Why This Book? (Buy it at F&F Bookstore Online)
The seminars at 2010 CLB Convention focused on reaching a changing culture. Postmodernism, whether you are familiar with that term or not, has permeated our culture. It has influenced the young and old alike, forcing the local church to seriously think about the way that it reaches its community. A common description of North America is that it is a melting pot of nationalities. It is also a melting pot of philosophy and religion. Christians can no longer expect their neighbor to understand the basics of Christianity, or care about attending church on Easter Sunday.
So what can the Church do? First, we need to understand our culture. Dr. Eugene Boe opened the seminar time with a session titled Ministry in a Post-Christian World (See video below). In it, he mentioned this book, Postmodernism 101 by Heath White. Heath White has also written an article in the current issue of Faith & Fellowship Magazine. We invite you to read this book and discuss a chapter each week, bringing us to a unified understanding of what kind of culture we are attempting to reach today.
Dr. Eugene Boe
Academic Dean, Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology, Lutheran Brethren Seminary
2010 CLB Convention
June 21, 2010
The new issue of Faith & Fellowship Magazine is mailed and updated online, and the topic is how the Church is reaching out to a rapidly changing culture, and postmodernism is affecting people from every walk of life. After hearing from our newest congregation, Living Faith Church in Watford City, ND, during the CLB Convention in June, it was especially exciting to travel out to Watford City and interview the members of the congregation about the city and their ministry. Please keep them in your prayers while they look for a pastor and seek God's wisdom as they continue to reach out to those around them.
Brandon J. O'Brien is editor at large for Leadership Journal and has written a book, released this month, titled "The Strategically Small Church." It seems to be a wonderful analysis of the benefits and opportunities facing a small congregation. The issue is that many small congregations look to mega churches for inspiration and ideas in ministry. O'Brien responds, "The trouble is, operating like a big church can undermine the inherent strengths of being small."
He goes on to say:
For example, as I explain in the book, research suggests that one of the factors that contributes to whether or not young people stay active in church after high school is intergenerational relationships. The students who have more and deeper relationships with adults other than their parents are much more likely to remain in the church in college and beyond. Now, smaller congregations offer tons of opportunity for developing these intergenerational relationships. But the hallmark of large churches is age-segmented ministry, programs designed to separate children from youth, youth from adults, young adults from seniors. When small churches imitate this model, they undercut their advantage for fostering intergenerational relationships.
We have not read the book, yet, but there are a few pastors who will be reading it, so we will follow up with some reviews and opinions about the content of the book when they finish reading it. This topic seems to fit many of our congregations and where they are in terms of size and ministry focus. But, again, we are not promoting the book since no one that we know has read it, yet. We are only inviting a discussion and thoughts on this topic and this book seems to have touched on a relevant issue within our congregations. Please share your thoughts and opinions with us if you have read this book.
Here are some links related to Brandon O'Brien and this book
In the meantime, if you are interested in diving into this you can order it through Amazon by clicking the following link: Strategically Small Church, The: Intimate, Nimble, Authentic, and Effective by Brandon J. O'Brien. (By using this link, Faith & Fellowship will receive a portion of the profits through our Amazon Associates account. Thank you.)
Preparing for the upcoming issue of Faith & Fellowship Magazine, we are posting a wonderful article about how churches reach out to the younger generations. It's so easy to get stuck in in the idea that we need new programs are need to change the style of worship, but is that really what teens and young adults want in their spiritual life? What kind of culture are we as the Church trying to reach? Can we even answer that question confidently?
An article on the Wall Street Journal website confronts the popular idea that church needs to be "cool" and "relevant" in the eyes of our culture in order to "win back" the younger generation.* What the younger generation (and everyone for that matter) really needs is Jesus, the gospel, the truth.
"And the further irony," he adds, "is that the younger generations who are less impressed by whiz-bang technology, who often see through what is slick and glitzy, and who have been on the receiving end of enough marketing to nauseate them, are as likely to walk away from these oh-so-relevant churches as to walk into them."
If the evangelical Christian leadership thinks that "cool Christianity" is a sustainable path forward, they are severely mistaken. As a twentysomething, I can say with confidence that when it comes to church, we don't want cool as much as we want real.
* There is a statistic in the beginning of the article that may be misleading. Please read the following article to get the an explanation of the numbers. Click here for > the article.
When I was in grade school I collected baseball cards. My favorite baseball player was Orel Hershiser of the Los Angeles Dodgers. I knew very well that he was the 1988 World Series MVP, earned the 1988 Cy Young Award, received the 1988 Golden Glove award, had 59 consecutive scoreless innings and was known as the 'bulldog.' I had over 100 different baseball cards of Orel, a book and pictures. I knew a lot about Orel but ultimately did not know Orel. He had never met me, he never approached me, called me or wrote me.
