Our gathering opened with this passage from Psalm 125
1 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be shaken but endures forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the LORD surrounds his people
both now and forevermore.
The main teaching was taken from 1 Corinthians 1:10-12 and after pray, planning and preparation, Jon SELAH's Lead Pastor and my husband:), titled the teaching "Unity in the Community."
It was abosolutley amazing and what I, personally, needed to hear after a very long and trying week of confusion.
He began by painting a glorious word picture of what we, regularly, saw in Denver while driving past a park on the way home from church each Sunday--100s of people from Hispanic descent gathering together to share a meal, play sports, just hang out. We asked our friend Francisco about this and he said it is common for people within the Hispanic community to gather together like this. It is the norm.
We also noticed this during our travels to Costa Rica--people hang out on the front porch, stopping to chat, or share a drink, etc.
We have really lost something in our fast-paced, American society. Here, we are anxious to zip into our garages, unseen by our neighbors and zip out in the mornings. Most even have privacy fences (we don't) that prevents others from seeing what is going on, an actual physical barrier.
However, for our family, specifically, we have kids. And kids break down a lot of barriers, particularly with neighbors. In CO, our kids would play on their playhouse/swing set and stand on the slides landing and talk over the fence to our neighbors to the left. This led to us building a relationship with this older couple. As well, our neighbors on the other side were always chatting with our kids over the fence (or through the fence as the case may be) and so, we developed relationships with both of these dear senior couples. Even here in WA, our kids have led the charge in getting to know our neighbors. No question is off limits (well, some are, but they move past the chit-chat rather quickly). We have gotten acquainted with several of our neighbors just because our kids were inquisitive and have asked thought-provoking (or at least disarming) questions to neighbors passing by walking, with their dogs, playing with sleds (on our snow days), etc.
Regardless, as a whole America is a long ways away from the culture that is developed in the Hispanic community here in America and in Hispanic communities around the world that we have, personally, visited. This type of community is very attractive, probably because God made us to live in community (great book: "Girl Talk: Moving beyond the chit-chat" by Jen Hatmaker).
One of Jon's professors stated, "When you are communal, you are not who you are until you are together." We have so much to learn.
1 Corinthians 1:10-12 (The Message-my choice of versions, not my Pastor's choice; he used the TNIV)
10I have a serious concern to bring up with you, my friends, using the authority of Jesus, our Master. I'll put it as urgently as I can: You must get along with each other. You must learn to be considerate of one another, cultivating a life in common.
11-12I bring this up because some from Chloe's family brought a most disturbing report to my attention—that you're fighting among yourselves! I'll tell you exactly what I was told: You're all picking sides, going around saying, "I'm on Paul's side," or "I'm for Apollos," or "Peter is my man," or "I'm in the Messiah group."
At our church, Selah, our vision is to be a "montage of people united with the creative lov of Jesus Christ." Do you know what a montage is?
The art or process of making a composite picture by bringing together, into a single composition, a number of different pictures or parts of pictures and arranging these as by superimposing one on another, so that they form a blended whole while remaining distinct.
Just like a musical chord is, actually, three individual and distinctive notes when played alone, when played together, the chord consists of those three notes sounding together, producing a unified sound and fully filling space.
So, we desire unity. However, disunity can easily creep into our lives, specifically, our church families. We desire to make you aware early on in Selah's existence three things that can promote (or cause) disunity in a church (or any organization, relationship, etc.)
1. Criticism over preferences or petty issues.
We all have preferences and that is not bad. However, we are called to do more than to just meet together. Therefore, we are going to put more energy into making our mission real and tangible to the world, as opposed to spending our time making sure everyone's preferences are pleased. So, if you don't like the music, or how we set up tables, or the teaching style...that is A-okay. There are many great churches in the area where you would fit. However, it is probably not here b/c we are not argue or give time to such arguments. Howver, if you do have a valid concern you need to come to me, or our Associate Pastor, immediately, and we will address those concerns.
2. Triangulation
Triangulation is when you triangulate someone else onto your side and use them against the actual you have problem with. This doesn't mean that if you are seeking godly counsel from someone that is wrong. HOWEVER, even this type of relationship/conversation can turn into traingulation and be ungodly. Be careful. Always check your motives and your heart. This is when, basically, you don't follow Matthew 18 in confronting someone you have an issue with. If you have an issue with someone you FIRST go to that person, specifically. Then, if that doesn't work, take someone with you and so on. We will not tolerate this type of behaviour at SELAH, they will destroy community and relationships in any area of your life. You must first go to that person themselves, no matter how hard, even if it is hard. God didn't say the Christian life would be easy.
3. Fouling
What does it mean when someone fouls you when you play basketball? You go up to score a hoop and they knock you down. Behaviour outside the appropriate behaviour of the game. In life there are certain life rules that we should live by even if, or rather, no matter if we disagree. And there ar times when we have been fouled or we have fouled. Our Pastor, discussed a time in an Elder Board meeting where he had 'fouled" someone. (actually, they both were by this point:)) Pastor Jon notes that after the meeting, he went up to his fellow Elder board member in tears, asking for forgiveness and from that moment of authentic apology, acceptance and forgiveness, their relationship was mended.
He said that if someone has 'fouled' us at Selah, we have permission to call each other on it. We might be saying something that is true, but if we say it in an unacceptable way, a way that is distructive, that is wrong. That is a foul. We need to be able to say TIME OUT, I think we are going to give you some grace to try and say that again in the right way, because I do want to hear your honest input, but the way you said that was unacceptable the way you spoke to me.
This term comes from Bill Hybels book, "Axiom," lest you think I am that creative. Fouling is when you approach someone to confront them or talk to them, but you do it in a socially in appropriate way, or a fair way. In essence, just like in baseball or basketball--YOU FOUL. We should accept ZERO TOLERANCE for fouling. We need to gracefully allow people do-overs but never
We ended our gathering with reciting a confession together from Psalm 130
Psalm 130
A song of ascents.
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, LORD;
2 Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
3 If you, LORD, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
And, as is part of our liturgy at SELAH, we end our gatherings with a time of worship through singing, prayer and communion.
This teaching was absolutely what I needed to hear for exactly where I find myself in several areas of my life at this very moment. However, the sermon topic was planned well in advance of me knowing how my week would turn out.
One song that powerfully spoke to me this evening was "Made Me Glad". I was barely able to get through it, and I am the Worship Leader.
Verse 1
I will bless the Lord forever
I will trust Him at all times
He has delivered me from all fear
He has set my feet upon a rock
I will not be moved
And I'll say of the Lord
Chorus
You are my shield
My strength
My portion
Deliverer
My shelter
Strong tower
My very present help in time of need
Verse 2
Whom have I in heaven but You
There's none I desire besides You
You have made me glad
And I'll say of the Lord
