Almost everything that happens before you fly on a plane is not as it seems. In order to deal with anxiety, the airlines put on a show. The show is getting old and the lies are starting to show. Here's some snips from an Economist article (hat tip to the Freaknomics blog):“GOOD morning, ladies and gentlemen. We are delighted to welcome you aboard Veritas Airways, the airline that tells it like it is. Please ensure that your seat belt is fastened, your seat back is upright and your tray-table is stowed. At Veritas Airways, your safety is our first priority. Actually, that is not quite true: if it were, our seats would be rear-facing, like those in military aircraft, since they are safer in the event of an emergency landing. But then hardly anybody would buy our tickets and we would go bust.
Your life-jacket can be found under your seat, but please do not remove it now. In fact, do not bother to look for it at all. In the event of a landing on water, an unprecedented miracle will have occurred, because in the history of aviation the number of wide-bodied aircraft that have made successful landings on water is zero. This aircraft is equipped with inflatable slides that detach to form life rafts, not that it makes any difference. Please remove high-heeled shoes before using the slides. We might as well add that space helmets and anti-gravity belts should also be removed, since even to mention the use of the slides as rafts is to enter the realm of science fiction.
Please switch off all mobile phones, since they can interfere with the aircraft’s navigation systems. At least, that’s what you’ve always been told. The real reason to switch them off is because they interfere with mobile networks on the ground, but somehow that doesn’t sound quite so good. On most flights a few mobile phones are left on by mistake, so if they were really dangerous we would not allow them on board at all, if you think about it..."
In many respects I see a parallel to the revolution of emerging churches. They are breaking down the traditions and barriers that we were programmed to believe for years, enabling churchgoers to worship freely.
They are giving it to us in a straight, unfiltered manner that engages us to want more.
4 comments:
I agree for the most part...I think some of the MC's (those that do not read their own pub), have exposed what traditional churches feel is absolute as a conviction (based on scripture not subjectivity). It is good for some but cannot be unilaterally applied to all.
I do worry about the Wal-Mart Supercenter effect, which again is recycling people and not baptizing the unchurched.
By far though, the MC's I follow are incredibly more missional than the standard...and that data point more than anything is cratering the old guard.
The MC comes with inherent challenges. Baptizing the unchurched, not being the least of them. Surely it is a huge challenge to get folks from their comfy seats watching the big screen to a "not so comfortable spot" (perhaps) in lifegroups where they can be held accountable, nurtured and allowed to grow grow grow spiritually, something they just cannot fully do in a pew. Having said that, I would not go back to what "once was" for my family for anything. I get rightfully frustrated at the challenges facing us at our MC. I get concerned when I see the numbers raising their hands vs. the numbers actually baptized. I get concerned when I see the numbes of folks attending experience times vs. the numbers we actually have in lifegroups. But for me personally, my answer to that has been to roll my sleeves up and try to be part of the solution. Sometimes it is one soul, one person, one troubled and hurting individual at a time. Effect 10 people, then keep mulitplying that if each of those 10 people have a spiritual impact on 10 others. The ripple effect of one person's Godly efforts can be dramatic. (2 Timothy 2:20-22) Yes, the MC has challenges in making this a "community of believers," in growing others and in baptizing more, (Colossians 2:11-13) (Romans 6:1-4). Nevertheless, I am glad that a few people who orginiated from very traditional backgrounds themselves had the courage to allow themselves to be used by God to take on this enormous task, allowing a place for my family to come and worship and grow without all those traditional hoops you have to jump through first. Acts 15:9-11 "He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? 11No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."
AND Mark 7:1-4
Judy Mc\
Judy finally makes a great point (just kidding).
While many Megachurches are growing in numbers - perhaps as a result of "giving it to us straight" - they are not without their own issues.
From the raising hand to disciple conversion rate, to reaching the un-churched, to getting people involved in lifegroups, missions, etc... they have their own issues.
However, traditional churches have these same issues - and have had them for years. That may indeed be part of the reason those who come from more traditional background are flocking to these churches because they see the truth - and it has set them free.
Finally shminley.
Whatever.
I like being in a place where what you wear on sunday morning is not so important as bringing glory to God. I like the analagy of the church wedding, where all eyes are on the bride. You know the one. Your wife, girlfriend or mother of the bride worries and frets for weeks about what she is wearing to the wedding, but when you actually get to the wedding, guess who everyone is looking at?? All eyes are on the bride. No one is so concerned about anyone or anything else. And so it goes in worship, (and baptism) no one should be so concerned and worried about who is taking up offering, whether to wear dresses or jeans, why or why not we should clap after baptisms, should women do live testimonials or should women teach the word?? All of this is that "yoke" that Peter talks about to the Christian leaders of the new testament church in Jerusalem in Acts 15. paraphrase: "you yourselves were not able to bear this yoke, but now you want to hang it on the necks of the gentiles...give me a break brothers."
"The bride eyes not her garment,
But her dear bridegroom's face;
I will not gaze at glory,
But on my King of grace,
I rest upon His merit,
I know no other stand:
The Lamb is all the glory
Of Emmanuel's land."
Anna Ross cousins (19th century)
I like a place where everyone just rolls their sleeves up, loves on the unlovely, spreads the joy of Christ around, and just plain goes to work. Isaiah said it best, when he said "here am I, send me.!" And in what context did Isaiah make this statement? In worship! Yeah, there are concerns with my MC; we have discussed many of them as a lifegroup. (and hopefully will continue to do so) I have moments where I truly wonder about the mission, the goals and the methods for carrying out those missions, and it is then when God says to me, "I have you right where I want you, do what I have for you to do, trust me and let Me get it right." Ultimately, it is God who gives me that peace. Meanwhile, I feel blessed to be here. Judy mc
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