DISCIPLESHIP (Part 2)

I want to follow up my previous blogpost with some further ideas and reflections on discipleship that come from a six hour symposium Pastor Bruce and I took at the Pacific Southwest Conference annual meeting last month. (Bruce already preached a powerful sermon using some of this material--remember the applause?!) The symposium was entitled: “Ministry To/By/With the Next Generation” and included five presenters--all young church planters and ministers in our conference--and a moderator, Doug Stevens. The central question it asked (which was also the central question and challenge of Bruce’s sermon) was this: are we going to be a church for the next generation, or a church that only wants to live long enough to bury its present members? We all laughed at that, didn’t we? And I’m sure we all answered “yes” to the first proposal. However, the critical issue for us is whether we are willing to follow through and take the challenging, uncomfortable, even painful steps necessary to be a church that is responsive to and inclusive of the next generation we say we want to reach. In reality, older churches tend to avoid and resist the enormous and difficult work it takes to become a congregation that embodies the priorities and perspectives, values and views of young people today. This generation comes at almost everything in such hugely different ways than we who are older, so it’s hard to even grasp a lot of what they are about! When it comes to discipleship, and the components of evangelism, mission, and “the gospel” which are all formative parts of becoming a disciple of Jesus, the understanding and approach is very different from what we older folks grew up believing and proposing. Here are some things that the symposium leaders shared regarding the “big picture” of outreach and discipleship, in no particular order:
---------------
Conversation is a requirement in communicating anything to this generation. They want to share themselves--and to be heard! We must try to hear their story. Criticism and judgement will cut off communication in an instant. Vulnerability is a strength. Authenticity is required.

There is skepticism over truth. Moral relativism and religious pluralism are the norm for this generation. It is difficult for them to claim the exclusivity of Christ, and if they are pushed too hard and fast about this, they find it very offensive.

Belonging has priority over believing; this generation’s beliefs are based on where they belong (to the group they are a part of). “Boomers” and those of us who are older grew up with the perspective: behave - believe - belong. This thinking and approach must be reversed to reach young people today. Relationship is essential, above everything else. These young people are desperately seeking authentic community, where “people on the fringes” are included. There is a thirst for intimacy and a craving for purpose.

Evangelism is a process, not a moment or event. Spirituality is seen as a journey. Same with conversion (ex. John 1:36-2:11 - “Come and see!” Follow and experience... a. the disciples meet Jesus, not religion b. they live together as they follow Jesus c. their belief increases as they see his glory). We tend to want the “Amen!” in evangelism! To get results (conversions) immediately. We have equated this with being real disciples.

This generation has a deep attraction to Jesus, but not to religion and institutionalized forms of faith. “The Church” is seen as heavy and oppressive, yet there is a hunger for awe and fear of God. We need to be deeply theological to get Jesus--and the Scriptures--into this generation. These young people are open and ready. Theology can be freeing!

We must approach this generation as a “missiologist” would, trying to understand their culture in all its multi-faceted dimensions. For the gospel is never devoid of cultural context. We need to think as missionaries! To contextualize the gospel and present it in relevant cultural garb. To speak in the language of this generation. Art and media are important (non-cognitive). The gospel penetrates all barriers (ex. John 3 and 4: the learned Nicodemus and the regular woman at the well...) There are huge implications involved in doing this. Most people--and churches--prefer to just say and do everything the way we have always done it and said it, and hope for the best (for the results we desire). No; we need to act and speak in the manner and language of the culture we want to reach.

Three shifts in disciple-making: a. from event to process b. from impersonal to personal c. from rational to embodied apologetics. Event-oriented evangelism is not effective anymore, because Christendom is gone. 20th century models of evangelism were impersonal; now friendship is indispensible. “Hit and Run” or “Bait and Switch” presentations of the gospel do more damage and create intense anger in people today. We need the “Taste and See” approach; the way Jesus paired his actions with what he declared. This is an embodied approach to evangelism: the gospel proclaimed and lived out.

Rational apologetics are no longer the first foot forward in making the faith real. In the past, the question has been: Is Christianity true? The credibility question... Today there is a prior question: Might Christianity be true? The plausibility question... We need to stop the incessant talk about objective truth! Christianity is about embodied witness--and an embodied witness/apologetic only works if people begin to look like Jesus. Enacted faith (salt and light, care of widows, right and good behavior, etc.). There needs to be a difference in content and in tone in how we go about sharing faith today.

An Embodied Apologetic addresses a Longing through a specific Ministry Structure

An Embodied Apologetic is:
experiential - communal - enacted

Meeting the Longing for:
transcendence - community - purpose

Through specific Ministry Structures:
worship gathering (experiential apologetic) - small groups, hospitality - compassion/justice - in groups!

There is a critical need for spiritual formation today, not just “evangelism.” In reality, discipleship and evangelism are inseparable! Because evangelism is not just about a “ticket to heaven.” We need a wholistic approach to the gospel today, always relating it to mission. This will connect with today’s generation. Also, as we lead people into deeper spiritual formation, it is imperative that we build in supernatural power too (prayer, Holy Spirit, direction and leading). We also must be excited about how God is leading in new ways! This doesn’t mean that the old ways were bad or wrong or no good either.
---------------
That’s a lot, isn’t it? And isn’t it interesting? Challenging? Maybe a bit intimidating--but also extremely exciting? What do you hear in what the presenters shared with Bruce and me? Does anything new come to mind? Do you see any kind of difference in the dynamics and perspective that are necessary for us to reach this generation--to be a church for the next generation--compared to how we “are” as Hilmar Covenant Church today? Do you agree with the presenters? Remember, these are Covenant pastors and leaders “in the trenches!” They are ministering specifically to this “next generation” in various places in our conference. They are dealing with all of these issues and realities in very practical, day-to-day, ways. Do you think we are exempt from these dynamics and influences in Hilmar? Do you agree that some pretty radical re-thinking and approaches are going to have to be forthcoming here in our church if we are going to be a church for the next generation?

Next week: what I think the implications of this information might be for the future of the Church, and for our church, Hilmar Covenant...