Speaking to a Blue State (of Mind)… (4 Questions for Discussion)
Below are 4 questions to engage a discussion about church, culture, ministry, and leadership. Think it through and share your own thoughts by posting a response!
Question #1Who are we speaking to?
Who is the audience the church is seeking to speak too? How much of what we do is really preaching to the choir – carrying on conversations with those who already think pretty much like us anyway? Are people resistant to us – or to the message?
What do you think?
BF Thoughts: While we say we are reaching out to the larger “secular” culture it seems much of our (Evangelical Church) evangelistic thrust is towards people and regions of people who believe like we do politically and socially (but perhaps not fully spiritually). No doubt these people are more receptive but are we truly engaging the culture. Check out the book “The Big Sort” with an eye toward how the Red/Blue political map coincides with the Evangelical movement in America.
Question #2 How do we convey authenticity?
How do we communicate authenticity – how does the “contemporary church” avoid coming across as contrived – a caricature of itself. We all know authenticity when we see it – but what does it look like in the Church, in Christians, in Leaders?
BF Thoughts: Nothing worse than “being fake” – If the traditional church runs the risk of becoming and antique then the “Progressive Church” runs the risk of becoming a caricature of itself. Where we accentuate the accessories of ministry – where “Hipness seems like marketing” – where “technology trumps substance” – where “music feels disconnected from worship”. With all of our accessories authenticity can seem like an afterthought.
Question #3 How do we address Politics?
Ikes – can’t believe I am even going here – so play nice! How can the church address the issues of the culture in a way that is above petty policy and candidates. How do we preserve our primary mandate of sharing the transformative message of the gospel. How is the role of the church different than the role of the individual believer?
BF Thoughts: People often object to “our” Politics (Policies and Politicians) more than our Savior – but in the midst of proclaiming “our” politics we lose the moment to declare our Savior. I am of the mind that the church is the ultimate earthly center for right and wrong – the place for moral authority – the proclaimer of the ideas that policy makers need to make their case. But let them embrace us without us endorsing them. In the end I believe the source of societal transformation is the church - If I thought it was in Politics I would have become a politician instead of a preacher. There is a valuable place for Christians to influence our society and government – but the church is not a PAC but rather God’s earthly agency for proclamation of salvation which leads to transformation.
Question #4 Where does communication count most in ministry?
Our ministry is all about “communicating” a 2000 year old message that is the difference between Heaven and Hell. How we communicate in every area of ministry makes an eternal difference – where do you see vital communication taking place in your ministry and in the Church?
BF Thoughts: In ministry work God has chosen (the foolishness of ) “Preaching” to communicate His message – so that is tops of my list. Next down to me would be “Leadership Communication” where we – receive a vision, communicate a goal, then present a plan to the goal.
Ok – take your pick – or pick them all and share your thoughts and comments using the comment feature!
November 19, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Ben,
Several thoughts come to mind. One is the issue of receptivity. The red/blue states and the correspondence to the evangelical movement may also reflect how receptivity exists in missions. In other words the receptivity in the Philippines is not seen in the 10/40 Window. I think both red and blue states and reached countries and unreached countries need the Gospel. And what works in the Philippines will not work in Tajikistan, any more than a Red state of mind will go over in a Blue state!
I think the issue is one of cross-cultural communication and what missiologists call contextualization of the Gospel message and ministry.
November 19, 2008 at 12:33 pm
On Question #2 and Authenticity here is what comes to mind…
Acts 2:37-47. This is the gold standard of an authenticate church.
Also Acts 5 where church discipline was taken seriously. In fact you can go through the first 11 chapters of the Book of Acts and discern what authenticity will look like in a church that turns the world upside down. And I think we will find that much of what is revealed in Acts is lacking in most current churches or merely paid lip service and left to sift on a doctrinal statement or church covenant.
Acts 3 Powerful healing of needs that man or money cannot accomplish (1-10). Bold preaching the meets the hardness of hearts head on and pulls no punches (11-26).
Acts 4 Leaders willing to suffer and die for their Savior and their doctrine due to their intimate fellowship with Jesus (1-22). Beleivers who pray for Holy Spirit bolness in the face of increasing opposition (23-31). Lay leaders who give their talents and their resources with unrestrained generosity and sacrifice (32-37).
Acts 5 Leaders and churches who practice church discipline with compassionate conviction (1-16). Leaders who are willing to obey God rather than men and pay the consequnces (17-42)
Acts 6 Churches that work to togehter and select qualified male leadership to meet physical needs among their own congregation (1-7).