The reason why I share this story is that I had a conversation a while back with an individual who was reflecting on their Christian walk. They said to me, "Pastor Matt, it seems to me that I knew a lot about Christ but I really didn't know Christ." How can it be possible to know a lot about someone and simply not know them?
In C.F.W. Walther's book, Law and Gospel: How to Read and Apply the Bible, we read, "What good is it if someone tells me: 'There is a great treasure. Go get it! All you have to do is haul it off,' yet he does not tell me where the treasure is, how to get there, what methods to use to get it. Then I would say, 'Enough of your foolish talk about your treasure!'" Walther goes on to comment about some preachers that employ this, “…a preacher might say, ’Here I have a treasure,’ yet he does not put the treasure plainly before them or give them the key to unlock it. Then what good would this treasure be to them? They lock up the treasure in front of us that they ought to lay plainly before us… They preach the existence of a treasure in fine terms and then take away the key and bridge that would put me in possession of the treasure.”[1]
What Walther is expounding on is the grave error in renouncing or withholding the means by which we obtain Christ. In other words, Walther is pointing out that many in the church over the ages have spoken a lot about Christ but failed in delivering the Christ. Christ and the Gospel are pointed out, explained, but then the recipient is essentially told, “now go get Him.”
What are the ramifications of denying the means by which one obtains Christ and His benefits? What are the consequences of confessing Christ crucified but then telling one, “good luck finding Christ; good luck acquiring this salvation.” Essentially, this results in a person knowing a lot about Christ and in effect not knowing Him. Furthermore and tragically, the Gospel is placed within a framework of Law. “Here is the glorious treasure. Now, all you have to do is find it, then go get it and figure out how to haul it off.” All of a sudden the good news isn’t so good anymore.
In the CLBA statement of faith it states, “The knowledge and benefit of Christ’s redemption from sin is brought to the human race through the means of grace, namely the Word and sacraments.” What grand news that our God and Savior not only accomplished salvation for us but also delivers it to us! Salvation has been accomplished (past tense) and is continually delivered to us (present tense). No having to look! No having to ascend to God to acquire it! No having to concoct a strategy to harness and haul off this salvation! Simply delivered to us! Simply brought to us! Simply received by us through faith! This is my body and blood given for you for the remission of your sins.[2] Your sins have been washed away.[3] God has reconciled you to Himself through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.[4] As a close friend of mine once said, “salvation was achieved by Christ, delivered to us by the means and received through faith. Achieved, Delivered, Received!” Now this is good news!
We personally possess Christ and all the benefits of Calvary through the Word and sacraments; therefore, we not only know about Christ but also get to know Christ personally. We know aboutthe treasure of salvation and we also get to personally enjoy it.
I am still waiting for my personal visit or maybe that phone call from Orel Hershiser, but in the mean time, I get to enjoy Christ and the benefits of His redemption as they are continually brought to me.
[1] C.F.W. Walther, Law and Gospel: How to Read and Apply the Bible (Concordia Publishing, 2010), 179-180.
As I write this, heavy drops of rain are pounding on the the plastic roof creating a cacophony of sound. I've missed that sound for the last twelve years in Western Washington, where the rain/mist makes almost no noise when it lands. Yes, in some ways this is home (I grew up here). There is still a sense of the exotic as I see the world of Taiwan with the eyes of an adult and experience the creative flow of traffic patterns, but being able to understand almost everything that is being said around me makes this Glimpse Project different than the others (Japan and Chad). I don't have to wait for the translation. I can ask people if it's okay to video tape (and no one has said no yet, though one merchant said it was only okay for me since I was Andy Larsen's friend).
The weather is nice here, though you might not think so. I'm really enjoying the heat and humidity—the never being cold (just like my experience in Chad). And that makes me reflect on my previous trips to shoot video in Japan and Chad. Each place has a bit of adventure, and a lot of normal in it. I rode the high speed trains in Japan and Taiwan, and I'm not sure if I could tell the difference between mangos in Chad and Taiwan (they're both delicious). All three places boast of poisonous snakes. I'm not sure if that counts for adventure or normal. Maybe some of both.
But my focus is not the snakes, or the transportation, or the languages, or the weather. It is the people. I talk with the missionaries about their mission to proclaim the Gospel to people who haven't heard. I hear about the cultures and the barriers that stand between would-be-believers and Christianity. I see people that God loves. I see people whose lives have been changed because of what God has done for them.
