Something Pragmatic is Happening

The Dinner Church movement is not happening in a cultural vacuum; there is a reason why it is rebirthing now. We would do well to place these Jesus Tables, which are springing up all around the West, into some larger realities.

Seven Modern-Day Realities That Make Dinner Church Pragmatic Today

1. The Secular Worldview Dominates

The secular worldview population is now outnumbering the Judeo-Christian worldview population 2-to-1. Given that, the last time the Church was highly effective with the Gentile peoples, it was functioning primarily as what is often referred to as an “Agape Feast,” and we refer to today as “Dinner Church.” For the Spirit to point us back to the table again now is nothing short of divine timing.

2. A World of Polarization and Isolation

We are living in a time of polarization, loneliness, and isolation. Looking at the Dinner Church throughout time suggests a strong truth: isolated people flock to the Jesus Table. Not only are we supposed to intentionally invite marginal, often friendless people, but we should expect that they will come. In many cases, we become the only family they have.

3. Animosity Toward Organized Religion

There is a growing animosity against organized religion and Christianity as it is commonly practiced. Many of our neighbors feel that Christians go into our nice buildings, talk about better-than-you moralistic things, and spend all of our resources on ourselves. Yet, what little they know of Jesus has led them to believe that we should be spending our time and money making a difference in the sore spots of society.

4. Affordable Church Planting for Small Churches

Dinner Church is a form of church planting that is affordable for small churches. Many leaders of average-sized churches would love to expand their influence through church planting, but they are barely making it financially. Jesus Tables have a different financial relationship with heaven. Many Dinner Church planters who assumed they would be mired in fundraising find that after a few months, they are no longer worrying about money.

5. Leading Large Churches Back to the Margins

Dinner Church has the capacity to help lead large churches back to the margins of humanity. Large churches became large by following the church-growth principles of making their gatherings and programs appeal to large circles of people. However, this growth comes at a cost. It is likely that they have lost their vision of the margins.

6. A Divided and Fragmented Society

Over the last few years, North America has become more divided and fragmented than ever. People who used to be friends no longer talk due to political differences. Even the Church is fracturing along political fault lines. Yet, scripture tasks us with the “Ministry of Reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18), and when it comes to reconciliation, the Jesus Table shines.

7. Spreading the Gospel Through Jesus Tables

Once we understand the Jesus Table, we begin to see how the First Church spread through entire cities and regions. In Acts 5:28, the High Priest charged the apostles with spreading their gospel throughout all of Jerusalem. These New Passovers were spreading from home to home and upper room to upper room, unveiling a vision of “a church through the city” rather than “a church on a corner.”

This vision has the power to completely transform how we impact our cities, just as it has done for churches like ours in Seattle. There are momentous days ahead for anyone energetically pursuing the In-breaking Kingdom.