This week
Its been way too long since my last blog post. I have been reading "Revolution" and I think it is right on target. Barna talks about the 'buster' and 'mosaic' generations and the affects they are making on the landscape of Christion life. Well, I'm in the 'baby boomer' generation and I can still relate to what is going on. Its not so much about what generation you are part of as it is what you do about what God reveals to you.
I good friend of mine sent me an email this weekend. He stated that he does not feel any connection with the house church or with those involved in house church. I know there are a lot of people who feel that way. Some of my best friends and coworkers are in that group. He then made the statement that he sees the conviction against land and buildings as the same as some other groups' conviction against musical instruments.
Barna refers to those of us who have left the church buildings to live out being the Church as 'revolutionaries'. Our convictions are more than just against land and buildings. Its not that simple and besides, that statement has such a negative connotation. Most of those involved in the house church/simple church/organic church movement do have real convictions. But those center around positive things; those things that Jesus taught us. How do we reach the lost? How do we minister and disciple each other? How do we feed those who need food? How do we clothe those who need clothes? How do we really follow Christ? How do we express our faith like the Christians in the first century?
The church in America spends an unimaginable amount of money on the system or organization that consists of buildings, land, and staffing. Of course a sizeable amount is spent on charitable causes. But imagine how much more could be done if even one multi-million dollar building was not built. Those huge monuments to church growth are being built every day. The churches and denominations in America seem to be more interested in growing individual congregations and replicating their specific doctrine than meeting the needs of those just down the street or around the corner. I know there are some exceptions. And I believe that God will use the institutional churches as well as the house/simple/organic churches for His good purpose.
Those of us that have left the institutional church believe that we can live out the Christian life in the way more Christlike than our institutions have managed. Barna says that the numbers of those leaving the institutional church will increase in the next 20 years to the point that only about a third of the Christian population will still be in the those churches. That will signal a major shift in the landscape of American Christian culture. What will it look like?
Until next time.
I good friend of mine sent me an email this weekend. He stated that he does not feel any connection with the house church or with those involved in house church. I know there are a lot of people who feel that way. Some of my best friends and coworkers are in that group. He then made the statement that he sees the conviction against land and buildings as the same as some other groups' conviction against musical instruments.
Barna refers to those of us who have left the church buildings to live out being the Church as 'revolutionaries'. Our convictions are more than just against land and buildings. Its not that simple and besides, that statement has such a negative connotation. Most of those involved in the house church/simple church/organic church movement do have real convictions. But those center around positive things; those things that Jesus taught us. How do we reach the lost? How do we minister and disciple each other? How do we feed those who need food? How do we clothe those who need clothes? How do we really follow Christ? How do we express our faith like the Christians in the first century?
The church in America spends an unimaginable amount of money on the system or organization that consists of buildings, land, and staffing. Of course a sizeable amount is spent on charitable causes. But imagine how much more could be done if even one multi-million dollar building was not built. Those huge monuments to church growth are being built every day. The churches and denominations in America seem to be more interested in growing individual congregations and replicating their specific doctrine than meeting the needs of those just down the street or around the corner. I know there are some exceptions. And I believe that God will use the institutional churches as well as the house/simple/organic churches for His good purpose.
Those of us that have left the institutional church believe that we can live out the Christian life in the way more Christlike than our institutions have managed. Barna says that the numbers of those leaving the institutional church will increase in the next 20 years to the point that only about a third of the Christian population will still be in the those churches. That will signal a major shift in the landscape of American Christian culture. What will it look like?
Until next time.
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