How do I capture all this with digital video and share it with the North American churches? I can't—at least not all of it. But one shot at a time, and interview by interview, the material will come together. And then I'll spend two months holed up in my office trying to organize it and communicate the stories of God's mission in Taiwan.
Below you will be able to download a copy of the Report from the Study Committee on Missional Theology. The Report of the Study Committee on Missional Theology is being received by the Theological Council which will, through the Council of Directors, bring a recommendation to this year's Convention. This is an important subject worthy of your reading prior to the Convention and discussion during the hour it will be presented to the Church.
I, on behalf of the Church, thank the members of the Study Committee for their many hours of reading, deliberation, and writing. Presenting the summary backgrounds of many aspects of the missional theology conversation, they lead us to Biblical and confessional foundations for evaluation of that particular emphasis followed by affirmations and denials. This paper will be a teaching guide for mission that is domestic and international ministry and evangelism to those who do not yet confess Jesus Christ as Son of God and their Savior.
Anticipating your fellowship during the Convention, June 20-22nd,
This weekend, my boys and I took a trip to Hollywood! Before I continue, let me make a few things clear about this place of glamour:
1. Contrary to what's shown on TV, 99.8% of Hollywood is not glamorous, star studded or beautiful at all.
2. Drugs, sex, prostitution and poverty are rampant in Hollywood. It is one of the most spiritually broken cities I've ever been in.
3. The Church has little to no presence there.
That being said, this weekend, I noticed the Church's presence there in a striking way. Driving down Hollywood Blvd., I stumbled upon a big black sign that said in white letters, 'Ecclesia.' Curious, I pulled over to see it closer. The church was meeting in an old, broken down theater (fitting, eh?). Literally, right next door to the theater was a sex shoppe (the little pink building to the left in the photo).
I did a bit of searching around online about their Church, and in general, they were Evangelical! Of course, they were super-hip, all with cool hair, cool clothes, and a love for Indy music. In short, the staff looked like they belonged in Hollywood. They were contextualizing their message ( like missionaries dressing in African garb, they too were dressed in Hollywood garb). An Evangelical presence on Hollywood Blvd.?! I loved the picture: A church proclaiming the Lordship of Christ, right next to a sex shoppe! Isn't this how Christ ministered when He was here in the flesh? Isn't this how He still ministers today: in the midst of tax collectors and sinners (even eating with them!)?
On the other hand, a couple blocks away, I saw a different kind of Church entirely. Oh, they claimed to be Christians, and their building (at first glance) certainly gave testimony to that effect. Towering over the other buildings around it, the old Methodist Church looked much more like a traditional church building then say a theater next to a sex shoppe. Yet, as I got closer to the building, it became very clear that they were anything but traditional. I saw three big banners hanging from their windows and doors. They read:
1. "Reclaiming the Bible for Progressive Christians"
2. "We are different. We believe in Equality."
3. Sermon this Sunday: 'Marriage Equality.'
What struck me was how both Churches were trying to reach their culture. The Evangelical Church changed their dress, music style, and overall aesthetics, yet maintained the central message of Christianity. The Methodist Church, on the other hand, in order to reach the culture, did not give up it's dress, music style, and overall aesthetics, but in order to "be relevant" seems to have given up it's message.
So here's the thoughts I came away with:
1. Contextualization has it's limits. The message cannot be changed. Ever. We cannot tamper with it. The Gospel must remain central. The Methodist Church looks the part, but like so many Church buildings, appears to be full of dead men's bones. Style changes, music changes, what's considered beautiful, or fashionable today, can very quickly look old and antiquated not too much further into the future.
2. Although, I can't be sure of this, I have a pretty strong sense that this particular Methodist church wasn't always the way it is today. I'm sure at one time, even if they were "more progressive," someone once preached the Gospel there. But over time, in a quest to "be relevant" to their culture, they just began to affirm the culture, rather than confront it with Christ's claims. Evangelicalism in some ways, is in danger of heading down this same road. Endless self-help sermons, five step programs, and hipper than thou Pastors all can make for a very shallow Church.
3. What then is the key to staying safe? Contextualizing your message, without losing your message? I think it's found in this tension: 1 Corinthians 9:22- "I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some." 1 Corinthians 4:6- "Do not go beyond what is written."
May God help us maintain this tension by the Holy Spirit's working in us and through us.
Watching this video I had mixed feelings. On the one hand, I firmly believe that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. So I sort of cringed at some of the implications of what Chan was saying. On the other hand, as I watched, I couldn't help but think about this word from Jesus:
Matthew 25:14 “For it (the Kingdom) will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
And then there's this: "Either make the tree good and it's fruit good, or make the tree bad and it's fruits bad, for the tree is known by it's fruit."
