Holiday thoughts

I trust that everyone had a good Christmas, and that the spirit of the Holidays is still alive in you. I haven't blogged much lately, as there were other priorities to tend to during this season.

 

This year in particular, because Christmas Day fell on a Sunday, there was a vigorous debate about the role that Christmas plays within our society. Many Christians are feeling threatened by the prevailing influences that are turning our celebration into a purely secular one. Some churches, almost resigning to this reality, even cancelled their Sunday morning services. (Side note: Much to even my surprise, our attendance on Christmas morning exceeded our average and my own pessimistic expectations).

 

Talking about holidays, I came across an interesting article from the Washington Post and reproduced at a blog called BadGals-Radio.com. The article concerns the meaning of Kwanzaa within the African American community, and deals with the conflict that it poses to Christians who see it conflicting with Christmas. My interest in this article is because of their quote from one of the most well-known Church of God figures outside of our movement, Cheryl Sanders. While I encourage you to read the entire article, here is the excerpt pertaining to Sander's comments:

Ministers and churchgoers described Kwanzaa as having moved beyond the politics of its roots, which date to a time when some American blacks saw Christmas and Christianity as having a decidedly white, European pedigree. Today, Kwanzaa, with its rituals and explicit focus on values, seems nothing if not spiritual.

“To me, the only thing that makes spirituality comprehensible is the ethical values it affirms,” said the Rev. Cheryl Sanders, senior pastor at Third Street Church of God in the District and a professor of African American spirituality at Howard University’s Divinity School. She leads her church in marking Kwanzaa by lighting candles, inviting the choir and congregants to dress in Afrocentric garb and discussing from the altar the holiday’s principles: unity, self-determination, shared responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.

Those principles resonate today, Sanders says, after the baby boom era of abandoning traditional ideals. “Kwanzaa is an example of a way to recover the intergenerational dialogue around values,” she said.

These examples further illustrate that we all face many challenges as we strive to proclaim and practice a meaningful faith in an increasingly irreligious culture.

Worship as holiness

To follow-up on some of my recent postings concerning worship I want to reconsider our theology and practice of worship, especially as it relates to us in the Church of God. 
 
First, let me say that I affirm the importance of worship. Without question, our worship of God is paramount. My issue, however, is not whether worship is important; but whether our current understanding and practice of worship is an accurate reflection of biblical theology. 
 
I sincerely believe, speaking from a Church of God / holiness perspective, that we have lost the intent of worship and have settled for the popularized notions that have overtaken the majority of Christianity.
 
Despite idyllic statements and convictions to the contrary, when most people in our churches are talking about worship they are referring to the ritual of worship that has become part of most of Christianity, or about the experience of worship that is more reflective of the pentecostal/charismatic movements. Sure, almost everyone would agree that there is more to worship than these descriptions, but in practice these are what it usually boils down to.
 
Historically, the Church of God has not understood worship in either of these ways. From our holiness background worship was primarily understood as living the holy life. It is a matter of practice and of lifestyle, reflecting the inner presence and work of the Holy Spirit. This was understood to be the biblical teaching as reflected in key scriptures such as Romans 12:1 or John 4:21-23. This theological perspective explains why early Church of God gatherings (i.e. church services, campmeetings, etc.) emphasized God's presence and working in the lives of the saints, and were not "God-centered" in the sense promoted in current worship theology (although the pioneers would have argued that they were in fact "God-centered" because they expressed God's work in and through their lives). A study of early Church of God songs certainly reflects this perspective.
 
Over time, our movement became less isolated and interacted more with other Christians. Merle Strege, in I Saw the Church, describes how the evolution of our hymnal is a good example of how we began to enter the mainstream of Christianity. Besides our core songs of testimony we took on a wider range of hymnological genre, including traditional hymns of worship and adoration to God. The current contemporary praise and worship movement has propelled us even further along this path. We like what we see in other churches (perhaps sometimes out of covetousness), and are eager to implement this worship emphasis in our churches.
 
Am I suggesting that other forms or perspectives of worship are wrong or invalid? No. In fact, one could argue that our past isolation and resistance to learn from other groups has been a great weakness. We should and can learn from other groups who follow Christ. And, I personally love some of the new worship music, and find it to be an excellent vehicle for expressing my love and adoration to God.
 
But, I come back to our holiness perspective on worship. I believe that we have substituted worship tradition and experience for worship that should be expressed through our lives, 24/7.
 
Ask most people within Church of God congregations what comes to mind when they think of "worship" and the response is the "Worship Service" on Sunday mornings. Yes, this can be and usually is a form of our worship to God, and is especially significant as a corporate expression. But, unfortunately, this has become a narrow, popular view not reflecting the full biblical teaching .
 
The fact that the Church of God is not immune from the "worship wars" prevalent in contemporary Christendom, is an indication that we have lost our emphasis and settled for more limited worship perspectives. Again, we know better, but our practice rarely reflects it.
 
In practical terms, what does all this mean? It speaks to the need for sound theological teaching concerning worship. I am disappointed to see that even recent attempts within the Church of God have simply been regurgitations of current evangelical theology that do not fully embrace our holiness perspective. Yes, let's encourage meaningful expressions of corporate worship and private devotion, but more importantly let's promote the full meaning of worship which is demonstrated through all aspects of our lives, including our mission in the world. What the world needs to see is not better worship in church services, but better worship expressed in the lives of Christ's followers.
 
Questions for us to ask, might include: What language do we use to describe worship? What hidden messages do we send when we call our church service a "worship service"? Should we be designating "worship leaders" or "Ministers of Worship" based simply on their role in the Sunday service? How should we describe worship as holiness for people in our churches? How might our church gatherings and activities be different if we taught and believed a more comprehensive worship? How do we teach holiness to our postmodern generations?
 
We move towards a correct approach to worship in our churches once we are free to use holiness terminology to describe worship and we are freed from the skewed belief that the Sunday morning service is the center of our worship.
 
Our world needs to see followers of Christ who understand and practice a holistic worship of God. As a holiness movement, the Church of God has the opportunity to be a voice for this biblical perspective.
 
Or do we have trouble today even articulating what holiness is? That's another topic for another day ...

Worship in the Church of God - history

Within the last week I have written a couple of posts ("Advent, worship, creeds and the Church of God", and "Rick Warren's Creed") that were prompted by my observations concerning Advent and a lectionary-driven church calendar. In many church traditions worship has played a teaching role, retelling the gospel story through worship liturgy, supplemented by preaching. Certainly worship is not the only way this is being done. Creeds have been used for the same purpose, as has Sunday School curriculum. Even Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life has filled that role in an Evangelical church climate that seems to be lacking in its ability to provide a comprehensive framework for its constituents.

 

I want to go back to the whole issue of worship. In a future post I want to present a fresh perspective of worship that is more in keeping with Scripture and our theological perspective. But, first let's examine worship in the Church of God from a historical perspective.

 

Anderson School of Theology Professor Emeritus and Archivist, Douglas E. Welch, in an article in the Church of God Historian (Vol. 4 No. 3) notes that there is virtually no discussion on the philosophy and theology of worship among our pioneers. They "did not talk about worship, they simple did it" (emphasis mine). References to worship in early writings suggested that it was

generally impromtu, unstructured, and charismatic. This involved the spontaneous singing of hymns and spiritual songs, the giving of exhortations and testimonies from the participants, and extemporaneous sermons - often more than one and usually lengthy. ("Jottings", page 6)

In the subsequent years our movement has struggled to find its way concerning worship. While generally rejecting formalism, we gradually adopted worship practices of other Christian groups around us. Since we rarely approached worship with intentionality, the result has been a wide diversity of worship theology, philosophy, and practices across our churches.

