The Art of Unlearning

It’s eaier to default, to do things as I’ve always done them. So when God makes it clear he wants me to do things differently it’s a challenge.

We started a church in Tottenham a few years back with the clear mandate to do things differently. From time to time we find each other gravitating back to traditional thinking that used to please us and kept us comfortable. It’s harder to be living in step with a King who is restless to change the culture of his church, as well as this world, and bring in his Kingdom.

This week we’ve been giving the garden it’s winter tidy and filled several bags with dead leaves and pruned branches. While doing this I realised what unlearning is all about – letting God cut out old ways which aren’t bearing fruit ready for incineration – ouch! And then letting him cut back fruitful ideas so they regrow in new ways to be effective for changing times.

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Church this Christmas

We created this map of our local area and everyone annotated it with loads of detail to show where we all lived and to include places and people that were special to us. As we placed candles around the map we thought about being shining lights and asked God where he was calling us to be like him – life and light.

This was more challenging and poignant than I had anticipated. I felt God was stirring us up, wanting us to be serious and not just go through the motions. It really made me think about how in my reactions and attitude I needed to be light. As a church God was calling us away from the safety of set piece displays but to live dangerously and be light in the everyday in every way, even in the scrum by the brussel sprouts in Tescos on Christmas Eve!