I am being significantly impacted by the Celtics way of “being and doing church”. They reevangelized Europe through what they call Monastic Community… I believe the ancient movement known as Celtic Christianity can show us some ways forward in the twenty-first century. (Again, a lot of this information is from the book, “The Celtic Way of Evangelism” George G. Hunter III, pick it up)
Contemporary Christianity is well-known for the “Lone Ranger”, one-to-one evangelism, or confrontational evangelism, or the public preaching crusade, or the more dominant approach of not reaching out at all!
The Celtic Christians evangelized as a team-by relating to the people of a settlement; identifying with the people; engaging in
friendship, conversation, ministry, and witness – with the goal of raising up a church in measurable time. John Finney observes that the Celts believed in “the importance of the team. A group of people can pray and think together. They inspire and encourage each other. The single entrepreneur is too easily prey to self doubt and loss of vision.”
The monastic community prepared people to live with depth, compassion, and power in mission. Celtic Christianity seems to have prepared people through fivefold structure of experiences.
1)
You experienced voluntary periods of solitary isolation, ordinarily in a primitive cell erected within a remote natural setting, like a grove of trees near a stream. Celtic leaders advised you, “Go, sit in your cell, and your cell will teach you everyting.”
2)
You spent time with your
anamchara, that is, your “soul friend”- not a superior, but a peer with whom you were vulnerable and accountable; to whom you made confession; from whom you received penance; who both supported and challenged you.
3)
You spent time with a small group of ten or fewer people-led by someone chosen primarily for their devotion.
4)
You participated in common life, meals, work, learning, biblical recitation, prayers, and worship of the whole monastic community.
5)
Through your small group, and in the community’s life, and perhaps as a soul friend, you observed and gained experience ministry and witness to pre-Christian people. The community’s purpose for you, through this fivefold structure, were to root your consciousness in the gospel and the scriptures; to help you experience the presence of the Triune God and an empowered life; to help you discover and fulfill your vocation; and to give you experience in ministry with seekers.
We will continue to explore this way of “doing” church…