 

It is interesting to note (cf. Communion, Nov-Dec 2005, Vol. 6 No. 3) that a "Society for Church of God Worship" is being formed to discuss and strengthen worship across our movement. Obviously, years of wandering around the worship wilderness is leaving many looking for more. And, the worship "wars" of recent years have left many feeling battered. While I applaud the opportunities for dialogue on this topic, I am increasingly becoming concerned that we may be missing the true point of worship. More on that in a few days.

Involved in Toledo

Back in October I posted a few messages that considered the extent to which we should get involved in social issues in our communities (Churches on Mission, To what extent should we get involved?, Another example, and Born-again restaurant). One of the examples cited concerned Church of God pastor Mansour Bey organizing a protest against a neo-Nazi demonstration in Toledo, Ohio.

 

You may be interested to know that neo-Nazis are planning to be back in Toledo this Saturday. Pastor Bey is once again involved, this time to help organize a prayer vigil. LINK to blog story.

 

Please pray for them as they work to bring peace and understanding in their community.

Rick Warren's Creed

Friday evening my wife and I had the pleasure to attend the Central California Association's Pastors' and Spouses' Christmas Dinner. Put a group of pastors together in the same room (even during a social gathering) and before long the conversation turns to "shop talk".

 

Among other things, we had an interesting discussion that fit in well to my last blog post ("Advent, worship, creeds, and the Church of God"). We spent time trying to analyze why Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life (and the accompanying "40 Days of Purpose", etc.)  have become so popular in many of our churches.

 

Our preliminary conclusion was that the Purpose Driven Life provides a simple framework for people to understand and live their faith. Warren's five purposes are not new, novel or even a complete doctrinal statement, but they provide a coherent way for people to make sense of being a follower of Jesus.

 

I have to admit that I'm not a big "Purpose Driven Life" fan or Rick Warren follower. But, I acknowledge that much of his apparent success at Saddleback and now around the world is in his exceptional gift to state the message of Jesus in a straightforward, simple, and comprehensive manner. The book and programs are certainly meeting a need among today's Christians who have had trouble bringing their fragmented faith together. In many ways, Warren's purposes have become a new creed for many people.

 

I'm not convinced, however, that the popularity of PDL will be sustainable. Once we have been "purposed" ad nauseum we will be looking for something more. Ultimately, it should lead us back to the quest for an on-going and organic church life and worship that leads to a fuller faith and discipleship.

 

More on this in coming days.

 

Advent, worship, creeds and the Church of God

There hasn't been much time for blogging in recent weeks, but in coming days I want to share some reflections that I have been having concerning "worship" in the Church of God.

 

This past Sunday marked the beginning of Advent. My suspicion is that few Church of God congregations noted this start to the church calendar, apart from the lighting of an advent candle or using some materials to begin promotion of the Christ's Birthday Observance offering.

 

Not that this should be surprising. The heritage and theology of the Church of God does not reflect a "high church" orientation to worship, with its lectionary and more elaborate rituals. If anything, we have resisted these forms of church, perceiving them as far removed from the simplicity of New Testament church life and more a product of Babylon.

 

I'm not convinced that adopting more formal worship and the lectionary are necessarily the best things for us to do, but I am concerned that in our rejection of these practices we have left a vacuum in helping our people understand and experience the story of Jesus and the Gospel. Let me explain.

 

As a pastor I am increasingly concerned that our churches are generally doing a poor job of providing our people with a comprehensive framework of faith. Sure we claim to be delivering sound biblical preaching, and we provide our members with Sunday School classes, bible studies and various resources. But, what is missing is an over-arching strategy that draws these components together into a coherent whole. Our congregations are exposed to the fine details of the Bible and doctrine, but typically these elements are fragmented and rarely brought together so that people see the "big picture" of Scripture.

 

Historically, the Christian church developed a number of effective tools to keep this larger view of the Gospel story before people. The church calendar and the lectionary is an excellent example. Every year, the congregation journeyed through the story and teachings of Jesus following a set pattern of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Passion, Easter, and Pentecost. Christians very quickly fell into this rhythm, and were very much aware of the message of Scripture even before wide-spread literacy or Gutenberg's invention of the printing press. Everything that took place in the church building centered on this dramatic retelling of the story, including various worship rituals and even the stained-glass windows.

 

The Protestant Reformation was quick to point out the emptiness of some of these traditions. Sure, many Roman Catholics were simply going through the motions and were being misled by a church that had increasingly separated itself from the authority of Scripture. While some reformers continued to embrace many of these traditions, the recitation of creeds increasingly were seen as the best way to ensure that the congregants were getting the big picture. There was a movement away from engaging people with the story of Scripture, and towards a more rational understanding of its teachings.

 

The Church of God has resisted the formality of both rituals and creeds. But, in doing so, I believe that we have failed to find effective ways to bring a more wholistic understanding of our faith to our people.

 

Again, I don't believe that we should just blindly adopt these former practices of the Christian church, as is becoming the trend in some segments of today's church. But, we must begin by addressing the issue, and then honestly searching for appropriate ways to tell the story of Jesus in an on-going manner, with cultural relevance, and bringing a simple and coherent whole to the understanding and application of the Gospel.

 

I'd love to hear your comments on this, and to hear how you may be dealing with this in your congregation.

 

The confusion over ONEvoice!

As most of you know, ONEvoice! is the relatively new, official publication of the Church of God. It is the attempt to resurrect a tool with the rich history of The Gospel Trumpet and its successor, Vital Christianity. For a number of years we lacked such a periodical following the demise of VC, and there were many saints insisting that this is what was keeping our movement from thriving as in the past.

 

ONEvoice! has had over one year (nine issues to be exact) to re-establish itself as our new voice. But, all is not well with the 21st century "Trumpet", and it is probably an excellent indication of the general confusion that exists within our movement in North America.

 

On the surface, the creators and custodians of the magazine need to be commended for devising an innovative approach considering the diversity within the Church of God and the overall lack of interest in almost all periodical publications today. The move to a magazine that shares stories of God's work among individuals and congregations fits our theology well. The writing and layout are medicore, but overall it is attractive and accesible for most people.

 

The real problem with ONEvoice! is not the magazine itself, but our hard-to-please constituency. Despite the cries for a movement publication, the interest in ONEvoice! is dismal. Apparently, there are less than 5000 subscribers, which is far less than what is required for it to be sustainable, and roughly only about 2 subscriptions per congregation. Hardly a strong voice!

 

So, what's the problem? Let me suggest a few reasons for the lack of interest in ONEvoice!:

• Romanticization of the past. Some people believe that the success of The Gospel Trumpet can be replicated today. But, this very vocal group is hardly indicative of the rank and file members within our churches.
• Old medium. The magazine industry is in decline. Sure, there are exceptions, like Oprah's rag, but the fact remains that fewer people read periodicals today. Plus, the cost to produce and mail them is higher than ever.
• Conflicting vision. One of the greatest points of contention over ONEvoice! is it's lack of "doctrinal" content. There is a very vocal minority who want strong doctrinal teaching presented, and will never be content with the "lite" approach taken. The editors, on the other hand, correctly understand the genre of magazine publications and know that broad readership will never be attained through a collection of doctrinal treatises. If there was a strong desire for this type of magazine, the alternative publications like Reformation Witness should be breaking subscription records!

