I miss you and Joy and friends from our Life Together group being together almost 10 years. You help me have empathy for you and froends we “left behind” when we moved to Portland. I appreciate you and your heartfelt journey you shared in this “blog”. I belong to a church which is embedded in Portland, Sunday mornings we worship in Northeast Portland; Sunday evenings in St. Baptist, a one hundred year old chuch building with colored glass windows and pew and balcony in the center of Portland. We often pray, your kingdom come in Portland and for those who are in the margins. Here is a prayer found on our website https://bridgetown.church/isaiah62
A Prayer for Portland From Isaiah 62
For Portland’s sake I will not keep silent, for Portland’s sake I will not remain quiet,
Until her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch.
The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory;
You will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow.
You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand, a royal jewel in the hand of your God.
No longer will they call your downtown “Deserted,” or name your city “Desolate.”
But you will be called “My Delight” and your streets will be called “My treasure,”
For the Lord will take delight in you, and you will be fruitful.
As Isaiah prayed in his day we pray in ours... We will cry out in prayer day and night,
we will give ourselves no rest, And we will give God no rest, until he establishes Portland,
As a city on a hill, a beacon of hope, a glimpse of the Kingdom to come.
I agree with the embedded position. I also noted the detail of your description. I have attempted all three.
The first, top down, always seemed fruitless, trying to convince the unconvinced. Furthermore, we know the end of the story and social change is not it. That said, there is a time to say no and we are way past it. We need however, to say no in an effective manner, standing up for and demonstrating our principles. Paul speaking to Agrippa is a wonderful example of how to address leaders.
The second, isolation, is hard for me to address. For me I see it as my safe place, avoidance from my vulnerability, my proclivity to be watered down. That said, it is a strong statement to the world that we are different and sends a message to our children the we should be different... in a good way.
The third, engagement is the most difficult. It is terribly hard to not to be pulled into our host culture. In fact, it could be said that much of our world view, which we came out of, was formed by our host culture and we are still shedding many of it's facets. Initially we do not know that we are marinated in that culture and it takes the Holy Spirit to reveal the issues to us. When that happens we first want to isolate, to protect ourselves. Then we want to change our culture top down which would be nice if it could be done. Many times I have been an advocate for social change and also a outspoken witness for the kingdom. Jesus did not do this. He went to the individuals. He discipled. When the humble saw His works they were attracted and followed Him. He did little convincing but his disciples sure did. He did breathe fire on the leaders of His time but that too was filled with purpose.
I think regardless of the outcome we are always engaged and involved with our host culture. We only have the foolishness of preaching and a life set apart. We are the elect of God however as Spurgeon said "If God had painted a yellow stripe up the backs of the elect, he'd go around London lifting up coats and preaching only to them". We are called to engage. We are called to live separate. We are called to say "No"!
Thank you for this - it's hard to put into words what it stirred in me, as one who still feels the echoes of having lived in California more than thirteen years later.
I miss you and Joy and friends from our Life Together group being together almost 10 years. You help me have empathy for you and froends we “left behind” when we moved to Portland. I appreciate you and your heartfelt journey you shared in this “blog”. I belong to a church which is embedded in Portland, Sunday mornings we worship in Northeast Portland; Sunday evenings in St. Baptist, a one hundred year old chuch building with colored glass windows and pew and balcony in the center of Portland. We often pray, your kingdom come in Portland and for those who are in the margins. Here is a prayer found on our website https://bridgetown.church/isaiah62
A Prayer for Portland From Isaiah 62
For Portland’s sake I will not keep silent, for Portland’s sake I will not remain quiet,
Until her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch.
The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory;
You will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow.
You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand, a royal jewel in the hand of your God.
No longer will they call your downtown “Deserted,” or name your city “Desolate.”
But you will be called “My Delight” and your streets will be called “My treasure,”
For the Lord will take delight in you, and you will be fruitful.
As Isaiah prayed in his day we pray in ours... We will cry out in prayer day and night,
we will give ourselves no rest, And we will give God no rest, until he establishes Portland,
As a city on a hill, a beacon of hope, a glimpse of the Kingdom to come.
I love you and Judy, and I love Bridgetown, and I love this prayer for Portland. I will pray that for Portland and for San Pedro/LA!
Such a good word, Nathan!
Thanks Alex
I agree with the embedded position. I also noted the detail of your description. I have attempted all three.
The first, top down, always seemed fruitless, trying to convince the unconvinced. Furthermore, we know the end of the story and social change is not it. That said, there is a time to say no and we are way past it. We need however, to say no in an effective manner, standing up for and demonstrating our principles. Paul speaking to Agrippa is a wonderful example of how to address leaders.
The second, isolation, is hard for me to address. For me I see it as my safe place, avoidance from my vulnerability, my proclivity to be watered down. That said, it is a strong statement to the world that we are different and sends a message to our children the we should be different... in a good way.
The third, engagement is the most difficult. It is terribly hard to not to be pulled into our host culture. In fact, it could be said that much of our world view, which we came out of, was formed by our host culture and we are still shedding many of it's facets. Initially we do not know that we are marinated in that culture and it takes the Holy Spirit to reveal the issues to us. When that happens we first want to isolate, to protect ourselves. Then we want to change our culture top down which would be nice if it could be done. Many times I have been an advocate for social change and also a outspoken witness for the kingdom. Jesus did not do this. He went to the individuals. He discipled. When the humble saw His works they were attracted and followed Him. He did little convincing but his disciples sure did. He did breathe fire on the leaders of His time but that too was filled with purpose.
I think regardless of the outcome we are always engaged and involved with our host culture. We only have the foolishness of preaching and a life set apart. We are the elect of God however as Spurgeon said "If God had painted a yellow stripe up the backs of the elect, he'd go around London lifting up coats and preaching only to them". We are called to engage. We are called to live separate. We are called to say "No"!
Wow, I love what you have added Bill. Thank you for engaging in this way. I love your heart for the church, for the city, and for the world.
Thank you for this - it's hard to put into words what it stirred in me, as one who still feels the echoes of having lived in California more than thirteen years later.