“Preach the Gospel at all times, if necessary, use words”
This isn’t a new quote but I read it this morning in an article about a Chicago school principle who uses it as a motto for his teachers and students. It has always been an inspiring quote to me. It’s also a great reason to live right in light of whatever culture I find myself in. It helps to alleviate some of the guilt I own, growing up in an Evangelical culture that handed out tracts door to door, carried signs about Jesus in streets, taught that everyone is your “mission field” and lastly a “If you don’t share the Gospel right now and said person dies tonight you’re responsible for sending them to hell” mentality.
Seriously… it’s true
Not where I’m going with this post though. My thoughts are more along the lines of dead church vs living church and how our comfort level with dead church is defining the absence of true transformation in our culture. It’s leading to a loss of young adults in churches all over the country. In fact, they are adopting new ways of doing church that are engaging their generation faster than McDonald’s feeds an SUV full of soccer kids.
Where did our generation miss it? Why aren’t our kids still in our churches? Why are they looking for a different expression of Christianity? Did we do something wrong? Why are there sooo many hurting parents of kids who’ve abandoned their upbringing? Kids who went to camps, on missions trips, lead small groups, mentored, discipled, were passionate about Jesus but are now following other paths.
I read a book this year titled, “Everything” by a woman named Jennie Allen. It described a young girl who grew up in the Christian world, married a pastor, had a Christian family, bought a nice house in a nice neighborhood, and… it wasn’t enough. There was a deep longing within her and her husband that something was missing. They found themselves running out of gas spiritually after their 2nd child was born. It led them to lay everything out there and tell God it was all his, he could take whatever he wanted. All they wanted in turn was to be available to see people’s lives transformed.
Wow
So then, maybe our comfort level with dead church has a bit to do with all of this…Did we unintentionally teach our kids that participating in church was enough while pursuing the safe and typical American dream? Is radical Christianity, the one that sells everything and takes up it’s cross for the sake of the Gospel only in the history books? What does it mean to truly live in this world and not be a part of it?
Hmmm….
I’ve been doing some research for one of our church staff members of late. It led me to website after website of churches, all across the country and even around the world, that are experiencing transformation among their members in ways that don’t appear to be typical among many Evangelical congregations. Unique avenues of outreach, community groups, services, music, internships, discipleship methods, it’s eye opening.
One of the things that is happening as I mature (aging is out of the question) is a pressing desire to not become content. To challenge the way it’s always been done. Are my principles getting in the way of reaching people? Have they become idolatrous? At times, even my own church will lead me to places I’m skeptical of. What’s all this stuff about “creatives”? I had to talk Bruce off that cliff recently, explaining that this generation has been creating things from the cradle while all we used were coloring and paint by number books. Contentment in routine? You might as well buy the recliner and hook up to Fox News now…
NOT
Our kids’ generation and how they “do church” might take a massive mental adjustment for us. And it might have to happen at a time in life when we’d rather retreat and retire. That’s the wrap up of the safe American Dream isn’t it? Retire and do what you want, you’ve earned it… Travel, live it up, visit the grands, relax, enjoy life (weren’t we already doing that?). It won’t be that way for our kids’ generation. They are passionate about living lives of purpose and meaning. And if it isn’t inside of your comfortable, long attended church body they will find one that suits, even if it means drinking beer while they study the Bible.
We recently experienced a transformative moment in a community group of young adults. A couple who were living together began to come to our church a year ago. This was their first night at a young adult group and they asked for prayer because they planned to separate this week so their lives would reflect a Biblical interpretation of his/her relationships. They weren’t breaking up, just choosing to live apart and the logistical problems were overwhelming them. To my knowledge no one had instructed them to do this. My husband shined when he said, “God LOVES obedience”! The tears flowed as I prayed for them. All of this happened in a Chicago coffee house on a Saturday night.
“Preach the Gospel at all times, if necessary, use words”
Some quotes are ageless, I believe this one fits. It’s never too late to embrace what’s happening in the next generation. Being available is all that’s needed. Showing up at a church that’s outside your comfort level. Talking to someone younger. Actually caring what they think, how they live, what they do….it’s powerful. AND it’s a powerful testimony to them about their own futures. To know that they don’t have to become stuck someday in a dead church. There are mature Christians who want church to be transformative and still believe it can be!
I’ll add this one little thing to my quote:
“Preach the Gospel at all times, if necessary, use words…sparingly”
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