The excellent magazine, Mission Frontiers, has devoted an entire issue (available online) to movements in western contexts, specifically the USA. Some of the articles are good for sparking ideas and dreams of what can happen as God releases his church ‘out of the building’ and into the process of making disciples and gathering simply. And, isn’t it interesting how many traditional worshipers are, in fact, out of their buildings at this time!
The lead editorial is titled: “Movements Can Happen Here Too, If We Are Willing to Work for Them.” Here are a couple of highlights:
The model of ministry pursued by most churches in the U.S. where we go to a big building once a week, sing a few songs, listen to a sermon, go home, forget what was said in the sermon and then repeat this process week after week, is killing the Church in America and everywhere else it is exported. At best the Bible-believing Church in America is barely holding its own and is likely in a slow decline with an increasing number of people moving into the “no faith” category. We are losing the culture to increased secularism, biblical illiteracy and moral decline. We are also often losing our own kids to unbelief. The status quo is unacceptable.
The doing-church-as-usual crowd may be comfortable with a Christian faith that requires little of them and provides the worship experience they are looking for, but this model of doing church is leaving the great majority of lost souls untouched and the surrounding culture unchanged.
Employing an attractional approach to ministry in the hope that the unsaved will come in the door of your church, hear the gospel and be saved is at best a passive approach to ministry that leaves most of the unchurched, untouched. According to Barna research, two-thirds of the unchurched have been to church and do not wish to return. Creating all sorts of new programs in the hope of attracting them will not work. We need a new strategy.
Instead of asking the unchurched to come, why not equip your church members to go and make disciples of their friends, family, co-workers and acquaintances? People who will not darken the door of your church will very likely respond positively to an invitation to dinner at a friend’s home where the gospel may be sensitively shared. They may even respond well to an invitation to see what the Bible says about God.
This, for me, captures the heart of what I refer to as “simple church.” Not a different way to 'do church’ but a lifestyle that is primarily outside the confines of buildings and traditions where believers are interacting with, loving, and reaching those who are far from God. It is not so much a strategy as a Jesus way-of-life. Simple, reproducible, engaging organically with people, gathering for growth and accountability, and motivated to join the Jesus-mission of doing the same with others.
Comments
6 responses to “Kingdom Movements in the USA”
Thanks again for sharing encouraging posts with those of us out here trying to figure out “church” outside of the box. Always appreciate your posts. Hope we can touch base agains soon in 2021!
I’ve been reading Frontiers for several years and posting comments with scripture on how the American version of church is severely disobedient to God, and the articles all seem to ignore what must be changed to be obedient. I never got substantive feedback. Occasionally a word of ambiguous agreement. Shortly there after they turned off the reply option. This is my history with them.
The paragraphs you quote point specifically to the bad results, but say nothing about what needs to be changed. Nothing! So I start to read some articles hoping there is something specific, perhaps one scripture. Here are some quick observations:
2nd Article: In Summary: Our Greatest Responsibility Is in Removing the Barriers
At the very end, I find this summary. Did he list any specific barriers that need removing? None! They won’t name one. I know they know some. Perhaps not all, but they won’t name one. Not one scripture that needs to be obeyed rather than disobeyed.
3rd article title: Kingdom Movement Strategies in a Small/Medium-Sized Church Led by the Pastor
“The Pastor”. They are still stuck on “the Pastor” as the only “leader”. They only interview Pastors. No lay folk. At this point I think they are still blind to this version of church leadership.
4th article: “An Interview with Chris Galanos, Lead Pastor at Experience Life Church in Austin, Texas”
Another article with interviews with only Pastors. I get the message. They are completely acquiescing to the clergy version of church leadership. They will not EXPOSE this corruption. “Exposing” is one of the things Paul repeats over and over that we are to do with error. So the error continues.
I did not see one objection to the pulpit ritual, consuming 84% of the giving, perpetual dependency leadership, etc. These experts appear to be blind to the devils scheme’s.
I have had 4 blog, face to face, email, FB dialogues with DMM leaders, organic church planters, etc just this year of Covid. Not one of them would touch “the right to be paid” issue of clergyism. One of them got nasty. One pleaded that he would have no more contacts with Pastors for his organization. It would be too “harsh”. I was shocked at the calloused self protecting posture towards obeying the word and delivering the two middle purposes of scripture “rebuke and correction”.
They must be under the impression they can do the same thing, and get different results by merely using DMM cliche’s. They don’t need to “throw off ANYTHING that hinders are ANY sin that so easily entangles” and they can suddenly “run the race marked out for them with perseverance, fixing their eyes on Jesus….”
Gavin, look forward to connecting.
Tim, your evaluation seems sound. For myself, I feel the best way to challenge and correct the status quo in church and in mission is to live the commands of Christ myself and let the fruit of that lifestyle speak for itself. “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us (Phil 3:17).” I am sure you feel the same way. God help us to be faithful.
Does that mean don’t bother engaging in dialogue with those stuck in the rut of traditions of men?
Does that mean don’t bother to define their disobedience with rebuke and correction from scripture?
Probably not.
Based on what they are saying, there is not a “kingdom movement” that they are driving. They merely have a new and improved version of the same old Tide soap. New cliche’s – same old rituals. If all I do is plant sees of “the word of God”, that is what I will do. God is the one who “makes things grow” from the seeds. He who plants and he who waters is nothing. I’m ok with that.
Planting seeds of the word of God, as God leads, is always good and never futile. He calls each of us to sow in different fields. I appreciate your faithfulness and also your encouragement that God is the one who makes things grow. Let’s keep planting and watering without regard for recognition!