I think the church is just as likely to follow fads as a 15 year old girl. Fair? In the last 5 years alone we have seen Seeker Churches, Peeker Churches, Home Churches, Post Modern churches, Simple Churches and now Organic Churches. Not that these divisions are new, the Baptist denomination alone has almost 75 offshoots (my favorite is the Primitive Baptist Church...I've always wondered if they have open fire pits inside, eat turkey legs and have larger than normal foreheads)anywho....
In the last year, something remarkable happened in the evangelical church world. Bill Hybels of Willow Creek church published a humble document called "Reveal". This disclosed to the world that many of their edgey and flashy philosophies and practices have come up short. The highly attractional, seeker model had fallen short in equipping folks to trust in Christ over the long haul. It remains to be seen whether or not the JILLION churches who copied this model will admit the same things. I personally have more respect for the mega-church after I read this book that basically said "we thought we were producing fruit, but not like we thought. Has God used the Willow Creek Mega Ministry? YES. Were they off course in theology and practice? Hmmm...that's not my call.
So here is what makes me nervous: In our attempt to "make church and the gospel relevant", what have we sacrificed? My generation is very passionate and non-committal, which could be good and dangerous for the church. I think our "flaky-ness" has sent us on the hunt to birth trendy churches....so what could be the colatteral damage when the fad ends? Oh My!
So here's my main point:
Is it possible to be welcoming to the outsider, deep in theology, entrenched in mission and engage our ever-changing culture all in one church????
i sure hope so.
the younger
nathan
3 comments:
my friend and i have recently come up with the three A's:
People are looking for authenticity, authority and accountability when they walk in the doors of a church.
I liked Reveal because it was concise and based on science, also because it was written by Greg Hawkins who is the guy in the background with the numbers. It is fun to see Hybels get surprised and be honest about it. Most important, it gives us a relevant way to see different people in our church at different stages (most importantly "stalled"). What programs do we have for them?
I love how you finished the entry:
welcoming to the outsider (love your neighbors), deep in theology (love your God), entrenched in mission (care for the least of these)and engage our ever-changing culture (relevance)...
This is the kind of church I want to be in and I think the kind He had in mind! You are on to something!
What if we get to heaven and find out that everything we needed to create heaven on earth was put here by Him and we just couldn't get it done?
in response to eatjr
i think sadly we do have all we need to usher in that kingdom. its a shame we pray and act in this Body..His body with the mindset of
"Father may we come to be in Your Kingdom in heaven after we die where your will is, unlike here on earth, for in heaven is where your will is done".....i think Jesus strangly prayed
"May Your Kingdom come here to EARTH, to be done here on earth as it is ALSO done in HEAVEN". paraphrased yes...with caps :-)
how have we missed the mark so much...? i think we because we have made the mark people, programs, targets, finances, camps, guitars, easy worship, books, prosperity...dying well and with dignity in hopes that God will be pleased with us... i long for the church to be as He HAS HER in heaven...but here on earth HE STILL HAS HER despite her (our) foul ups
i think the change agent for this generation is not leaving and starting something new, or complete disgruntled disappointment...but where as Luther reflected in his later years of life "For i wished not have torn the dress any further, merely to have helped in cleaning the blemishes...a rift is now to be formed".... to put it mildly we buckle down, suck up the stupidity of 'leaders' and bathe it in grace and love which is poured out on us and to continue challenging, in peace and love, the ideas and direction this LIVING body must go....just a few thoughts of a youth pastor who reads to much foster, mcmanus, willard...and JESUS
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