In Dave Gibbons’ The Monkey and the Fish he talks extensively about the idea of us being third culture Christians. I have already posted a couple of reflections on what this means for us in the church here and here.
One of the ways Dave tries to communicate the essence of third culture Christianity is in our incarnational living that makes us adaptable to whatever cultures we are sharing the gospel with. He uses this Bruce Lee idea of becoming liquid as a metaphor for our adaptability. In all it seems a pretty helpful metaphor. The liquid, our message, our God, our faith, doesn’t change, it is our method, form, and shape that adapts to bring our message to the places we go.
It is a metaphor and it brakes down on some level, but it’ll preach. What do you think about the idea of moving towards being liquid as the church?
January 14, 2010 at 8:19 pm
What does “liquid living” look like practically?
January 14, 2010 at 9:20 pm
Liquid living
It took time to wrap my head around this thought of “liquid living”. This is what comes to my mind… If we allow ourselves to be liquefied by the Holy Spirit, He can use us to be poured out for others. As we build relationships He will show us those places in their lives that need healing, reconciling or encouragement. With prayer we are transformed into our part of their miracle. God’s agenda is so perfect and amazing we can’t possible presume to know without being in close relationship with Him. If we allow Him to liquefy us, we will fit perfectly into those places. But we have to be willing, ready and believe that God wants to use us every day in big and small ways. Being liquefied needs to be a mindset not an afterthought to be effective.
January 15, 2010 at 7:15 am
Yes, Dawn.
So, what’s it look like in our day to day to live in the flow of the Spirit of God?