the point about disposibility is exactly right, churches that are growing and have a future are exclusivists about christianity. the point about coming to grips with the success is out of touch particularly with gen z. its the success of capitalism, materialism, therapeutic religion but not a form of christianity.
Thanks, Stephen. I take your point about gen z and agree with it. I think capitalism, materialism, and therapeutic religion are all in their own ways forms of secularized Christianity.
A great read. Also, if the end goal of Jesus-followers is getting people to 'come to church' or 'dominating the culture', the battle is already lost. I don't go to church because that's what it means to be a Christian, I go to church because in knowing Jesus I realise I am drawn to be part of His body, made up of other Jesus-followers. So the knowing of and dedication to Jesus is the root and the church attendance is (one of) the fruit(s).
Actually, in writing the above I think the root vs fruit paradigm is actually a great way to analyse a lot of what you are writing about here. We are mostly distracted with outer things which are visible, but that's love trying to heal a sick tree by tending to its flowers and fruits, not looking at the health of its roots and what source they are drawing water from.
This is very good. The church's existence is justified by one thing and one thing only. We have the only news that is universally both good and true. Everything else we do, while conditionally good, we have to evaluate with the eye that knows that sometimes adding to a thing winds up actually being a subtraction.
My church “prides” itself for attracting many new LGBTQ+ members over the last 2-3 years. it has bothered me that a colorful pride flag is on the cover of every Sunday bulletin and that there are books on gender by the handicap bathroom. I haven’t dared mention my misgivings for fear of being considered an unwelcoming Christian. So I just stay quiet since it doesn’t seem to be harming anyone as far as I can tell.
Excellent article. I think the church is at a time of renewal as many of the baby bormers heading it "shed this mortal coil." With their departure we will be left with those for whom the Christian faith was not normative in their adult lives and as such have likely better "counted the cost" of membership. Even those raised within it will have a reason for why they stayed when many of their peers departed. With such will rise a smaller church with a clearer picture of it's raison d'etre.
My life for the past two years has been asking why I go to church week in and week out. Why acting as if Jesus is the Lord matters at all? If there is not a good answer to these questions then living a Christian life is optional. We require a faith that disciplines us to obey God when we do not want to because we know there is no alternative save for Christ's church.
the point about disposibility is exactly right, churches that are growing and have a future are exclusivists about christianity. the point about coming to grips with the success is out of touch particularly with gen z. its the success of capitalism, materialism, therapeutic religion but not a form of christianity.
Thanks, Stephen. I take your point about gen z and agree with it. I think capitalism, materialism, and therapeutic religion are all in their own ways forms of secularized Christianity.
A great read. Also, if the end goal of Jesus-followers is getting people to 'come to church' or 'dominating the culture', the battle is already lost. I don't go to church because that's what it means to be a Christian, I go to church because in knowing Jesus I realise I am drawn to be part of His body, made up of other Jesus-followers. So the knowing of and dedication to Jesus is the root and the church attendance is (one of) the fruit(s).
Actually, in writing the above I think the root vs fruit paradigm is actually a great way to analyse a lot of what you are writing about here. We are mostly distracted with outer things which are visible, but that's love trying to heal a sick tree by tending to its flowers and fruits, not looking at the health of its roots and what source they are drawing water from.
Agreed. No root, no fruit.
This is very good. The church's existence is justified by one thing and one thing only. We have the only news that is universally both good and true. Everything else we do, while conditionally good, we have to evaluate with the eye that knows that sometimes adding to a thing winds up actually being a subtraction.
My church “prides” itself for attracting many new LGBTQ+ members over the last 2-3 years. it has bothered me that a colorful pride flag is on the cover of every Sunday bulletin and that there are books on gender by the handicap bathroom. I haven’t dared mention my misgivings for fear of being considered an unwelcoming Christian. So I just stay quiet since it doesn’t seem to be harming anyone as far as I can tell.
So thoughtfully written... this idea of dispensability is not an angle I had thought of before.
Excellent article. I think the church is at a time of renewal as many of the baby bormers heading it "shed this mortal coil." With their departure we will be left with those for whom the Christian faith was not normative in their adult lives and as such have likely better "counted the cost" of membership. Even those raised within it will have a reason for why they stayed when many of their peers departed. With such will rise a smaller church with a clearer picture of it's raison d'etre.
Thanks very much for this. I agree some of this trend is generational, and I hope you’re right that it changes.
My life for the past two years has been asking why I go to church week in and week out. Why acting as if Jesus is the Lord matters at all? If there is not a good answer to these questions then living a Christian life is optional. We require a faith that disciplines us to obey God when we do not want to because we know there is no alternative save for Christ's church.