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Jun 03
I am getting ready to head out to Raleigh, NC for Resurgence of the Local Church Conference. Lisa will be making the trip with me. The speakers include John Piper, Mark Driscoll, Matt Chandler, Bryan Chappell, Ed Stetzer, Danny Akin. I have not been a conference goer. As a matter of fact, I don’t recall going to a church conference since I have been at Rogers (7 years). There seems to be a groundswell of concern about the losing of ground by the local church. As I read about and even talk with young people, the recurring theme seems to include a need for authenticity, relationship, community, ethics,. . . . I have run across the statement in more than one place that young people are not down on Jesus but they are down on church. That statement makes me very uncomfortable on two planes. The first plane causes me to want to rise up and obliterate that statement. The church is Christ’s bride. If you don’t like the bride then the bridegroom will not be very fond or welcoming of you. Jesus promised to build His church not bless some consumer minded individualistic hippie type who wants to hug a tree in Jesus name. (This statement is hyperbole… exaggerated, but we 40 plus guys understand this statement.) The second plane of concern is the reality or possibility that young people do not love the church that they do not see the church as relevant or see members as hypocrites or judgmental. The rule of thumb is always balance. We cannot compromise the truth of the Gospel or the challenge of denying self and taking up a cross. This defeats the problem of a flaky consumerism. But we must consider the impression that many have of the church and the validity of that concern. I am afraid that in many cases, churches have earned that reputation. The question should be asked, Would our community care or miss us if our church closed its doors tomorrow? Better go. Early flight in the morning. . .until next time. . .