Podcast Episode #170
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Discussion about a recent post on churches who are stuck in the 80’s. We also chased a rabbit and ended up discussing a few sitcoms.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
- Culture change scares people to death, especially when it moves away from their moral values.
- Church programs are not the easy answer anymore.
- You can’t plug and play the Holy Spirit.
- Programs can often become an excuse for people not to do what they should be doing outside of the program.
- Many church members want a me-focused church because it is comfortable to them.
- We shouldn’t be asking what we can do to stop culture change, but how we can meet people with the gospel in a changing culture.
- Some churches would rather die than to get out of the comfort of the past.
The eight ways churches are stuck in the past are:
- They are trying to shelter themselves from culture.
- Programs were easy answers.
- Churches largely catered to the needs of church members in the 1980s.
- Change was more incremental.
- Church growth was easier.
- Denominations provided solutions.
- Others did evangelism for the members in the 1980s.
- Some churches would rather die than to get out of the comfort of their 1980’s paradigm.
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The baton is passing from one generation to the next in churches. In each church we need God to call someone in the next generation who can pray, dream, and believe God for a vision for the future that will engage. I love the young people I see who are doing this in churches today. An engaging vision for the future gives us the courage to let go of the past. Our best days are ahead of us. I am so excited about God is taking our churches. Heb 11:6 Thanks Thom and Jonathan for this episode.
I love your heart, Matt.
The current state of the NT church has fallen into an introverted abyss. It is afraid to be bold in carrying out the great commission. What’s wrong with mistakes? They make us better servants! We seem to lose sight of Paul’s thought in Phil. 3:14 about pressing on! It seems to me that the older a church is, the less mission/evangelism oriented they tend to be. We live in a really dark world and church ministry is much more difficult in our liberal society. I think the best way to overcome this obstacle is to spend much time in God’s Word and on our face before God. Comfort zones can be a killer. I enjoy reading about successes of church plants with young vibrant pastors leading the charge with members committed to serving others, not themselves. We need to be “I Will” Christians in our world!
Well said, Scott. Thank you.
There was comfort in what was done in the 1980s but most of what was done then was similar to the 1950s. However, today things change in 6 months and the people who are the most set in their ways are in charge. So the people who understand the least about the modern world are the ones who can decide to change or not. The younger generations have yet to break into high management. Also, some people don’t realise that people’s need for pastoral care is different.
Examples: In the 1980s two kids get killed when their car runs off the road and flips. Tragedy, of course. The surviving family and friends needed consoling.
In the 1980s, a person’s grandparent passes away. You console the children of the deceased and tell the grandchild(ren) that the deceased has gone to be with Jesus and is better off.
Today: A 17 years old commits suicide because (s)he either could not bear to tell the parents of his/her homosexuality or did tell the parents and was disowned and subsequently thrown out. Tragedy, of course. The surviving family and friends need consoling but here someone could possibly have some culpability and hopefully has some guilt but can never make amends.
Today, The grandparent passes away. You directly console the children of the deceased. The grandchild(ren) aren’t there and if you see them, you express your condolences. Now they appear withdrawn but you figure they are just quiet and feel out of place. You don’t realise that they may be knowing that grandparent is better off but are angry with God and are wondering who will love them and/or from whom/where their next meal (after the gifts of food end) will come. Now, in front of the children you ask the grandchildren if they are out of the house if they are still going to church. This leads to a strange look, a lie or a non-answer, and a thought that you care about nothing else. The parents then look at them with disgust and you have just started an intrafamily row.
Now, would any of you know how to console the surviving family and friends here? This is the difference in the 1980s and today.
I say this not to be critical but to bring your attention to the problems people face today and the fact that old time pastoral care is out of date. It doesn’t work with people under 40. I read too many blogs of problems like this and worse when younger people wonder just what Christianity really is supposed to be when this is all they see.