Jesus Cropped from the Picture

Chapter 8: Boredom and Busyness

S LIM’S RATIONALISTIC EMPHASIS on separating categories into components (especially “secular versus sacred”), mixed with an erroneous view of atonement (“now that I’m saved, the work is basically done”), can result in unhealthy patterns of boredom or busyness. Gathered and Dispersed Each church is a community that both “gathers and disperses.” Stevens said, “the church is a rhythm of gathering and dispersion, like the gathering and dispersion of blood from the heart in the human body.” 53 The church gathers together for worship, fellowship, and service to one another (“inside the church”), then disperses out into the community (“outside the church”). SLIM Under SLIM, the gap between gathered (inside) and dispersed (outside) is wide. The categories are distinct. For many, the sacred events happen inside (Sunday school or prayer meetings), and the secular events occur outside (work and recreation). Inside is where individuals get their spiritual needs met by the church. The church is the “place” to receive what God dispenses for “my personal relationship.” The number of outside spiritual activities is small. If there are any spiritual activities outside , they are often limited to personal or family devotions, which typically focus on “information transfer” (Rationalism).

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