When I was growing up during the Regan Era, Nancy Regan’s big “first lady” issue was to prevent drug use by kids. The campaign was called, “Just Say No.” During that time there were all sorts of commercials on television that would demonstrate to teenagers why they wanted to “just say no.”
The commercial from that era that has always stuck with me was one of a young business executive. He was explaining why he did cocaine. He said that he did cocaine so that he could work longer hours, so he could make more money, so he could buy more cocaine, so he could work longer hours… he was walking around in a circle as he said this and he would go around the circle faster and faster in a hopeless and endless cycle. I feel like the American church is in that same type of cycle.
We entertain people, so we can run more programs and build bigger buildings, so we entertain more people.
We call that ministry.
God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. All you have to do to get that wonderful plan is believe these 4 spiritual laws.
God created you so you can have your best life now.
The mission of the church is for you to learn how to manage your money, have a great marriage, and kids that don’t drink, smoke, or screw nor date kids that do…and oh yeah, if you can win a bible trivia course while your at it all the better.
I’ve been in pastoral ministry for over twenty years and that’s the good news, the gospel I have heard proclaimed from the topics that are preached and the programs that are emphasized.
Do you know what this type of ministry has produced? A group of consumers who are shopping goods and services and the only way a church might have a chance at doing something significant is to feed the beast. Those who actually get the message of the gospel find themselves leaving the church saying there has to be something more than this, and we see the staff of churches, who entered as young, wide-eyed idealist, becoming jaded and cynical at best and at worst people who are living very dualistic lives.
Now I’m painting with a broad brush stroke, there are definitely churches marching to the beat of a different drummer, but by and large this is what I see. I see that the “me generation” brought that "me" attitude right into the church and it’s caused one big mess.
I believe there is a way out of this mess, but I don’t believe the way out is by building bigger buildings, creating Disnified Children’s areas, or a culture of entertainment within the church. I actually think the way out is going to be almost in the opposite direction.
What I’m wanting to do through this blog is open a dialogue about how to authentically be the church in the 21st century, but not in a I’m a professor that has never actually done what I’m talking about sort of way, but in a nuts in bolts approach where we would actually try to apply some of the things we talk about in a real world context and give each other feedback on how it goes. I believe that the unchurched out there are longing to see a church that does the stuff Jesus did and talked about. I think that type of church will reach and challenge people.
Anyway, once a week I’m going to share about some things we are doing at the Chatty Vineyard, not all will be success stories, but how we are trying to do this, as a spring board for a larger conversation.
Are you in?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
Hmm. You can take the church out of the culture, but can you take the culture out of the church? I'm wondering, can we genuinly correct such pragmatism with more pragmatism? Or, do we need to get down to reframing some of our ecclesiology? As I start up a new church in the land of mega churches, I'm seeing a daily challenge of the tension between going cultural and shaping culture. I feel like I'm attached to one of those bungie cords. The further I press out from a consumerist church, the greater the pull is on me as a leader to bounce back. So, yes, I'm in. But do know, I'm not in if this means more of the same all in an effort to reach the goal of American success in a different form. Todd of the Creek
ReplyDeleteTodd, I get a sense, in your post, that this "bungie-cord tension" makes you feel frustrated. Don't get discouraged. A lot of us feel that way.
ReplyDeleteI think it's about helping people take that "next step." Seems like Jesus always challenged people to take that next, impossible, baby step towards the Kingdom.
:)
I'm excited about the direction our (Jeff's) church is going. We have decided not to build a mega-building, but do church out of a local high school. The people in our congregation that I have talked to about going portable seem to have really caught a hold of the vision. They appreciate the idea of doing more with less. Here in Chattanooga, that's a rare thing.
Yes, changing buildings is just changing buildings. We all have to learn and remember that this is not about us.
God, help us.
Reminded me of this:
http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/humility.htm