What did we do? Why do so many 18-30 year olds hate the organized church? I used to think of that question in terms of what “they did” but now that I’m an ordained minister, I don’t have that right I guess. So, what have we done? What have I done?
These Christians tell me they are tired of the hypocrisy, the inauthenticity, the lack of care for the lost, the overemphasis on buildings and numbers, etc, etc. Many of them are choosing to live out their Christian life apart from the organized church and people are taking notice as this movement was recently highlighted by George Barna’s Revolution and the most recent issue of Outreach Magazine.
Can they be brought back? For many of them, that is not even the question. They don’t even consider coming back as an option. They feel that they can live the Christian life more authentically than the Christians remaining in the organized church. Barna agrees and salutes them for the move.
So, what to do? I think there are valid and reasonable arguments from scripture for the necessity of the organized church (the appointing of elders and deacons, the entire book of I Corinthians, Hebrews 13), but to be honest, these scriptural exhortations don’t go very far with the disgruntled believer. And when that becomes the case, I suppose the only action left to take is to reform the church through the power of the Spirit to make it look more like the Biblical church. As the Spirit moves within the organized church to make it more Christlike, and therefore Biblical, I think the Spirit will also move among the Christians that have left to draw them back to the work of the communing, organized church. Just what are the reforms that need to take place? Whew, more than this article can address, but I’ll attempt a few.
The church needs to walk in integrity before God and with each other. This means that we desire inward change much more than outward change, trusting that outward change will reflect the inward work. That means less concern with appearance (in relation to both style, appearance, and preference) and less concern with the structured “protecting your witness” arguments that many churches put in place to control their members. The church needs to be honest with her self and admit that she is made up of sinners. Not a novel concept I know, but many churches present themselves as having already attained the goal in Christ. If not making that bold of a claim, they give passing acknowledgement to sin while emphasizing outward conformity.
In addition, the mission of loving thy neighbor as thyself needs to return. This is after all the second greatest commandment. This looks like truly knowing and befriending the people in your community, being a help to them, and loving them whether or not they ever profess Christ.
Let’s get over the shock of sin…seriously. Sin is an offense to God’s character. Let it be so, but let’s get over the gasps that surround the discovery of sin in people’s lives. That gasp could come if you yourself are unfamiliar with sin, but I promise you that you and I are very familiar with it. The gasps so often smack of implicit judgments and self-congratulatory pats on the back.
Let’s return to preaching the word and not camping out in the protests of the day (DaVinci Code, partisan politics, etc). Let’s avoid packaged programs such as Christian bestsellers and instead tailor our messages to the needs of our people and our communities.
Should we attempt these reforms in order to bring back the disgruntled believer? In part, yes, but in reality we should do it because it would be a healthy return to solid Biblical teaching. I understand the temptation to play to what people want to hear and the fear of criticism that might come with change. But, no matter how convinced we are that some of our present paths are right, when we start losing a generation, we need to take honest looks at our ministries.
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Comments
I think you assume that we have "lost" these people who have decided that they can "be the church" without attending a service or weekly program.
I do agree with you that the traditional church needs some internal reform, and I'm all for that!
But, don't assume that everyone who has left (ala Barna's "Revolution"), has been "Lost".
Maybe they've been lost to the Chruch as an organization, but many are discovering an identity as disciples of Jesus without the constraint of "a sermon and a song".
Still, I really appreciate your article and the issues you've identified.
Good stuff. kg
Posted by Keith Giles | Posted at 06/21/2006 3:40 PM
I'm a 50 year old church planter (3rd), and have been a credentialed minister with a denomination for over 20 years, and I am disgruntled with the organized - or I should say - OVERLY organized, stifling, bureaucratic, political maneuvering, 2 Corinthians 11:3 church! God help us - me - to simply live life according to His Word and Spirit, and be pleasing in HIS sight.
Posted by Greg | Posted at 06/23/2006 7:22 AM
Greg, I hear ya. Please hear in my post that we do have problems. I desire putting our heads together to fix them. I was a ruling elder and an assitant before church planting, and as a preacher's kid, I saw the worst of it. But I love the church as you do. How can we protect her? How can we help her?
www.xanga.com/gordzilla7
Posted by Gordon Duncan | Posted at 06/23/2006 2:02 PM
I'm not sure if she - referring to the organizational/denominational church - needs protecting> Maybe we need to just let God change, rearrange, or even dismantle her as He sees fit. I'm not sure if she (meaning the same) WANTS to be helped. Walking, worshipping and ministering in Spirit and Truth are good starters, tho, I think.
Posted by Greg | Posted at 06/23/2006 2:59 PM
We have to remember that God says the He will build the Church. Not us. That's not our job. We ARE the Church. Our job is to obey Him, do what He called us to do, and PRAY.
God lovers the Church more than we do (obviously) and we need to let God do the part He has promised to do....we need to do the stuff we promised to do.
Peace, Keith http://www.keithgiles.com
Posted by Keith Giles | Posted at 06/25/2006 6:28 AM
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I do agree with you that the traditional church needs some internal reform, and I'm all for that!
But, don't assume that everyone who has left (ala Barna's "Revolution"), has been "Lost".
Maybe they've been lost to the Chruch as an organization, but many are discovering an identity as disciples of Jesus without the constraint of "a sermon and a song".
Still, I really appreciate your article and the issues you've identified.
Good stuff. kg
www.xanga.com/gordzilla7
God lovers the Church more than we do (obviously) and we need to let God do the part He has promised to do....we need to do the stuff we promised to do.
Peace, Keith http://www.keithgiles.com