evaluating the church
I'm reading Evaluation: A Systematic Approach (7th ed.).
I'm not recommending this one (because I know you were all getting ready to rush out and buy it on my say so). But I did find something quite relevant to my thoughts on church. I quote:
"Stakeholders in well-established social programs are generally very reluctant to alter the programs' traditional forms and approaches unless some crisis compels them to consider fundamental change."
Substitute churches for social programs and you see what I'm getting at. The emerging church is a conversation that looks at fundamental change. For me, it took a crisis to start to question the traditional forms and approaches. I'm curious if that is the same for others - does it always take a crisis to start to question something that seems so basic?
What is the traditional form? For me, it meant the tie to a local body, through attendance and involvement, was necessary to fulfill the great commission and for the spiritual health of the believer. This assumption is everywhere. College applications for faith based institutions, for example, always ask questions about the student's ties to a certain body. When I run into a Christian I haven't seen for awhile, I'll usually ask about where they are attending.
It never occurred to me to question these assumptions. In fact, a year ago I would have been very uncomfortable doing so. Generally, our thoughts on social programs, churches and life in general tend to remain fairly intact, and often we don't even think to question the assumptions we live by.
Now I'm asking - is it the tie to a local body or relationships with other believers that matters? Should we be so concerned about local bodies as opposed to the universal church? Can involvement in the church, as it is, actually serve to discourage relationship, responsibility and meaningful action that would help more people discover Jesus?
As the quesitoning of church forms is well underway by many more people than just myself (Google 'emerging church' if you want to see what I mean), I am wondering if there is a crisis underway that I am unaware of. Why, at this point in time, are so many people coming to question the church as it is?
I'm not recommending this one (because I know you were all getting ready to rush out and buy it on my say so). But I did find something quite relevant to my thoughts on church. I quote:
"Stakeholders in well-established social programs are generally very reluctant to alter the programs' traditional forms and approaches unless some crisis compels them to consider fundamental change."
Substitute churches for social programs and you see what I'm getting at. The emerging church is a conversation that looks at fundamental change. For me, it took a crisis to start to question the traditional forms and approaches. I'm curious if that is the same for others - does it always take a crisis to start to question something that seems so basic?
What is the traditional form? For me, it meant the tie to a local body, through attendance and involvement, was necessary to fulfill the great commission and for the spiritual health of the believer. This assumption is everywhere. College applications for faith based institutions, for example, always ask questions about the student's ties to a certain body. When I run into a Christian I haven't seen for awhile, I'll usually ask about where they are attending.
It never occurred to me to question these assumptions. In fact, a year ago I would have been very uncomfortable doing so. Generally, our thoughts on social programs, churches and life in general tend to remain fairly intact, and often we don't even think to question the assumptions we live by.
Now I'm asking - is it the tie to a local body or relationships with other believers that matters? Should we be so concerned about local bodies as opposed to the universal church? Can involvement in the church, as it is, actually serve to discourage relationship, responsibility and meaningful action that would help more people discover Jesus?
As the quesitoning of church forms is well underway by many more people than just myself (Google 'emerging church' if you want to see what I mean), I am wondering if there is a crisis underway that I am unaware of. Why, at this point in time, are so many people coming to question the church as it is?
posted by Jude | 4:26 PM
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