DISCIPLESHIP (Part 3 - Final)

Change is difficult. Ain’t that the truth!! At our recent staff retreat, Al Forsman pointed out that in any group or organization facing new vision and change, only 2.5% of the people are “innovators,” meaning those who grasp the necessity of change and eagerly and immediately embrace new means and modes to make the necessary changes in order to move ahead. 2.5%! That’s all! And then only another 13.5% of the people are “early adaptors,” meaning those who are willing to move ahead once they understand what’s happening. That’s a total of 16% of a group that is on the edge of early change; who seem to quickly grasp the reality of their situation as it is and are able to both realize and accept the changes that are required in order for the group to move ahead, be transformed, and survive.

But how can any organization change with such a small minority of willing participants?

This is the situation facing most established churches in the West today--not just America, but England, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. It is a consistent fact that churches like ours are in decline. Some congregations have made attempts to change, to revitalize, to restructure, but the overall track record is very poor. Why is this? Referencing Alan Hirsch from his book “The Forgotten Ways,” it is because churches don’t restructure the basic, most essential systems that are intrinsic to them. Just restructuring the organization, or the programs, or how a group wants to be perceived, while leaving the systems in place, will not bring lasting change to the organization. When it comes to the Church’s mission today, and how that mission is carried out, what is called for is “a radical re-think about the actual mode of the Church’s engagement.”

This, I think, is what the seminar at the conference annual meeting was addressing: the radical “re-think” that the Church today must embrace in order to be the Church for the next generation. The need for a crucial restructuring of the systems that are the essence of any church or organization. Without proactively and willingly doing so, we might tinker with surface issues like programs, outreach strategies, or how we want to be perceived by the community--but as Hirsch points out, this will not bring about the lasting change that is required. And most likely, we will default to “status quo;” to simply continue doing more of what we’ve been doing all along. In the words of Alan Hirsch, “Our organizations need to be re-evangelized!” Quoting another reference, Hirsch adds: “Following Jesus into the mission field is either impossible or extremely difficult for the vast majority of congregations in the Western world because of one thing: They have a systems story that will not allow them to take the first step out of the institution (remember this word!) into the mission field, even though the mission field is just outside the door of the organization.” To me, the truth of this statement is obvious because of the reality of the facts facing us: Western churches are in decline, and it is fair to say that this is because we have misplaced our priorities, neglected our discipleship-making responsibilities, and lost the focus of our mission as Christ’s body on earth.

But the good news in all of this is that there is hope! The Church can be revitalized! People can change! Glimpses of this reality are appearing all across the world, through the house church movement, new church planting, mulitcultural congregations, fresh and relevant understandings and approaches to evangelism and mission and “good news,” a renewed and stronger commitment to live out our faith in action--not divorcing faith from works any longer--through acts of compassion, mercy, and justice, to recover what the early evangelicals always held: that conversion to Jesus Christ is about much more than going to heaven, but about making a difference in the world! Being God’s agents in bringing His Kingdom to our communities (“on earth as it is in heaven”).

During a recent worship service, we went into small groups and discussed the verses in Acts 2 that describe the early Church as a “fellowship of believers.” Perhaps it is the attitudes and actions described here that can help us get deep down into the systems--the ecclesial modes--that everything else we do is built upon. For example, look at the first three descriptions in verse 42: devoted to teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. Can we say that these are essential parts of our congregation? Yes, we practice them to some degree, but are they essential to us; to our very lives? How much a part do these play in the overall fabric of Hilmar Covenant Church? How intentional are we together in practicing these three descriptions, and in allowing them to form us into committed disciples of Jesus? (Not just individually--for of course there are individuals in our church who are focused on these realities!) Or is our church such that most of what we are and do is a function of the institution (there it is!) of “Church,” which itself is based on the larger system scheme that existed for centuries: Christendom? Far from streamlining and simplifying how a group functions and is organized, institutionalization creates layers of bureaucracy, responibilities, and maintenance procedures that detract from the main reason and purpose that a group exists. In the case of the Church, mission is our purpose! Continually pursuing Christ’s priorities in the world! Throughout Scripture, warnings and critiques abound about the institutionalizing of religion that so easily develops over time, especially against the ritualization of the relationship between God and His people and the expression of that relationship in everyday life. God is always about renewal, reform, and continuing conversion. He is never about “status quo,” being settled, comfortable--all of the atrophying, calcifyng, enfeebling elements that mark our individualistic culture (including the Christian culture in the West) and rob us of the vigor and delight, the amazement and adventure that God wants for our lives each and every day!

I can’t say that I have all the answers--at least not any simplistic, “5 Easy Steps” solutions that will make all of this happen quickly and effortlessly for us at HCC. I can say that I am wrestling with many ideas, observations, and insights that are coming from a variety of sources and individuals regarding what the Church must become if it is going to be at all viable in the next 20 years. In the upcoming “Veritas” seminar on September 6th (mark the date on your calendars!), you will hear that what is needed are “healthy missional churches.” “Healthy” means pursuing Christ. “Missional” means pursuing Christ’s priorities in the world. Sounds simple--but it is the manner in which this definition is fleshed out that is challenging, difficult (for older, established churches like ours), even painful. I believe, though, that this is what the Holy Spirit is calling us to embrace and to become.

It excites me more than I can say!

And it makes me want to hang around Hilmar Covenant for years to come and be a part of the transformation of our congregation!