Transforming Secular Space

Tom Kay has some reflections on transforming secular space that I wanted to piggy-back on. He had mentioned one of my posts regarding transforming secular space for worship. He reflected on what this might mean for the community. He is "spot on" as the Brits say -- I see the transformation of secular space in the community at-large as one of the key marks of the Emerging Church. It is one of the ways that separates the movement from traditional, New-Paradigm (Vineyard, Calvary Chapel), Cell, House, Seeker, and Purpose-Driven varieties.

These churches mentioned do not transform secular space for the reason that, like most Christendom churches, they accepted the marginal status that late modernity bequeathed to them. A 'come to us' stance might have still had some substance in the 12th century when the church spoke to all of life, when the life of the church formed much of the narrative of everyday life, when the secular did not exist. However, over the span of modernity, the church was continually pushed to the social margins. Moreover, the church began to accept another dualism, not only could they not speak to the issues of society, they could not speak to physical reality at all -- what became of utmost importance were issues of the head and heart. The church gave all other reality over to 'the secular'. What makes a church modern, even today, is the acceptance of these modern dualisms of public/private, visible/invisible, to mention only a couple.

The postmodern, in social terms, is the end of secular space. It is the acknowledgement of the spiritual connectedness of all reality. Emerging Churches look to embody their way of life within postmodern, or holistic, or spiritual cultures. These postmodern missionaries accept the givenness of culture, look for the fingerprints of God there, and hopefully, on their best days, get behind and support the work of God in the unlikeliest places. The rallying cry of Emerging Churches is Psalm 24:1 (I heard this all over England), 'the earth is the lords'. No bad people, no bad parts of town, and no bad times, just those areas waiting/groaning for redemption...to be transformed...to connect with God...

Comments

[Paul Roberts]

Your closing words: "No bad people, no bad parts of town, and no bad times, just those areas waiting/groaning for redemption...to be transformed...to connect with God..." have an interesting reflexive corrollory: ie. that 'church' space is also an area waiting to be redeemed too. This means we accept no boundaries to the redemptive action of God - ie. God's all over the place. The trick is to have the eyes of the Spirit of Jesus, and see what God is doing wherever we might be.

However, there's a bit of a paradox going on here, because also I detect that more than a few of us are looking for 'poustina' kind of space within the wider context. The interesting part about this is that this concept of holy space is non-people-dependent; ie. it's open to everyone, but nevertheless intentionally dedicated to God. So I quite like the idea of actions, art and architecture subliminally naming God in the wider community, but not calling it 'church', and keeping the idea of 'church' to a network which is Jesus- focussed, but not doctrine-, or practice-bounded. (You know, the fuzzy set idea.)

[steve collins]

seems we are all thinking alike here...

good job since i manage his site ;)

[tk]

ryan,

thanks for the link.

I see the whole private/public, visible/invisible, sacred/secular dualism played out all too often. (unfortunately much of where I see it is in the mirror)
Not to remove the individual's responsibility but I believe the church's acceptance and in some cases furtherance of this dualism, has legitimized it in the individual.
It has become the norm to have a work life, a home life, a civic life, a church life, etc. So the dualism that separates the sacred from the secular further fragments the holistic life I believe God intended for us.

But now I am rambling...
peace and prayers. TK

[Pernell]

Ryan,

This really resonates with me... it seems that Steve is right, we are thinking alike... even in Canada.

Our two year old church community is currently launching a "third place" type cafe in the urban centre of Hamilton, ON: http://www.frwy.ca

Peace.

[Steve]

I like this "The rallying cry of Emerging Churches is Psalm 24:1 (I heard this all over England), 'the earth is the lords'. No bad people, no bad parts of town, and no bad times, just those areas waiting/groaning for redemption...to be transformed...to connect with God..." Well said!

[Ryan Bolger]

Pernell, Steve,
Cool!!! Thanks...