Newsboys and BCM

The Newsboys have a new radio single of "I Am Free" that was recorded live and is really great. You can hear it on their website . While on their website, take a look at the video recorded on their trip the Mexico with Baja Christian Ministries. BCM is a ministry to this part of Mexico to build homes to replace the shacks that many of the people down there live in. On their website there are some videos explaining thier mission.

Reactions

Well, first it was Christianity Today with their blistering review of Barna's "Revolution". Now in the January edition of Charisma magazine, the editor, J. Lee Grady, seems to be responding to the book just as Barna anticipated some people would. Here are some samples from the article:

The well-known Christian researcher has gone too far this time: He's advocating the demise of the local church...

The tempered sociologist has now become something of a mad scientist. By cooking the numbers, reinterpreting the data and injecting his own biases into this odd experiment, he has created a Frankenstein that is now on the loose.

We should all be concerned about this monster.

Barna's theory is that large numbers of American Christians are disillusioned with the church and have quit the Sunday morning routine. He applauds this trend, and has labeled these church dropouts "revolutionaries"” who, —in his opinion, —have more spiritual creativity and passion than stick-in-the-mud traditionalists.

He also believes that those who have left the mainstream church scene will overhaul modern Christianity, describing their mission as "“a daring redefinition of the church as we know it."

The message of Revolution is not for Christians in the Third World, and it is not for us. With all respect to Barna, who has helped us in the past with his facts and observations, this flawed proposal needs to be recalled before it causes some serious damage.

You can read the entire article and comments here.

Samples of some of the comments to the article:

The conservative denominationally-oriented pubs like Christianity Today have sided with the charismatic, non-denominationally-oriented pub Charisma in calling this man's views dangerous. I don't get it. The church he describes sounds eerily like the first century church, you recall those folks, right?

I have to disagree with Lee Grady's article. I think the biggest threat to Christianity right now is the threat that many of the kingdoms that have been built within the kingdom is at risk of falling.

J Lee, Much love an appreciation for your writtings. Sorry, but you have sure missed on this one.

I didn't read all the comments but on the first page, the only one that agreed with the writer was a Pastor Jim Lewis who says, in part:

One day, under the guidance of G-d the Holy Spirit those who follow Barna's prescription will learn the meaning of pastor-teacher, evangelist, and other doctrinal authority placed in the body of Christ which we call the church.

Oh boy.

I think J. Lee Grady has gone over the edge. He writes with such alarm that we have to wonder why? Does he really think that Barna's book threatens the institutional church? Barna is just reporting on what he is seeing happening.

What I see here is a clear division between those institutional church leaders and those Christians they are supposed to shepherd. Isn't this a clear example of the Barna update for January 9 which I commented on January 10. I really think there is a huge gap between the perception of the institutional leaders and those in their congregations.

What is creating this gap? Do they just refuse to see what is happening around them? Are they blinded by the culture of the "professional clergy"? I think there is a real fear that in the future, the megachurches of today may become nothing but expensive, hard to sell, real estate. And along with that, the denominational hierarchies will lose their influence.

A good question is, when (not if) the denominations lose their influence, will that be a good thing?

Gay Actor Spears Truth on Larry King

Read the article and comments on this blog:
http://www.sliceoflaodicea.com/archives/2006/01/gay_actor_spear.php

I have to confess that I didn't even know who Chad Allen was until I read this article and searched for him on Google. He clearly is a gay activist and his views of God are centered on his "relationship with God of my understanding" whatever that means. His interview on Larry King and other publicity around him are naturally going to cause more attention to be on the film. This could be a good thing. The comments on the blog are very negative in regard to the fact that such an activist has such a major role in a story about missionaries.

I'm sorry, but I think our God is bigger than that. While I certainly don't condone Mr. Allen's actions or statements, and I know he is in for a real surprise when he really meets the God of his understanding, God has continually used things like this for His good purpose. From the movie's website, it seems to be more about the Waodani tribe than about the missionaries that were killed. The real story is how God changed that culture to turn from their violent history. Hopefully, as people see this movie, they will remember this more than who played Nate Saint.

