Post-Christendom

In a recent interview about his new book Resilient Faith: How The Early Christian “Third Way” Changed The World,” Gerald Sittser referred to the impact that the early Christians had on the world around them.  Here is what he said:

“It is easy for us to forget how new and unique this movement was, and still is. Rome had never seen the likes of it before. It introduced a new kind of belief, worship, identity, authority, community, and way of life. The movement was new because Jesus was new. Rome had never seen the likes of Jesus before either. Consequently, the movement grew out of the uniqueness of Jesus. As Luke proclaims in the Acts of the Apostles, this movement “turned the world upside down,” and did so long before Constantine assumed the throne and laid the groundwork for the Christian empire and the emergence of Christendom.

“In our increasingly post-Christendom setting, we have much to learn from a movement that flourished in a pre-Christendom setting. Mere survival would have been impressive enough. But they did far more than survive. They flourished without state establishment and cultural privilege. They had no big church buildings and budgets, no favored political candidates they could vote into office, no conservative (or liberal) supreme court judges, no large-scale non-profits, no big publishing companies, no celebrity preachers, no internet, podcasts, blogs, Instagram, and Twitter. Yet they surpassed all expectations and succeeded against all odds. Perhaps we have something to learn from these early Christians!”*

As the influence of Christianity wanes in our increasingly secular world, perhaps we would do well to consider this history lesson.  “Post-Christendom” will likely require us to re-think some methods of engagement that have been near and dear to us.  Christ and the gospel will never change but the world around us is rapidly changing.  Will we re-focus and refine our approach where necessary or will we become increasingly irrelevant?  Food for thought...

God loves you!

Mike

*https://www.patheos.com/blogs/jesuscreed/2019/10/19/resilient-faith/

Success Vs. Faithfulness

            “In the book Second Calling, Dale Bourke writes that years ago, she attended a conference. When it was over, her friend Bruce offered her a ride to the airport. As they were about to leave, another man asked if he could join them. As they drove away from the hotel, she and Bruce asked the man where he worked, and he mentioned a Christian organization. Bruce said, “I have fond memories of that group, because I attended a retreat of theirs one time, and that’s where I became a Christian. It was in 1972 in New Hampshire.” Bruce went on to explain that eventually his whole family became Christians and went into Christian work. His sister was a Wycliffe missionary and Bruce himself became publisher of a major Christian publishing house, which brought many significant Christian books to the public. Bruce finished the story with a flourish saying that the retreat had had a worldwide impact when you think about it.

“The man was silent. Dale and Bruce thought that maybe they were boring him. Then the stranger quietly said, “I led that retreat. It was my first time as a conference leader, and I felt like a total failure. Until this moment, I have always believed it was one of the biggest failures of my life.” Dale Bourke wrote, “What had seemed like the simple act of offering a ride to a stranger had turned into a powerful reminder that God uses our efforts whether we realize it or not. I may spend the rest of my life doing things that don’t seem at all successful. Yet only God knows the purpose. I am called simply to be faithful””*

            We live in a success-driven culture where we tend to rate ourselves in comparison to the accomplishments of others.  The rise of social media has just made things worse.  How would things change if you truly believed that God didn’t judge you like others judged you (or like you judge yourself)?  Remember: God calls us to faithfulness, not success.

God loves you!

Mike

*https://therocketcompany.com/10-new-preaching-stories/

Got Power?

“In a seminary missions class, Herbert Jackson told how, as a new missionary, he was assigned a car that would not start without a push. After pondering his problem, he devised a plan. He went to the school near his home, got permission to take some children out of class, and had them push his car to start it. As he made his rounds, he would either park on a hill or leave the engine running. He used this ingenious procedure for two years.

“Ill health forced the Jackson family to leave, and a new missionary came to that station. When Jackson proudly began to explain his arrangement for getting the car started, the new man began looking under the hood. Before the explanation was complete, the new missionary interrupted, "Why, Dr. Jackson, I believe the only trouble is this loose cable." He gave the cable a twist, stepped into the car, pushed the switch, and to Jackson's astonishment, the engine roared to life. For two years needless trouble had become routine. The power was there all the time. Only a loose connection kept Jackson from putting that power to work.”

As people of God, are we accessing the power God makes available to us or are we relying on our own strength and ingenuity?  While we may get by with our own resources, imagine what could be done by allowing God to work through us.  Saul of Tarsus was very familiar with the use of human power and initiative.  But as the apostle Paul, he learned to depend on a greater power source.  “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20–21).

Could it be time to quit pushing the car and check the connection to the Power Source?

God loves you!

Mike

*http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/p/power.htm