Why is it so hard to get a church to change? Why is it that we get so concerned about who can and can't participate in communion? Why is so important that we have a church service every week of the year where something for children is provided? Why is it that church plant equates with church service in our thinking? How do you read something like Colossians Remixed (excellent, excellent book) and not find ordinary church life at odds with what you believe about being a disciple of Christ?
Some answers?
We have gospel amnesia ('the lost message of Jesus') - we think we know the scriptures, but in reality we only know the little bits we like, and even these have been twisted to suit our theology; we are unable to think theologically
We have found ourselves, although we are often unware, living more faithfully to "good news" of our time, which leaves little room for God
We view children as persons to be accomodated so that the adults can get on with the proper act of being church - we run lots of programmes and events, but avoid the messy, difficult act of interacting and worshipping with our children
We believe church is about services, which we put all our energy and time into and leave little for being of community
We believe church is about the few serving the many - most of us are consumers, who receive, but have no interest or no understanding how to give
In short, we have a low view of God, the scriptures, the church, children and the Christian life. At the BWA, when Steve Chalke, spoke at the first young adult seminar on what is gospel, he said it was three things - public, wholistic and costly. For most of us I think its probably the opposite - private, undemanding and an added extra.
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