I recently read about a new church coming to our area, and it’s press release carried the same talking points of about 14 other churches in our town and about 85% (note: all numerical statistics contained herein are completely made-up for my own purposes) of all new churches forming right now. They all include some variation on the theme: church for twentysomethings, different than every other church.
I don’t know. I’m not against new churches – not at all. There are too-many-thousands of people in Central Oregon who are desperate for the gospel and I understand that the job is way too big for one or ten or two hundred churches.
Interesting, though, how the older generation treats change like the enemy while the next generation sees tradition as the enemy. Sometime, somewhere in our future, some prophetic and passionate dreamer is going build something great around the crazy idea that neither change nor tradition is the enemy and neither should be worshiped.
Two things I’m absolutely certain of: 1) The power and promise of The Church is not in its methodology, but in its true, timeless and unchanging Message. 2) There is no hope for lasting revival in any one generation if they are removed from the generations. No hope at all.
“Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall tell of Your mighty acts.” Psalm 145:3-4
As usual, you said exactly what I feel, but I can’t communicate! It can get so discouraging waiting for that ‘church purpose/vision’ to come into balance. I wonder if I’ll see in in my lifetime? Thankfully, my Father knows me as an individual more than as a church member and the years have brought my relationship with Him to be one as a Father more than as a ‘church’ as well.