We can't help it. Regardless of how balanced we hope our churches
will be around things
like small groups, teaching, evangelism, discipleship, community, outreach... our churches end up looking just like us. It just happens. Our passions turn into vision. Our blind-spots become the church's neglect. Because vision is not just what we say... but what we fail to talk about. If we're not into small groups, neither will our churches. If we're not generous, our leaders will be hoarders. And on and on. At the end of the day, our biggest frustrations with the church can be seen right in the mirror.
Ben
I agree with you here, and I believe the solution is not "well rounded" pastors so we have "well rounded" churches.
The solution is a second reformation that returns the ministry to the people and people truly see themselves as the priesthood of all believers and mediators of the gospel.
Tragically...our church leaders and pastors tend to perpetuate the very passivity they grow to hate. They create the very personality cults they do not want (or maybe they do) by not seeing themselves as equippers (Eph 4).
Even our assimilation processes are basically "let us help you find your gifting, so you can help us do church".
Posted by: Jay Wiley | September 22, 2008 at 11:57 AM
This is very true. Where ever the pastors focus is that is what comes out in sermons, his private conversations, and so forth. I have found that most of the time he does not even realize it.
Posted by: Ken | September 22, 2008 at 11:59 AM
This is very true. Where ever the pastors focus is that is what comes out in sermons, his private conversations, and so forth. I have found that most of the time he does not even realize it.
Posted by: Ken | September 22, 2008 at 12:00 PM
sorry for the repeat :)
Posted by: Ken | September 22, 2008 at 12:01 PM
Ben: I would like to hear more of your thoughts on this... maybe in another post?
Posted by: Dlake | September 22, 2008 at 06:55 PM