Why settle for better than...?
One excerpt and the conclusion of "Dear Disillusioned Generation" by Katie Galli
In Life After Church, Brian Sanders writes specifically for "leavers"—people who are committed to Jesus Christ but often view church as a "failed experiment." They feel that following Jesus and staying in a local congregation have become mutually exclusive. Likewise, Sarah Cunningham in Dear Church writes for those who "question whether attending a local church has anything to do with a person's faith."
Both authors focus on local congregations as the primary source of disappointment. Sanders says leavers find Sunday morning services irrelevant—they're repetitive, they don't address issues that really matter to them, and they fail to provide meaningful outlets for service. Leavers often feel that they've outgrown what they perceive as simplistic, seeker-oriented messages; nor do they find churches conducive to deep community. Cunningham says 20-somethings are uncomfortable with overly cool, overly polished churches "whose onstage dress code seems to keep designer clothing stores in business." She also wrestles with the socioeconomic and racial homogeneity of local congregations.
Both authors identify a variety of complaints with the church. But naming a problem isn't the same thing as addressing it.
Conclusion: Sanders and Cunningham don't completely disagree. Each spends some time giving a kick in the pants to the disillusioned, and Cunningham's warning hits home: "This kind of unexpected idolatry—the obsession with living in despair over what is wrong with the institutionalized church—creeps up on you (like most shifty little idols do). … Criticism becomes what we end up worshiping." She encourages 20-somethings to have a little more grace and patience with the failures of the church and ends her book with a love letter to the church.
The church can indeed be bureaucratic, inefficient, and, at times, hopelessly outdated. It remains one of the most embarrassing institutions to which one can belong. But it has also given us a 2,000-year legacy of saints and social reformers, and a rich liturgy and theology—the very gift 20-somethings need to grow into the full stature of Christ.
Read the entire articile
posted by Bob Carder @ 12:16 PM
7 comments
7 Comments:
I really believe that Katie and others continue to miss the point. We do identify problems with the church in America and any kid can do that. Right?
But we still miss the fact that the church in her institutional mold has predominantly left her mission, the mission of the Great Commission, the mission to personally make disciples who make disciple who...
It's not how or where we gather as the Church it is "Are we obedient to the main thing - the mission of Christ left for the Church the Body of Christ to fulfill?
The reason the church in America is often looked upon as a failed deal is because we have failed to make the mission of Jesus our MAIN and NUMBER ONE PRIORITY! The Body of Christ is NO longer interested in engaging their personal, God ordained and God spoken mission of making disciples as our life purpose. If we would engage that mission (which I doubt we will in the traditional church) the world would experience transformation and the church would be restored to her rightful place of influence in the world.
It not where we gather or how we worship, it is all about obedience to the original Mission the one thing Jesus left us to fulfill remains the one thing we fail to accomplish.
Right ON, Bob!
By the way, your blog is destracting... especially when there is a 10 page Contemporary Fiction final to be written :)
One subject the modern church seems to avoid is the dubious origins of Christianity.
See http://www.jesusneverexisted.com/
for an overview of the tissue of lies and half-truths that contributed to the development of Christian theology.
Why is this subject avoided in the pulpit and in evangelism?
Who wants to believe a lie? What sort of immoral people spread these lies?
For Dave----
To see how the US government blew up the World Trade Centers:
http://www.prisonplanet.com/analysis_lavello_050503_bombs.html
To see that JFK was killed by multiple gunman:
http://www.stayfreemagazine.org/4/jfk.htm
And to see that Elvis is still alive:
http://www.elvislives.net/
Dude, you can find and prove anything on the internet. I hurt for your bitterness. Perhaps you should take a moment to reflect on what drives you to this point. I will you lived in the midwest, perhaps you do, I would welcome the chance to take you to places and to meet people whose lives are changed, who are working for others and living in peace with themselves and neighbors....proof is in the apologetics of changed lives not on the internet. Love you dude....
For Dave----
To see how the US government blew up the World Trade Centers:
http://www.prisonplanet.com/analysis_lavello_050503_bombs.html
To see that JFK was killed by multiple gunman:
http://www.stayfreemagazine.org/4/jfk.htm
And to see that Elvis is still alive:
http://www.elvislives.net/
Dude, you can find and prove anything on the internet. I hurt for your bitterness. Perhaps you should take a moment to reflect on what drives you to this point. I wish you lived in the midwest, perhaps you do, I would welcome the chance to take you to places and to meet people whose lives are changed, who are working for others and living in peace with themselves and neighbors....proof is in the apologetics of changed lives not on the internet. Love you dude....
If you are aware of the history of early Christianity, you must at least suspect that it involved forgery and lies.
You can't possibly see that the gospel stories are fictional? You really believe, without evidence, that St. Paul was a real person and his alleged journeys actually happened?
I'm not denying there is a transformational message within the Christian faith, I am asserting that it usually comes packaged with much nonsense. It is the packaging that is preached, not the core message. Some of that bad packaging is in the Bible, some from tradition.
The expectation from Christians is that one must swallow the whole box and dice.
I believe that Jesus did rise from the dead and that He arose with all authority as God. I do believe Jesus is coming again and could come back for His Church at any moment.
David, read Josh McDowell's "Evidence that Demands A Verdict". He set out to disprove Christianity only to become a believer himself when he uncovered all the facts and proofs.
There is more proof yet to be uncovered.
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