Worldly Religion?
In most religious movements, religious and spiritual practices are activities that are done apart from the culture. The church has become a culture of its own with its own language, music, dress code, and lifestyle. In most cases it has created a chasm between “us” (Christians) and “them” (non-Christians) and failed to connect with and engage the culture in a way that brings people to following Jesus.
What’s the church to do? Tear down the walls? Build a bridge? Risk getting dirty?
What did Jesus do? He left the comfort of his home . . . his “culture” (heaven) and entered another culture (earth) and became just like the earthlings. No . . . he wasn’t “just like” us, he became one of us. Born like us, ate like us, sweat like us, slept like us and died a physical death like us. And why did he do it? He did it to save us.
So if the church is to follow the example of Christ should we, too, not leave our own culture and enter another? (It’s sad to have to suggest this . . . but it’s true, the church has created a sub-culture of its own. Those on the outside have a hard time understanding it.) Should we not leave our culture and enter theirs and learn the language and become “like them” in the same sense that Jesus became like us?
Look at the cultural context of your community . . . what would it take for you to become “like them” in an effort to reach them? Jesus left his home and mingled with sinners yet never compromised his integrity, values, or “biblical position.” Can we not do the same?
Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy . . . Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp . . . Praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute (Ps 33:2-3; 149:3; 150:4).
“The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.” (Ps 24:1)
What’s the church to do? Tear down the walls? Build a bridge? Risk getting dirty?
What did Jesus do? He left the comfort of his home . . . his “culture” (heaven) and entered another culture (earth) and became just like the earthlings. No . . . he wasn’t “just like” us, he became one of us. Born like us, ate like us, sweat like us, slept like us and died a physical death like us. And why did he do it? He did it to save us.
So if the church is to follow the example of Christ should we, too, not leave our own culture and enter another? (It’s sad to have to suggest this . . . but it’s true, the church has created a sub-culture of its own. Those on the outside have a hard time understanding it.) Should we not leave our culture and enter theirs and learn the language and become “like them” in the same sense that Jesus became like us?
Look at the cultural context of your community . . . what would it take for you to become “like them” in an effort to reach them? Jesus left his home and mingled with sinners yet never compromised his integrity, values, or “biblical position.” Can we not do the same?
Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy . . . Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp . . . Praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute (Ps 33:2-3; 149:3; 150:4).
“The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.” (Ps 24:1)
posted by Bret at
10:56 PM
14 Comments:
You cannot rightly distinguish a single culture in your community, they are many cultures and subcultures. And by choosing one you are saying no to the other.
So by your theory that the church culture is excluding other cultures because they don't dress, act, and sing like them, then you would be replacing it by another institution that would do exactly the same. So why take down one 'evil' to install another.
When Jesus was on earth he didn't give up His Jewish culture yet managed to win over many followers. Even those who wasn't Jews. So do you really think it's a culture issue, or a heart issue. I think its more about love and compassion. Feeding the hungry, healing the sick, giving water to the thirsty. No matter what community you live in you will find these things, it has nothing to do with culture, just humans.
By
Anonymous, at 2:22 PM
Anonymous,
You have some good points and certainly present a good argument.
But consider this . . .
By choosing one culture over another is not saying no to the others. When Jesus sent out his disciples he said, "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel (Matt 10:5-6). Was Jesus saying “no” to the others? Of course not . . . I believe it had to do with several things . . . fulfilling prophecy, outreach strategy, training for the disciples.
We all know that different methods reach different people. Methods that reach senior citizens probably won’t reach teenagers. That’s not saying “no” to anyone, it’s being practical and focusing efforts so as to be most effective. There’s a reason that most radio station stick with one genre of music. Trying to reach everyone would end up reaching no one.
Your statement about it being a “heart issue” . . . about “love and compassion” . . . “feeding the hungry, healing the sick, etc . . .” is a good one. I agree . . .
However, to suggest that it has nothing to do with culture is amiss. Making disciples cannot happen apart from community . . . whether it’s age, ethnicity, interests, or felt needs, people hang out with people who are like themselves.
Those who don’t know Christ are who the church is attempting to reach. The lost will not join community with a bunch of weirdos that act funny and have a bunch rules.
What do you think?
Blessings,
Bret
By
Bret, at 8:44 PM
"The lost will not join community with a bunch of weirdos that act funny and have a bunch rules."
