Warning, Warning

"The Present Future" by Reggie McNeal (Leadership Network) has me stirred me up all over again (in a good way).

Reggie writes about the collapse of the church culture in America. While he does not give up on the Church of Jesus Christ - he does distinquish between a church cuture that has become confused with biblical Christianity. Church culture will lose -Christianity will survive.

"The current church culture in North America is on life support. It is living off the work, money, and energy of previous generations from a previous world order. The plug will be pulled either when the money runs out (80 percent of money given to congregations comes from people aged 55 and older) or when the remaining three-fourths of a generation who are institutional loyalists die off or both." Page 1

"This new reformation, turning members into missionaries, will precipitate a crisis, both in individuals and a congregation. Member values clash with missionary values. Member values are about church real estate, church programming, who's in and who's out, member services, member issues ( translated: am I getting what I want out of this church?) Missionary values are about the street, people's needs, breaking down barriers, community issues (translated: am I partnering with God's work in people?).

One of these value sets will triumph over the other. They do not coexisit peacefully. Anyone who has tried to lead a church transition from a club to missional congregation can tell you this. They can show you their stigma received at the hands of club members. Resistance to missionary values often occurs even in churches that are reaching people. The reason is simple. If their growth is occuring because they offer the best church game in town, club member values usually predominate". (He goes on to say if missional values prevail then time & money etc at church is reduced and that causes problems for the club members).

"Who is this for? may be a good way for you to begin your own journey from member to missionary."

This is a refreshing read reminding us that God is doing a fresh new thing in America for the cause of His Mission purposes -which is the reason we were created and redeemed by the shed blood of Jesus who now lives and is with us as we "go" also.