Filed under: Relevant Christian
I recently received an email from a church planter wannabe asking if I’d seen the latest statistics about what is relevant to young 20-somethings today. Apparently, along with the stats, was a book that told what these numbers meant to church structure and ministry for the 21st Century. Being open to the possibility that my general take on statistics concerning relevant ministry might be wrong, I checked into it. As a business major in college…and not a religion major…I always first check out the method for gathering data for any statistical analysis. In looking over the “collection process” for the statistics in this book I discovered that they were gathered from 25 to 29 year olds from 2002 to 2004. The book apparently took all of 2005 to write, edit and prepare for distribution and was finally released in 2006. After reading this, I knew my initial feelings were correct…statistics don’t mean crap when it comes to what is relevant!!!
Here is a book that untold thousands were buying in order to become “relevant” to young 20-somethings in hopes of growing a numerically large church. They should have flushed their money down the toilet…at least they’d get a thrill of seeing it go ‘round and ‘round before it disappeared down the drain. This book…and many like it…are just a colossal waste of time for church planters and/or churches that want to effectively reach the 25 years old and below crowd. The stats…and conclusions…are based on data collected almost three years ago. Much has change as far as relevance in that time. Forget the antiquated numbers on the “report”, just the time it took to write the book saw thousands of changes.
Last year MySpace was the rage. Today only 7th graders and Fortune 500 companies use it…the young 20-somethings have moved on to Facebook or Skype. Last year everyone wanted a Razr cell phone. This year it is cell phones with more Vcasting and text messaging capabilities. Last year Copeland and mewithoutyou were the hot bands for younger 20-somethings. Today it’s the Flaming Lips and The Mines. Oh yeah…The Police are back en vogue again with their latest tour. The point is, with all of the technology, internet and unlimited radio or television channels, what is relevant today is not relevant tomorrow…if you are trying to chase culture (more on the dangers of that in another post).
Statistics are great for letting church leaders know how many disconnected people live in an area or what kind of car people prefer. They suck when it comes to tracking culture, trends and relevance. By the time the data is gathered, analyzed and formulated into a conclusion…not to mention the time it takes to write and release the findings…the information is no longer relevant. Don’t buy it, don’t read it and don’t use it for a basis to structure…or restructure…a church.
So if statistics, polls and books about relevance are irrelevant, then where do you go to discover what is truly relevant? Just look around you! I’ll explain more in Part 2.
- written and posted by Chris Elrod.
Take a look at this fantastic article by J.D. Greear on preaching to the next generation.
It is well worth a read.
Peace
Just wanted to post something encouraging this morning from my favorite hymn.
“And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.”
Yeah….I like that.
I recently read an interesting article in Outreach Magazine by Dan Kimball on the “Emerging Church”.
Here is an excerpt from that article and his new book.
Today’s non-Christian 20- and 30-somethings are big fans of Jesus but are less thrilled with His followers and the churches where they worship. Pastor/author Dan Kimball reveals their six most common perceptions of
Christians and the Church, what they wish church was like–and why you should be listening to these emerging voices.
Every now and then, we experience an epiphany of some sort that drastically changes our life’s course. For me, it’s an extremely vivid memory of what happened when I took the time to step outside the busyness of ministry and listened to some college students from
what was known to be one of the more anti-Christian campuses in California. It was these “pagan” students who gave me such incredible hope for the Church.
I was leading a young adults ministry we had recently started at the church I was on staff with at the time, and occasionally during worship gatherings, we showed man-on-the-street video interviews to set up the sermon. For an upcoming message series on evangelism, we decided to go to this college campus to interview students and hear firsthand their thoughts about Christianity. We asked two questions: “What do you think of when you hear the name ‘Jesus’?” and “What do you think of when you hear the word ‘Christian’?”
(read the entire article here)
-EXCERPTED from Outreach magazine, “Features,” March/April 2007
©2007 Outreach Publishing. All rights Reserved. Usage and reprint permissions.
“Copyright © by Outreach magazine. All rights reserved. Used by permission
Ok…so…we seem to have pissed some people off with a blog entitled “Why Christians Suck”. We have had numerous people send us emails and comments attacking us personally in regards to the statements made in this blog. They have questioned our commitment to Christ, our knowledge of scripture, our salvation, and have been called “limp wristed” (Did I get that right Chris?) and weak minded. We have even had people take offence at use of the word “Suck” in the title to the blog. We even had one “demand” an apology for what has been written here on this site. They have called us “kingdom players” and have lumped us in the same category as Rick Warren, Joel Osteen, Erwin McManus, and Dan Kimball just to name a few.
THERE WILL BE NO APOLOGY! We stand firmly on what we believe. We live our lives and direct our ministries according to the scriptures that are in the Holy Bible. We believe there is a “hot hell” and we are doing everything we can to keep people from going there by reaching out to them with the love of Jesus Christ. We live our lives according to the commands of Jesus. And what are the commands of Jesus? Jesus summed them up in two phrases…”Love God…Love People”
Call me revolutionary. Call me part of the “emerging church”. Call me foolish. Call me in love with people. Call me desiring to fulfill the calling God placed on my life. Call me what you will.
I am a “Christ-Follower”, a born again Christian, a child of the Living God. I depend strongly on His mercy and grace. I have put my sins under His blood. I am His…and He is mine!
