“ROOTS” or REBELLION?

ROOTS is a Salvation Army event and community. As an event, ROOTS is currently held in the UK, Canada and US South. As a community, ROOTS exists online and through the huge network of people that have attended ROOTS, who are passionate about discipleship and mission in the 21st century.

The purpose of ROOTS is to call people to biblical Christianity, radical discipleship, contemporary communication of the gospel and a passion for the lost. These are at the ‘root’ of The Salvation Army as part of the Christian Church. (www.rootsonline.org)

At the Roots event the dress code is optional for everyone. One of the complaints that I’ve heard is “why are we promoting ‘ROOTS’ when they Army won’t let us do ‘ROOTS’ in our own Corps/Church?”

Another term that has come up in the past few years is “grassroots” ministry. The idea is that the people take ownership of their Corps/church and initiate new ministries that are lay driven. What if a Corps wanted to become a “Roots” Corps . . . and the Corps Council/leadership voted to make the dress code optional and adopt the Roots purpose statement? What if the Corps/leadership voted to make the dress code optional just like the ROOTS event?

Would that be an illustration of “grassroots” or would that be rebellion?

Would the officer/pastor be bound to the Army’s dress code or could he/she join the lay leaders in the “contemporary communication of the gospel” and support the “grassroots” initiative of the church?

Roots or Rebellion? Are our leaders sending mixed messages?

What do you think?

Is "church" a waste of time? (Part 2)

In my previous post I challenged the idea of “church” and suggested that we put more emphasis on training and preparing for ministry and less emphasis trying to increase church attendance. After some dialogue, on this site and my Xanga (www.xanga.com/armytalk), I fleshed out the idea that there is a difference between personal transformation and religious practice. Those who are saturated with the church culture may have difficulty separating these two. Personal transformation that leads to community transformation is what we’re after. In order for this to happen we have to connect with the culture God is calling us to reach.

My church is in the process of developing two new ministries. One of those is a teen ministry that will (at least I think this is where God’s going) connect with the “rap” culture. The mission of the ministry will probably read something like this: “The mission of (whatever we call it) is to glorify God by engaging and challenging the youth culture to bring spiritual revival, social reform, and racial reconciliation through alternative forms of art.” (If you have any suggestions on this mission statement please let me know, I would love to hear them. Also, any ideas on a name for this ministry?) Spiritual revival, social reform, and racial reconciliation will be the focus of this ministry.

The avenue in which we would pursue these goals would be through “alternative forms of art.” My vision is to create a venue in which teens & young adults can express themselves through rap/music, dance, even poetry if it comes up. This ministry would be modeled after “The Loaf” which is a ministry of the Salvation Army in Lawrenceville, Georgia.

The Loaf

The Loaf, rather than connecting with the rap culture, connects with the “hardcore” culture. They have shows (or gigs/concerts) once a month on Friday night that attracts more than 300 kids. At their last event they had around 450. The Friday night events evolved into “Loaf Worship” which takes place on Sunday night and connects with the same culture. Loaf Worship, which just began three or four weeks ago, is having an attendance of somewhere between 40 and 50. Most of those are the result of the Friday night gigs.

The Loaf Format

The Friday night gigs usually consist of around six local bands. They will sometimes bring in a “headliner” to generate interest. (At the first event Mortal Treason was the headliner.) Each band, with the exception of the headliner, will normally play a 15 to 20 minute set. Doors open around 6:30 p.m., the show begins at 7:00 p.m. and goes ‘till around 11:00 p.m. to mid-night. It’s $5.00 at the door with free snacks. It’s awesome. Here are some photos off their web-site to help you get an idea of the atmosphere.

Our rap ministry could look something like this. Have you seen Eminem’s movie “8 Mile?” If you have, then you know what kind of venue I’m thinking about. The difference between “8 mile” and ours is that ours will be positive and missional.

Here’s the question in regards to church: Where does this thing (The Loaf or our new ministry) go? You obviously could add (as they’re doing) a culturally relevant worship and discipleship component. But then what? I mean, think about it . . . What’s the chance of any of these kids finding home in any of our churches? What if they are called to ministry? Does our denomination/organization have a place for them? I guess we do. . .as long as they change and become like us . . . as long as they’re willing to leave their culture and learn a new language.