The most recent edition of ONEvoice! (i.e. October/November 2005) has attempted to make some adjustments to satisfy some of the disgruntled. A four page supplement, EXTRAvoice!, is intended to provide more emphasis on doctrine and heritage. And, an audio version is being tested, with the intent of reaching a broader audience.

Sure, I'd love to see ONEvoice! succeed. (I even subscribe). But, I'm not convinced that we should be devoting too much energy in trying to tweak this sucker. Obviously, the large majority of people who are in the Church of God are not prepared to shell out $20.00 a year for six issues of a magazine. The fact is that apart from a major change, ONEvoice! will disappear, leaving some as disillusioned about our identity as ever before.

I'm not sure the demise of ONEvoice! is the end of the world. Maybe this will be the wake-up call we need to see that trying to send everything from the "center" (i.e. Anderson) is not what we need if we are to function as a movement. It's time we start acknowledging the affiliation and communication networks that already exist and build on those. Let's get focused on our mission, and stop worrying about propping  up our "denomination".  Connecting with the core of our calling is what is required to rejuvenate our movement. Once the enthusiasm becomes contagious we will have no trouble getting the word out through the powerful technologies available to us to communicate.

What do you think?

Emergent discussion

The last week has been extra busy. Not much time for blogging!

 

There has been some excellent discussion taking place regarding the Church of God in relation to the "emerging church" movement. Some of you have left some excellent comments* (LINK), or have even contacted me personally on the matter. Other blogs are picking up the discussion, including "Message in a Bottle".

 

While I have several other topics that I hope to blog on in coming days, let's keep this discussion alive, as it is one that is necessary for us to grapple with.

 

*A Word to Blog Readers: I know blogging is a new technology for many of you. Some of you still haven't figured out even how to "subscribe" to blogs. Remember, however, that comments are an important aspect to blogging. If you come across a post of interest to you, be sure to check out the comments already left, and consider leaving one yourself. Unfortunately, there are no consistent standards for comment formatting, so a comments link does not usually show up when you read through your feed reading software. Be sure to click through to the original blog site to find the comment section.

Reformation movement and Emergent

Last week I had several posts (#1, #2, #3) pondering our status as a movement. In response, I received a number of very thoughtful comments. Thanks!

 

Before putting this subject aside for awhile, I want to address the relationship of the Church of God to the "emerging church" movement that is sweeping across the English-speaking world. I know that there are a significant number of individuals within the Church of God who find themselves resonating with Emergent, including many readers of my blog. For example, the ChOG Postmodern Thinktank blog regularly probes into this topic, and a number of other blogs frequently touch on emerging church issues.

 

It is apparent to me that the emerging church movement is far more than another programming fad to briefly appear in the North American church. Even researcher George Barna (who I'm not normally crazy over) recognizes the significance of this trend, and has published a new book, Revolution, that acknowledges the major shifts that are occuring, largely because of the Emergent perspectives and actions impacting the church across virtually all denominations. I tend to agree with Barna that we could be at the verge of one of the major spiritual turning points (i.e. Great Awakenings) in the history of the U.S. Despite what they may think in light of their growing political influence, Evangelical Christianity will likely not be the impetus for this revival as it is actually losing credibility and the ability to speak to our culture. Overall, modern versions of Christianity are quickly revealing their spiritual bankruptcy and a growing number of people are questioning their theological and methodological underpinings. A new movement of Jesus-followers is truly emerging out of the shambles of the modernistic church.

 

On the surface I am convinced that we in the Church of God are especially suspicious of other movements, mainly because we are still trying to come to terms with our own sense of movement. And, because a large proportion of our constituency has sold out to American Evangelicalism, we tend to share their insecurities and defensiveness when confronted by the challenges of the emerging church.

 

My question is: How open is the Church of God to the emerging church movement? Are we so fixated on our movement agenda of 125 years ago that we may miss the opportunities in new movements of God today? Or, will we capture a new vision of mission and our own identity within these opportunities? Certainly we should not renounce our own movement roots and aspirations, because we actually have much to contribute to the spiritual climate today. On the other hand, however, we should not blindly follow the emerging church movement without careful reflection and engagement.

 

I'd be interested to hear from many of you who are following these developments, to find out how you see our own movement fitting into this new, exciting moving of the Spirit.

 

Hurricane Relief

As time moves on it is easy for us removed from the devastation to forget the ongoing efforts to assist hurricane victims. I encourage you to keep up with http://katrinaadventure.blogspot.com, a blog recording the relief efforts of the Winton Road First Church of God in Fairfield, OH. It appears that they have made several relief trips to the Gulf Coast region. Another church active in mission!

 

(The same church also conducts regular trips to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. The blog regarding that is at: http://www.pineridgemission.blogspot.com/)

 

Viewpoint recommendation

I encourage you to listen to the October 30th edition of Viewpoint. Jim Lyon interviews Ed Hyatt, a Church of God minister who has powerful personal story to tell. I know Ed well and am pleased to see Viewpoint giving an opportunity for his experiences to touch others.

 

To where are we "moving"?

I appreciate the comments that continue to come in on my posts this week on our "movement" status.

 

In the comments from yesterday's post, marlene and andy touched on an important theme: mission. Marlene reminded us that we were first and foremost a "reformation" movement and that mission was secondary. Andy pushed this a little further stating that "naming and identifying who we are ... is pointless", but "What does matter is changing the world we live in by the presence of God, via His Son and Spirit".

 

While arguing over the definition of what it means to be a "movement" is not that useful, we nonetheless need to come to terms with our identity, which, like it or not, is wrapped up in the cloak of being a reformation movement. Perhaps we need to demythologize this self-understanding before we are capable to move on to the mission to which we are ultimately called. But, even this does not have to preclude us from contributing from our unique perspective and distinctives.

 

The question we need to ask ourselves is: Are we prepared to accept a fresh call of God for this time and generation? We can celebrate the contribution of our reformation in the unique context in which our movement was formed, but our world has changed and the challenges facing the church are different. The need today is less that of bringing all Christians together, but more of reaching out to a world that has barely been exposed to the reality of the Good News. Are we ready to join in this movement which is already taking shape around us? Or, will we go off marching to the beat of our own drum?

 

More movement

Since my post on Monday regarding movement, I've had a few, but nevertheless very thought-provoking, comments left. Because of the significance of these contributions (and since I know that most people rarely read comments!) I want to continue the discussion in a main post.

 

BTW, you can read the comments from my last post at this LINK.

 

There was general agreement that we are not functioning as a movement. David said that "we have to put the 'Move' back in Movement", and this will happen because of the Holy Spirit. Mojclessme believes that we have too many smaller movements within the Church of God diverting us away from our primary purpose: to reach the lost. Randy is not optimistic that we will recover our sense of movement anytime soon.

 

Thanks for the good reflections, guys. (And, I'd love to hear from more of you - I know you are out there!)

 

While it is easy to become discouraged by our current state, I am convinced that there is hope. Let me briefly state a few reasons:

 

1. I see a small, but passionate, group of younger leaders emerging in the Church of God that are viewing our heritage and theology with fresh eyes. They need to be encouraged to have a larger voice.

 

2. Our sense of "movement" is ingrained within our DNA. As I stated in my last post, we can easily fool ourselves into thinking that we are still a movement. Of course, we must confront reality with honesty, and even repent of this illusion that blinds us. Once we admit our failures, however, we will be in a better position to recover our movement-hood.

