I just finished reading a wonderful re-constructive book by Reggie McNeal titled, The Present Future, Six Tough Questions for the Church (2003). I found a bit of hope in this book, because McNeal lists many possible strategies that could help the church adapt to the changing culture.
But first he assures us that "...it's later than you think. The missional renewal of the North American church is essential to its future. I am convinced that most expressions of the institutional church in America will not survive the emerging world. If that sounds threatening to you, then you may be more in love with the church than you are with Jesus. You need to take this up with him."
He continues, "I believe Jesus is the hope of the world. I believe God has called out a people to make sure the world knows this. These people are the church. Jesus has promised that hell will not be able to stand against it.
"I just wish hell were the problem."
Here are the six New Realities that McNeal cites:
1. The Collapse of the Church Culture
2. The Shift from Church Growth to Kingdom Growth
3. A New Reformation: Releasing God's People
4. The Return to Spiritual Formation
5. The Shift from Planning to Preparation
6. The Rise of Apostolic Leadership
In his chapter on Releasing God's People the author beautifully describes the postmodern world and the New Reformation that is engaging the emerging realities in this world. McNeal says, "The first Reformation was about freeing the church. The new Reformation is about freeing God's people from the church (the institution)."
I'm ready for that. I think I'll help with that. I think that's what my blog is for.
The Present Future is a keeper; I think I'll be referencing it a lot, because sure enough, Reggie McNeal speaks for me.
Showing posts with label Reggie McNeal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reggie McNeal. Show all posts
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Deconstructing Poop
Okay, here's the big picture about the two main phases of any revolution: De-construction and re-construction. Major components of old regimes are torn down and replaced by new stuff.
We have been watching it happen in Egypt lately as thousands of dissidents are demonstrating in Tahrir Square, shouting their demands for political reform. The first response from President Mubarak was to announce that he would not run for re-election at the end of his present term. This commenced the de-construction of his 30-year old regime. Then He quickly named a new vice president and cabinet, and so the re-construction had begun (not enough for most of the protesters).
In the Protestant Reformation (1517) Martin Luther began the attempted de-construction of the reigning religious regime, the Catholic Church, by posting his 95 theses on the door of the Wittenburg Chapel. Unfortunately, the old regime refused to allow de-construction of its oppressive orthodoxies, and the reformers were forced outside the walls, to re-construct their own institution, the Protestant Church.
In the present-day movement, many would-be reformers are likewise attempting to bring reforms by challenging the oppressive institutions of the reigning powers that be, and again, like 500 years ago, they are mostly having to move outside the walls.
Frank Viola and George Barna have published a de-constructionist book, Pagan Christianity, which mainly tears down the old obsolete religious structures. Viola's next book, Re-imagining Church, is a re-constructionist book that attempts to build a new way, often called the organic church. He says, "An organic church, as I use the term, is a living, breathing, dynamic, mutually participatory, every-member functioning, Christ-centered, communal expression of the body of Christ that gathers under the Lordship and Headship of Jesus Christ.
This is what I argue to be the proper habitat for the believer in which to live, move, and have our being. It’s also the reason (I believe) that 1 million Christians leave the institutional form of church per year. And 1700 pastors leave the clergy system per month in the U.S.* Many of them aren’t leaving Jesus Christ or the body, they are seeking what their spiritual instincts are crying out for."
We have been watching it happen in Egypt lately as thousands of dissidents are demonstrating in Tahrir Square, shouting their demands for political reform. The first response from President Mubarak was to announce that he would not run for re-election at the end of his present term. This commenced the de-construction of his 30-year old regime. Then He quickly named a new vice president and cabinet, and so the re-construction had begun (not enough for most of the protesters).
In the Protestant Reformation (1517) Martin Luther began the attempted de-construction of the reigning religious regime, the Catholic Church, by posting his 95 theses on the door of the Wittenburg Chapel. Unfortunately, the old regime refused to allow de-construction of its oppressive orthodoxies, and the reformers were forced outside the walls, to re-construct their own institution, the Protestant Church.
In the present-day movement, many would-be reformers are likewise attempting to bring reforms by challenging the oppressive institutions of the reigning powers that be, and again, like 500 years ago, they are mostly having to move outside the walls.
Frank Viola and George Barna have published a de-constructionist book, Pagan Christianity, which mainly tears down the old obsolete religious structures. Viola's next book, Re-imagining Church, is a re-constructionist book that attempts to build a new way, often called the organic church. He says, "An organic church, as I use the term, is a living, breathing, dynamic, mutually participatory, every-member functioning, Christ-centered, communal expression of the body of Christ that gathers under the Lordship and Headship of Jesus Christ.
This is what I argue to be the proper habitat for the believer in which to live, move, and have our being. It’s also the reason (I believe) that 1 million Christians leave the institutional form of church per year. And 1700 pastors leave the clergy system per month in the U.S.* Many of them aren’t leaving Jesus Christ or the body, they are seeking what their spiritual instincts are crying out for."
This mass exodus that Viola cites, is an example of the de-construction that I've seen taking place all around the western religious world. And the organic church that he subsequently describes, is a manifestation of the re-constructed forms that are emerging.
It is fascinating to watch a revolution unfold, and even more exhilarating to be in the middle of the throngs in the city square, if you will, shouting out for freedom and reform (even though there are casualties in the struggle), and then working shoulder to shoulder with the visionaries who help to reconstruct relevant, appropriate reforms.
Reggie McNeal speaks for me when he says, "A growing number of people are leaving the institutional church for a new reason.... They are leaving the church to preserve their faith."
Yeah, good stuff, man!
*See: pastorburnout.com
It is fascinating to watch a revolution unfold, and even more exhilarating to be in the middle of the throngs in the city square, if you will, shouting out for freedom and reform (even though there are casualties in the struggle), and then working shoulder to shoulder with the visionaries who help to reconstruct relevant, appropriate reforms.
Reggie McNeal speaks for me when he says, "A growing number of people are leaving the institutional church for a new reason.... They are leaving the church to preserve their faith."
Yeah, good stuff, man!
*See: pastorburnout.com
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