Two weeks ago I was driving to attend a training session hosted by an organization that serves people with developmental disabilities. The training, hosted by an organization that Renew partners with, was geared towards pastors and leaders to help equip them to know how to best serve and love those with developmental disabilities in their churches. Since we have a handful of people with mental retardation and mental illnesses I felt this was important for me to attend. And I’m glad I did.
On my way back I drove past a place in Ambler, PA that had a large sign that said The Becoming Center at Artman. Its a health and wellness center that uses classes, aquatics and rehab for physical health.
The name – The Becoming Center – is so hope-filled, so saturated with potential and life change. It’s internal – and yet its an expectation for action. Present and future-oriented.
As I drove past, it sent my mind racing: what a perfect name for what the Church should be! Imagine if every church – and every church plant – saw themselves as becoming centers. What if they were centers to help people become everything them were created to be? Jesus said that he came to bring life – and life to the fullest extent and measure possible (John 10). Isn’t the church’s role to be a center where people grow into understanding, embracing and experiencing this immeasurably magnificent life that is extended to us? It also makes me wonder: how can our churches become becoming centers?
Spiritual formation is becoming more like Jesus. This means that the local expression of his people – the church – who are being formed and shaped to be more like Him should be places for life change and hope and action. The problem is that most of our churches are Doing Centers. Activity, events, programs. Doing more, more more…
I think of the bumper sticker: “Jesus is coming back. Look busy.” It’s supposed to be funny, but isn’t it sadly all too true? Religious activity is not what we are called to. We’re invited into a relationship with the Living God and with others who help us become who we were truly meant to be – from the inside-out. The Holy Spirit helps us to become that. Others (who depend upon the Holy Spirit) help us to become that.
Churches – all spiritually healthy churches- are called to be Becoming Centers, helping people become more of who the Creator intended them to be.
I hope and pray that Renew continues to become a healthy, throbbin-with-life Becoming Center in the region.