House Church Talk - Radical Believers

[jim pierceall]

The following was posted on another list by Wayne Jacobson. I had asked and
received his blessing to forward for other's consideration...

BTW - someone had asked about Ohio fellowship activity?  If you visit
Wayne's web-page you might locate that he is gonna be in Ohio this coming
week-end visiting w/ believers...

JimP - kentucky

Oh I might follow this up w/ a little narrative concerning Farlie, NZ...


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Fairlie is a small farming village in the center of New Zealand¹s South
Island. For the last two years I had heard about some believers whom God led
to give up the religious structure they had become part of to live as the
body of Christ together in this region of the world. It was 1986 and some of
its leaders felt like God was asking them to give up the structures that
constrained their life together, which included not only the institution but
also the building where they met. After weeks of praying together and
considering this leading, the people unanimously agreed that this is what
God was saying to them.

They agreed to lay it all down and let God lead them. The building they used
was quite old and after donating all the furnishings that were worth
anything to the denomination¹s district they were leaving, the offered the
building to the fire brigade to burn as a training exercise. (I told you
this was an incredible story!)

The neighbors objected, however, to torching the large structure so close to
their homes, so in the end they had to dismantle it. They took some of the
remaining furnishings, like the offering bags, out to the country and burnt
them. Then one day some of the brothers descended on the building with chain
saws. As they walked in that day to the main meeting room they asked where
they should begin. The all looked at each other and in the same moment
said,, ³The pulpit!² With relish the sawed it in half, kept going across the
stage and eventually dismantled the entire building and hauled it away to
the trash heap.

Sara and I laughed and shook our heads in awe as we heard that story on
Tuesday night while meeting with about two dozen or more of these people.
They had not done these things frivolously or in rage at Othe system.¹ They
had simply felt those things were an offense to God and he wanted them to
destroy them. They never said anyone else should do the same, they simply
went on and learned how to be the body of Christ without all the trappings
of institutionalism.

In the nearly twenty years since they have thrived in God¹s life together as
his people in this community. It has not been easy, nor has it been without
challenge, but many of them talked of how their relationship with God really
began to grow when they removed the crutch the institution had become. Not
having everything planned out for them anymore, they had to listen to God
and do the things he put on their heart. Now they are people who live at
peace with God, in fellowship with each other and available to unbelievers
in ways they never had when they were so busy maintaining their structure.
Even the children from those days have continued on with the simplicity of
living in God and loving each other in the process. What joyful simplicity
and what an incredible life they¹ve gone on to share together!

They are also affectionately known in these parts as Othat lot.¹ The whole
community knows about the congregation that dismantled its building and
stopped meeting every week on a regular basis. They also know they have
lived on as passionate believers. Without all the machinery to maintain,
they have been more available to help care for the families and neighbors.
The even saw some amazing doors open in the community. One man from the
village was talking to one of the former leaders and said, ³I feel like I
can really talk to you now.²  By removing the baggage from the gospel that
had alienated so many people they found a new openness to share the Gospel
with others. Is it no wonder that Jesus didn¹t build anything to join,
require any religious activities, or load people down with burdens. Instead
he took heavy burdens off people and simply invited them into a relationship
with his incredible Father.

³I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and
dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in
this world will keep it for eternal life.² John 12:24-25

As long as we hold tightly to the things we think we must preserve, we¹ll
miss the incredible doors God would put before us every day as we simply
live in him and follow his ways. True life is found in giving up, not in
holding on, as we follow wherever God leads us.

May God bless these incredible folks in New Zealand.  And may we all find
the freedom they¹ve found not only from the religious systems that dominate
us, but also from creating new ones to take their place.

Blessings,

Wayne

-----------------------------------------------------
Wayne Jacobsen
Lifestream.org
Oxnard, CA  USA
805.988.4409

http://www.lifestream.org