They are small communities, intent on moving from being mere forms of community, to embodying its true substance.  This is happening in prayer gatherings, house-church movements, revival organisations, and reunions such as these.  There is a movement going on, I don't know if you can feel it, but this generation is bubbling up like molten under the crust of the earth with fresh--or rather, old--ideas about what it means to be the church, the people of God in community.  It is happening in the charismatic world with Jaeson Ma's vision for simple campus churches.  It is happening in the social justice world (urrghh i don't like these categories but ppl know what I mean) with ordinary radicals like Shane Claiborne and the Simple Way community.  It is happening even in megachurches such as the 10,000+ Mars Hill led by another recent wheaton grad, Rob Bell.  It is happening in YWAM with the Trent Sheppards and The Factuary.  In Hong Kong there are new prayer meetings at schools and universities which are drawing those who want more than just "church" into new communities of friendship, intercession, and living discipleship.  When I sent out the call for a group to meet and discuss our love and struggle with the church I was amazed at the "prodigals" who were eager, even hungry, to come and experience "church in a new way."  And now the MLK study has drawn together a new community centred on the life of someone whose staggering wisdom needs to be re-mined for our generation.

Something is brewing, and it's not beer...

This generation has a destiny, and a reformation to bring about.  I don't use those words lightly.  I must confess that now, I do believe it.  The times may be dark but God has a plan, and it involves his wooing us into Love's resistance.  The darker the sky, the brighter the stars.  I don't care if it's only a few stars; they will shine, unsubdued and beautiful against the curtain of time.  "I can feel the prayer rising; I don't even know the words.  But this groaning is the postage; and it will not be returned." - Andrew Osenga

We each have a place, and we must each take that place.  Don't be afraid of it anymore; let's do this together, whatever camp you are in, it doesn't matter.  Listen, for he is putting us in our places as we speak...let that call grow in your heart, and don't worry if you are afraid.  The call will, one day, supercede the fear. It is happening, and all creation is aware.  The kingdom of God is at hand.

The dawn is breaking here in Texas.  And if there can be a dawn in Texas--a state founded on the plain facts of racism, genocide, broken land treaties and the blood of innocent mexicans--then there can be a dawn anywhere.  Judgment is on this land, but Hope is the word of God for this time.  Judgment and Hope--these are the words that the Spirit is saying and doing in the churches through such emerging movements.  By "judgment" I do not mean condemnation but the perceiving of things as they truly are; the naming and proclaiming of our true condition to ourselves.  Judgment, just like Hope, is not an act of condemnation, but the very initiative of Grace. 

The church now is in a similar situation as the people of God in Ezekiel 14 and 16.