Outward focus

This morning, SBC looked in groups at aspects of post-Christendom, and how it affects different aspects of life and church. If you were part of this, you would only have looked at one of the five perspectives (collective sigh of relief over Stockport!) Over the next few days, we’ll be posting the statements and questions from all five groups for you to reflect on.

First up, Outward Focus……

Barbara Brown Taylor talks about her ‘spiritual map’ which, like any map, has both a centre and an edge. ‘At the centre stands the Church, where good women bake communion bread and iron altar linens…youth group leaders plan pizza parties …and the choir rehearse from 6.30 to 8.00…These people at the centre kept the map from blowing away.

‘As it turned out, the edge of the map was not all that far from the centre. All we had to do was step outside the Church and walk to where the lights from the sanctuary did not pierce the darkness anymore. There were no signs to the restroom out there, no printed programmes or friendly ushers. There was just the unscripted encounter with the undomesticated God whose name was unpronouncable – that, and a bunch of flimsy tents lit up by lanterns inside…These people at the edge kept the map from becoming redundant.’

Q What do you think she is talking about?

Q Can you place yourself on this ‘map’, and are you happy to be there?

‘Faith in God has both a centre and an edge and each is necessary for the soul’s health’….my complaint is that ‘Mother church lavishes so much more attention on those at the centre than those at the edge.’ (Taylor)

Q Do you think she is right?

Q Where does SBC spend most its time and resources? Does we have the right balance?

Q How might SBC juggle the needs of those at the centre of the map with the needs of those who are more comfortable on the edge?