the    sides

Nelson challenged me to write about what the church is doing well. Did he mean Grace particular or church in general? Not sure….but here are my musings on the general…Grace specific is coming soon.

Church General
I read about 35 blogs on churches all over the world. Almost all of the churches outside the US are ‘growing’ (adding) new followers of Jesus by relational/missional methods. I cringe at the use of the word ‘method’ because I don’t think they see it as a method but just how we are supposed to live - overflow living. Focus seems to be on things like spiritual disciplines/formation, theology and church in pubs, coffee shops, theaters, houses, emphasis on authenticity, community, and simplicity.

I also think most of them handle the culture around them in a healthy, biblical way. What does that mean? That means they are not trashing culture, withdrawing and becoming “in the bubble” isolationists complete with their own Christian ghetto supplied with Christian schools, Christian music, Christian books, Christian stores, Christian friends, Christian cars, Christian movies, and Christian neighborhoods.

Neither do I see them blindly embracing culture without any questions or critiques. I see them taking the hard road which recognizes that the clean, clear lines between the sacred and the secular might not be as clean and clear as we originally thought. Everything in our world has both the fingerpring of the Holy as well as the fingerprint of the Fall. Seldom are things completely one or the other.

The American/Western church has some issues…which I think Marko dealt with, albeit longwindedly :), very accurately here. There seems to be pockets of places where there is a cry to expand the rational to include the experiencial and a very plain determination to do the ‘black and white’ of Jesus (feed the hungry, help the poor, orphans, and widows) without abandoning the worldwide emphasis of missions. Community and cause.

But change is slow in the church, blindingly fast outside of it. Will the church dare to risk and lead some of those changes or will she just react?