Acts 7 Lay leaders willing to die for their faith and ministry.
Acts 8 Lay leaders willing to be used to evangelize wherever the Spirit leads.
Acts 9 God annoited men raised up to lead the church.
Acts 10 God’s leaders repenting of legalism and preaching human traditions as the commands of God. Liberty in Christ to reach all peoples.
Acts 11 Lay people having the hand of the Lord on their lives to evangelize cross-cultures and planting new churches, while working side-by-side with called leaders who have a team approach to church leadership.
This I think will communicate authenticity in a red state or a blue state and in the face of increasing opposition!
November 19, 2008 at 2:21 pm
On question #3 I say Amen. Perhaps part of the answer is the church doing what it ought (good works as outlined repeatedly in Titus), rather than expecting to the government to do it. I think we would rather vote to have others do the good works, than we get involved doing them ourselves. (Perhaps this is a reflection of how we run our churches as well?!).
Greg Lyons and his ministry team have shown that good works open doors with government officials and open hearts with the lost.
Missions in the 1800’s was typically a balance between proclaiming the Gospel AND doing good works. Much of what Carey did in India and Livingston did in Africa would be anathema to some current views of missions, yet they are exalted as heroes of missions.
Building schools, hospitals, orphanages was all the norm among missionaries in the 1800’s. Today we are easing back into this idea but not without confusion and controversy and even compromise in some cases.
Nevertheless, getting involved and doing good works as the church versus expecting the government to do it for us may be the place to start to win a hearing among hard hearts.
November 19, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Gospel communication could be understood as having several essentials:
A Man of God whose walk communicates as much as his talk and should reflect His GOd and His Gospel.
A Message from God which is the inspired, inerrant Word of GOd, not our opinions or preferences or what is politically correct or even culturally relevant.
A Mission for God which would fit with the Great Commission and can be described as “Leadership Communication” by Ben.
A Motivation like God which means the Great Commandment is reflected in our hearts and cross-cultural compassion is evident in our attitude and approach.
A Mandate by God to communicate this message for the joy of all peoples and in spite of obstacles and persecution – in season and out of season!
A Method for God means that all the above will shape and determine our methods of communication. While Paul was willing to be all things to win some, he also was adamant that his methods were not up to par with worlds expectations in terms of style and substance. Also motives played a huge role in shaping his approach and aims in communication.
If the Tower of Babel has taught us anything it is this: all that is humanly possible and technologically possible is not necessarily pleasing to God or in keeping with His revealed purposes!
November 20, 2008 at 11:09 am
Question #1Who are we speaking to?
Somewhere in this conversation will not we be forced to speak to the category of “peculiar people” to the either red or blue?
Can the word “world” in the axiom ” in the world and not of the world” be interchanged with the word “culture” as we engage it?
If so, doesn’t that automatically create the peculiar?
People seem repelled by the universal yet drawn to the tastefully peculiar.
Are there any evangelical “blues” out there speaking on how to speak to a “red” state of mind or is it a one way street? :-)
Question #2 How do we convey authenticity?
How do we communicate authenticity – how does the “contemporary church” avoid coming across as contrived – a caricature of itself. We all know authenticity when we see it – but what does it look like in the Church, in Christians, in Leaders?
By connecting with the truely authenic. We serve only as a notary to authenticate Jesus Christ.
Question #3 How do we address Politics?
Ikes – can’t believe I am even going here – so play nice! How can the church address the issues of the culture in a way that is above petty policy and candidates. How do we preserve our primary mandate of sharing the transformative message of the gospel. How is the role of the church different than the role of the individual believer?
Ben, I stay out of politics unless the political world has kidnapped the moral and cloaked it in political drag. Then I address the underlying moral issue ( using the power of scripture and very little opinion at all).
While touring the Holy Land, I was struck by the fact that Jesus never visited the seat of political power.
I agree with the statement, “Jesus is coming back, but not on Air Force One!”
Question #4 Where does communication count most in ministry?
Our ministry is all about “communicating” a 2000 year old message that is the difference between Heaven and Hell. How we communicate in every area of ministry makes an eternal difference – where do you see vital communication taking place in your ministry and in the Church?
For me, in this order: By example first in my personal life, then the example of my immediate family (wife and kids), and last, by words.
Who is that said, “Preach truth, and when necessary use words” or something like that. :-)
I hope this makes sense. Sometimes I don’t make sense to myself. But anyway – I like your thought provoking questions. Which I could attend.
Otis