 

3. There are major shifts taking place within the larger scope of Christianity, and these forces are of seismic proportions that will affect us whether we want them to or not. The question is: Will we allow this moving of the Spirit to move us? If we do, our movement orientation has the potential to significantly contribute to this broader movement.

 

"Movement"

A long-standing tension within the Church of God concerns our self-identification as a "movement" instead of as a denomination.

 

We all know how uncomfortable we feel when the "D" word comes up in our conversation. We refuse to use it to describe ourselves, and are often quick to correct others who want to label us with it.

 

My goal is not to create a debate as to whether or not we are a denomination. For all practical purposes we are. We have a defined brand name, we are organized as such, and, most signficantly, virtually everyone on the outside perceives that we are one. Sure, our polity, structure, and lack of formal creed make us a-less-than model "denomination". But, if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck then it is a duck!

 

I like the fact that we struggle with our sense of identity and purpose. On the one hand, our reluctance to give into denominationalism keeps the biblical ideal of the church high in our foreground. We recognize the value that a movement could have in the current, messed-up state of Christianity. On the other hand, however, we must be careful not to delude ourselves into believing that we are still functioning as a true movement, because if we are honest we will admit that we have lost our edge in this regard. (See my Post: "Where the Saints Have Trod").

 

In the upcoming days I will attempt to address some of the issues surrounding movements, including a look at how we are responding to other movements of God's Spirit in the church, such as in the Emergent movement. I'd love to hear your comments.

 

Born again restaurant

This has been an interesting week as far as news stories concerning Church of God congregations and their involvement within their communities.

 

According to WHAS in Louisville, Kentucky, Parkland Church of God has partnered with a Baptist Church to re-open a bankrupt restaurant in their community. One's first reaction might be: "Why would churches want to get into the restaurant business?" Their plans, however, are to give back to the community, which includes providing much needed jobs. (Story Link). From what I've been able to gather these churches are in a community that really needs hope, and they believe that this is one practical way to express the love of God.

 

Certainly a different twist on community and social involvement, and another case to add to my ongoing reflections. I would be interested to learn more about this project, and how the church sees this as part of their overall mission.

 

Another example

On the heels of yesterday's post, regarding Church of God Pastor Mansour Bey's involvement in the protests leading to the riots in Toledo, comes a news story from Monroe, Ohio. The Middletown Journal reports that First Church of God in Monroe hosted the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling in preparation for an upcoming referendum regarding a proposed casino in the area. Pastor Terry Ball is active in the fight against the casino. (Story Link)

 

I'm sure these types of community involvements by Church of God congregations are quite common, as these are just two media covered examples from the last few days. I'm glad to see that there is involvement in real issues outside the walls of the local church.

 

My questions from yesterday still remain. As I reflect further on these recent examples I think part of my uneasiness is that we often get involved in these issues in a reactionary manner. That is, once it becomes a problem we go out and protest, and indicate that we are AGAINST something. Certainly there is a place for this. I believe, however, that if we are truly missional we will be salt and light in our communities at all times, even before we are prompted out of the comfort of our pews. In other words, in what ways do we communicate to the world that we are FOR something. Is it the "Good News" that we are known for?

 

I know that media reports don't tell the full story, and I have no first hand knowledge of what the two congregations in question have been doing before this. Nevertheless, these are considerations worthy of further pondering.

 

I'd love to hear from more of you on your experiences and reflections.

 

To what extent should we get involved?

On Saturday, Toledo, Ohio was rocked by a riot provoked by a small neo-Nazi group that came in contact with hundreds of African-American protesters. According to CNN/Time one of the organizers of the counter-protest was Church of God pastor Mansour Bey (Story Link).

 

I am the least qualifed person to analyze the genesis of the riots, or to dictate from a distance what should have or should not have happened. Truly, Neo-Nazis are bozos, and I can only imagine the frustration that African Americans feel when these clowns try to goad them on their own turf. On the other hand, this frustration is not justification for violent behavior.

 

The questions that I am confronted with are: As church leaders, to what extent should we get involved in hot social issues around us? At what point does our participation in a legitimate cause that identifies with the hurts and problems around us cross-over into a compromise of the church that turns us into a political movement?

 

The comingling of faith and politics has become a major problem in the U.S., and increasingly Christians are finding it difficult to know where those boundaries lie. With hot button issues like abortion and homosexuality, churches have often shot themselves in the foot by becoming so confrontational that they have lost the ability to proclaim the Good News of Jesus. On the flip side of the coin, however, we can find many examples throughout history (e.g. during Nazi Germany) when the church shamefully abdicated its role, and in effect, contributed to the sin around them.

 

So, what would I do if my own city was faced with an explosive issue? Would I/we sit idly by, leaving it to others to engage the enemies? Or, would I/we take a leadership position, even to the point of possibly being misunderstood?

 

I'd love to hear some of your thoughts on this issue.

 

UPDATE 10/18/05: You can listen to Pastor Bey's own description of what happened and his involvement on Pacifica Radio's "Democracy Now" show, archived online at: http://www.pacifica.org/programs/dn/051018.html. (TIP: Start listening at around 9:30). It is interesting to hear how his account differs from some of the implications in the CNN report.

Churches on mission

Many of my posts have been focused on mission. Mission has certainly become a new orientation of mine, as I am convinced that it must be at the core of who we are and how we define ourselves. Unfortunately, however, the business of "doing" church often gets in the way, distracting us into other directions.

 

I am encouraged to see that more and more churches are responding to the call to be missional, including Church of God congregations. It's important that we highlight and celebrate examples around us.

 

Today the Associated Press is distributing a story that quotes Paul Binion, Pastor of Westside Church of God in Fresno, California. Paul is a well-known figure in Fresno, working diligently to touch people in the poverty-stricken area around his church. He and his church are frequently in the local media spotlight, and Paul is highly regarded and consulted by local government officials. Now Paul is in a nationally-distributed story (e.g. in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer) because Fresno has been identified as having "the nation's highest concentration of residents in extremely poor neighborhoods, according to a study released Wednesday by the Brookings Institution, the Washington, D.C., think tank."

 

I know Paul personally because I also pastor in Central California. (You can read more of some of his life-impacting work in the February/March 2005 issue of OneVoice.)

 

Where else do see Church of God congregations living out their mission within their local communities? Let's share examples as models and encouragements for the rest of who are looking for effective and meaningful ways to truly reach out. I will try to post and/or link examples when they come my way.

 

 

Hurricane relief

Here's another update (and request for assistance) posted on CHOGTalk by Debbie Weiger:

Greetings Brothers and Sisters in Christ;

This morning I wanted to update you all on a need that came across my desk. Louisiana as you all know has been extremely devastated by the disasters that have hit our country. I spoke this morning with Fred Dowden who has been asked by the Church of God in Louisiana to coordinate efforts for the south region of this state and its relief efforts. He expressed an urgent need for workers to come and help. They are in need of money, carpenters, electricians, roofers, tree cutters and debris removal. They have housing and food for any one who would like to come and help. RV hook-ups are available as well. They are trying to have teams come in like the Mississippi has done, but they will take anyone that is willing.

On behalf of the Church of God in Alabama and Mississippi I want to thank everyone for the loving response that you have shown to these two states and I ask that you continue to do so. If you have not found an area to help or contribute please give Fred Dowden a call at 864-357-5186. Your prayers, calls, and support are continually needed.

Rachael Woosley
Disaster Relief Coordinator-Alabama Church of God Ministries
205-612-3486

 

Rapture Safety cards

And now for something completely different ...