What happens when a culture or generation arises that does not value our religious traditions and practices? What happens when the people whom we are called to reach does not respect or appreciate our form and expression of worship? What do we do? How do we respond?

Feel free to comment. I’m interested in your response.

Check out The Loaf’s web site for more info at: http://www.attheloaf.com/

(PS If I respond to your comment I will respond on this post.: )

Is "church" a waste of time?

Most of the churches that are growing these days are growing primarily from transfer and biological growth (there are, of course, exceptions). So basically, if you’re running a church with all the “traditional” elements, then you’ve got to do “church” really well to attract people. The result is, you spend a LOT of time, energy and resources making church “good” so that you can attract either church people or church people who really need to get back into church. All the while people, who really need us to reach out to them on their level, are going to hell in a hand basket.

What about making church a little more productive? What I mean is, maybe we shouldn't center on “worship” in the "traditional" Sunday morning sense. Instead, we could make Sunday morning worship time more like an ongoing “training camp.” The purpose of getting together would be to train and prepare for ministry.

The attitude could be like this: “If all you want is a church to serve YOU, then go somewhere else. This isn’t the place for you. We are an army - a mission. We expect everyone here to enroll in a discipleship training course and be serving others OUTSIDE THE CHURCH in some way. We have service opportunities and expect everyone to engage in ministry.”

Anyone who could not find a ministry could join others in a “think/prayer tank” (that meets weekly) where they would seek God and discuss ideas for reaching others with the gospel. Those who have an idea are free to find volunteers, organize others, and engage in ministry.

The purpose of a ministry such as this would not be to get people to attend Sunday school or the Sunday morning meeting. Each ministry would uniquely connect and engage a sub-culture of the community. Each ministry would have a discipleship component that helps new believers grow personally and spiritually and empowers them to serve others.

What do you think? I’ll post part II in few days. In that post I’ll give some ideas that we’re working on and I'll clarify some of my comments a little further.

Tell me what you think. Is “church” a waste of time?

(PS If I respond to your comment I will respond on this post.)

Gideon the Revolutionary

Judges 6:25-27 says this:

That LORD said to Gideon, "Take the second bull from your father's herd, the one seven years old. Tear down your father's altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. 26 Then build a proper kind of altar to the LORD your God on the top of this height. Using the wood of the Asherah pole that you cut down, offer the second bull as a burnt offering." 27 So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the LORD told him.

What is a Revolutionary? A general definition might be “one who advocates and organizes extreme change from the current status-quo.” Apply this to a Christian context and you find someone who is radical in their commitment to Christ and organizes extreme change that challenges people to move toward God.

Gideon was a revolutionary. Although he originally had misperceptions about God (Judges 6:13), he quickly obeyed God’s command to tear down the altar of Baal and build an altar to the Lord.

Gideon lived in a day when the hearts of God’s people turned to other gods. The worship of Baal was openly practiced and socially accepted. Tearing down an altar not only challenged the status-quo but made a bold statement about the sin of God’s people.

Gideon’s actions were so offensive that the men of the town demanded that he be put to death (Judg 6:30). (These people were serious about their religion weren’t they?) Gideon started a revolution. As a result, the power of God was displayed in magnificent ways and a nation was set free from oppression.

But where did Gideon’s revolution begin? It began at home. Notice what Judges 6:25 says, “Tear down your father's altar.” Before Gideon could get a nation right he had to get his own family right. This is biblical. What does 2 Chron 7:14 say? “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Do you want to start a revolution? It starts at home. Do we as Salvationists want to turn a nation back to God? Then it begins with the Army.

Here are some questions for us to ponder: What altars exist in our lives? I don’t doubt that many of us have erected altars to God. The question is have we destroyed the altars built to other gods? As Salvationists we hold high the banner of Christ. But are we not guilty of holding our own flag just as high? Maybe even higher?

One God; one altar; one purpose; one mission.