I Was Just Thinking
I'm currently reading Brian McLaren's book, "A New Kind of Christian" in which he lays out what he believes an effective Christian will look like as we continue to develop this postmodern culture we've been living in for a decade or so now. It's written like a fictional story about a pastor struggling with his responsibilities to keep the status quo and still preach his beliefs, passions, and true heart.
I'll quickly explain something the book has me thinking about. In the modern era (1950's-1980's or 90'), everyone was concerned with being "right." It was Science vs. Faith, Christians vs. other religions, and, sadly, Christians vs. other Christians. Every debate, every discussion, every moment spent studying one side or another was for the sole purpose of proving the other side wrong. Relationship was lost in the war to be right. This created a real and perceived sense of hate, rejection, exclusivity, and fear of acceptance. Everything was "Us vs. Them."
In the postmodern era the cultural discussion has moved from "Who's right?" to "Who cares?" It is really insignificant WHAT we can prove or disprove about Christianity; now all people want to know is, right or wrong, why they should invest themselves in it. What is it about Jesus that would make them want to "take up their cross and follow?"This really leads us into an entirely new approach to sharing the love of Jesus with the lost.
First, there can no longer be a line separating "Us" and "Them." Gay, lesbian, bisexual, alcoholic, druggie, Islamic, Hindu, it makes no difference - we cannot presume that we are somehow better or more worthy than they are. We can only assume that we are the same - flawed humans searching for truth. So rather than approaching these people with "Here's what you're doing that's wrong..." our approach ought to be, "Can I share why my relationship with Jesus matters to me?" Of course this requires actually having a good relationship with the person, which requires NOT being a snot-nosed, holier-than-thou, I-know-something-you-don't-know, Christian. This requires actually caring for the lost, and showing that care through our actions. This requires churches to make the hard decision to embrace those who don't really fit, and care for the communities in which they operate even if those receiving care never come to a worship time. This can't be done just for show or to prove a point, it must be done because we are the same as everyone else in need only we serve a risen Savior who has called us to share His love with the lost.
Second, if approached correctly, postmodernity should further unite Christians with the cause of sharing the love, grace, and life-changing power of Jesus with the lost. We can do away with our debating; we can lay to rest the issues of instrumental music, inerrancy of Scripture, etc.; and we can minister to the lost rather than berate them, or worse, ignore them. Postmodernity could quite possibly be the greatest thing to ever unite the Church (unless we screw this up too). Imagine being more concerned with what a church is doing to share the love of Jesus than what they do during their worship hour. Imagine gathering once a month with the local churches in your community - the Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterian, etc. - to worship God and discuss how to further impact the community where you all worship in the name of Jesus. Wow - what an amazing world that would be.
Anyway, I was just thinking.
I'll quickly explain something the book has me thinking about. In the modern era (1950's-1980's or 90'), everyone was concerned with being "right." It was Science vs. Faith, Christians vs. other religions, and, sadly, Christians vs. other Christians. Every debate, every discussion, every moment spent studying one side or another was for the sole purpose of proving the other side wrong. Relationship was lost in the war to be right. This created a real and perceived sense of hate, rejection, exclusivity, and fear of acceptance. Everything was "Us vs. Them."
In the postmodern era the cultural discussion has moved from "Who's right?" to "Who cares?" It is really insignificant WHAT we can prove or disprove about Christianity; now all people want to know is, right or wrong, why they should invest themselves in it. What is it about Jesus that would make them want to "take up their cross and follow?"This really leads us into an entirely new approach to sharing the love of Jesus with the lost.
First, there can no longer be a line separating "Us" and "Them." Gay, lesbian, bisexual, alcoholic, druggie, Islamic, Hindu, it makes no difference - we cannot presume that we are somehow better or more worthy than they are. We can only assume that we are the same - flawed humans searching for truth. So rather than approaching these people with "Here's what you're doing that's wrong..." our approach ought to be, "Can I share why my relationship with Jesus matters to me?" Of course this requires actually having a good relationship with the person, which requires NOT being a snot-nosed, holier-than-thou, I-know-something-you-don't-know, Christian. This requires actually caring for the lost, and showing that care through our actions. This requires churches to make the hard decision to embrace those who don't really fit, and care for the communities in which they operate even if those receiving care never come to a worship time. This can't be done just for show or to prove a point, it must be done because we are the same as everyone else in need only we serve a risen Savior who has called us to share His love with the lost.
Second, if approached correctly, postmodernity should further unite Christians with the cause of sharing the love, grace, and life-changing power of Jesus with the lost. We can do away with our debating; we can lay to rest the issues of instrumental music, inerrancy of Scripture, etc.; and we can minister to the lost rather than berate them, or worse, ignore them. Postmodernity could quite possibly be the greatest thing to ever unite the Church (unless we screw this up too). Imagine being more concerned with what a church is doing to share the love of Jesus than what they do during their worship hour. Imagine gathering once a month with the local churches in your community - the Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterian, etc. - to worship God and discuss how to further impact the community where you all worship in the name of Jesus. Wow - what an amazing world that would be.
Anyway, I was just thinking.
posted by CoryJones at 9:14 PM
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