A Living Alternative

So far we have looked at the first eight marks of the New Monasticism (Parts 1, 2 & 3). Here we finish with the last four:

9) Geographical proximity to community members who share a common rule of life:

This mark is part of our missionary values here in Winnipeg. While most of our staff living in the same house in intentional community, our value is only that we all need to live in geographical proximity. We are working towards supporting our local economy, which has been very rewarding relationally. I personally swore off shopping at certain store (i.e. Wal-Mart) and have not been back in some time. It’s one small, but important step for me.

I think this value is far more achievable for the local church. Be it the commuter culture or the consumeristic approach to chosing a church, we need to recognize the importance of building lives that are rooted together in a shared community. When our church lives exsist in a separate place to the rest of our lives, we simply reinforce the false division of the sacred and secular, further distancing ourselves from the world we are called to serve and reach. The significance of supporting a local economy in the community your church calls home cannot be understated.

10) Care for the plot of God’s earth given to us along with support of our local economies:

It has been far too easy for us to ignore our responsibility to Creation in the busyness and demands of urban missions. Most of our efforts have been motivated more out of economic necessity than a sense of eco-commitment. However, we are beginning to learn how deeply connected our relationship to Creation is to our relationship to the Creator. In the urban context, it is even more critical.

I should note, as I have many times before, that I do not think that the environmentalist movement is the primary answer for the Church’s relationship to Creation. Do not misunderstand, we should be involved in the movement, but environmentalism cannot provide an adequate framework needed. A theology of Creation- what I like to call a sacramental ecology- is deeply necessary. It is deeply connected to missionality on many levels, but it is also part of the original mandates God gave to humanity.

11) Peacemaking in the midst of violence and conflict resolution within communities along the lines of Matthew 18:

As you know, we live in an inner city neighbourhood in Winnipeg. Violence is all too present, be it domestic abuse or gang conflicts. Recently, violence has been on the rise, with Winnipeg (namely our neighbourhood) being cited as the community with the highest number of murders committed by youth. Part of what we do to be a peacemaking presence is our refusal to leave or to hide in our homes. However, we are struggling on what more we can do. It can be very overwhelming, as violence breed more violence, while fear drives away both people and hope.

Sadly, due to many factors (such as a flawed eschatology and a weak ecclesiology) the church has too often neglected to recognized its obligation in respect to issue of peace and justice. Our commitment to peacemaking must extend to every aspect of lives, big and small. And this extends to more than just the local church, as groups like YWAM are just as guilty. We need to be active agent for peace in the world, which is going to make for some real chaos, but necessary chaos.

12) Commitment to a disciplined contemplative life:

Like many in the local church, the busy-ness of ministry and life means that a disciplined contemplative life tends to be the first on the block for cuts. This is too bad, as it brings life. While I am the most guilty person in this respect, I also have seen an unfortunate pattern with pastors and missionaries where pressures for them to “earn” their cheques pushes them into excesses by congregations and supporters. This is a sad commentary on our values. Beyond that, any commentary from me would probably be hypocrisy.

So here ends the series on the New Monstacism. What is yoru perspective on these last four points?

New Monasticism Missional