Yes to much you are saying, nevertheless, no denomination or congregation is exempt from the Great Commission. I see too many mainline churches like mine thinking it’s what we do at our main service, including innovations that will “bring them in and turn us around.” Making disciples isn’t about innovative worship. It’s about true disciples making other disciples. 🙏
Something I think a lot of Methodist congregations have done that I find to be a big mistake is entertain the idea of "contemporary" or "modern" worship, as though *that's* why people are migrating to evangelical churches. Aside from feeling more like a Band-Aid than a real solution, are we really just thinking this is what's driving young people to evangelical megachurches?
Yeah, I don't think people stopped going to church because there wasn't enough rock music. Some people like the contemporary music and that's fine, at my church we have a service for each. I think the evangelical churches just interacted more with their youth, they were more likely to empower them to become active participants. People need a sense of ownership as well as community, a guitar or two doesn't do anything.
Waiting can be so active - creating community and relationship together that equips us and sustains us. Where we affirm each other when a church member is fired by a federal government that does not value them. Where we affirm people who are worried about their healthcare and loss of freedom. Where we support people who are afraid about immigration changes or worried about losing contact with their loved ones.
All we can do is tend to those relationships that are in front of us in these moments of stress.
While I can see the value in "waiting" as you say, I'm not sure I see how it is missing from our current situation. In fact, waiting seems to be what we are best at. We wait while our churches decline into nothing, then shut their doors forever.
I don't think we are supposed to be too comfortable, either in our wealth or in our actions. Most of the things we are called on by God to do are uncomfortable things, helping the poor and needy who are often mean and gross, sacrificing our own comfort to help strangers. Sometimes we must wait of course, and put our trust in Him. But if waiting is comfortable then we should reject it. I've spent my whole life wanting to do more for the church, wanting to do missionary work or more ministry with the homeless. But it never seems like the right time, I'm always too busy, too worried about taking time away from my family. I've spent my whole life waiting for the right moment to take action, and I'm afraid that will be engraved on my tombstone some day. I'm 38 now, so there's still time. But there will always be time...until it's gone.
Thank you for your comment. My rationale comes from Root's The Congregation in a Secular Age which talks about how churches get so busy doing stuff, they lose connection with God and therefore a sense of what they really should be doing. If we slowed down and waited for hear God, we might hear where and how God is calling us to move and act in our community.
Yes to much you are saying, nevertheless, no denomination or congregation is exempt from the Great Commission. I see too many mainline churches like mine thinking it’s what we do at our main service, including innovations that will “bring them in and turn us around.” Making disciples isn’t about innovative worship. It’s about true disciples making other disciples. 🙏
Yes, absolutely.
Something I think a lot of Methodist congregations have done that I find to be a big mistake is entertain the idea of "contemporary" or "modern" worship, as though *that's* why people are migrating to evangelical churches. Aside from feeling more like a Band-Aid than a real solution, are we really just thinking this is what's driving young people to evangelical megachurches?
Yeah, I don't think people stopped going to church because there wasn't enough rock music. Some people like the contemporary music and that's fine, at my church we have a service for each. I think the evangelical churches just interacted more with their youth, they were more likely to empower them to become active participants. People need a sense of ownership as well as community, a guitar or two doesn't do anything.
Thoughtful reflection.
Waiting can be so active - creating community and relationship together that equips us and sustains us. Where we affirm each other when a church member is fired by a federal government that does not value them. Where we affirm people who are worried about their healthcare and loss of freedom. Where we support people who are afraid about immigration changes or worried about losing contact with their loved ones.
All we can do is tend to those relationships that are in front of us in these moments of stress.
While I can see the value in "waiting" as you say, I'm not sure I see how it is missing from our current situation. In fact, waiting seems to be what we are best at. We wait while our churches decline into nothing, then shut their doors forever.
I don't think we are supposed to be too comfortable, either in our wealth or in our actions. Most of the things we are called on by God to do are uncomfortable things, helping the poor and needy who are often mean and gross, sacrificing our own comfort to help strangers. Sometimes we must wait of course, and put our trust in Him. But if waiting is comfortable then we should reject it. I've spent my whole life wanting to do more for the church, wanting to do missionary work or more ministry with the homeless. But it never seems like the right time, I'm always too busy, too worried about taking time away from my family. I've spent my whole life waiting for the right moment to take action, and I'm afraid that will be engraved on my tombstone some day. I'm 38 now, so there's still time. But there will always be time...until it's gone.
Thank you for your comment. My rationale comes from Root's The Congregation in a Secular Age which talks about how churches get so busy doing stuff, they lose connection with God and therefore a sense of what they really should be doing. If we slowed down and waited for hear God, we might hear where and how God is calling us to move and act in our community.
Heh. I was on that town hall call too. And yes, there are times to pray, watch, and wait.