It's no wonder the Church struggles to communicate effectively with the rest of humanity. It invents words and creates terms that are only understood by those who invent them, in an effort to sound relevant and in an attempt to be (pre) inclusive.
Unbelievers have become "pre-christian." Outreach has become "missional." In an effort to grow in numbers at the expense of our congregation's spiritual depth we have become "attractional." Programs have replaced community, production has replaced authenticity. Bonhoeffer spins in his grave.
The Bible gives us the language we need, there is no need to invent anything new. We are ambassadors, living in a culture to which we do not belong; despairing over issues that the Church abandoned long ago (as indicated by Rookmaker in Art Needs No Justification). We have one task: reconciling people to God (2 Corinthians 5:20).
We need not complicate our task by pretending to speak the language of the culture we live in, when in reality the words we use are foreign to those for whom they are intended. A true ambassador learns the language and culture in which they are living. We must do the same and quit speaking "Christianese."
Showing posts with label discipleship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label discipleship. Show all posts
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Saturday, February 4, 2012
When the Church is the center of the universe
In the 16th and 17th century, both Copernicus and Galileo asserted that the earth moved around the sun. Of course, the church's opinion that the sun revolved around the earth contradicted the scientific facts, and Galileo was placed under house arrest and forbidden to publish any of his research ever again.
Such a historical story serves as a historical and contemporary metaphor as well; namely that the center of the universe is not the earth, but to many, it is the Church. (of course it really should be Christ, but we all know what it's like to argue with the church at times).
I've touched on this theme previously, that unless our passion and interests are the same as the Church's they don't seem to matter. Yet if the Church were to realize that there is a place of balance, a place where it is as interested in my life as I am in its life, a wonderful balance occurs.
Our individual calling and service may touch upon the programs and mission of our local congregations, but – here's the part the Church as a whole seems to miss – our individual callings most likely will include other interests outside of the Church.
Even our Christ-related activities are church-centered: if someone from the Church wants to meet with us, often they call us to them; we serve in the Church, at the Church, for the Church. For all that time we spend serving, little time is given from the Church to the relationships we need to form in order to belong, to find community – sadly in the context of serving. How well do we know each other, even when we serve together? How well do those who pastor and shepherd the body of Christ really know the members? To know the people one must get outside the confines of the Church, spend time equipping and knowing and speaking with. Consider that Jesus spent more time outside of the synagogue than in it. If you're a pastor – when was the last time you visited any of those who are closely aligned with your ministry either at their home or in their business?
How ironic that in my profession, I can confidently say I belong to and am a member of the business community – but in the Church the same sense of community does not often exist. (especially not in the way Bonhoeffer thought of community) (Boenhoeffer's Life Together)
Community comes from spending time together, getting to know one another in order to share common interests, common passions, common service. It comes from praying together, being authentic with each other, even from disagreeing with each other. We are the people who share the passion for the cause – people who are flawed, who are busy, who are the center of their own lives, no matter how much evidence there is that the earth revolves around the sun.
If we don't feel like we belong, we aren't going to feel like we want to give, to serve, to love. There is a give and take that must occur – If the Church were to show more interest in its people, they in return will show more interest in the cause.
Such a historical story serves as a historical and contemporary metaphor as well; namely that the center of the universe is not the earth, but to many, it is the Church. (of course it really should be Christ, but we all know what it's like to argue with the church at times).
I've touched on this theme previously, that unless our passion and interests are the same as the Church's they don't seem to matter. Yet if the Church were to realize that there is a place of balance, a place where it is as interested in my life as I am in its life, a wonderful balance occurs.
Our individual calling and service may touch upon the programs and mission of our local congregations, but – here's the part the Church as a whole seems to miss – our individual callings most likely will include other interests outside of the Church.
Even our Christ-related activities are church-centered: if someone from the Church wants to meet with us, often they call us to them; we serve in the Church, at the Church, for the Church. For all that time we spend serving, little time is given from the Church to the relationships we need to form in order to belong, to find community – sadly in the context of serving. How well do we know each other, even when we serve together? How well do those who pastor and shepherd the body of Christ really know the members? To know the people one must get outside the confines of the Church, spend time equipping and knowing and speaking with. Consider that Jesus spent more time outside of the synagogue than in it. If you're a pastor – when was the last time you visited any of those who are closely aligned with your ministry either at their home or in their business?
How ironic that in my profession, I can confidently say I belong to and am a member of the business community – but in the Church the same sense of community does not often exist. (especially not in the way Bonhoeffer thought of community) (Boenhoeffer's Life Together)
Community comes from spending time together, getting to know one another in order to share common interests, common passions, common service. It comes from praying together, being authentic with each other, even from disagreeing with each other. We are the people who share the passion for the cause – people who are flawed, who are busy, who are the center of their own lives, no matter how much evidence there is that the earth revolves around the sun.
If we don't feel like we belong, we aren't going to feel like we want to give, to serve, to love. There is a give and take that must occur – If the Church were to show more interest in its people, they in return will show more interest in the cause.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Crazy about the numbers
Churchianity drives me crazy. Talking about discipleship but evaluating a program based on numbers drives me really crazy.
Why is it all about numbers? Where is the depth in the American church? Three years ago, Willow Creek's research revealed that their emphasis on programming over relationships had failed. Has it really been like this for over 30 years?
Focusing on quantity over quality is a sign that spiritual growth has been replaced by a measurement of success. The church sees the tantalizing numbers of early Acts, and want the same for their own ministries.
Paul states in I Cor 3:6:
5 After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. 6 I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. 7 It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. 9 For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.Can we presume then, by a measurement of numbers, that if a program isn't growing numerically, that God isn't in it? Must we value activity for activity's sake to evaluate success?
10 Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. (New Living Translation).
It's easier to count numbers and declare that a ministry is growing than to spend time evaluating it from within to determine if true discipleship is occurring and spiritual growth is happening.
I propose that growth can occur even if numbers don't increase. How do we measure influence and impact? How can we measure significance?
I can't recall any Scripture that states that God's goal or measure of evaluation in the body is numeric growth, but depth of growth:
Church leaders, if a program doesn't seem to be growing, are you equipping your staff and volunteer leadership to help it grow? Have you spent enough time in the program to see where the growth is really occurring before creating an artificial measurement of success? As pastors and teachers are gifts to the church (the body of Christ) for the purpose of equipping, so are church leaders the gifts to the staff and program leaders – pastors and volunteers alike.Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. (Eph 3:17, NLTse)
Equip us before you evaluate us. Then we're all working toward the same goal, and being evaluate by a common standard – and with the same purpose!
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