As always, your comments are welcome.

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.

Barna Update for Jan. 9

Surveys Show Pastors Claim Congregants Are Deeply Committed to God But Congregants Deny It!

The Barna Update: by George Barna -January 9, 2006-

Do you ever wonder why you hear from most religious leaders that America is spiritually healthy, but you see scant evidence of it in your daily wanderings? In this week’s Barna Update we address the gap between perception and reality regarding the health of the Christian body in America by comparing pastors’ views of the spiritual commitment of their congregants and the self-evaluation of churched adults regarding their devotion to God. The distance between these two perspectives is breathtaking. The adages “you get what you measure” and “you see what you want to see” go a long way toward explaining the spiritual condition of the nation – and the generally upbeat view of pastors regarding the spiritual condition of their congregants. Read up on how people and their pastors describe faith commitment in this week’s Barna Update. Click on the link below or go to The Barna Group’s home page at www.barna.org

Click here to read the full article.

Does this seem a little strange? How can religious leaders see spiritual commitment in their congregations but those same congregants deny it? What would these same leaders think if there was real commitment in their congregations? I have to agree with the adage mentioned above "you see what you want to see". How true. How sad for the church in America.

Central African Repubic troubles

Tonight I became aware of problems occurring in the CAR. If you are new to this blog, let me explain why I have an interest in this small African nation. I went to the CAR in October 2005 for two weeks to help in the building of an orphan care center for Integrated Community Development International (ICDI). You can't visit a place like this and not come away with a real heart-felt care for the people that live there. It is a very poor country but many are working hard to make it better. During my time there, I had heard rumors of a teachers strike and now Reuters is reporting that the 2 month old strike is now over. I guess they did go on strike after all for not being paid.

But then a new story appeared, literally as I was reading the the web page:

Two killed in Central Africa riot - witnesses

05 Jan 2006 19:30:21 GMT

Source: Reuters
BANGUI, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Two people were killed in rioting in Central African Republic on Thursday after security forces opened fire in a confrontation with a crowd mourning a murdered soldier, witnesses said. (more)
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L05211406.htm

This really concerns me because the director of ICDI, Jim Hocking, is on his way back to the CAR today. Please join me in praying for the stability of the CAR and for Jim's safety during his trip.

Start of a new year

Last night, my wife Sue and I hosted a small get together for the regulars in our house church family. We enjoyed the time together and took time to reflect on how 2005 was for each of us. There were no surprises since we all know most of what is going on in each family on a weekly and sometime daily basis. But we all felt that last year at this time, we could not have imagined how God was going to move within this group. Our house church has taken shape during the year as two separate groups combined for united fellowship. We didn't even know each other a year ago. A product of that combining is a couple that are planning to be married, probably during 2006. Last year at this time, I was seeking God's will on the Africa trip. God answered that prayer and provided all the needs. Sue's business with antiques has really jumped with her move to another mart. We organized and held one house church event and one gathering. The many house church/simple church/organic church groups in the valley have become closer and more united. The fact that there are so many groups involved in this type of church has been noticed and commented on by the media. We have been blessed beyond what any of us could imagine a year ago. But that shouldn't surprise us, God is still in control.

We all spoke of how we pray that God opens even more doors for ministry and outreach during 2006. I know He will and I look forward to it. Already there are conferences and workshops planned for the first three months of the year. There will no doubt be more as the year goes on.

As for resolutions, we all have some. I know I need to lose some of my spare tire waist and get more exercise. I want to improve my theological grounding since I have never had any formal ministry education. Of course, there are things around the house that I want and need to take care of during the year. I have to trust that God will provide.

One of the things Sue and I plan to do this year is complete reading the Bible in a year in a plan that I found in the blog at http://www.oneyearbibleblog.com/ .
Most of our church group has committed to doing this as well. If you have never read the Bible completely through during a year, I hope you join us and the approximately 950 others who will be joining Mike at the blog in 2006.

We hope everyone a blessed God-directed New Year 2006.