Wednesday, June 13
Stuck in a moment...
I think I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that we started reading "The Forgotten Ways" by Alan Hirsch in our weekly book club…I’m loving this book.Here’s a thought from it… Edward de Bono, the leading specialist in creative learning processes, (what a cool title), says that if there is a known and successful cure for an illness, patients generally prefer the doctor to use the known cure rather than seek to design a better one, even though there may be better cures to be found.
He rightly asks how we are ever to find a better cure if at each critical moment we always opt for the traditional treatment.
In light of de Bono’s comments, Hirsch asks, “Do we not constantly default to previous patterns and ways of tackling issues of theology, spirituality, and church?”
He quotes another Bono, it seems like we are “stuck in a moment and now can’t get out of it”.Hirsch- “It is little wonder that our precommitments to the Christendom mode of church and thinking restrict us to past successes and give us no real solutions for the future. We always seem to default to it’s preconceived answers. Genuine learning and development is at best a risky process, but without journey and risk there can be no progress.”
Agree or disagree?
What risks do you see being taken out there?
Mark Nelson at 9:24 AM 3comments
3 Comments
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at 5:04 PM
truevyne said... Agree!
I see a need for much thinking outside the walls of the American model of church, especially in terms of children and evangelism.-
at 10:58 AM
said... Excluding new church plants, I don't see much risk being taken in the world of tradtional churches. Much like the corporate world and the personal lives of most individuals, we talk a great game, but do little to put anything substantial into practice.
Many churches seem content to "chase" themselves in circles with no sense of purpose or vision. Status quo is the preferred state of mind. "Meet MY needs" is the mantra of the day. Sadly, some churches are a generation away (or less) from permanently closing the doors.
Evangelism becomes simply the idea of opening the doors and waiting for the people to come in. Few people seem to grasp the idea that there is a segment of the population who feel completely unworthy of darkening the door of a church. Open the church doors all you want, these folks will NEVER come. We need to take the church to them.
I have visited 2 churches (one in Tennessee and one in North Carolina) that are taking risks now and are breaking the mold of the traditional church. But, it has taken the individual pastors 21 and 13 years, respectively, to get where they are at. The process over these tenures has been painful and the cost high at times. But, the congregations of these churches reflect the passion and heart of their pastors. And they are beginning to make a difference - in their church and their community.
But, these churches are a rarity and I can understand why talented, visionary individuals who are called to ministry would be reluctant to try to lead an existing church into a new realm. Progres is slow at best and the road to be travelled is a minefield.
Jeff-
at 12:34 PM
said...
Hi Mark! Hi Jeff!
Wow...I am a counselor and have just told one of my clients that "without journey and risk there can be no progress..." and here I thought I was waxing philosophical only to find out I was quoting a not-so-well-known author. Hmmmmm...
Regardless I believe we have two choices, every day of our lives: 1) we can play it safe. Do what we've always done and get what we've always got. Or 2) we can take a risk. Do it differently. Do it for arts sake. Do it for loves sake. Do it because it's never been done that way before.
I tend toward the latter...I'm not sure if that makes me a pioneer or a lunatic, but either way, at the end of each day, I'm GLAD I've lived the way I've lived and I go to sleep without regrets. THAT, dear friends, is PEACE.