Monday
Nov102003
Is this what you call a master plan?
Monday, November 10, 2003 at 6:49PM This post is from the defunct blog "Dying Church"
Critiquing the status quo is a lot easier than trying to plant and pastor a different kind of church and change the status quo. (Brian McLaren, The Church in Emerging Culture)It's time for a confession. It's been obvious for a while, but I might as well admit it. I don't have a clue what I'm doing. It's true. I'm not exaggerating (not much, anyway). I remind myself of a bachelor who professes to have no interest in getting married while he gets ready for a date. One minute, I post that I'm accepted into a Doctor of Ministry program on preaching. The next minute, I wonder out loud if preaching has any place within the worship service of a church. One minute, I talk about leading dying churches. The next minute, I'm collecting a paycheck from a church that hasn't yet died. What gives? To use another metaphor, I sometimes feel like I've got one foot in the saddle of a horse that's about to keel over, and another foot in the saddle of a horse that's just getting started. The only problem is, I don't know where the second horse is going. But at some point, I've got to choose: go with the one that's dying or not? The answer's pretty obvious, but I still find myself with one foot in the saddle of something that sure looks like it's dying. (By this, I mean the North American church.) My only consolation is that I'm not the only one. God is raising up people all over the world who are sick of the church the way it is and won't take it anymore. We're trying to figure it out, but it's not like somebody's left us a map. It's going to be an interesting journey.
Reader Comments (12)
There is a master plane, but we only get to see bits of it! I was talking with one of our 'elders' (I think he's just reached 30 ;-) last night, about the direction worship in the church was to take over the next few months, and how we can follow what God wants to do in us. As a church we've stopped having front lead worship in order to 'ease' people into actively participating and seeking God for their own revelation. Now we feel the time has come to introduce a little more guidance, while trying to keep the same attitude of corporately seeking God's direction. And in the process we've died to a variety of things. I'm saying this to encourage you, that it IS possible for a church to be aim for the ideal. Doesn't mean we always acheive it, but we can aim. You do need to want to though.
Maybe studying preaching is the best way to figure out not just what is wrong but what is better? God often has weird ways of using our 'education' to teach us completely different things from what we expect. Maybe the people that are wanting to reinvent church may help avoid it's demise? Is that why you refer to the church as dying..rather than dead, because there is still time for change?
Darryl, I must admit I agree with what you've posted about yourself. I've been reading your sermons and website postings all the way to when you were at Park Lawn (and enjoyed it a lot). Looking back you've been into so many different philosophies and theologies (to a lesser extent) over the years. I'm sure it'll settle down one day. Meanwhile I appreciate your transparency.
You're a brave man, Jacob. I can't even read some of my old sermons. :) Thanks for the encouragement. I'm still very much in process.
And just four short years ago too.
I'm with you. I seem to have no idea what I am doing. Maybe its just that most of what I though I was doing or knew how to do is being abandoned. In other words, this is how it feels to be disoriented. When we talk about changing the church we have to start with personal change. I mean...the church is us (to some degree). We can't so much talk about 'it' in the third person. For me, much of my critiquing and criticizing of the church was an attempt to work up enough energy (or whatever) to make a move. However, that fuel source quickly runs out. You are quite right, it is/will be an interesting journey. I'd love to talk about the preaching thing sometime. Many questions about that.
ever feel like you're beating a dead horse? that's what i thought as i read your saddle analogy. but your quote from mclaren has some promise - after all the deconstruction, it's time to reconstruct something worthwhile... right?
Absolutely.
me, too! something HAS to change in the church. it's making me nuts.
Darryl, As another pastor of a dying church (and not the kind of dying that leads to re-birth, either!), I, too, struggle with the confession that I obviously don't have the foggiest notion of what to do! It is so encouraging to know I'm not the only one! And saddening to realize the fact that, if over 80% of all churches in North America are plateaued or declining in attendance/membership, what does it say for those who DON'T realize they are like us... STRUGGLING for an answer? That's why you (and I) have problems with following a "model" (e.g. WillowCreek, PDC, and others). We recognize that a "model" is just that.... a copy. A mimicry of the original. The question is, how do we present the original in ANY context and culture and get people to accept that, go with it, work within its parameters and fulfill its ultimate purpose... we begin first with the recognition that we don't know.... we don't know.... well, I don't know about you but I don't know!!!!
I believe the church needs to get back to the basics. Preach the Word with boldness. Don't compromise. If we compromise I believe we forfeit God's blessing. Then there is no wonder the church is dying. If the church is on God's program He will increase the numbers. We just need to do His will. Too many people want both, they want the relationship with God and also with the world. What's that verse " The eyes of the Lord roam to and fro searching for hearts that are fully committed to Him." That's what the church needs to keep in mind, seems to me. Forget all this fascination with the world. Pursue God.
George, I think you'll be pleased that this is what the emerging church is trying to do - to recapture the basics. I think some of us are concerned that some of this has been lost more recently. I don't think the church will always grow in numbers if we're in God's program. I can think of some times that the numbers might actually shrink. No guarantees. I hope you don't read too much into what I'm writing. I think I know what you mean by "a fascination with the world" but I think the harder part is to be in the world and loving it as Jesus does, but not of it.