The Need for Change

As a parent there is one question, nay, one word, that may grate my soul like none other. It is a simple word, only three letters long. Yet, it can drive a man, or woman, to the brink of insanity in an instant.

“WHY!?”

Yeah, that’s the one. “Why?” BECAUSE! OK! GEESH!!!

There may be no more important question that has ever been asked. It is the question that our kids ask because they want to know how the world works beyond what they see. “Why?” drives us to look at more than the five senses. It moves us into deep places that cause us to really struggle with meaning and purpose.

“Why?” is that one word, that one question, that if not answered leaves us looking around at one another struggling to know what it is that we are supposed to do. If we can answer that one question then we can know our calling and go get something done. It drives us. Our “why” gets us out of bed in the morning. It enables to us to “attack the day with an enthusiasm unknown to man.”

As I think about the need for the Church to change I am struck by that same simple little question, “Why?”

We need to change because the world around us has changed. Yes, whether you want to admit it or not, the world has changed. In the US in particular the culture is no longer driven by Christendom. It has not been for some time. We can either wring our hands about it, start a culture war, or begin to live out the subversive gospel. People don’t bring their kids “back to church” any more. They see no need to get some “religion” into them. Besides, the Church is seen to be amoral at best or immoral at worst. This is similar to how the Church was viewed by the Roman Empire before Constantine.

We need to change because we have become drunk on power and prestige. Since the time of Constantine the Church has slowly become intoxicated with its own power structures and cultural prestige. At one time it was a source of progressive transformation in culture, the sciences, and technology (read a history book, no seriously, unlike the common contemporary myth, history tells a different tale).  Now the Church fears all three. It is scared and running to hide and everyone knows it. We, for the most part, are seeking to hold on to our seat at the head of the table, even though Jesus warns against such action. The Church has, for so long, been the power player in politics and culture that we have forgotten the subversive nature of our Servant King and his kingdom.

We need to change because we need to get back to being who we are: A royal priesthood, ambassadors for Christ proclaiming his excellencies. When we live this out, followers of Jesus become amazing artists, musicians, scientists, inventors, writers, business people, leaders, and everything else under the sun. When we live this out we become most truly human. We learn to live and love with passion and fervor. We become a people that are both immanent and transcendent. In recent times we have sought the wisdom of the CEO and CMO instead of the King of Kings. We have pursued “church growth” instead of “multiplication.” We have become content with “nickles and noses” as opposed to discipleship and transformation.

Last night my family had Chinese take out. My son’s fortune cookie read, “If you keep doing the same thing you’re going to get what you have always gotten.” I’m done with doing the same thing. I don’t want what we’ve always gotten. I want something more.

I really want us to become a people of the prayer.

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

The post The Need for Change appeared first on The Journal by Daniel M. Rose. It was written by Daniel M. Rose.

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