More on "Open Spirit"

I would like to describe my thoughts in more detail on what it means to be an )open( church.  See The Open Church for an introduction to the core values and beliefs.  For each of the core values, I will discuss:

1. Motivation (Why do we care about this?)
2. Open vs. Closed (What's the difference?)
3. Next Steps (How do we change?)

Open Spirit

1. Motivation (Why do we care about this?)

• Because God calls us through everything in life.  How will we respond?  An Open Spirit is one that believes that God is active, relevant, intentional, willful, interesting, and surprising!  We can't know what God will say, so we have to pay attention.
• Because God's revelation of himself continues in the lives and spirits of believers.
• Because we need to understand God to know truth.

God calls us through everything in life.  How will we respond?

2. Open vs. Closed (What's the difference?)

Open	Closed
Longs for God as an active part of our lives and as clear voice in our spirit.  Open to whatever truth God will speak, open to God's relating to us in surprising ways, revealing himself as he sees fit.  Open to feel God's passions and interests.  Focused on responding to God's calling.  Listens more than speaks.	There are many ways to be closed to God: fear of intimacy, distracted by our own notions of righteousness, over-tired by our own works to please God, loudly proclaiming truth as we see it, speaking more than listening.  Being closed is often a matter of doing the wrong things for the right reasons, while somehow avoiding the truly right things.
Seeks spiritual maturity as a broadening of our perspective, rather than mastery of a fixed set of principles.  Through our relationship with God, he increases our understanding, opening our eyes and revealing new truths.  Then we are able to act more consistently for good instead of selfishness, and more readily accept others as God accepts them.	Seeks spiritual maturity as a mastery of pre-defined perfection.  Like doing a work-out or eating a healthy diet, the Christian life is defined by disciplines, and failures to achieve a high standard.  Though we teach freedom (the meaning of the word "salvation"), we don't give ourselves or others freedom in how to grow to be a better Christian.
Interprets the Bible using a rational, narrative, historical approach to understanding truth.  Because truth must be processed by thinking, discussion, wrestling, and digging, we cannot use an "easy" path to understanding.  We must ask God to peel away the scales in front of our eyes to see the truth and understand his ways.  We must engage both our mind and our spirit to understand God's will (his choices and thoughts).	Interprets the Bible from a more rigid framework, and seeks to understand its truth "completely".  Does not ask God to reveal anything new, and is not open to hearing anything new.  We use our minds to filter God's message through the limited view of possibilities we are prepared to accept.

3. Next Steps (How do we change?)

• Through our messages: Change the focus of church messaging from stating truths to seeking truths.  For example, instead of reciting creeds, songs, and commandments, focus more on God's calling and our response.  Regard worship as a collaborative relationship with God where he is actively calling us and we are actively responding.  
• Through our prayers: Be willing to go new directions and to change long-standing beliefs when we seek God!  Actually ask God to change our spirits and renew our minds in ways that may surprise us.
• Through our diversity and community: Seek diverse opinions and backgrounds, ask people to relate their stories, be supportive and encouraging even if people's stories are messy and maybe they are wrong about things as you see it, learn from each other and not just from the smart people who have it all together.  Actually encourage people to share doubts, pains, mistakes, and questions about God.
• Do not filter (censor) people's ideas, unless injustice is observed.  Give people the freedom to share of themselves exactly the way they are, as long as ground rules of fair treatment and positive regard for diversity is maintained.  Deliberately enforce freedom!