 

Aren't you glad we don't have to worry about this!

 

 

From LarkNews.com, "Rapture Safety cards to prepare parishioners, airline-style"

 

Work Day

On Saturday our church conducted its semi-annual "work day", a designated time to bring a large group of our people together for a mass effort to take care of important building and maintenance issues that tend to get neglected in the normal routines of things. This time it was different, and part of a growing new orientation for our congregation.

 

This summer when we began seriously wrestling with our mission, one of the many ideas that was floated concerned our work day. It should not just be for ourselves, but hopefully an opportunity to take our labors into our community.

 

Saturday was the first such occasion. While we completed a wide range of needed projects around our church facility, a team of workers made their trek off-site to make contact with some of our neighbors. They offered to do some yard work, of course without cost, but because we want to share God's love.

 

As one woman shared in our service yesterday" "it was the highlight of the day". Prior to this, making contact with our immediate neighbors is not something we have been very good at. The joy of helping others and making a personal connection left a strong impression. By our next work day  I can see us doing even more. And, more importantly, we are adopting a new attitude and perspective of what is involved in mission.

 

How then should we preach?

CHOG blogger, David Owens, in Message in a Bottle has posted a review of Preaching Re-Imagined by Doug Pagitt, a leader in the Emergent movement.

 

The topic of preaching is an important one during these shifting times, as we seriously address the ways that truth is communicated. I remain convinced that preaching is still essential and powerful, but recognize that many of the models familiar to our own movement are increasingly ineffective among the people to which we wish to minister. I struggle with this myself, as I am sure many of you do. While I haven't read Pagitt's book, I affirm that it has to be much more than just a shift in methodology. Unfortunately, however, we tend to be always looking for that magic formula that will revolutionize, and fail to see the importance of our own spiritual formation and the dialogue that is required within our local context.

 

I invite you to leave comments regarding your perceptions of preaching today, including examples and resources that you find helpful.

 

While I am far from having figured this all out, let me offer a few initial thoughts for those of us who preach:

 

First, utilizing the power of the Internet, take advantage of the opportunity to listen to a wide variety of other preachers. Many churches now offer audio archives of their sermons, some even in podcasting format. Don't try to copy what they do (because in most cases it will incongruous to who you are and where you preach), but expand your preaching horizons. On my blog page you will find a small, but growing list of Church of God podcasts. Of course, there are excellent preachers outside of our movement too. Among others, I regularly listen to Rob Bell (Mars Hill Church, Grand Rapids, MI) and Bruxy Cavey (The Meeting House, Oakville, ON, Canada).

 

Second, get into the mind and heart of other preachers. Build relationships with some, or connect with those you respect. This could be someone in your neighborhood, a friend online, or even through the blog of a preacher. Discover how they are wrestling with preaching in their own ministry. An excellent blog is Odyssey by Chris Erdman, who has recently written some profound stuff on the topic of preaching.

 

 

Mission idea

It's great to see more churches taking seriously the calling to minister in the world!

 

Church of God Pastor, Tina Robinson, from Madison, WI shares on her blog, HeavyRevvy, an outreach project they are involved in:

 

"We have adopted the teachers at the neighborhood elementary school and this morning we are providing snacks to get them through the day of meetings they have all day today. My car is filled with muffins, cupcakes, fruit, candy, cookies and two ginormous cheesecakes"

Gulf coast update

Below is an frontline update posted on CHOGTalk by Debbie Weiger:

The following update came from Earl Wheatley in Mississippi, concerning some of the Churches of God in the Gulf region.  I’d like to add that work groups are going into Laurel / Hattiesburg area.  More are needed!  (Contact Rachael Woosley 205-812-3486, rwoosley@riverchase.cc )  Rachael and I went to Laurel and then on down to Gulfport last week, to carry supplies and do some organizational work.  It is just heartbreaking!  And the one thing we heard from our COG pastors and church families was, “Don’t let them forget about us!”

Tony also talked just this morning with Don Coleman at Camp Pollack in Louisiana.  Over the weekend they had 240 evacuees, but now they have 150 – and this without electricity or running water!  Today they are now dealing with the Health Department (another camp has already been shut down) but these folks have no where to go.  Please pray for God to make a way for them to continue to help these people.

The shelter at Austin Road Community Church in Daphne, AL is still in operation, but they are down to about half the number staying there.  They are working to help find permanent housing, jobs and vehicles for those families.

Debbie Weiger

Hi Friends,

Let me give you a site by site update - God is continuing to work through His people in some powerful ways!

Natchez, MS.  Natchez has continued to be an active Red Cross shelter.  As of last Thursday night they had 41 Katrina evacuees still living at the church.  At 2:00 a.m. Friday morning they received another 70 Rita evacuees! People were bedded down in the church, in the fellowship hall and in the gym.  I am attaching a couple of photos sent by  Del Loy.

Del also reports that one couple who has been at the Natchez church since it opened for Katrina has accepted Jesus as their Savior.and several of the other evacuees have been regular attenders in the Community Chapel worship services.

Palmetto, LA.  Pastor Dale Fontenot has shared that they were about 100 miles East of where the eye of the hurricane came ashore.  The Palmetto Campground has another 60 evacuees.  They were without power for 36 hours and had some damage to metal roofs.  But Palmetto was still able to minister to others!  On Saturday, a Red Cross Shelter called, needing food for 285 evacuees. "Because of the generosity of the church all over the country, we had enough food to send to the Red Cross shelter to help in their time of need."

New Orleans - Metairie, LA.  Pastor Paul Matte reports they are beginning to cut out sheet rock and get the building back into shape.  Reports from congregational leaders tell us that many homes of the congregation were damaged.  Rita's flooding hit some of the homes a second time.  Between the two storms, 3 families lost everything, 3 other families had extensive roof damage, at least 8 families have varying degrees of flood damage.

New Orleans - Caffin Avenue.  The church was flooded again from the water that hit the lower part of the city from Rita.  No updates yet on specific families and their losses.

Gulfport, MS - Workteams have been in and others are in route.  Good work is taking place in the community.

Now - on to Lake Charles, LA - and "Rita" news:

Pastor Rick McClain of Christ Community Church of God is in Meridian right now, staying with extended family.  As of last night (Monday), 44 Louisiana parishes are without power.  Many of the major transmission towers are down and will be a major piece in the repair/restoration work that is yet to be done.  He has had reports that their church building is in relatively good shape.  Rick has also been in touch with Pastor Terry Aridizzone of the CrossRoads Church of God.  Terry reports that one of their main entrance doors was shattered in the storm and there has been some minor building damage. 

From all current reports all Church of God families are physically OK; but we do know of many homes that suffered tree and other storm damage.  We have five Church of God congregations in the Lake Charles area.  None of them were able to meet this past Sunday and will probably not be able to meet this coming Sunday.  As you know, when the church cannot even meet, finances weaken quickly!

For more information or to give assistance to the Lake Charles churches you can contact Rick McClain at mcclain2005@ccclc.info or (812) 962-4971.or (877) 853-7513

Future work:

New Orleans:  This Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. a strategy meeting will be held at the Landmark Church of God, Covington, Mississippi, hosted by Pastor Ron Allen.  At that time we will assess needs, consider resources and (hopefully) identify a work coordinator for our ongoing assistance to our New Orleans churches and families.   As you pray about this, please remember Ron's wife, Sue.  She has a fractured rib and will be seeing the physicians this week.  Please join me in asking the Great Physician to touch Sue.

