There is a thin, slimy film that covers everything today. It is like living in a sauna. My intentions were to grab a long, early-morning ride that would put the legs to a test, but plans changed quickly. First challenge...power interruption during the middle-of-the-night storm caused the alarm clock to misfire, so I was an hour late "out of the gate." Secondly... the humidity registered in at 85% (hence the film). Finally...we were in the mid-80's even at 8:00 this morning. I rethought my epic ride and altered it into a usual 40-miler, though spiced up a bit by exploring some new routes around the countryside outside the town of Shallotte, NC.
I have finished Don Kimball's The Emerging Church, though I am quite sure I am not finished with Kimball. Like this morning's sauna, he has encouraged me to do some rethinking...of the way we typically do ministry. Kimball has a heart for the younger generation, i.e. our high schoolers, collegiate students and young adults. For years the church's mantra has been, "Sow the seeds in our children. They will leave for awhile, but will come back. Save them a place at the table." However, this current generation of younger, maturing Christians is the first American generation to grow up without "the seeds." They have no connection with the Judeo-Christian worldview that we have taken for granted. There is nothing for them to return to. The church, therefore, has a real challenge. And if this challenge is not engaged, the vitality of the church in this country will suffer.
Again, to capture a flavor of Kimball's work through what he calls the "Vintage Church," I have attached a link to this blog. I commend this book to you, if you are ready for a challenge. But don't read it late at night. It is an "eye-opener."
I ventured to the inlet this evening to capture the sunset, but all I got was more of that persistent slimy film on my lens. I am committed to sharing this natural beauty with you. Perhaps tomorrow.
God's peace to you...the kind that passes the world's understanding.
The image above was taken a few days ago. It is a piece of metal artwork displaying a little girl feeding the sea gulls. I believe that Kimball would be drawn to this image. His greatest desire is that the church of Christ emerge is such a way that it will embrace her generation.
I have finished Don Kimball's The Emerging Church, though I am quite sure I am not finished with Kimball. Like this morning's sauna, he has encouraged me to do some rethinking...of the way we typically do ministry. Kimball has a heart for the younger generation, i.e. our high schoolers, collegiate students and young adults. For years the church's mantra has been, "Sow the seeds in our children. They will leave for awhile, but will come back. Save them a place at the table." However, this current generation of younger, maturing Christians is the first American generation to grow up without "the seeds." They have no connection with the Judeo-Christian worldview that we have taken for granted. There is nothing for them to return to. The church, therefore, has a real challenge. And if this challenge is not engaged, the vitality of the church in this country will suffer.
Again, to capture a flavor of Kimball's work through what he calls the "Vintage Church," I have attached a link to this blog. I commend this book to you, if you are ready for a challenge. But don't read it late at night. It is an "eye-opener."
I ventured to the inlet this evening to capture the sunset, but all I got was more of that persistent slimy film on my lens. I am committed to sharing this natural beauty with you. Perhaps tomorrow.
God's peace to you...the kind that passes the world's understanding.
The image above was taken a few days ago. It is a piece of metal artwork displaying a little girl feeding the sea gulls. I believe that Kimball would be drawn to this image. His greatest desire is that the church of Christ emerge is such a way that it will embrace her generation.
2 comments:
This is most disturbing -- that our children don't have a basis to return to their church home.
Two of my children have come back. One is just tooooooo busy. I pray for a godly mentor to reach his heart and bring him back into Christian community.
Strangely, He is the only one of my children who was confirmed and yet he does not seek out a church home.
The message is finally sinking in...
The first time I heard it, it was in Lyle Schaller's 44 Questions for Congregational Self-Appraisal. The second time was hearing Lyle Schaller at COR's Leadership Institute back in 2001 or 2002. We've heard it from Alpha and other outreach groups.
The message is: On most church ministry calendars, the next ministry year after this one is 1950.
So many Christian congregations keep on doing church as if black-n-white TV, 2-parent and 2 child households, Walter Cronkite and Leave It To Beaver were our cultural stock in trade. Where children would never NOT go to Sunday school - let alone church. Where just saying "John 3:16" meant something to people. Where family bibles wore out before marriages did, for the most part.
Sadly, it just ain't so, these days. Hasn't been, for about 15 years, to be honest. And the unchurched/unreached folks of today do not respond to a "here's why you need to be in church" sales pitch wrapped in church dogma and apologetics. They have been out of the market for generations - and any more, they're just not buying.
This is our church's mission field - not just corralling-in unattached Lutherans, but reaching out to folks who don't have a clue about Christ, to show them the here-&-now blessings of Christian life.
It's not about having a haven for the saved and the practicing Christian, but about making Christ known (and relevant) to a nation that largely doesn't know Him.
The sad part is that the image that 90% of youth and under-40 folks receive about "faith" and "church" are formed by the media. And sadly, some of the loudest Christian voices in the media have been most responsible for the defections.
Countering the arguments and apathy requires people to see a living faith, hope, and charity that is not all for show and sending checks, but an activist church that embodies the message of Matthew 25 - feeding the hungry, healing the sick, visiting those in prison, caring for the widow and orphan. (Sorry, Joe - you've only heard this from me about 985,632 times, you really didn't need to go on sabbatical to hear it again...)
But when we talk about the church emerging, it has to be emerging into the community, onto the streets. Missional has to be having a mission that shows people the love of Christ, rather than just talking about it. If they want words, they can listen to them on TV or the internet. The unchurched don't believe our words - I believe they need to see our hands, and our feet.
"Show me that your faith matters, here and now," one guy said to me. "Show me what can save me from this hell-on-earth, from living a lonely and useless life right now - and I'll believe that your heaven is worth working for and waiting for."
(stepping down off the soapbox...)
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