This is a continuation of writings that muse about the nature of church in a post-Christian world.
There have always been churchless Christians ... those too scared to dig in deep, twice-a-year attendees, culturally Christian, use-it-when-it-suits-me Christians. There have also always been a few individuals who, for whatever reason, have a deep and rational faith, and yet stay on the fringe of church community. However, there is a new breed (re-)emerging. These are individuals who are a consequence of this era where the church is increasingly disconnected from society. They are mature in their faith, learned, have a solid theology, in real relationship with God, moved by compassion for a hurting world, and yet now outside the institutional church community. Those that I personally know have all at some point in their lives been deeply involved in church, usually in some form of leadership. These are not Christian wimps. In my circle I am increasingly seeing the emergence of more and more of this breed of Christian. I suspect this has always happened in history, whenever the institution of the church has failed to recognize and engage with the fundamental shifts happening in society. The churchless mature Christian is a paradox, for as Christians we are made for community. Yet the traditional expression of community has failed these individuals who seek to wrestle with the complex realities of real-world living. These are Christians pulled to engage with the dynamic and fundamental shifts going on in society, and their institutional homes are increasingly archaic structures of preference preservation. The churchless mature Christian is depressed, resourceless and vulnerable. For where are they to find conversation that is meaningful, where are they to receive and give, how are they supported? It is tempting to toss out critique or begin with "You should ...", but that approach only serves to further alienate. Until the leadership inside the church can stand in the shoes of the mature Christian who is now on the outside, no meaningful discussion is possible. At the heart is this question: what will the expression of Christian community look like in this new relativist, fragile, deeply interconnected, exposed, polarised, and post-modern world? And the root of the response begins with "who will I talk to now?" Meanwhile the world turns, leaving Christianity behind.
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Why?
Probably the best therapy is to express yourself. Why do you think psychiatrists make you lie on the couch and talk, while all they do is murmur "hmmm", "uhuh", or "go on"? Archives
May 2017
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