So Dwight Smith, missiologist, author of Invading Secular Space, and creator of the Renovation Center concepts was in town earlier this winter to share some ideas about church with a group of churches.
As a church wrestles with what it means to exist for its circle of accountability, tension will be felt by some. The tension being that the "contract" they signed when they started attending church is changing. Let's be honest and I have to be honest about myself too. We often come to church as consumers: what's in it for me? what's in it for my children? are the sermons and music what I like?
In light of this, Dwight shared three things that are hard to change when it comes to doing church:
1. The change quotient of people in the church.
People cannot be controlled. It is hard enough to control my self. It goes back to what I learned in a counseling class: there is a circle on control – which is me. And there is a circle of influence – which is every one else. Know the difference.
2. The level of nominalism in the American church.
Surveys are everywhere describing the people in the church as not being much different than those outside the church. While I’m not sure how much stock to put in these surveys, through experience I generally agree with this premise.
3. The fact that we live in a post-Christian America.
As a result of this, responsiveness to the Gospel is way down. On a public level, there is scorn and ridicule of Christians. It may be the goof-ball churches who burn holy books or protest at funerals. However, there is still a significant level of responsiveness to the Gospel on a personal level. That is, when it comes to me connecting with my neighbors, their responsiveness to Christ is still there.
Thus, people are the instruments of God’s mission more than ever. This is theologically true. And this is strategically true. Like it always has been. May God help us to realize this and activate us to a deeper walk with Him for the sake of others.
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