An exegesis of our culture

The following are thoughts provoked by an email reply by Brett Oliver, friend and elder of Harmony Christian Church.

His reply was “It all boils down to the individual relationship with Jesus. That individual must seek the risen Christ – in fact, Scripture says that if someone is not seeking Jesus, he will hide his truths. We’ll never develop a plan or curriculum that will be successful in that – because it focuses on someone else telling us what Jesus wants and the emphasis is on the external transforming the internal. I’m convinced that the transformation you all are talking about, and should be our goal, comes from that individual seeking God and being transformed by the Holy Spirit. We can provide that environment and opportunities – but, I would caution too much structure and too much planning ahead…been there, done that – been rebukedJ!! I would simply look for that next step that God is calling you all to and be obedient to that – my prayer for you all.

My 2 cents-

Brett”

I think the article in Christianity Today (http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/june/5.13.html) and the Reveal study does not encourage adopting a particular plan. Instead it reveals that Willow Creek thought that once they started people on their journey with Christ that growth would be perpetual, but in reality I think the study reveals that by removing barriers to following Christ people fail to count cost or realize responsibility.

Our culture is not only addicted to consumption, but it is equally addicted to entitlement. This, in my mind, is symptomatic of the fact that we hate to be in want. So, when we see something we want we either find a way to get it, or if we are unable to obtain it, then we complain that somehow it’s somebody else’s fault that I can’t have it. We see barriers as unjust, when in reality maybe they are intended to protect. We want a promotion. We go to our boss. We don’t get it when we think we should have it, and we automatically begin to blame those we see as responsible, namely our boss. We want a new TV. We go to Best Buy, but can’t afford to buy it so we either go into debt in order to get it, or we complain that we can’t get it because we haven’t got the promotion we deserve. The barriers to the promotion or TV seem unjust when we feel like we deserve them, but in reality the promotion may come with additional costs that we haven’t considered: more responsibility, more time at work, more weekends at work, or more travel. In failing to count those costs, because of our love of progress, we may find ourselves “wanting” things like they used to be.

Let’s transition this philosophy to church. We want to feel closer to Christ. We want to feel like we’re moving forward, becoming more like Christ. So, we go to the Jesus Gettin’ Place, aka church. We recognize our want for spiritual things as being good, but we fail to recognize that it’s a want that should never be fulfilled. So, when the preacher doesn’t deliver the goods in a way that fulfills my want, a want that I deserve to have met, then the preacher is at fault and so is the church for not giving me what I want. So, I become dissatisfied and I will either look for another church, stay and complain about the one I’m in, or drop out altogether.

Although plans and systems can change with time I do believe that God ordains plans and systems for a time to build His Kingdom. Just look at Old Testament worship and law. What an incredible and intricate plan for Israel to follow. LifeTeams is a plan for building community. We need a plan to help people become more reliant upon the Holy Spirit who through study and practice of the Scripture will eventually bring the comfort. There is nothing inherently wrong with desiring to learn from a teacher, but we can’t continue to blame a teacher unless they are a false teacher and even then you don’t blame them but rebuke them.

So, I agree that people need to recognize their need, their want for Jesus. They must desire to seek Him and serve Him. However, we as the leaders of the church must devise a process and renew a focus on how we train people to overcome their uncomfortableness with want, and to realize that how they pursue Jesus is paramount in determining their comfort.

Case in point on wanting and consumerism Engadget reports that a line formed at the Apple Store in downtown New York for no apparent reason. Rumors of a new 3G iPhone have been leaked recently with a late June timetable.