Lake Charles:  This situation is still being assessed.  Hopefully more will be known about specific needs and physical assistance opportunities within the next 5 to 7 days.

Blessings,

Earl Wheatley

 

Fleeing Rita

Here's a report from Dr.Magaret Dunn posted on CHOG-Talk today, giving a first-hand report of someone in the path of Rita:

 

All:

I am going off line in about 15 minutes but wanted to give you an
update. Please pray for those involved in the evacuation process. It
was taking 5 hours yesterday to go from Galveston to Houston's south
side. This morning, I-45 and 290 will be opened northbound on both
sides of the interstates. I-10 west will be opened as soon as this
process is complete. Officers will be at each ramp to protect traffic.

Rita is scheduled to hit about 1:00 am on Saturday morning very close
to Galveston Island.

I learned about the church at large in my evacuation planning since I
made one phone call to a Church of God congregation and had a place
for my cat and myself to stay. God is good.

Will be back on line when the storm passes and I am back on line.
Thanks for your prayers for myself and the Church of God congregation
in this area. 

Blessings to you.

Margaret Dunn
Pasadena, Texas

Church of God and disaster relief

Over the past few weeks, we have all been impacted by hurricane Katrina that ripped through Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Of course, none have been affected more than the residents there who have had their world turned upside down. And now we dreadfully await Rita's assault on Texas.

 

Living in dry central California (where we haven't even seen rain in four months) it's hard to fathom what is going on in the Gulf Coast states. TV images and newspaper reports seem so inadequate, even as they shock us with the devastation. And, for those of us not living in the area, it's hard to know what to do to assist people living many miles away.

 

Unfortunately, the evacuation and relief efforts have been marred by bureacratic bunglings and ineptness. Compounding the situation is the divisive climiate in our nation, resulting in those on both sides who are getting caught up in political posturing. On the positive side, however, is the rallying together of people in the U.S. and around the world to support the relief efforts through financial contributions and volunteer assistance.

 

So, what has been the involvement of the Church of God in this catastrophe?

 

From all accounts, it appears that we have responded with action. Congregations in the ara are doing the best they can with whatever resources available to them. Some church camps have been housing evacuees. Church of God Ministries has been coordinating efforts at a national level. And, individuals and congregations (e.g. read the story of Winton Road First Church of God, Fairfield, OH at dodgeparkcog) have been doing extraordinary things in an effort to help.

 

I cannot be critical of our response, mainly because I am not fully aware of all the details, and secondly, because my own response is paltry in comparison to what others have done.

 

My point of interest is the future. These tragedies have reinforced the need for us to become actively involved in human needs around us. Here are some initial thoughts for further consideration:

 

- Relief and service efforts are best delivered by those closest to the ground (i.e. local congregations in the area, if possible).

- Most local congregations are poorly equipped for mobilizing people for service within the community, especially during times of devastation. Churches that have a missional outlook are probably better able to respond. In other words, if service to the world is already part of our congregational culture it will be more natural for us to respond during times of calamity. (This is an important lesson for me, as I question how my congregation will respond when the "big" earthquake hits California).

- We must avoid the temptation to centralize our relief efforts in Anderson. While Church of God Ministries can assist through communication and coordination, the last thing we need is a new level of bureacracy expected to do what should be happening at the local level.

 

Our prayers remain for the many people affected by these hurricanes, and now even for those fleeing in Texas. I trust that we can all say that we will continue our service in the name of Jesus.

 

Reaching a New Generation

Occasionally I will highlight a recently read book that might be of benefit to others in our movement.

I didn't intend for this blog to become a journal of book reviews. But, I do a lot of reading, and can't resist wanting to recommend those writings that others might find helpful.

I almost didn't read Reaching a New Generation. It's one of the many books in my library that I haven't' read (although I'm working on it!) because I tend to acquire books at a faster rate than I can read. What moved this book to the top of my reading list was the author, Alan Roxburgh, who I heard for the first time at a seminar early this year. Roxburgh is one of the most significant leaders in the missional church movement, and is one of its deepest thinkers.

It was probably the title, Reaching a New Generation, and subtitle, "Strategies for Tomorrow's Church" that previously had kept this book lower on the stack. It sounded too much like a book about reaching Gen X'ers (which is why I bought it in the first place a few years back), and I'm tired of "strategy" books full of programs and ideas that are hardly transferable to my setting. Unfortunately, these titles are very poor indicators of what to find between the covers. It's not just about the younger generations, and is weak on what we normally call strategy. A more accurate title would serve the book better.

Reaching a New Generation is a relatively short book (140 pages with notes and index!), but is a rich discussion on the shifts that are taking place in our culture, and how the church can appropriately respond. Certainly other authors have tackled these issues with greater depth, but few have packaged it as succinctly as Roxburgh. After reading this profound book you should not be able to help but ponder on how our theology can speak to the questions being asked with our society.

After describing the changing worldviews around us, and the rejection of modernity and Christianity, Roxburgh asks, "How will the Gospel be Heard?" (page 63). He goes on to emphasize that "the mission strategy for each congregation must, increasingly, be shaped by the values, needs and style of its context" (p. 65). In order to do this we must learn to listen and see what is going in the culture around us, and then construct a local theology that allows us to "learn to read Scripture with the eyes of our context, allowing the Bible to engage the culture and reshape the congregations' self-understanding. Strategies for evangelism grow out of this engagement, as such a gospel encounter calls for the congregation's own transformation and conversion as well as the culture's" (page 73).

But, this book is not an abstract discussion. Roxburgh goes on to apply these insights to three of the most significant trends emerging in our society: the ecological crisis, the hunger for community, and the quest for spiritual transcendence. Those living in insulated Christian sub-cultures may have trouble seeing the primacy of these issues, but an honest look around us will show that Roxburgh is both accurate in his assessments and insightful in his theology.

If you are at all concerned about the mission of the church, this is one of the books to add to your reading list and to actually read!

What foundation?

Here are two diagrams, from Thoughts from the Cheap Seats, that contrast the difference between traditional and missional churches. Quite straightforward.

 

 

 

 

Where the Saints Have Trod

Occasionally I will highlight a recently read book that might be of benefit to others in our movement

I love shopping for books. While at the North American Convention in June I forced myself to browse through the disheveled stacks in the Reformation Publishers tent, just in case I could find a gem in the rough. I was pleasantly surprised to find a normally out-of-print book that I had read years earlier during research for my Master's thesis: WWhere the Saints Have Trod: A Social History of the Church of God Reformation Movement by Val Clear (Midwest Publications, 1977).

Val Clear was a professor of Sociology at what was Anderson College when he wrote this book. His intent was to examine our movement from a sociological perspective, and in comparison to other emerging religious movements. Clear starts with the assumption that "All social institutions arise out of their environments, but none is more closely related to the soil in which it grows than a Christian church" (p. 1). He then goes on to demonstrate how the Church of God transitioned itself over the years to become an organization much more closely resembling a denomination than a movement. This change occurred over many years, and can be summarized in the following stages:

1. Social unrest; milling about

2. A leader appears and defines the issues.

3. A self-conscious minority emerges and rallies around the leader.

4. The parent body rejects the idea of the new group and separation takes place.

5. The new group is isolated.

6. The new group is institutionalized.

7. Sophistication develops.

8. Unrest anew; milling about. (p. 10)

Writing from the vantage point of the 1970's Dr. Clear pegged our movement at stage seven, suggesting that there were "only undercurrents of dissension" (p. 180). We had reached the "quietude of middle age", but were trying to find our "raison d'etre ... in a world that has changed rapidly". (p. 180).