So you don’t agree with us….that’s ok by me. If you don’t like what you read on this site…stop reading it! We will still love you with the love of Christ.
Peace.
I have to admit it. I love it when people speak or write with candor and conviction. I love it when they don’t pull punches or hold back. When did the church decide it needed to be “politically correct” on everything? Why are most Christians a bunch of mealy mouthed, weak kneed people afraid to speak out or take a stand for what is right?
I especially like Pastors who will speak their minds and take a stand. Some of my fav’s, (two of which just happen to be contributing authors to Relevant Christian) are my good friend Timmy Gibson, pastor of Olathe Life Fellowship, Chris Elrod, pastor of Compass Point, and Steve Furtick, pastor of Elevation Church.
Be sure to check out Steve Furticks blog about “Who We Are”
Keep it up guys. I wish that all pastors, (and Christians) where as brave as you are.
Let’s be Revolutionary!
I have been contemplating blogging on Servant Evangelism for some time but have always come up short. However, I recently read an article on the subject of Servant Evangelism and it got me thinking.
WE as Christians, for the most part, have forgotten how to “evangelize” the world. It seems we have focused on doing the “big church” thing of “just get them in the door and we will do the rest”. I know. I am on staff at what is considered a “mega” church and have heard that term many times.
How much more effective could we be in reaching the world if WE would begin to “evangelize” our world. When I say “our world”, I mean our spehere of influence. Our friends. Our neighbors. Our family. One by one. I want to find out!
Read this article on Servant Evangelism and tell us what you think.
I am a born and raised Christian, though I am not really that proud to admit that many times these days. Not because of my personal faith and trust in Jesus Christ, or the Bible or God… but because there are too many wacky Christians out there who give us “some-what” normal Christians a bad name.
I live in Kansas City, and there is an area downtown called the Plaza (a cool place for a romantic horse carriage rides, great shops and a ton of great fountains) and when you go there on a Friday or Saturday night you will encounter the guy I affectionately call, “the plaza preacher”. This guy is a piece of work to say the least. He is a megaphone preacher guy. He condemns everyone to a hot hell and has the huge sign to promote that beautiful message of hope and love for those who are lost.
This is one of many reasons I am finding it difficult to “like” Christians. Yes, I of course in reality love Christians, shoot I am one! This is just my way to VENT my frustration over the Pharisee type Christian who violates the John 8 scripture where Jesus has a women caught in adultery thrown at His feet to judge. And if you know the story, Jesus of course DOES NOT judge her to a hot hell. But He does address those Pharisees who brought her to Him to judge by saying, “ye without sin cast the first stone.” Thank God that didn’t happen today, because I truly believe some Christians would be throwing stones. And that my friends is what bites my tail! Christians who think they stand in the position as Jesus… perfect and able to cast stones.
The interesting thing about Jesus was that HE was perfect and had the right to cast a stone, yet He did not! And He is the ONLY one who could have done so, and been justified.
I also hear people say to me that we’re trying too hard to reach the lost! ( I am laughing here)… hello, ahhhh yes we are! And that is a problem why?
Jesus was mocked as a wine bibber… so we are in good company! The key in my opinion is to be IN the world and not OF it. I can be right in the middle of a whore house, but do not have to pay for their services. But some Christians do not look at it that way… and the reality is…. That is fine… for them. But not for me! I can not ONLY live my life in the little Christian culture only hanging out with nice Republican voting, Christian music listening, non-tattoed, suit-wearing people. I am sorry, I just can’t live my life like that, then die and face Jesus and have Him look me in the face and ask… “who’d you show my love too?” Oh no! I would feel like that dude who buried his talent and when the master came to collect he dug it up and gave it back… and the master said, “you wicked servant!”
I believe you can be in the culture and not of it so to speak. I do not have to smoke pot to reach a pot smoker! I do not have to be an adulterer to reach an adulterer. But to reach anyone WE must LOVE as Jesus loved!
If you are reading this and you are not a Jesus follower… can I just say I am so sorry for the way we Christians have portrayed Christianity! I hope to change that so that people can get a true taste of the Gospel that Jesus preached… a gospel of love and hope!
On the other hand if you are a Christ follower please be like Jesus… please love all people, even when you feel they are “violating” the Bible. Love is what leads people to faith… “faith works by love” the bible says!
Live for Jesus!
Timmy Gibson
I hear churches everyday saying the new favorite tag line of “come as you are”. What I am wondering is do we really mean it? Do we really want anyone to come as they are? Are we willing to “accept” them on their terms? I wonder!
I have a pastor friend of mine who is really taking some heat for what he is preaching behind the pulpit. His last series was entitled “Best Sex Ever”, which raised a few eyebrows in the “Christian” realm, but garnered great publicity in the “secular” ranks. His latest sermon title is “God Loves Gays”. I am sure that he will take a beating over this one. He and I email back and forth every now and then and i am always trying to encourage him to go for it.
Jesus himself didn’t “play it safe”. He wasn’t worried about being careful not to offend the “church” folks. He was out to change the world. He ate with the sinners and talked to the prostitutes. He spent time with the ones who “needed” him most.
So…to all my “Relevant Christian” friends out there. Keep it up. Keep being a light in a dark place. Keep hanging out with the “wrong crowd”. Jesus did!
Peace!
