Communities of Performance

I found this on the Resurgence blog this morning. There have also been a few other articles about communities of Performance vs. Grace, but this one put it so simply I had to share it. Growing up, I went to a church that was a community of performance. Not that the people were horrible or mean (I had a lot of friends and people that cared about me), but all of these bullet points explain the community that was surrounding me. Even though grace was talked about, there would be disappointment or disapproval if laws/rules were broken, and emphasis was put on helping "bad people." Looking back, I am frustrated because I am still a sinner by nature and need Jesus just as much now as those "bad people" who haven't found Christ. I believe it was a way to make themselves feel better that they were "fixed" and their mission in life was to fix broken people. The problem with that, is they become hypocrites, and I feel committed to pray for communities like that now, and also to be highly aware if my community is communicating grace or not....something to think about. I would love to hear your story about the type of community you are in or a community you have been in in the past.

Communities of Performance

• People talk about grace, but communicate legalism
• Unbelievers can't imagine themselves as Christians
• Drive away broken people
• The world is seen as threatening and 'other'
• Conversion is superficial—people are called to respectable behavior
• People are secretly hurting
• People see faith and repentance as actions that took place at conversion
• The gospel is for unbelievers

Communities of Grace

• People can see grace in action
• Unbelievers feel like they can belong
• Attract broken people
• People are loved as fellow sinners in need of grace
• Conversion is radical—people are called to transformed affections
• People are open about their problems
• People see faith and repentance as daily activities
• The gospel is for both unbelievers and believers