Almost thirty years have passed since the publication of this important book. The insights are valuable for anyone who wants to better understand our movement, and there are critical implications for us today. I, for one, believe that we have moved closer to stage eight, not only because of our own organizational dynamics, but also because of the shifting religious and secular environments around us. In light of this, what can we learn from Clear?

First, we must be honest about the social influences that have shaped us. We cannot continue to assume that we function as a true movement.

Second, it would be good for us to assess current movements through Clear's template. In particular, the Emergent movement has the potential to be one of the most significant Christian developments in over a century. A growing number from within the Church of God are resonating with this trend. Clear's insights can help us be better prepared for these movemental changes within and around us.

If you can find a copy of Where the Saints Have Trod, I urge you to read it.

Hurricane Katrina

In case you haven't seen this from Church of God Ministries ...

 

Hurricane Katrina has devastated the Gulf Coast of the United States, hitting Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama particularly hard. The Disaster Relief Committee has met to plan our relief efforts. While specific information is not yet available, with 175 Church of God congregations in these three Gulf states, it is inevitable that numerous churches and individuals will need assistance with both emergency relief and long-term recovery. Assistance with flood damage may also be needed in southern Florida.

 

The anticipated emergency relief needs along the Gulf Coast are great. Compassionate Ministries, a ministry of Church of God Ministries, Inc., is now collecting money for emergency relief needs. Funds will be distributed through the state offices and local Churches of God in affected states.

 

If you would like to help with hurricane relief, you may give online with your credit card at www.chog.org or send checks made payable to "Church of God Ministries" to Church of God Ministries, PO Box 2420, Anderson, IN  46018-2420. Please write "Hurricane Relief, Project 45.04502" on your memo line.

 

Updates will be made available via the Church of God Ministries Web site at www.chog.org as more information becomes available.

 

For more information on giving, visit www.chog.org or call Obadiah Smith, Compassionate Ministries coordinator, at 800-848-2464, ext 2165.

 

The Forgotten Half of Change

Occasionally I will highlight a recently read book that might be of benefit to others in our movement.

 

The Forgotten Half of Change, by Luc Brabandere, is a new book written primarily to the business community. While Brabandere is not writing to the church or even claiming a Christian perspective, his insights are worth pondering as we all struggle to lead and implement change.

 

The subtitle of the book is: "Achieving Greater Creativity Through Changes in Perception". It is on this aspect of perception that Brabandere stands above other writings on the subject. While not revealing anything earth-shatteringly new, he probes and packages the dynamics of change in a manner that have certainly got me thinking in new ways. Drawing from philosophical and psychological concepts, he makes the point that there are two aspects of change: reality and perception. The former is a matter of changing actions through innovation. But, the change of perception, derived from creativity, is often neglected or missing because it is typically the most difficult to execute. Brabandere states that both of these aspects are needed. In fact, he says that successful change requires that we "change twice". Related to churches, this is evident when we introduce our programs without seeing an accompanied perception change among our members. Conflict and failure are often the result. Yet, these are the dynamics we must consider especially as we work to transform our orientation to being missional.

 

This tight relationships between reality and perception also relate to our theological understanding of sanctification. The debate that often arises, provoked by our holiness orientation, is whether sanctification is an instanteous event or gradual change. Utilizing Brabandere's model it confirmed my assertion that while sanctification is a life-long process, life-change of the perception-type (remember: spiritual change ultimately takes place at our deepest levels, including our perceptions) also typically involves a more sudden break with our past (i.e. a crisis experience). Translating that change into our lives, however, is a much more gradual process.

 

The Forgotten Half of Change succeeds to change one's perception of change itself. For that reason it is worth reading. If you are looking for practical, hands-on strategies to implement change in your church you will find the book disappointing. But, then, Brabandere's intent was to highlight the part of change we have often forgotten.

 

ViewPoint on mission

Take a listen to the August 28th installment of ViewPoint (Church of God radio program). They are beginning a series that will review and recommend noteworthy books. On this broadcast they discuss The Radical Reformission by Mark Driscoll (Mars Hill Church, Seattle). Some good thoughts on mission, and especially encouraging to hear this being discussed more within our own movement.

 

(Don't forget that you can subscribe to the ViewPoint RSS feed)

How do we measure success?

Ronald Green, Pastor of Gordon Church of God (Gordon, Nebraska), has a blog devoted primarily to manuscripts and videos of his sermons. What caught my attention is the video of  Ronald Duncan, General Director of Church of God Ministries, who preached in Gordon on July 24th. I was especially curious to see and hear our North American leader share in a local congregation (as he has never visited my church!).

 

While I have always found Dr. Duncan to be a solid and steady individual, I was somewhat frustrated by some of his introductory comments leading up to the sermon. Bringing greetings to the congregation, he gave a brief report of what is happening in the Church of God, and was quick to express that some of our congregations are doing very well. That's good news. But, it was the measuring stick that he used that concerns me. Urging the Gordon attendees to guess, he asked, "What is the largest size church that we have in the Church of God today?" (ANSWER: Crossings Community Church in Oklahoma City with around 4500 in Sunday attendance), and then went on to proudly state that we have more large (i.e. over 2000) Church of God congregations in the U.S.  than ever before. Interestingly, the entire population of Gordon is below 2000, so I am sure they were somewhat bewildered by the entire exercise.

 

To be fair, Dr. Duncan did quickly add that "we have many small churches that are doing a wonderful job". But, the emphasis that Sunday morning reinforced the notion that success is measured by size.

 

I don't want to be too hard on Ron, as I am convinced that his ultimate definition of success extends beyond size, and that he has a deep appreciation for congregations of all sizes. My real concern, however, is that his comments are a telling reflection of what most people in the Church of God really think when trying to measure church success: "Bigger is better".

 

Certainly, numerical growth is ONE way to assess church success. And, I do celebrate our sister congregations who have been effective at touching and gathering large numbers of people. But, in the quest for more heads to count on a Sunday morning, we can be misled into believing that  Large Church = Mission. This is not always the case. Some small churches may be far more active in true mission.

 

It is a demonstrated fact that most of what appears to be "church growth" in North America is simply transfer growth, or the attraction of people from other churches. Very few, the "mega" churches included, are truly engaging and impacting the secular culture around them.

 

I encourage all of us, Dr. Duncan as well, to re-examine our ideas of church successs. Yes, let's celebrate where God is work, but may we find ways to highlight mission, not just warm bodies in pews.

 

Modern thinking

Recently on CHOGTalk (a Yahoo! discussion group) I posted a message in response to a debate that was developing over the creation-evolution debate, mainly in response to the recent movement to include "Intelligent Design" ideas in public school curriculum.

While I am convinced that we have much bigger items to discuss, underlying this debate are some deeper issues that we must come to terms with.

Here's a slightly modified form of my original message:

I am astounded at the current "intelligent design" debate because the advocates of this position fail to see that they themselves have been duped into a modernistic worldview, and are trying to read Scripture from those lenses. To be blunt, conservatives who insist on reading the Bible with strict literalness are in bed (albeit in a strained relationship) with the "liberals" they so are so quick to attack. Obviously they each have different presuppositions, but when push comes to shove they both approach these issues from the modernistic, rational perspective that is more a product of the Enlightenment than the milieu of Scripture.

I am not a "liberal", as liberalism has proven its emptiness. But, I also consider myself less and less part of "conservative" Christianity, which also blindly taking its cues from culture instead of faith (despite what they may claim). The tragedy for conservatives is that they are unaware of their sell-out to modernism. And, of course, we in the Church of God have increasingly gone lock-step down this path of intellectual and spiritual demise.

