I like to think of myself as a progressive thinking christian. However, I have been accused of being a rebel. That’s okay, as long as you understand why I feel the way I do.
Is there something that won’t let you sleep at night, that keeps you tossing and turning (and driving your spouse crazy!) The thing that eats at you and has a way of coming up in every conversation. Bill Hybels calls it your “holy discontent”. It is the thing that gnaws at you until you feel as if you just have to do something, to improve something, to create something. It is that ONE thing that WILL NOT leave you alone.
That, my friends, is where I am. I am at that place where I can not ignore my discontent any longer!
I have been in the ministry (in some form) for over 25 years and to some I am an “old timer”, but I feel that I “think young”. I am never satisfied with the status quo ( and yes, I know this drives some people crazy….if you’re reading this….you know who you are).
I once read that the definition of insanity is “doing things the same way and expecting different results”. There has never been a truer statement.
What we have to understand is that culture is cyclical. It is in a constant state of flux. Changing constantly. “The more things change, the more they stay the same” has been spouted too many times to count, but is this statement true?
For the most part, churches are having trouble reaching today’s generation. Why? To me, the answer is simple. We continue to do the same things over and over and expect them to reach different people, or generations.
I recently read that the one thing today’s generation wants more than anything is genuine relationships. They want to be reached on their level with a genuine concern for their well being. They want integrity and truthfulness in the relationship. They are very open to Jesus, they just don’t like the church. They see Christians as fake.
I have members of my family who will tell you that they are Christians but WILL NOT go to church. Why? It stopped being relevant to them. We are not reaching them on THEIR level.
This is what I want, more than anything, a way to reach and impact people in my community in a positive, life changing way. Not just bring them to church, but bring them to a relationship with Jesus Christ. The one who genuinely cares for them.
Basically, I am sick of the “same old church”!
Rebel, or progressive thinker? You tell me!
