Non-Christians in Christian Community? (Part 2)
By Jonathan Dodson | August 20th, 2010 | Category: Missional Church | 6 commentsThis is a guest post from Nate Navarro, Director of Missional Community at Austin City Life. Here is Part 1.
Travis is a successful Austin attorney in his mid 30’s who has been a part of our Missional Community for about a year. Recently, after serving together at the retirement center in our neighborhood, we had a dinner together at a central Austin cheeseburger joint. Travis, who had recently been hosting our Missional Community gatherings (without saying a word), spoke up and said:
“I don’t think it is important for married couples to both be Christians….my wife is a Christian….and I am not…..it works fine for us.”
He said it.
Though I had thought for quite some time Travis was just tolerating us for his wifes sake, now we knew it….he doesn’t believe in Jesus…in fact….he probably thinks we are crazy!
SO WHAT TO DO?
Break out the 4 spiritual laws? Take a stroll down Romans road? Throw all my best Tim Keller “Reasons For God” at him?
In a moment of sanity I looked across the table and said:
“Travis, I want to thank you for being a part of our community. It would be easy for you to just think we are crazy, instead, you have served us by hosting our gatherings at your house and even serving with us at the Retirement Center. On top of that, I think you are a cool guy and I appreciate what you bring to our community.”
Travis said, “sure…no problem….I like you guys.”
Since then Travis has been more actively involved in our community, though I am sure he still thinks we are a bit crazy with all our “Gospel-Centered” conversations.
My hope is that we will be a community who SHOWS the Gospel to Travis, and to our city…..
My hope is that we will be a community who TELLS the Gospel to Travis, and to our city….
May we do so out of LOVE and not out of the need to convince others that WE ARE RIGHT.
My new “Four Spiritual Laws”
Belong
Be loved
Believe
Be changed
Rather than, as often is the case, the reverse.
Nate,
Thanks for the great posts. I passed them along to some friends at our church. Can you tell me how your missional community serves at a retirement center. Any specifics would be appreciated. I’ve been involved in leading worship services at retirement homes. But I’m guessing that’s not what you’re talking about.
Are there any roles in missional communities that non-Christians can’t fill? It’s a topic I’m wrestling with as I work to start up communities at my current church which currently only does Sunday School.
Thanks
Chris
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Moment of sanity indeed. I love it!
another Nate
David- We serve the retirement center in our hood primarily by spending time with the residents in conversation. We also occasionally lead them in hymns and share scripture, though we visited folks regularly for a year before the staff asked us to do that. We are praying/moving towards more “renewal” by asking ourselves how we can bring change to the atmosphere these friends are living in….the Retirement Center seems understaffed, under-funded, smels terrible, etc…so it’s tricky….how do we bring up the problems we see to the current staff and management? We are just at the beginning of that process. This has all been a process over the last year and a half…..
Chris- I would say the role that a Non-Christian couldn’t fill would be the MC Leader, at least in our context. Our MC leaders serve in a pastoral role for their communities so obviously a non-believer wouldn’t be a good fit. I think I have seen Non-Christians serve as hosts really well, beyond that I haven’t seen any Non-Christians in leadership roles….but have seen many actively involved in our community.