It's time we abandoned these polarizing categories since they have become so emotionally charged and bereft of meaning. If we are serious about following Christ, we all must repent of our worship of modernism (or any other intellectual trend), and that includes our modernistic reading of Scripture. Only then will we allow the Spirit to reveal truth and work among us.

Busy with Mission

I haven't posted for a couple of weeks, as life has been busy. As I mentioned in my last post, my church has been working through what it means to be on mission. We've had some interesting discussions in the intervening time, and have decided to make some major changes in how we "do church". As our new direction folds, I plan to share with you some of the things that we will be doing, and telling you what works (and what doesn't). And, please continue to share your stories!

Mission in Hanford

Since we've been discussing the movement of the Church towards mission, let me share some personal experiences from my own pastoral ministry over the past few days.

Our congregation (Central Community Church in Hanford, CA) has been working through this whole missional thing for several months now. This is an exciting church to be part of, as we have gone through some radical changes in the last three years, transitioning from a fairly staid Church of God congregation to one that it is now reaching unchurched people. But, we still struggle to transform our dominant paradigms. Yet, our church leadership is open and committed to continuing in the process of re-focusing the church even further.

But, we're starting to get it. For example, last week during one of our cell group gatherings a woman, who works at a restaurant, was telling us how she frequently comes home with lots of leftovers and doesn't know what to do with them as she has more than she and her husband could ever eat. She's been doing the obvious things, like eating some, freezing some, and giving some to family and friends. But, what came next was exciting for me, the group, and even her. The suggestion offered to her was: Why not take some of it across the street from where she lives to a housing complex and simply knock on some doors and introduce herself as a neighbor and offer some food? This was a radical idea for her, since she has lived in this house for many years but has never met anyone across the street from her. But, suddenly she saw that this could be a way for her to make some connections with people outside the church. It opened up a paradigm shift to her, and to others in attendance.

To further challenge us toward mission, Sunday evening we showed Reggie McNeal's NAC sermon. It was very well received, and certainly provoked a number to look at the church 's mission differently than before. We are following up with a congregational discussion this coming Sunday to further lead our church towards mission.

I know that my experiences over the past few days are just a very small snippet of what God is doing elsewhere. I'd love to hear how you are coming to terms with mission in your church. Please pass along your own stories by leaving a Comment, or by posting on your own blog and leaving a link in my Comments.

Hit the Bullseye

In case you are not on the e-mail list of "Multiplication Moments" from the Church Multiplication department at Church of God Ministries I will paste portions of the latest edition below, since I can't find a link for it on www.chog.org.

These are quotes from Paul Borden, author of Hit the Bullseye: How Denominations Can Aim the Congregation at the Mission Field, who spoke at a Ohio Ministries meeting on July 7th.

Some good points to contribute to our discussion on mission:

“Churches are not to be places of refuge. They are to be a place where lost people come to find Christ.”

“Not all growing congregations are healthy ones. However, all healthy congregations are growing.”

“If congregations are not growing, they are not healthy. Not only that, they are being disobedient to the call of Christ.”

“Do we run the state and national organizations to continue the institutions or to fulfill the mission?”

“The local congregation should be at the top of the pyramid. Of all church organizations, the congregation is the only one ordained by God. All congregations have the same mission, to fulfill the Great Commission, and God expects the local congregation to do whatever it takes to achieve the mission.”

Incarnational vs. Attractional Mission

Here's another thought provoking post from the Australian blog, "Backyard Missionary", that provides additional food-for-thought to us in the Church of God who are concerned about a return to mission.

The title says it all.

LINK

Strege and Babylon

Fitting to my recent post on "Examining our Unity" is consideration of the "Trumpet times" column by Merle Strege in the June/July 2005 edition of OneVoice! magazine (page 25): "Babylon: More than a place".

As the Church of God historian, Strege discusses "Babylon" and "Babel" - key terms used in the early years of our movement. These biblical images were understood by our pioneers to represent the falsity and confusion surrounding denominationalism, the perceived major threat to Christian unity.

Strege contends that the use of "Babylon" especially "has waned among many Church of God congregations". He believes that this symbol needs to be "reexamined" since denominationalism may not be as big an issue today, others are also taking up the cause of Christian unity, and "equating Babylon with denominations may never have been a truly valid interpretation". Instead, Strege proposes that we adopt a much broader understanding of Babylon, namely the seduction of the dominant culture.

I really can't disagree with Strege's intrepretation of Isaiah 48:20, the source of our anti-Babylon teaching. It certainly fits better with the original context in which Isaiah was written.

For me, the question that erupts from this discussion is whether our Christian unity emphasis may be tainted by other problems?

Certainly, the teaching of unity in Christ is a central New Testament theme that hasn't been lived out very well in Christendom. But, could it be that our take on unity ended up as a negative stance, that is, largely anti-denominational instead of presenting a positive vision of what the church should and could be like? Has this negative, confrontational orientation contributed to our own struggles with unity, exhibited in many of the internal issues we face? And, most important, can this help explain why we have been weak at engaging our culture in mission?

Questions worth pondering.

Mission: Chicken or egg?

Briefly going back to the topic of Mission (before continuing on the Unity issue):

I came across a reference on Backyard Missionary to something said by Gordon Cosby (Pastor of Church of the Saviour in Washinton, D.C.). Cosby said that

"in all his years of service he has never (and he emphasized ‘never’) seen a group go from community to mission. Rather, he said one should organize around mission and community will follow."

A very significant observation. Many times we make the false assumption that if we build and nurture our congregation, mission will be a natural outcome. The reality is, however, that this rarely happens.

A reminder that mission must be at our center, just as it was for Jesus.

Examining Our Unity

Some recent comments following my "Level the Dome" post have focused on the issue of unity.

Andy asked the question: "Could someone please share with me some concrete examples of Unity in this movement?" The implication is that we are not practicing what we preach when it comes to unity.

I know of many examples within the Church of God where unity is being lived out, but we must honestly acknowledge that there are also serious problems. The buzz word that we have heard coming out of Anderson, especially in the last six years, is "reconciliation". This is a blatant admission that not all is well among us. The most obvious example are the walls that have separated our African-American brothers and sisters from the rest of the movement.

A case can be made that we have a had less than stellar track record at living this, one of our distinguishing doctrines. In fact, it is almost embarassing to admit our struggles in this area. And, of course, before we can "reach our hands in fellowship to every blood-washed one" outside of our movement, we must address our internal unity. There is work to be done to build stronger bridges with not only our large African-American constituency, but also with Hispanics among us, the German churches in North America that were alienated during and following World War II, and churches on the geographic fringes outside of the Midwest.

The fact is, there is much more diversity in the Church of God than we are often willing to admit. Apart from some of the obvious racial and cultural differences, there is also a certain degree of theological latitude in our movement. Unfortunately, however, we have not tolerated internal or external theological differences very well. We have often bought into rigid doctrinal purity at the expense of the unity of fellowship we desire, but find elusive. In reality, we call people to unity in Christ, but only if they come on our doctrinal terms.

For a movement with roots in Wesleyan-holiness it is tragic that we have veered from our orthopraxic orientation, and towards a Calivinist-evangelical fixation on orthodoxy.

I don't want to be too hard on us, but we must face this issue of unity head on. We don't need more doctrinal ink spent describing the unity of the church. It's time we started to live it both inside and outside our circles.