I first came across this video last year on a friend's blog.
Though I laugh when I watch it, I also feel twinges of sadness. I believe that the church has tried to be relevant in ways that have actually made us look foolish.
I heard someone say recently that as soon as the church tries to become relevant, they actually become irrelevant.
Some try to market and package the church to bring out the youth. They want to appear cutting edge so that young people will flock to the youth groups where they can play lots of games and maybe hear a few words about Jesus. I remember sitting in a "fun filled" youth group that was a mile wide and an inch deep! People flocked to the game nights and activities and the Bible nights looked like a prayer service...only a faithful few in attendance.
All this talk on relevance is really a re-packaged church growth seminar.
Is this what Jesus called us to?
Jesus spoke truth, showed love and listened to the Heavenly Father. He prayed lots, healed many and ate with sinners.
Jesus didn't try to be relevant. He wasn't just focused on the here and now but on all of eternity.
I am not saying we shouldn't focus on reaching each generation in a way they can relate to.
However, I do feel that if we focus on the Father and listen to His voice, we will reach this generation far more easily than we would if we tried to make ourselves "market savvy".
Young people can sniff out phoniness faster than an adult can get their DVD players to work.
I believe the best way to reach EACH generation is found in Ephesians 5:1-2, "Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma."
Just be real. It truly is the best way to be relevant!
"What if Starbucks Marketed like the Church?"
Though I laugh when I watch it, I also feel twinges of sadness. I believe that the church has tried to be relevant in ways that have actually made us look foolish.
I heard someone say recently that as soon as the church tries to become relevant, they actually become irrelevant.
Some try to market and package the church to bring out the youth. They want to appear cutting edge so that young people will flock to the youth groups where they can play lots of games and maybe hear a few words about Jesus. I remember sitting in a "fun filled" youth group that was a mile wide and an inch deep! People flocked to the game nights and activities and the Bible nights looked like a prayer service...only a faithful few in attendance.
All this talk on relevance is really a re-packaged church growth seminar.
Is this what Jesus called us to?
Jesus spoke truth, showed love and listened to the Heavenly Father. He prayed lots, healed many and ate with sinners.
Jesus didn't try to be relevant. He wasn't just focused on the here and now but on all of eternity.
I am not saying we shouldn't focus on reaching each generation in a way they can relate to.
However, I do feel that if we focus on the Father and listen to His voice, we will reach this generation far more easily than we would if we tried to make ourselves "market savvy".
Young people can sniff out phoniness faster than an adult can get their DVD players to work.
I believe the best way to reach EACH generation is found in Ephesians 5:1-2, "Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma."
Just be real. It truly is the best way to be relevant!
3 comments:
the problem is that we think "the doing" is what needs to be "relevant" - the truth is the "message", the "Gospel" is already relevant - it is what we need to be present, and we can be creative about how we present it, but we need to actually present the hard and beautiful truth of scripture.
Your friend must have a good blog! =D
@herbhalstead - I would agree with that.
@4thpoint - yeah not too shabby!
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