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These two programmatic elements begin to express why Rivendell considers itself a church that seeks to work within the postmodern context. As John Mouracade points out, the postmodern context is "a more introspective approach." The discussion time that Rivendell incorporates into their service allows for people to ask questions, share their own thoughts, ideas, agreements, and disagreements, as they struggle and grapple with the biblical text. In addition it provides an environment for people to learn from one another's personal devotion and discover God in community, which emphasizes the vibrancy and power of the Gospel as they learn to respond to God.
"True community is built upon dynamic relationships," says Dino "and people need to feel that their lives are not overly criticized or judged by others, but rather encouraged to discover their beauty, creativity, gifts, and talents, and given an invitation to become participants in the story of God." Other activities include a weekly artist showcase through email, a participatory time for creative and artistic expression, and small discussion groups each week. In most services they include "Eye on the Nations," a time of reflection about the church globally. "This promotes a more global vision of the universal church as well as the diversity of the kingdom of God," says Dino.
The Lord's Supper each week represents at least a foot in the door of church tradition. However, to qualify it with what John Mouracade says above, the Lord's Supper is chosen by Rivendell as the instrument to conclude their service more out of what is most "fulfilling and meaningful" to Rivendell as a group rather than purely identifying with the church traditions that celebrate communion at each gathering.
In addition to community and tradition, Rivendell views the church as primarily for believers. They understand the church not only as a place to share and confirm a believer's story of faith, but a place to be equipped for the journey, a journey which leads them to embody the Gospel in the world in which they live. "As a result," says Dino, "the church is not essentially a place we go to, but rather something we are. Rivendell desires to find ways to incarnate the Gospel within the culture context they live in. It is this tension that Jesus calls his followers to live in: you are in the world but not of it. Because of this missional teaching of Jesus we believe that all disciples of Jesus are called to be missionaries."
Instead of formulating culture as an enemy, Rivendell believes that culture is neither friend nor enemy. "Culture shapes our lives, as we also are shapers of culture, and the Gospel must be fitted not altered to particular people, times, and circumstances so that evangelism can effectively occur. This makes the church as the bridge between the Gospel and culture, or, more accurately, a tightrope since a careful walk must be considered. In so doing, the gospel is lived out as a people together in community who neither wed the Gospel with culture, nor divorce it from culture. The first inappropriately elevates people and their agendas; the second stays hidden in the Christian sub-culture. God never called us to create our own culture. Rather, he calls us to be holistic."
This lesson of "holistic" thinking is something that Dino learned through OBU. He is also completing his master of divinity degree through Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary on the campus of OBU. "OBU taught me the value of critical thinking skills, to be compassionate and understanding of people who hold different points of view, and the importance of learning to articulate our own thoughts and ideas," says Dino. "In addition, OBU challenged me to think more globally. Courses like Western Civilization exposed me to a variety of literature, ideas, and philosophies which have shaped and are shaping our world today. As a church planter in a postmodern context this has been an invaluable resource for me, because I have a more broad holistic view and understanding of the world in which I live. Most importantly OBU has taught that I will always be a lifelong learner."
Rivendell marks an exciting chapter in church work. The Rivendell story is still in infancy, but on the shoulders of the Christian tradition and in the midst of a thriving community, the work of Jesus is going forward and changing lives.