I am reading Rob Bell's Jesus Wants to Save Christians:  A Manifesto for the Church in Exile.   As always, I find Rob Bell to be compelling, thoughtful, challenging, and often even amusing.  This book is no different.  Here are some of my thoughts as I wade through the first few chapters into deeper waters.

The first family (Not the Obamas, but Adam, Eve, Cain, Abel, and eventually Seth... what was their last name anyway?) was a dysfunctinal one.  Looks familiar, huh?

Anyway, Cain was a farmer and Abel was a herdsman.  Cain needed land.  He needed fertile ground for his crops.  Abel needed pastures.  He needed a food source for his livestock.  Cain needed rows and fences.  Abel needed to roam where the food was.  Cain was a farmer who needed boundaries.  Abel was a shepherd who needed freedom to range. 

God chose Abel's sacrifice over  Cain's.    ... but why? 

Maybe God was telling us something about choosing the Nomad over the settled Farmer.  It seems that God opposes the building of earthly kingdoms.  Babel, Egypt, Babylon, and even Jerusalem all become kingdoms that God opposes.  

Kingdoms need land.  They needed bricks and mortor.  They require labor to build and resources to maintain.

Yet, the Nomadic shepherd needs no bricks and mortor.  The Shepherd needs to range wherever he can feed his flock.  He builds relationships with his fold and protects them with a few basic resources, like staff and sling (as opposed to castle and moat.)  

The shepherds were the first to see the Christ child as the angels sang in chorus.  The Gospel of John tells us that Jesus is the Great Shepherd.  King David began his ministry as a shepherd.  The kingdom of God is like a shepherd to goes off to look for the one lost sheep....  The Bible honors the shepherd.   The Bible honors the Nomad. 

All this has resonated with my thinking about church.  Is the church more farming oriented or more nomadic in nature?  Do we need boundaries like the farmer or are we free to range to the best food sources.   Do need buildings at all?  Where are we being fed? On the range or is out of the trough of prepared spiritual food from the local denominational food store or publishing house? 

When has the farmer and the nomad had a struggle in your church?  ... in yourself? 

I struggle myself because I like boundaries for ministry.  I like the options for spiritual food offered through Cokesbury and even sometimes Lifeway.  I like our buildings and sanctuaries.  I like yes's and no's.  I like black and white.  However, ministry for me is becoming grayer.  I find myself wanting to wander some to find the best food for my flock.  I find myself looking more like Abel....and that will get you killed by Cain!

Thanks a lot, Rob!