Shameless Promotion
Written by Mark Van Steenwyk : October 31, 2007
When JesusManifesto.com was a one-person effort, I used to share personal things all the time…and engage in some gentle self-promotion. These days, this site has lots of different voices. I can’t plug things indiscriminately anymore. Nevertheless, I want to tell you about two things I’m involved with…things that support this sites goal to help folks follow Jesus in the American Empire…
Submergent wants to re-baptize the Christian imagination. For two thousand years, we have drifted from our prophetic impulse. When Jesus began his movement 2000 years ago, he called his followers to a radical way of peace…a way of loving enemies…a way of embracing the outsider…a way of forgiveness and transformation and reconciliation.
All too often, however, we’ve turned Christianity into a way of reinforcing the status quo…a way of control…a way of self-righteousness. We’ve left the shadow of the Empire and seated ourselves on its throne.
The name “submergent” reflects the essence of two movements–one that is 500 years old and one that is only just emerging. These movements (the Anabaptist movement and the emerging church movement) both seek a way of faithfulness in the empire. They both yearn for a faith that reflects the vitally prophetic impulse that sparked Christianity 2000 years ago.
The Anabaptist movement began in the 16th century when Christians in Europe challenged the status quo with their ideas on discipleship. They embraced a third way in the Reformation…neither Catholic nor Protestant. Theirs was a way of peace. As an act of radical allegiance to Christ, they re-baptized adults (often by submersion).
We affirm the spirit of the early Anabaptists as we emerge into a new way of being and doing church. The emerging church is an exploration of what it means to be church in the 21st Century. It is a gentle revolt against the status quo.
Both Anabaptism and the emerging church traffic in subversion. We embrace a counter-cultural identity as we seek to be faithful to Jesus Christ in the shadow of the Empire. We are Submergent.
We are currently working on a gathering (probably in Los Angeles) for 2008. Visit www.submergent.org for more info. We also have a Facebook page.
Christarchy! is a monthly cohort for people who want to follow Jesus’ radical path. Call it a support group for the Jesus Revolution.
Jesus doesn’t simply call us to a set of beliefs, but a revolutionary, transformational way of living life. Jesus subverts expectations. He is a friend to wretches and whores and outcasts. He challenges the economic, political, social, and religious status quo. Christarchy! is a gathering for those who want to follow Jesus the subversive Servant-King.
We’ve been having these monthly meetings of Christarchy! for about 8 months. We are currently looking at adding a couple more Christarchy! groups in the Twin Cities. I’m also in conversation with a friend who wants to start a Christarchy! in Seattle. If you’re interested in doing something like this and would like to be a part of this growing network, let me know (mark [at] missio-dei.com). Visit www.christarchy.com for more information.
for further reading . . .
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Christarchy! is a growing network of small groups for people who want to put the ethical teachings of Jesus into practice.
Submergent is a network of leaders who, embracing the Anabaptist impulse, are living into the Kingdom of God in a postmodern, post-colonial, post-Christian world. Together, we will re-baptize the Christian imagination!
Anchored in the West Bank neighborhood of Minneapolis, Missio Dei is committed to following Jesus' way of peace, simplicity, prayer, and hospitality.
The Missio Dei Breviary includes morning and evening prayers for one month. Edited (and freely shared) by Missio Dei, it draws primarily upon the Gospels, reflects Anabaptist convictions, and emphasizes missional commitment.
Shame on you for thinking the things you’re promoting and embodying are less important now that the blog has more voices.
There are two kinds of self-promotion, as you probably know. When we first hear that term, we think of promoting one’s egotistical ambitions for personal gain. But in marketing, self-promotion is essential for people in professions that offer intangibles like expertise and service. The experience, credentials and skills of the professional must be promoted to communicate the value message to those who need it.
Christians who embody Christ can’t avoid self-promotion. It is through our selves that people first get a glimpse of him.