I think that sentiment weakened your arguement. I think bloganon has a point. I have noticed that most every race and social group throws money in the kettle, adopts angels, drops off stuff at disaster donation sites. Everyone understands needs and everyone understands the "good feeling" of helping those in need.
When we thank people, we express appreciation to our "community of supporters". I think many of our rules are self imposed or imposed on others through our "enlightened" ideals. Often we exchange our rules for someone elses because we think ours are better. And then there are all the definitions of who the wierdos are and what exactly defines acting funny.
But when they see people active in love and compassion, not for the purpose of making self feel better, but because of religious conviction. This resonates with people where rules do not. I think TSA has a better oportunity of reaching the "Revolutionaries" and being authentic, Biblical Christians in a confused and confusing world - even with our uniforms and and quirks.
Time will tell.
God bless and keep you both!
By
Anonymous, at 11:55 PM
True there are many different sub-cultures in our communities, and that should be taken into consideration when ministering to people. But by remaining behind our comfortable walls and cultural barriers we insulate ourselves against others. It almost looks as though it were a defence mechanism built to keep the 'others' out. Are we holding unto the 'culture of church' because we know God wants us to, or because its easier?
God did not ask us to build fortresses for those taking the 'moral highground', he did not ask us to create an entire subculture foreign to the rest of the world. He commanded us to go into the world, and be in it, but not of it. Jesus certainly did spend time in the Synagogues, but he spent even more time with the people in the cities and towns. Not just the Jewish people, but also the many other cultures that existed in the area.
The church needs to stop protecting itself from the 'intruding foriegners', we need to be a welcome place where people can see the love of Christ Jesus in our every action. Our actions and behaviours should set us apart, not our style of dress, music, speech....
Peter Lublink
www.lublink.ca
By
Anonymous, at 11:58 AM
When Christ was talking to the disciples in Matt 10:5-6, it was for the sake of prophecy, he came for the Jews first. The great commission tells us nothing of chosing culture, but rather to go into the whole wide world without reguard to cultural barriers.
"Our actions and behaviours should set us apart, not our style of dress, music, speech...." This is a pretty true statment. So if we become like a culture, because it is impossible to choose just one, again we would be allowing a style of dress, music and speech to 'create a barrier'.
"Methods that reach senior citizens probably won’t reach teenagers" Wrong. Both have to eat. Both get thirsty. Both yearn for love and compassion. Maybe they won't sing the same, dress the same, or talk the same. But they have the same basic needs. This was Jesus's method of outreach.
What message would it send to those that we are trying to reach if we a identity confused. That they too, will become identity confused if they join us. When I joined the Army, I adopted Army 'culture', yet at the same time maintained my 'culture', and neither have created a barrier to the outside world. When you are feeding the hungry, they don't care that I am not of 'their' culture, they are happy they are getting to eat. I don't have to give up my identity to reach fellow humans.
I think if the church can take the focus off the "barriers" they think they are imposing, and actually focus on reaching not emulating, then I think the world would be won over.
By
Anonymous, at 4:12 PM
Patrick,
I agree that my “weirdo” comment was a little sarcastic . . . however, understand that I am speaking as one on the outside looking in . . . one that is critical of the church and its rules . . . one that opposes social club church.
Also, our “rules” are not self-imposed . . . read the O&R . . . which why many “revolutionaries” resist army culture and, in many cases, leave out of pure frustration.
Peter . . . Good point!
Anonymous,
I’m not sure how to best respond to your comments . . . maybe it’s like throwing a handful of darts in the general direction of a wall . . . wherever the darts land we draw a circle around them and claim we hit the target. Does that really work? You can’t have effective discipleship without an intentional strategy.
You can disagree with me if you want . . . but I would really like to see your plan of outreach and discipleship that combines seniors and teens. What are you going to do, have lunch or dinner every week? That will only draw the same crowed for so long. At some point you have to meet a deeper need. Inevitably you will separate the two groups and deal with each one individually.
The idea of transforming the secular realm is pretty new to the church . . . especially the army. . . and is met with a lot of resistance.
Many people (especially those saturated in church/army culture) have a hard time seeing worship, evangelism, discipleship, mission, apart from the traditional church “program” . . .
Thanks for making me think . . . I’m still struggling as to how to communicate my ideas . . . dialogue such as this challenges me to think things through.