What do you think? Is Chan right about the implications of 'living too safe a life?'
Here's how Luther explains the situation-
All who boast of works to justify themselves in the eyes of God show that they understand nothing about Christ or faith. We confess that good works must follow faith, yes, not only must, but follow voluntarily, just as a good tree not only must produce good fruits, but does so freely. Just as good fruits do not make the tree good, so good works do not justify the person. But good works come from a person who has already been justified beforehand by faith, just as good fruits come from a tree which is already good beforehand by nature.
With only a week left in our fiscal year (ending April 30th), we are 80% to our goal. Please prayerfully consider how God is calling you to give to the ministry of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren (CLB).
as of April 16th, 2010
The incredible thing about our vision as a Church is that we get to build it together! The mission of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren lies in your congregation. The question for the Synododical ministries is, how can we assist you in your mission? What can we do to support your ministry in reaching your neighbors? How can we help your church educate your lay leaders theologically? How can we supply you with the tools that you need to teach your children and engage your teens? We want to know and we desire to be part of your ministry. The wonderful fact is that God is in control. And this is ultimately God's Mission! We are his family, a family of churches, and we desire to be faithful to his calling. We have been called. How is he calling you?
Thank you for the contributions that have come in so far. We appreciate your support and invite you to build our vision with us. We are on the "Same Mission. Together."
Reading the online magazine, Collide, I came across an article about using media in ministry. Our media-hungry culture causes us to feel like we need to compete with Avatar and U2 concerts in order to catch people's attention. One section of the article jumped out at me. The author quoted a staff writer's blog post titled "Should Sunday Morning Be 'Hot' or 'Cool'?"
(T)he difference between movies and comics is a classic illustration of what Marshall McLuhan called “hot”and “cool” mediums, a distinction which classifies how much participation is required from a person to engage the medium. A comic is “cool” because it requires a reader fill in the sounds, smells, and details of what happens between the panes. In contrast, a film is “hot” because it completely envelopes a moviegoer’s senses and requires almost no participation or thought to grasp what’s happening.
Similarly, a sketch is “cool” because the viewer needs to fill in the details, while a photograph is “hot” because it contains highly detailed information. An article in USA Today is “hot” because the information is predigested and requires little thought, while T.S. Elliot’s poem The Wasteland is “cool” because the reader has to work hard to fully understand it.
So what about Sunday morning? Should the things we do on Sunday morning – music, Communion, preaching – be “hot” like the Watchmen movie (highly defined, intense, requiring little participation) or “cool” like the Watchmen graphic novel (more muted, requiring the congregant to think and process)? Some of both? A continuum? What helps people grow more deeply in their faith?
I love the idea of giving the congregation room to think and process what they are hearing, learning and experiencing. Which is more influential in the way you live your life? A big budget, action movie like Transformers or a simple, yet intimate, evening with friends and family? I would assume that most of you would choose the latter. Why is that? Time with friends and family touches more than just our vision and hearing, but it moves us emotionally as we grow closer to a friend, feel loved by family and experience humorous moments with a group of people we care about. Which way should the Church lean when reaching out to our neighbors? A balance of both is appropriate, but it's so easy to get wrapped up in trying to entertain that we sometimes forget about the value and power of friendship and family. Are we depending on the two-minute flashy video and rock-infused worship music to reach the hearts of our congregation, or are we allowing the Holy Spirit to work through God's Word within a loving and caring community of believers?
Perusing around the Resurgence a while back I found this little post about how the Church does it's mission. It's written by Tim Chester:
Ordinary Life
"Here’s another way of thinking about it. One of the catchphrases we use to capture our vision is “ordinary life with gospel intentionality” or “ordinary people doing ordinary things with gospel intentionality.” In other words, what we do is ordinary life together: household chores, trips to the movies, meals, neighborhood volunteering. But running through all these activities is a commitment to speaking and living the gospel. We pastor one another at the kitchen sink. We evangelize by talking about Jesus over a meal."
Yes, yes, yes! I couldn't have said it better myself. This is the way the gospel primarily is spread. People living out their callings (vocations) with Jesus being in all of it. So often we want to do events, have revivals, "draw people in;" this view says, we don't try and draw people in, but we are drawn out, compelled to go out, to them. It is in the ordinary, the mundane, even the boring, that God most often does His work.
The Discussion Begins October 4th! 
" It seems to be a wonderful analysis of the benefits and opportunities facing a small congregation. The issue is that many small congregations look to mega churches for inspiration and ideas in ministry. O'Brien responds, "The trouble is, operating like a big church can undermine the inherent strengths of being small."
