A Facebook friend posted this a week or so ago. It’s a thought provoking piece and there is much here that resonated with me. That said, there were a couple of points that leave me wanting more information; for openers: what is the specific denominational history of the author? I do not ask this question with the intent of pitting one Christian denomination against another, but I do ask because our history does shape our expectations of the future. Where I got stuck was on the word (excerpted below) ‘given.’ “Christians have never meant to be the ones in power. In fact, history shows us that anytime Christianity is given a position of power and influence, it quickly departs from the Gospel of Jesus — because a Christianity that is given worldly power is not Christianity at all.” For me, the question is as simple as the difference between an organization believing that it has been ‘given’ power, or understanding that it has been ‘granted’ power. As people seek aid from Prineville Presbyterian Church, during those precious few minutes of pastoral conversation the subject of “church” invariably arises. It pains me to hear time and again about the way some churches have used their ‘power’ in treating people; heck, I’d leave too. As the author points out a lot of it does come down to power. There is no question that our Western world view is dominated by Christianity, but from my experience I would point out that not all churches have used this power for more of the same of this “modernized, politicized, sterilized, Europeanized version of Christian faith.” Instead I see many churches that have been granted power because of the ways they are “seeking to be encouraged and empowered to live out the radical way of Jesus in their communities, cultures, and world.” Borrowing a line from Young Life, these churches have “earned the right to be heard.” In accepting this “worldly power” these faith communities intentionally point to Jesus as the change agent behind all they do; we’re simply doing this as part of our call as disciples...nothing more and nothing less. You can find the article here: sojo.net/blogs/2014/05/08/dying-church-millennial Together We Serve, Pastor Mike p.s. I’m gone next week, our daughter is graduating with her Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and I’m one proud dad who’s gonna be there for that.
Posted on: Mon, 19 May 2014 16:43:38 +0000
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