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| Back seat driver |
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(Part 4 in a series) The power base is shifting from America to the rest of the world. Whether one nation will emerge as the dominant player or whether it will be a smattering of many different tribes from many different nations will remain to be seen. It is more likely that the collaboration and efforts of many will be necessary in the future. No single power can do anything now without the rest of the world watching and mimicking. Hip-hop in Hong Kong and Ferris wheels in the Arab peninsula show us that what we do will be there almost before we are. Our choices are limited as to what we as the church can do. Even in America we are in no position to dictate policy. If anything the Church is more fractured into smaller organizational entities but more united in faith and principle than ever before. It is like we have rediscovered the first century church concept in a new way. Each denomination or congregational church represents its own ideas and thoughts on the teaching of Christ and the Apostles. Yet, we are united in the essence of that teaching. As John wrote about the seven churches in his book of the Revelation, so we are like many different churches as well. Still, each truly represents the Church. That is not to say that there are not apostasies as there were back then. But the parallel is amazing. The old orders in the former powers are not as influential as they were. Even the Roman Catholic Church was relegated to a small patch of ground called Vatican City. The Protestant groups have no such similarities (except maybe for Winchester Cathedral). As America moves into the new, old order we need to begin to ask ourselves what role can be played. I have an expression my dear with dislikes but chuckles at nonetheless: “I have no problems with my wife’s driving but I like it much better when she’s behind the wheel.” OK, it’s a bit Henny Youngman but it makes the point. We cannot be effective trying to give directions from the back seat. It will only get annoying and old quickly. Then, we will get tuned out. The Church as an entity is moving to the fringes of American society. America is moving to the fringe of the world society. Where does that place us? And, what are the opportunities?
(to be continued) |
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Joey |
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May 22, 2008 at 11:35am |
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| I've heard people say that many people are moving towards small group ministries (in homes). I'm not sure how this would work, really, as far as leadership. The key is to reach out to as many people as possible. It seems that there are many negative comments made about our churches today, which I feel is very sad. |
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Good blog Gene.
I have always regarded "the church" not as a building, but the people inside the building. So are the people moving towards the fringes of society? "We" generically speaking ARE the church. So where does that leave us? Slap-bang in the middle of it. |
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Gene |
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May 22, 2008 at 4:08pm |
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Joey, Great observation. Reaching out is great but there needs to be a way to get those people connected to the rest of the Body of Christ and to provide for an education in Christian ideals (i.e. Bible). Small groups would be a wonderful way to do this. The biggest problem with small group meetings seems to be the amount of time available to people. That may not change.
Thanks, Steve. Always good to hear from you. the "church" as you say, is people. in the context of my usage, it includes the attitudes of the people. It is those attitudes that are moving toward the fringes. Not that the church is changing so much as the fact that society is changing and what was once the center. . . no longer is. At one point, being a member of the church was considered good form, proper and right for all upstanding and solid citizens of society. That was the center. The center has moved. The church has not moved (and rightly so). With our relative position shifted from where it was 50 years ago (at least in America) and the growing influence of overseas interests, what does the church (attitudes of the Believers) need to do to adapt to this shift without compromising the fundamentals of the faith? |
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The church is a building. The church body is a group of people who make up the church. It's not the church's fault. God said I change not, so why do people try to change the church to comforn to the world's ways ? It's because they are not being led by the Spirit of God, but are operating by the flesh. Their minds are carnal. They have accepted Jesus as Lord, but are still being controlled by the flesh. Pray for them that the blinders will be removed so God can operate in their lives the way He intended. Amen |
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Gene |
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May 22, 2008 at 6:56pm |
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Thanks so much for stopping by, Mary. Like I mentioned to Steve, in the sense that I'm using it, the term "church refers to the attitudes of its people - the common thinking. It's not about trying to change to the world's ways. I hope that's not what you think I 'm saying. It's about trying to understand the world's ways so as to better address them. The World as I'm using it refers to exactly that - the world - not the carnal nature of humankind.
There are Christians in other parts of the world whose influence we will begin seeing ever stronger as America steps back and other players come onto the field. It's a question about how we're going to react to that and does it change the way we think. If so why? If not why not? And what changes are cosmetic and could use changing and what changes are foundational and should never be changed? How is the changing influence of outside power growth and the emergence of other nations - some with strong Christian populations and some with stronger non-Christian populations going to affect the American church? And can American church organizations accept taking a back seat in this new order? |
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I agree that once the church was the centre (or center), and on a Sunday people went to church. In my 50 years alone where I live - people (including children) went to church. It was part of our upbringing. Nowadays where I live, all you see are old folks going to church.
What does the church (the attitude of believers) need to do? Now that is a good question. The only answer I can give is this. The message is sacred, the method is not. But people seem to be stuck in the method and will not change for anybody. I call the method - the Sacred Cow of church life that people won't touch, and people wonder why people are staying away from the church. Its because they will not change the method, but in some places they will tamper with the message to make it fit. Stupid example. Not everyone speaks King James language, but people are expected to accept it. Maybe its because it sounds more "religious" than all the other versions do? Who knows. |
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Deb |
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May 23, 2008 at 8:43am |
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| I haven't commented much Gene, since we were gone for a few days, I am way behind in blogs...I am just trying to read as many as possible, and not making too many comments. I just wanted you to know though, that this series is very interesting. I look forward to whatever you have left in the series. |
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Hi Gene -- I am still not sure what the "problem" is with America taking a back seat. Is this what you are worried about?
