Right or Wrong?
I've noticed an increase in the past few months in the talk about emerging churches and youth ministries versus traditional or contemporary and I can't help but ask the question that has been nagging at me. Who is right and who is wrong? Or, is there a right and a wrong? It seems as though there are valid points on all sides as to whether or not things need to change in the way we "do" church but, as a future youth pastor probably I must ask how one knows which way to go. I suppose I ere on the side of things needing to be a little different especially the way our culture changes continually. It seems that a majority of our youth are beginning to grow tired of the same old stuff with in regards to church. And although I'm not one to always change things just because others don't like, I'm beginning to discover that maybe the way were doing things wasn't completely right in the first place. It seems that the old weekend retreat with the Saturday night altar call might not be as effective as we once thought. There are always multiple rededications, and rededications of rededications but not much substance or foundation under them.
I'm sure we all know how easy it is to be completely in to the moment and then the next day, likely the very next moment be doing something that "Jesus wouldn't do." I don't really know or have an answer to this whole topic but I thought I would just right about it for the sake of adding to the discussion. Do you have any thoughts on the matters? Please respond.
posted by Will Branch @ 11:49 AM
5 Comments
5 Comments:
I would have to agree with you. I think the way we "do" church is a reflection of the way we interact with each other and our society. So if church never changes because of a tight grip on tradtional methods only...then we aren't doing what Jesus did...He met them where they were at, in the villages and at the docks. We need to be willing to goto todays "villages" (MySpace, AIM, etc.) and incorporate everyday technology into our services and worship. So I agree we need to morph in response to our culture while still maintaining our core mission and values. How? I don't know...you're the college man :)
I disagree. God does not change. There is nothing new under the sun. There has to be a place to come apart from the world and be separate. If the church begins to look like the world why should we turn from the world to come to God. "Do not love the world nor the things of the world." The emergent church caters to the flesh which God tells us to crucify. Yes, Jesus went out to the people, but he called them to repentance to enter into the kingdom of God.
You need to do some research into these men that you are reading, Will. They are into some bad stuff. Please look here: http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/index.html
Also here www.xanga.com/see_the_star
I looked up some stuff on the lighthouse site...they pretty think Willow Creek is the work of the devil and that many of the major writers of the last decade are all leading us toward the one world religion by asking us to think, meditate, or apply spiritual disciplines to our lives. Many wise christians that I know personally, and respect greatly do not share the views of that website.
And I do not think that we need to change to "look like the world" but I think if the church continues to hold to traditional music, traditional services, and traditional methods of reaching people...then that church runs the risk of being traditionally extinct. Jesus preached in fields, not the synagoges....wasn't that a break from tradtion? Jesus even said that the Law was just a tool for showing you your sinfulness...I think you can make a relevant approach to people in todays terms without underminig(sp?) or watering down the Gospel. Alot of what I see in the arguments that the website has are not what currently is, but what it might turn into...this horrible fear that left unchecked we will ruin God's Church. I highly doubt we have that much clout.
1 cor 9:19 and so on.
Paul became all things to all men in order that by all possible means he might save some.
Sometimes, I get so deep into the emergent church realm of thought and things just start spinning. True, there is nothing new under the sun. But there are things that can be new to US. After all, we're just in our 20s, and there is always something to learn.
Even if our heads spin, I think it is good that our hearts are focused on Christ and we are looking for meaning. Form and function agreement, you know? And I'm glad that God lets us think hard and try to figure things out, and know Him better, and get confused in the mystery of the Gospel.
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