I believe
This post is from the defunct blog “Dying Church”
I believe:
- that the end of Christendom presents the church with new and exciting opportunities; that the end of Christendom means that some things have to die. These deaths are painful but necessary.
- that in some contexts, Christendom is still very much alive, and the old ways will still seem to work for quite a while (e.g. Bible belt, rural contexts).
- that some people will never adapt to the end of Christendom, and that is okay. Sometimes a generation has to die while a new generation is being born.
- that God can and does still work in old contexts.
- that those who are in old contexts need to be careful of allowing traditions to nullify the Word of God (Mark 7:13).
- that God is calling even those of us in old contexts to rethink our investments in programs and buildings to determine if these are strategic.
- that niceness and complacency are as dangerous as arrogance.
- that we need to continually ask what Jesus is saying to the church.
- that we can celebrate new ways of being the church that are faithful to God and Scripture.
- that those doing new things need to be careful of dismissing those who are serving the old way.
- that God is not scared by the future.
- that the Kingdom is breaking out all over in the world.
- that we sometimes try to contain the Kingdom in the church.
- that God and His Kingdom can't be contained.
- that this is an exciting time to be serving God.