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Old Church Model ‘Killing the West’

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mwkruse
in ,

Christian Post: Old Church Model 'Killing the West'

Culture has rejected traditional institutions so the church should change, not complain about it, according to a prominent theologian and futurist.

Leonard Sweet, considered one of the church's most provocative thinkers, said the old model of church is "killing the West," at a conference at Baylor University's George W. Truett Theological Seminary, according to the Associated Baptist Press.

In the midst of an ever-changing culture, and more specifically, postmodernism, the church must become missional, relational and incarnational rather than remain attractional, propositional and colonial, he said.

The "Achilles' heel" of the church is the practice of attractional Christianity. "It's all 'come and see' and not 'go and be,'" Sweet explained in an earlier interview with Relevant magazine.

While churches try to figure out how to draw more people to the church, Sweet said it's not about getting people to come to church. "It should be about coming to Christ." ….

Comments

9 responses to “Old Church Model ‘Killing the West’”

  1. jerry Avatar
    jerry

    good article

    Reply
  2. David M. Smith Avatar
    David M. Smith

    Hi Michael,
    Have you ever noticed how Churches that emphasize “Bring a Friend to Church” Sundays are usually the smallest Churches? Perhaps it is my imagination or unique to my experiences, but I’ve observed the correlation.
    I’ve also noticed for quite some time an emphasis on “relationships” in Church from the pulpit, but I haven’t observed better relationships. In fact, it seems to me that the more relationships are emphasized, the less people are content with their relationships. There is something about relationships with other people that becomes drug-like and addictive when it is not balanced with self reliance and alone time. Perhaps this is why Jesus often retreated from the crowds.
    I am of the opinion the Church needs to return to orthodoxy. The Church needs to be a community of God/self reliant people worshiping together and building a strong community where each member has an individual role. The emphasis on feelings, and groups, and relationships, is weakening the individuals in the Church and reducing the ability of the Church to represent Christ as the body of Christ.

    Reply
  3. Michael W. Kruse Avatar
    Michael W. Kruse

    David, I do think that community is a element of what being the Church is about. (You are one, even as the Father and I are one.) However, community seems to me to be a by-product of mission. Whenever it becomes THE focal point it becomes destructive.
    Robert Banks writes that the word koinonia is the word we translate fellowship. Yet Banks says that in every case in the NT it is used in relation to what emerges from a community engaged in the work towards some end.
    I think koinonia has more in common with notion of “band of brothers (and sisters)” than it does with some of the feel good therapeutic stuff the church often tries to create.

    Reply
  4. will spotts Avatar
    will spotts

    “I think koinonia has more in common with notion of “band of brothers (and sisters)” than it does with some of the feel good theraputic stuff the church often tries to create.”
    Again – both this and the comment it responded to are excellent observations.
    The Christian emphasis on community cannot be achieved by trying to make community. Such efforts almost always fail because they enshrine community as a desirable goal – when it is neutral. Depends on what the community does. The Tower of Babel is one of the greatest stories of community . . . people joined together with one accord with an impressive project. Most of our efforts are similar.

    Reply
  5. Michael W. Kruse Avatar
    Michael W. Kruse

    “The Tower of Babel is one of the greatest stories of community . . . people joined together with one accord with an impressive project. Most of our efforts are similar.”
    LOL. Excellent point!

    Reply
  6. David M. Smith Avatar
    David M. Smith

    God bless Michael and will!
    This is the first time I have not been told I was wrong when I tried to describe how I felt about the emphasis on “relationships” in Church.
    Now, let all of the female readers have at us. : – )

    Reply
  7. Michael W. Kruse Avatar
    Michael W. Kruse

    I know some female readers who are right in there with us. I am married to one. I also know any number of men who fall into the same trap.

    Reply
  8. David M. Smith Avatar
    David M. Smith

    ”I know some female readers who are right in there with us. I am married to one. I also know any number of men who fall into the same trap.”
    The over-emphasis of relationships wouldn’t be a problem now if so many men hadn’t fallen into the same trap. I can understand why good pastors need to be very relational. However, many Senior Pastors have taken an attribute that is very natural to themselves and claimed that all men need to be just as relational, which is not true.
    Men do need relationships, but most men also need to build; buildings, software, machines, organizations, etc. I can respect a another man just by watching him work without ever saying a word. I suspect other men feel the same way about me. Most women need to do a considerable amount of talking before respect can be developed.
    Of course there are many exceptions. I think most pastors, both male and female, are the exceptions.
    Sounds like you have very good wife!

    Reply
  9. Michael W. Kruse Avatar
    Michael W. Kruse

    Well, certainly taken in the aggregate you can see differences in they way the sexes deal with relationships and community. I still prefer to try to take each person as they come.
    “Sounds like you have very good wife!”
    I definitely married up!
    🙂

    Reply

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