Blessings,
Bret
By
Bret, at 10:42 PM
Bret:
I agree to a point. If Barna is correct and 20 million revos are out there - they didn't leave the Army. They left the confortable churches with casual dress and appealing names.
They want something more and are looking to serve god in meaningful ways. And here we have a slew of opportunities to do that in the Army. I agree - there needs to be some serious deletion --- er- revision of the O&R stuff.
I would like more freedom to do programs outside of what the "list".
BTW - check out http://westsong.ca/
That ain't no church - its an undercover corps.
patrick - sorry for the bloganon - I'm on another computer
By
Anonymous, at 3:56 PM
Anonymous,
I checked out Westsong . . . very cool! I like it. My question is this: Why do people see it as an “undercover” Corps? Why is it that we have to define Salvation Army in terms of Corps, uniform, officers, band, rank, crest, etc . . . ? It seems to me that Westsong is probably closer to “Army” than most Corps. I define “Army” in terms of mission and community transformation. For some reason the leadership in Southern USA struggles with this.
As far as people leaving the comfortable churches with casual dress and appealing names . . . the reason they didn’t leave the Army is because they were never at the Army (although I am aware of many who have left the Army). People are leaving where they are because they were led to believe that “church” would meet their need . . . to their dismay they learned different.
Depending on whose stats you read, only 11% (Barna), 4% (Rainer), or 1% (Hunter) of the churches in America are effective in evangelism and discipleship. The Army must learn what discipleship is really about or we will continue to find ourselves included in the 90%.
With all the opinions and opposition to alternative approaches to ministry I have yet to see anyone prove that what we do works. In the South, Corps are in decline. Does anyone care? And yet leaders continue to demand that that we do ministry the “Army way” while preaching at Officers councils to “step out of the box” . . . yeah right!
Does anyone care? It seems to me that leaders should applaud any attempt at reaching and transforming their community whether it works or not, whether it’s “traditional” or not. We must do something.
Sorry to babble . . . I’m off my soap box now.
Blessings,
Bret
By
Bret, at 10:32 PM
Here's a great quote that caused me to rethink programatic ministry.
"If you want to meet needs, you will create programs. If you want to get people to where they need to go, you will create community." -M. Scott Boren
By
Johnny, at 9:14 AM
Johnny,
Good quote . . . as long as someone doesn't dictate what the community looks like.
By
Bret, at 10:09 PM
Staci and I truly believe in the small group, home mission.
This is our first summer in Sanford and we decided that we would not have any "programs" (Yuck! I hate that word.) Instead, we are doing a small group at our house that begins with a Welcome, moves into a time of worship, complete with a Praise Team in our living room, then we go into the Word, and finally we have a time of Witness, which is an opportunity to put what we've learned to work.
Our Purpose is simple: "Equipping, encouraging, and experiencing God-centered family."
We started with 10 and last night we were a gathering of 17. And we are not homogeneous in any way. There are people who are 60 years old worshiping with 30 year-olds 20 year-olds, teens, toddlers, and even an infant.
It is an amazing mission that includes everyone without having to separate and develop a leader for every gender and age group, and everyone loves it. In fact, one of those who were here last night was on vacation and still came to our small group gathering.
We are going to transform the chapel at the corps, so that it will be very conducive to this kind of worship gathering, which we will call "The Living Room at The Salvation Army.” Thanks for the idea Cory. There will be tables and chairs, and even a sofa with an end table and a lamp. We will also include an area for parents and children in the chapel (not a separate nursery) with a giant rug and lots of toys. And, there will be a table in the chapel with coffee, juice and snacks.
Will this be wierd? You betcha’!
We have been having Sunday worship in our home for the last four weeks and last Sunday a new person showed up at our front door and asked, “Are you guys worshiping here today?” My wife said, “We sure are. Come on in.”
We are no longer asking God, “Dear Lord, could you please bless what we’re doing and make our will your own?” We are now asking, “God, will you show us what you’re blessing, so that we can be a part of it?” Rick Warren not a stupid guy.
Change can be painful for some, and leaders will have to accept that we are "agents of change" and that will often make us unpopular.
Grace and peace,
By
Johnny, at 9:09 AM
I like the living room idea . . . I need to come and worship with you guys some week. . . I would love to experience that.
By
Bret, at 9:03 PM
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
By
Bret, at 9:03 PM
Come on Bret! There are other Officers in the area who are also coming to experience it.
Grace and peace.
By
Johnny, at 10:21 PM
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