All this postmodern stuff...
As most of you know, I think a lot. Too much, actually. But bear with me for a moment... I've been thinking a lot about the whole postmodern thing, lately. I mean, when I was in Thailand, my postmodern thinking was pretty much on hold because I was so far removed from Western culture, where the fading modern and emerging postmodern paradigms are so in your face. Or maybe it's just that I was too busy learning a language, trying to communicate with kids, and taking in the culture all around me.
But here, I'm faced with my questions every day. They are relevant and their answers will change the way I live my life, and therefore change the way I do ministry. But what is it that's behind of all this postmodern thing for me? Why am I so eager to figure this out? In reading "Stories of Emergence" this morning, it hit me.
It's not that I'm trying to be trendy or exploring alternative ways of doing things. It's not that I want to feel educated and culturally relevant. It's not that I'm trying to be confrontational and difficult and hard to please...
It's just that I'm deeply dissatisfied with evangelical Christianity as it is today. I don't want mediocrity when it comes to the Christian life. Jesus calls us to be different, to be sold out, to be worshippers, to be counter-cultural, and in so doing to engage culture.
It cannot be the easy road that is so often painted by people who want to appease seekers - though it is the most fulfilling, and the one filled with most joy. Following Jesus is radical goshdarnit!!
I want to be part of a church community that challenges me - not by its preaching, but by the way it embodies Christianity, the way it embodies relationship with Christ. I want a church that is deep, that transforms people, that prays together (not just within its leadership), that loves Jesus, that seeks more than to simply entertain me on a Sunday morning. I want a church that serves the community around it, fleshing out the Gospel message... Is that too much to ask?
And so my quest continues... And I guess these desires are typical of my generation - and I guess that's why I am excited about all the "postmodern stuff" happening in the Church. It resonates with me in a way that most "normal" evangelical churches don't... I don't want to, once again, be behind culture and play catch-up to it. We should be in the forefront - why be satsifed with less?
But here, I'm faced with my questions every day. They are relevant and their answers will change the way I live my life, and therefore change the way I do ministry. But what is it that's behind of all this postmodern thing for me? Why am I so eager to figure this out? In reading "Stories of Emergence" this morning, it hit me.
It's not that I'm trying to be trendy or exploring alternative ways of doing things. It's not that I want to feel educated and culturally relevant. It's not that I'm trying to be confrontational and difficult and hard to please...
It's just that I'm deeply dissatisfied with evangelical Christianity as it is today. I don't want mediocrity when it comes to the Christian life. Jesus calls us to be different, to be sold out, to be worshippers, to be counter-cultural, and in so doing to engage culture.
It cannot be the easy road that is so often painted by people who want to appease seekers - though it is the most fulfilling, and the one filled with most joy. Following Jesus is radical goshdarnit!!
I want to be part of a church community that challenges me - not by its preaching, but by the way it embodies Christianity, the way it embodies relationship with Christ. I want a church that is deep, that transforms people, that prays together (not just within its leadership), that loves Jesus, that seeks more than to simply entertain me on a Sunday morning. I want a church that serves the community around it, fleshing out the Gospel message... Is that too much to ask?
And so my quest continues... And I guess these desires are typical of my generation - and I guess that's why I am excited about all the "postmodern stuff" happening in the Church. It resonates with me in a way that most "normal" evangelical churches don't... I don't want to, once again, be behind culture and play catch-up to it. We should be in the forefront - why be satsifed with less?
posted by Thais at 5:23 AM
3 Comments:
welcome back to CH
glad you had a good time in Thailand.
well, im a little scared about the some of the postmodern thinking. some christian postmoderns go as far as to claim that we cannot know absolute truth...thats as far as ive gotten in my exploration of this "new church."
someone once told me: "WELL, if youre looking for the perfect church and you actually FIND it...stay out of it! because youll ruin it! there is no such thing as a perfect church, because they are all made up of imperfect people." (im in a strong-reaction mood lol)
i agree with you, i would love to be a part of a church that always stimulates me and feeds my faith. basically, a church that does all my work for me...right? hmmm its so easy to be discontent with your church. but any church is a good church if it teaches the bible and is firmly committed to Christ, non? style and "contenu" vary, because people are all different. so we're looking for a church that 1) is either completely FAKE because its supposedly full of sin-less, perfect teachers, musicians, small group leaders, event coordinators etc OR 2) that is full of people that are the complete opposite of me and you (and the rest of the world)! people that have it all together and dont struggle with sin and are happy everyday and that pray every second of everyday, that make every decision according to the bible, never get angry, are never vain, know the bible backwards and forwards, can apply it to every tiny detail of their lives and that are flawless witnesses to every person they meet in the street, all at the same time. nah, i dont think the perfect church exists. style varies, but the HOLY SPIRIT is present. what more could you ask for?
i would have LOVED for you to come to the westlake retreat last weekend. the speaker is an INCREDIBLE man. im speechless. i learned so much! everything he said about prayer (the theme of the weekend) was directly from the bible...the bible is so cool. it has all the answers. i really wish you would have come. ill show you my notes =)
anyway, back to my homework i go...
big bisous daïs!
I'm not looking for the perfect church. I'm looking for an authentic one. Justement, that is what so often lacks in our churches. Everyone PRETENDS like they have it all together, Bible studies and all. You wear nice clothes and you don't say bad words. Our church breeds "nice" people rather that crazy risky "I'll-give-up-my-comforts-for-Jesus" disciples...
I wanna be in a church that serves the community it exists in, instead of being an entertainment center for people who don't even live in that community.
I want a church that does more than teach the Bible. I want a church that strives to LIVE BY it. Anyone can give a good sermon. But it is Holy-Spirit filled people who will flesh the Gospel out.
It's not like I'm discontented with a particular "church building" (Crossroads, or Westlake, or ICF, or whichever." It's the disconnect existing between our Sunday mornings and the rest of our lives.
Voila, c'est tout. I love my Church, by the way. Love love love love love it.
With I could've heard the speaker on prayer. God knows I need it!!
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