A trend in missions that I have seen is to attempt to train and support national pastors and lay workers in creating their own ministries. I think this approach can be far more effective, then the traditional "American missionary as an influencing presence" model.
The problem in the past has been that if we try to train foreign workers here, they begin to find living in the United States much more appealing than going back to their countries. As we set up training in their countries, the mission becomes more effective, and the "bank accounts and Internet and easy life" aren't as big a temptation.
As America becomes more jaded to the Gospel, I am not suprised that we are being seen as a mission field for other countries. We are to pray that God sends workers wherever they are needed. Is this a shame? Not so sure.... |
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Gene |
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May 23, 2008 at 10:49am |
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Steve, to your a colloquial expression - spot on! I don't know anyone who uses King James English in daily speech (unless you also go around quoting Shakespeare continually). And with current reference to documents not discovered until later, it's not even that accurate a translation anymore. But the point can be extrapolated. Luther took beer hall music and added "church" lyrics to it to create some of our most revered hymns. He made it relevant. So why do we continue to use the same music written by dead white European men for over 300 years? And worse, we've exported that thinking to other parts of the world.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Deb. How are the 'shrooms?
Hal, the back seat is the place that we're headed. I have no problem "being along for the ride" as long as we're all headed to the same place. I'm not worried at all - except about what type of response will come from the churches.
The trend you mention is a good one but still one step removed from where it will end up. It is still Americans doing the training. What we will begin to see happening is first a push back ("We don't need them here to do that") and then an independent way of approaching the subject. rather than having outsiders do the training, the people in other countries will be doing first their own training and then offering training to us. As American society moves further from the Gospel, we will need fresh ideas on how to present the message. Like Steve says, "The message is sacred, the method is not." It will be these "other" parts of the world that will be teaching and training one another and offering that to us. A wise church group woudl do well to be paying attention to the shift. This may be the latest big thing in the Isaiah 42:9 " new thing." |
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Glenn |
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May 23, 2008 at 11:43am |
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Gene, Hal and Steve you have added some great clarity to this subject with your comments here. Hal you are spot on with the trend towards missions training those to carry on their own church building. I belong to the CMA and that has been our approach for a number of years now. As a matter of fact our congregation is hoping to establish a partnership, if you will, with a church in another part of the world.
I for one think that we are moving into a new world order and fast approaching end times. Not sure if that is where you are heading Gene, but it truly seems that way to me, and I don't think that the US will be much of a player in the entire scenario. Anyway another good discussion going on here.
peace |
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| Lara wuz heer. lol And going to finish the read. |
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Joey |
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May 23, 2008 at 3:54pm |
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It's me again... after some thinking.
I won't be in the back seat, not this woman. Not as long as I live! Jesus Christ called us to serve Him. We must be creative and proactive. You cannot make anyone come to Jesus. We must live the lives He calls us to live.
We need revivals and soulvivals! We need to be filled with fire of the Holy Spirit! |
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Gene |
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May 24, 2008 at 6:04am |
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Hi Glenn. Great comment. I think you're exactly right. A new world order is approaching.
Lara - you so funny!
It might not happen while we're alive - but it could, Joey. Individually we're not to move to the back seat. Collectively, as a country and as a Christian influence in the world, America is already moving there. |
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"As American society moves further from the Gospel, we will need fresh ideas on how to present the message." I think the fresh ideas are already there in this progression. Other nations are responding to the message that is God's ultimately. We have had that message for too long and we are jaded. What is that message? "Social reform"" or the spiritual regeneration of fallen men through the message of Christ's substitutonary sacrifice and subsequent resurrection? If it's social reform that boat has long sailed.... American Society is burying itself. I agree with Glenn...end-times are rapidly approaching and we (USA) may be involved in the third of the earth's people that the Bible says is destroyed. God's Holy Spirit moves from nation to nation in the hearts of His people --we could all go away here in the US and God's plan will continue unhampered, as His will is irresistable. As for our influence, Joey has it right. The Holy Spirit does the work we are only the conveyence. |
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Gene |
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May 26, 2008 at 10:40am |
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Thanks, Hal. I don't think it's social reform. You're right, that ship is not in port. But the other ship has long ago been traveling - Christ and Him crucified. But I don;t so much think that America society is burying itself anymore than it has been doing over the past 200 years. It is the rise of other nations that is different. Instead of military might we have economic and cultural rivals. America no longer places number one in any academic field. It's not that we're dumber, it's that the rest of the world if catching up.
We've been providing assistance and C.A.R.E. for millions for years with the hopes that those nations will eventually learn self-sufficiency. They have! And when you're playing at the table with the big kids, you get to play as an equal partner. Those cultures are not the same and will flavor the Christian experience in ways we have not yet imagined. |
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