Nuggets #2

Moving on from the prequel of An Unstoppable Force by Erwin McManus to Chapter None (not a typo) here's what struck me.

"Seminaries began to produce what local churches perceived they needed: godly men who had a professional understanding of theology, pastoral care, and management. Pastors were valued for their ability to bring and keep order rather than for their ability to bring and lead change. The reality was that pastors were being equipped to preserve the past rather than to create the future. We beame known for being traditional rather than transformational. The ritual replaced the radical. The pastor/teacher replaced the apostle/evangelist."

"In many ways the emergence of the parachurch reflects the paralysis within the local church. When we stopped calling youth to the mission of Christ, Youth With a Mission emerged. When we ignored the opportunity to reach university students, Campus Crusade emerged. When we settled for church attendance and neglected discipleship, Navigators emerged. When we hesitated to call men to the role of spiritual leadership, Promise Keepers emerged. The church became a fortress from the world rather than the hope of the world. Seekers are looking for spiritual integration. This means that we must provide community with cause and meaning with healing."

"The focus is not in serving the world; the church itself became the focal point. Our motto degenerated from "We are the church, here to serve a lost and broken world" to "What does the church have to offer me?" This move has made the pastor the only minister, while making the members the only recipients of ministry."

"The church became a refuge from the world rather than a force in the world. Predictability and stability became dominant themes. The cultural environment became comfortable, and the Gospel shifted from a church "on mission" to a church that supported missions.
Another aspect of our culture that emerged from this era was the concept of customer service. We both expect and demand to be treated as consumers. "If you want my patronage, you had better cater to my needs." This type of ideology became a reality for the church. In both traditional and contemporary churches the member became the customer to whom the product was tailored."

That's probably enough to chew on for today. I hope this stirs some radical thoughts in your heart and I also hope it makes you want to pick up this book by a man who is very clear and on track in his theology. He sees and explains the past and present and offers prescriptions for where we've brought ourselves. Great stuff!