I've been asked to be part of a panel discussion taking place at the ABC 75th Anniversary Homecoming Weekend. The panel will be hosted by the President. Here are the questions we've been asked to respond to:
- What are the most obvious couple of changes that you have seen in Christian witness, in your life time?
- Which ones are the most significant? Why?
- How do you think these changes have come about, that is, what particular cultural factors, are the changes addressing or responding to? Do you think the responses are a good thing?
- The church in Canada is increasingly seen as marginal, irrelevant, bigoted, conservative, and self-absorbed. For at least a generation of Canadians, there is not merely an apathy about the church, but increasingly a cynical view of the church. In spite of this, there remains widespread popular belief in some of the key things that make Christianity unique. Reg Bibby’s research has found that two thirds of Canadians still believe there is “something special about Jesus.” What do you make of these things?
- Only a “consumer driven” church is called to “be relevant,” a significant problem for many who see consumer behavior as culpable in the exploitation, abuse,
and alienation of Western societies. At the same time the churches message of salvation and call to be the “salt” that keeps societies/the world together, has to be heard and/or experienced in terms people not only “understand,” but “engage” in radical, public discipleship.
- How does the church learn to “be” in the world, in such a way that she is living as “salt” and “light,” rather than contributing to ‘the problem’?
- How might a ministry like Alberta Bible College contribute to the solution rather than the problem?
6. What other implications can be drawn from “the nature of the church,” and her presence in this particular world as agent of God’s rule, for “equipping the saints for ministry?”
- What is the encouragement you would give to a young person who is thinking about becoming a “servant leader” in the church of the 21st C?
Should be interesting eh? How would you answer some of the those questions? If you are around August 4 come check it out!
Steve,
Great questions and I am intrigued to here YOUR responses. It interests me that question five is approached with a clear interpretation and assumption to the nature of the church and yet question six then asks what that "nature" is in essence. I guess I would ask in return, "Do you mean what is the nature of the church, or, what is the nature of our assumption to what church is?"
Answering all of these questions could probably result in a book but, question five really stuck with me. I guess because I really did not like or agree with its conjecture that "Only a “consumer driven” church is called to “be relevant”. I don't think relevancy is at all related to cultural consumeristic realities. More to the point, it seems greatly related to the realities of who Jesus is!
Philippians 2:5-8
"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God rather to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."
Jesus, or for that matter God, set his own nature, character, cultural significance, and personal agenda aside so that he could very well enter into a specific nation, country, time, people, and way of life that was in the essence of "relevance". Culminating into something only a Jewish community of the first century could really only grasp the significance of. Namely, the cross!!!
What better way can we then reflect this same "nature"? I am still working that out myself as you well know but, perhaps it starts by BEING a church centered on Christ rather then our own personal, corporate, denominational (spoken or unspoken of!!!), or organizational agendas and principle values. Scary to think of, but, perhaps it is to ask "Where is Jesus in my own community and the lives of those who are my neighbors?" Perhaps, that very question might take us and all our thoughts of education, worship, and mission outside of the walls of our institutions and constructional church erections to bear not on the discipling of people who "know" God but, on those who are "with" God!!!
Anyways, sorry to rant. I have spent too much time on bed rest this week and my mind is in over drive. Hope you are well!
Posted by: Erik | July 16, 2007 at 14:31
Thanks for the good feedback Erik! Hey, you didn't just attend a conference about all this stuff by chance did you :) what's up with the bed rest? Do you need a paper to write or something to pass the time?
Posted by: Steve McMillan | July 16, 2007 at 15:22
No problem!!! Ya, the conference was great and Alan Hirsch was brilliant in sharing his thoughts on Missional Theology. Unfortunately, between the stress of traveling and spending to much time in my chair without moving around, I had to spend most of the last week out of my chair and on my side. It gave me lots of time to think and write a little bit on church planting. Things are good now though. Thanks for asking!
Say, can we meet for coffee sometime in the near future?
Posted by: Erik | July 16, 2007 at 16:16
Oh boy do I have thoughts on this...could be why I'm not sitting in on the panel! I'm concerned by some of the assumptions that the the questions are based around but so glad that there's good people - like yourself - on the panel!!
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