The Revolution Church

Why do we call ourselves The Revolution Church?
What does our Symbol mean?
What must I do to Be a Christian?
Do I need to Belong to a Church?

Why do we call ourselves the Revolution Church?

The word revolution refers to the complete rotation of a celestial body around another. It also refers to a sudden, radical change. Our name refers to both. As we look at the mess of this world, we have a hope that there is something bigger for which one can live than just one’s own selfish purposes. We need our lives to revolve around something bigger. Also, we realize that the traditional “church” has often failed in its responsibility to love the world. The church is often known more by what it hates than by its love.

There is a hunger for spiritual food in this world, but many have not been inclined to find nourishment at the traditional “church”. They have been disappointed by what they perceive as the church’s desire for money, it’s concern for its members but lack of concern for the world, it’s hypocrisy in issues of moral purity, it’s legalism about issues that do not pertain to salvation, it’s lack of creativity and passion in communicating a message of eternal significance, and it’s inability to change methods (not it’s message) to meet the challenges faced by younger adults.

What Does our symbol mean?

We are a church of revolution, revolving around something bigger than ourselves and with a desire to change the church from an impotent, self-consumed organization, to a living people of God.

The symbol actually comes from the meteorological symbol for hurricanes, and is intended to indicate the violent movement associated with revolution. Others have noticed a similarity to the Yin/Yang symbol, which indicates the cycle of life and our dependency upon one another. We believe that the concept behind that symbol captures what God intends for us: a dependency upon one another. In the book of Genesis, we are told that God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created humankind in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:26-27). The image of God is placed in male and female. Notice that God does not distinguish between the role of male and female, but both are appointed as stewards of the world. God is a God of creation and creativity, and that creativity is unleashed in us when we operate together as a whole and take responsibility for the stewardship of God’s creation.

What must I do to be a Christian?

We do NOTHING. This is the hardest thing for people to accept. In this world, there is no such thing as free. Yet, God has done all that is necessary so that we might be his children.

A more appropriate question to ask is, What will God do to Me?

God wants to take away the selfishness that is within us, and replace it with love. Being a Christian is a life long process of dying to our selfish ways, and becoming a new and loving person in Jesus Christ. We do not grow up into mature adults in a day. This is why people who call themselves Christians are still selfish people, even though God is working in them. It takes time to grow up.

God is already at work in us, bringing us to those points in our life when we can see our selfishness and need for Christ, those times when we finally admit: I am a broken person who cannot put the pieces of my life back together.

For some Christians, this admission may be a dramatic conversion experience, a time when the person commits one’s life to Jesus Christ. For others, it is a slow, but growing recognition of one’s need for God: a daily surrendering of one’s life to Christ’s will.

What is Jesus Christ doing in your life? Have you come to that point in your life when you recognize that your life is out of control, and that you can no longer live the way you are living? This may hurt, but it is God at work in your life. Once you recognize your need, Christ’s next work is to bring healing, hope, and love in your life.

But, what can we do?! The only thing we can do is to respond to what God has already done. We can ask for forgiveness. We can pray that God would continue working and filling our lives with his love. We can ask for God to give us strength. We can commit ourselves to a worshiping community of faith called the church. We can do all of these things, but none of them earn merit, love, or forgiveness. God’s love is a free gift. All we can do is respond to that free gift.

Do I need to Belong to a Church

The church is a place where our faith in Christ is born, nurtured, supported, and grown. Without the church, a Christian will stop growing in faith. Without the church, there are many people who will never hear about what God has done for them. The church is a body of people through whom Jesus Christ has chosen to spread the message of his love.

The church is not a building. The church is not a place. The church is the gathering of Christians who pool together their talents, and hence fulfill Christ’s mission to the world. Without the church, continued growth in faith is impossible. Without the church, God’s work in the world does not get done.

In the church, faith is nurtured by the sacraments of Baptism and Communion, by the hearing of God’s Word, and by the encouragement of others. In the church, our faith is challenged and blossoms as we discover the gifts God has given us, and how God has called us to use them. Our gifts, in of themselves, are not capable of changing peoples lives or making a difference in the world. Yet, together, the church can turn the world upside down for Jesus Christ.

In answer to the question: Yes. The church is not an option for Christians, it is a necessity.