I will be writing a couple of articles each month for sbc voices. I am told my first post will be Monday, October 6. You can read it here.
Let's explore the question of the conclusion of the last post. IMO, the church in North America largely does not know what it does not know. I recently read an article in The Journal for Baptist Theology and Ministry by Ed Stetzer on the American emerging church. You may read it here. Download the pdf and scroll through the articles until you come to Ed Stetzer's.
There is a statement I have heard before and with which I am in agreement. That statement refers to Stetzer's (and mine) denomination and says: "Should the 1950's return, we will be ready." This has little if anything to do with whether or not one embraces the emerging or emergent church dialog. It has everything to do with whether or not we as a denomination can distinguish between biblical truth and methodology.
Consider the culture wars when a President nominates a candidate for the Supreme Court. Almost all of these nominees are capable in terms of judicial expertise. The difference is their world view. The same principle exists among our denomination. Almost all Southern Baptists believe the Bible and are orthodox in their theology. But the huge issue is world view in relation to practice.
My wife and I shared an hour or so with a friend this past Saturday. I asked this person, "What do you see that has the imprint of God?" This individual believes the real move of God is not in the headliners or the large churches, but rather in the small groups and networks that transcend artificial, non-biblical man-made boundaries.
I often walk into a worship service hungry to meet God. I usually go home the same way. We sit at one end of the building and watch the performances at the other end of the building. Prayer segues us from one aspect of the "worship" to another. Heck, at my church we even have theater seats! A previous leadership obviously built a platform for a 'sage on the stage'. My pastor inherited all that. May God help him to lead the right transitions and give him wisdom and patience to do so!
The point is we in the church do not know what we do not know. Nor are we willing to stay before God until he teaches us. We know how to build crowds (at least some do) and events but do we know how to build lives?
Prayer guides, a day or so of fasting (ours seem to be significantly different from Isaiah 58:6-7), a "revival" emphasis, an event to guilt people and fire hose them with four little summary truths, do our best imitation of an old crusade method, slogans, timelines, etc., etc., gospel blimps (or dvds, etc.) - all to reach the masses while the guy next door or at work or school is simply wanting a friend and might really like our Jesus if he or she could ever see what a Jesus saturated life looks like in someone they know.
You think that's a stretch? I taught a small group a couple years ago. One man whom I regard as a wonderful friend came at the invitation of "Joe". I watched my new friend grow. Months into the small group study, my new friend and I were talking. "Joe" did not come that day. My friend said, "You know, I have watched "Joe" for 10 years as we have worked together. He is real. That's why I am here." Amazing, isn't it? Ten years. I thanked God for "Joe's" consistent Christian testimony and wondered how many of the rest of us had a ten year stretch of consistency (not perfection) before a watching world.
Pastors sometimes ask me, "Ted, can you help our church in evangelism?" I say "Yes". And I can. Then they say, "What would you do?" I tell them, "Let me visit with you, then your leadership, and let's design small groups in communities and work places where your church members can reach out to their friends and neighbors through small community groups. We will teach them not only how to share the gospel but also how to live the gospel in community. I promise you - it is New Testament and it will transform your church."
I am still waiting for those pastors to call me. Others do, but these haven't. Why? Many seem to want a rabbit's foot method of spirituality and evangelism and they are afraid of "competition" with an outdated method that is no longer reaching the lost. A quick read of Oswald Chambers for sanctification and a gospel tract stuck someplace for evangelism is sufficient. It is the "Lite Gospel" for a "lite church". Pastors are often put on some kind of spiritual quota system regarding baptisms.
We seem to not know that people are aching for friendship, bound by stuff Satan has dumped all over them, and want to believe oh so bad. But they want to know it is real in us.
I contend that we need to know that we don't know the times, the pervasiveness of the kingdom of God (God's activity, if you please) in those times, and how to build authentic long-term relationships that transcend generation, gender, geography, and our huddle. I often read the book of James with shame when I consider much of the American church. No wonder Martin Luther did not think it inspired! But it is, and is likely James' exposition of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount!
Little wonder the Big Fisherman wrote, "For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" (1 Peter 4:17, NASB Update)
