Comments on: Five cultural trends killing the church’s mission

By: DLPL

DLPL — Sun, 05 May 2024 23:08:00 +0000

Wow, Geoff. You have offered one of the most reasoned and astute observations I’ve read in a very long time. Thank you for taking the time to share and for doing it so effectively, and for sharing from personal experience.

“There is a form of conservatism that doesn’t have to commit itself to any particular political identity but addresses these root causes.” — I agree wholeheartedly. I’m quite concerned, in this election year in the USA (2024), at the number of “well known” ministers who are doing great harm and are promoting confusion by not recognizing and championing this truth.

Instead, they are choosing to compromise sound, conservative economic and cultural principles that are PROVEN to work for the good of society. In doing so, they are actually advocating for things that will harm the very people they say they wish to help — and are basically doing so in order that people might “feel good” about their very bad ideas!

Trying to make people feel good about wrong opinions and beliefs does not enable that bad idea (or philosophy) to suddenly or ultimately produce good things! Socialism and communism have never bettered or enriched the people/countries who have embraced them, and they never will (only the leaders benefit by breaking the backs of those they consider to be their peons). These are BAD ideas — and Christians need to quit pandering to evil in the name of “having a conversation” or a misunderstanding of how “nice” they or the world think Jesus is (or was during his earthly walk).

Sometimes you have to quit all the yakking and yakking (which at some point becomes distraction and a misuse of energy), and just plain stand up for the truth. One cannot reason with the unreasonable. “But avoid foolish and ill-informed and stupid controversies…for they are unprofitable and useless.” (Titus 3:9)

Jesus demonstrated this and parents do as well (or should do so) with their children when necessary. We make decisions that our kids just “don’t get” right now, at their level of understanding, so the adults in the room need to step up and lead. “The natural person does not accept (simply cannot “get”) the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him. He is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” ( I Corinthians 2:14)

Christians who are schooled in the Word and Spirit of God OUGHT to know better — we have a higher (the ultimate) source of wisdom. It’s time to start acting like it and be the leaders we’ve been created and empowered to be. Lead with kindness and wisdom, but PLEASE — for all our sakes — LEAD!

By: Ted

Ted — Fri, 03 May 2024 16:26:01 +0000

In reply to James. you just defined every cult.

By: Daniel Clark

Daniel Clark — Sun, 12 Apr 2020 12:37:26 +0000

Trends bringing the church back to life: Physically distancing during a pandemic, Zoom calling the dying, texting with the distraught, volunteering with the government to feed the hungry, donating blood for the sick, picking up Perscription’s for the elderly, ordering delivery from local businesses, speaking hope for a better future, and learning from our twitter feed how to actually be used by God to be good news. .

By: Ken

Ken — Sun, 12 Apr 2020 06:03:12 +0000

Mike, you have this habit of ‘hitting the nail on the head’ and of verbalizing issues with which many struggle.
I remember Rick Warren once saying that the larger you get (the Church), the smaller you must become (small groups). It seems to me that it could now be time for a change in Church methodology, in that should we become smaller (home church?) in order to grow larger?
Most of the issues you raised would then no longer be, or would be automatically dealt with in the context of a small group.
Just a thought.

By: Merv

Merv — Wed, 11 Mar 2020 04:33:34 +0000

In short we want churches to be Restaruants rather than picnics. Professional services that we can complain about , pay for, appoint more off etc.
As you don’t have volunteers in restaurants it makes it easy to not be vested in one and to change restaurants when menus change.

By: Fay Magee

Fay Magee — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 02:37:43 +0000

In reply to Greg Brown. Good points about the downside of 'emerging' church trends particularly in relation to 'non-trained' leadership. It is important for professional approaches to inter-personal relationships. It is also important that the 'glow of success' doesn't result in less accountability over big issues like governance and doctrine.

By: Rhonda K

Rhonda K — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 22:49:59 +0000

In reply to Silva. I believe Jesus suggests we do both. The story of the good samariton mentions taking care of the injured man initially and then paying the innkeeper to continue his care.

By: Mark Baines

Mark Baines — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 05:33:17 +0000

Re: DEATH OF CIVIL DISCOURSE – I’ve just come across a Christian vlogger who’s become friends with an Atheist vlogger after acting like a decent human, finding common ground and listening to his story. You can see some of the evidence in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drkEVxzQXxU&t=488s

By: Greg Brown

Greg Brown — Sat, 25 Jan 2020 02:00:01 +0000

Mike
I appreciate your analysis, & agree that the five issues you have noted are part of a wider range of factors that are impeding the church’s mission. Some of the above comments identify other relevant issues.
I understand you railing against regulation (#5), but government regulation is almost always imposed in a reactionary way after events that have caused someone harm, or even death. (Child-safe church policies are a good example – we now have to build fences so that kids can’t wander onto the road. These policies have been introduced at significant cost to the church, but have probably saved lives.) The aim is to protect, even where the imposed process is onerous. Its the reality of the world we live in, so we have to find ways to deal with it – or open ourselves to litigation when someone does get hurt.
Another e.g. has emerged through the ‘fresh expressions of church’ movement & resultant de-clericalisation, which holds great promise for the future church. The downside is that it is producing church leaders who have not been socialised into the ‘professional’ aspect of the role of pastor, & are not properly aware of the necessity for professional boundaries with people in the pew. Their lack of training, as well as the inadequate level of training and scrutiny of those who are already ordained & in ministry, place people at risk, so the (Aust) Royal Commission has called for legislation that seeks to help minimise that risk.
Speaking of which, the RC has exposed our underbelly. We have crapped in our nest & where we should have been leading the way, we have been found to be lagging way behind community expectations, not to mention Kingdom-honouring behaviour. We – the church in Australia – deserve what we got, & demonstrated that we need much more robust governance. Maybe other jurisdictions around the world can learn from our experience
Joe (above) has mentioned the G factor. The church has faced enormous adversity through the last 2000 years – much it worse than government regulation – and we are still here. Christ is still, and will continue, to build his church.
Thanks for your reflections.
Greg

By: John Staub

John Staub — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 22:05:38 +0000

I’d love to connect with you about your second point and how it may relate to where I work, Remodel Health in Indianapolis, IN. I’ve been working with local churches to help with this exact issue using innovative software and service. Over the past 5 years, we’ve helped them save $11M+ to get back into their ministry budgets. Would love to connect and hear your thoughts on a partnership!