More from Consuming Jesus:
“All too often, we think of the church simply as a building with programs aimed at making sure the church survives and thrives. On this model, people do everything possible to keep the show going. This view of the church is not missional.
And as far as the poor in the surrounding community are concerned, they are viewed simply as a side issue - simply the beneficiaries of our charity. But charity does not build community. It fosters separation, keeping the poor at the far end of our outstretched hand.
As Christ’s community, we must move to the place of seeing the church as an extension of Christ’s missional presence in the community, where justice for the poor is central. Christ followers must go to the poor, not primarily for the purpose of inviting the poor to church, but to be the church in their midst.”
