One of my old high school buddies is directing a project with the Presbytherian Church USA entitled, "The Church is Alive." The idea and belief that shapes this project is that the church is alive and that this notion is evidenced in all of the good works that you see people doing in the Name of God. Sounds good...wrong answer.
Simple answer is this: The Church is alive because Jesus Christ is alive. Good works are not enough. They are, in fact, the overflow of something we believe internally...that Jesus Christ is the reason for all good things. Unfortunately, the Western Church is dead. Yes, the Holy Spirit moves all over the place and could completely make me eat crow in one second. But, right now, with a rising number of professing atheists, who call themselves "free thinkers" (not even knowing that they are actually slaves to their own intellect), the church is overall dead. And, unfortunately, PCUSA is clueless in this case.
Keeping along that cheery thought, then, what is church? Why even do it? Is it worth it? Take a look at this video. Tell me what you think.
Simple answer is this: The Church is alive because Jesus Christ is alive. Good works are not enough. They are, in fact, the overflow of something we believe internally...that Jesus Christ is the reason for all good things. Unfortunately, the Western Church is dead. Yes, the Holy Spirit moves all over the place and could completely make me eat crow in one second. But, right now, with a rising number of professing atheists, who call themselves "free thinkers" (not even knowing that they are actually slaves to their own intellect), the church is overall dead. And, unfortunately, PCUSA is clueless in this case.
Keeping along that cheery thought, then, what is church? Why even do it? Is it worth it? Take a look at this video. Tell me what you think.
I think it's interesting watching the mainline church denominations realize numbers are dropping and trying to figure out how to change that. I think the fundamental reason you see things like "The Church is Alive" lacking the Christ-centered-ness that you're hoping to see is that the people who design these programs and then delegate people to run them, are missing the point. Which I find rather telling about the denomination in general. "In general" being the key point of the last sentence b/c of course they don't speak for each congregant, but they are speaking for the denomination as an organization, and that should give us pause to think.
I noticed a lot of this sort of thing going on during my years of working with a Lilly Grant funded mentoring project. The other programs who were also grant recipients...interesting. They're yearly updates...interesting. And often depressing when viewed through a Christ-centered lens.
I think church leaders from all denominations as well as the non-denom guys would do good to have a good sit-down and review session of the church in the New Testament and maybe see what's missing in today's church.
Make that 'their yearly updates', sheesh, I'm losing my English over here!
and the Lilly grants are coming from these guys, who dish out a LOT
http://www.lillyendowment.org/religion.html
Well said. I left a long message on my friend's Facebook acct. stating my concerns with the project. No response. So let's hope he is chewing on something good.
I have a thought, though, that, being pretty theologically left, he really doesn't even give the Bible that much weight anyway. I have noticed that PCUSA is shifting a little left. Maybe it's just the super-conservative coming out in me, but it's kind of like arguing with an atheist. If my friend doesn't recognize any authority from the Bible, then I can't use the Bible as support for my arguement. What a mess. Especially for a conservative evangelical.
By the way, you are my first person to post on the blog. A proud moment. Spread the word to all those crazy Germans if you like. I would love to see this thing blow up.
i have to say i had problems posting on previous blogs you'd put up. not sure what was up with blogger there. You could shamelessy self-promote your blog on your facebook page. Get all narcissistic...=)
also - the whole "authority of Scripture" thing: any time a Christian has a disagreement with another, whatever the topic, if you don't both have the same view of Scripture's authority, you can just call it all a wash. That would be exactly the wall we have been running up against lately; I think Stefan talked to you about that fun stuff.
Anywho, keep it up.
oh my word i cannot spell
apologies
yeah, I have already made that move on Facebook. Might try it again though. I have no shame already, so wouldn't be much of a change.
not sure about the blogger thing either. weird, but not surprising.