Cultural Adaptation = Loss of Gospel Culture?

Over the past few years I have been fortunate to hold subscriptions to both Christianity Today and Christian Century magazines.  I don’t always do the best job staying on top of my stack of publications, but over the past two weeks I have carved out time during my day to browse through my collection and learn more about the current state of Christian world.  Over the next few days I’ll be commenting on a few of the articles I found intriguing.

First among the articles I found of note was a Christianity Today piece in the August 2009 (current) issue entitled, “Mega-mirror: Megachurches are not the answer or the problem.”  I grew up in a large church in an East Texas town, and have served as a volunteer or staff person in three different large churches since college.  The CT article briefly captures the ethos of the American megachurch, references recent studies that have grabbed headlines from major media outlets (such as this Hartford Institute For Religion Research report, “Not Who You Think They Are: The Real Story of People Who Attend America’s Megachurches”), and draws parallels to the ways overseas missionaries adapt themselves to the culture in which they minister so that they might share Christ.  In the same way for megachurches in this country, the CT article concedes that, “In corporate America, it may be necessary to use the ethos of marketing to gain a gospel hearing.”

This proposition has been, and continues to be, quite seductive.  In an effort to make inroads into the world of suburban, middle to upper professionals, church leaders have adapted the best techniques of the marketplace to build a constituency.  Most churches who have implemented marketing techniques have appealed most to the power-brokers of our communities, and, as the CT article acknowledges, have yielded success.  And I concede that this is a good thing.  But along the way, I have questioned whether such techniques, or means, in the end, can be justified by the type of person (Christian) that they produce.

After acknowledging that American megachurches have achieved some good by adapting themselves to the culture, CT issues a challenge.  CT returns to those missionaries working overseas, who, in cultures where polygamy was practiced, were willing to tolerate such an idea for the first generation, but by the second generation were working to teach fidelity between one husband and one wife in marriage.  The piece raises the question as to whether the cultural adaptations made by America’s megachurches to reach the masses have resulted in a loss of “gospel culture,” and challenges megachurch leaders to consider how their second generation ministries might shift away from business and consumer language.

CT cites a number of familiar but disturbing findings from the “Not Who You Think They Are” study (sponsored by Leadership Network), highlighting that megachurch attenders are:

• younger (young and single adults are more attracted to megachurches than to smaller churches);
• transient (nearly two-thirds have been in these churches fewer than five years); and
• passive (45 percent of them never volunteer at church).

CT states, “Spiritual consumerism is clearly one reason the megachurch attracts so many–and one reason many wonder what type of faith people are being discipled into.”

The CT article then takes an interesting turn.  The editors chose to cite that, when the data is analyzed more closely, it can be demonstrated that the megachurch is “more like a megaphone,” amplifying the reality of the American church as a whole.  The article states that most medium-sized and smaller churches “are not that much different in demographics,” and even goes so far to say that “many a small church chases after ‘strategies and programs’ that can ‘meet spiritual needs’ and ‘multiply effectiveness.’”  Stated differently, CT simply believes that “business culture” is far more dominant than “biblical culture” in our churches, and those pointing a finger at megachurches as either the problem or heralding them as the solution have failed to recognize systemic shortcomings that plague us all.  After challenging the reader to admit that all churches fall short of God’s glory, the article ends by saying, “Once we all admit that, the Spirit can start working with us to create a gospel culture in our churches.”

In response, I have to ask, “What exactly is a gospel culture?”

While the CT piece borderlines on being prophetic, in the end I was disappointed.  The reader was told that “business-like” and “consumer-driven” megachurch ministries are problematic.  But in the final three paragraphs it seemed as though those ministries, who in their second and third generations should be shifting toward a new ethos in ministry, are simply let off the hook underneath the umbrella of “we are all broken.”  It seems as though the CT article points to the reality that there is another way to think of ourselves ecclesiastically, and that there is another way for us to exist as the church in America that is in greater accord with the gospel, but, in the end, does not provide us with even a hint of how that might be accomplished.  We are only given the vague appeal for “gospel culture.”  I understand that there is an appeal to the Spirit, but the writer(s) also say that the Spirit will “work with us.”  So, what are we to do?

When I have engaged in discussions with large-church leaders (and even smaller church leaders) who are extremely market-driven I have found that the greatest limitation to their ability to move beyond the “salesmanship” mentality is either that of imagination or that of faith.  Many leaders do not believe that a message that is unsensational or lacking in hype will result in the growth of the church.  Without cool graphic work, excellent promotional videos, or email marketing heralding the next thing at the church as “the most exciting and best thing we have ever done,” there is a fear that people will be bored, they will disengage, and they will be lost forever, as though the work of bringing people to Jesus had everything to do with the leader and their ability to manipulate the environment, and little to do with the power and grace of God.

If the CT article is right, that “Each American church in its own way has been co-opted and fallen short of the glory of God,” I pray that we as leaders would have the imagination and the faith to dream that things can be different, and rather than throw up our hands in despair, continuing on in our old patterns, I pray that we would begin to work toward what a gospel culture might truly be, acknowledging that a result resembling that dream would not be to our own glory, but to the One who called us and sustains us.

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Who did Jesus come for, anyway?

Jesus didn’t come for a bunch of suburbanite, yuppie, right wing, judgmental [people].  Jesus came for the disenfranchised, people who lived by faith because that was all that they had.
 –Dude I overheard in a coffee shop talking postmodernism, Donald Miller, and Christianity

So who did Jesus come for, anyway?

Once a week I spend a significant amount of time in a coffee shop.  My visit (during which I enjoy an Americano and a blueberry muffin) precedes a weekly meeting I have with a friend of mine who is a college student.  During my time in public space I overhear a conversation or two, and every once and while the content is fascinating.  I’m sure you have had this experience.

Today I overheard a patron discussing Jesus with the espresso jockey behind the bar, with the conversation inspired due to a book carried by the customer–Donald Miller’s Searching for God Knows What (which I’ve read, and thought quite good).  The coffee shop I’m currently at is seated in the midst of a suburb of Kansas City.  There is considerable financial wealth in the area, a number of growing (and very large) churches, the population is predominantly white, and there is no lack of amenities.  While I know that this area is not devoid of tragedy and heartbreak (I used to live in an apartment complex nearby and came to know a few of my neighbors), the people who live here have it pretty good.

The quote listed above is significant in light of this data, for the persons being cast down by the customer I overheard were essentially those all around the establishment receiving my patronage today.  The gentleman who uttered this quote was anglo, dressed rather hip, and seemed to have the financial means to be doing pretty well.  He was paying an above average price for an espresso beverage, anyway.  While he was discussing those who Jesus clearly came for, I reflected on my own theology and wondered if my own inclinations toward the poor have resulted in a snobbery toward those who are rich.

There is no doubt that many of the empires some churches have established in suburbia are collecting the tithe to support a staff, maintain a facility, and upgrade fancy programs for existing church ministries.  It is not true of all churches, however.  It is also true that some church members are so consumed with keeping up with the Joneses in their neighborhoods that they neglect the poor.  But it is not true of all church members who have affluence.  It is very difficult to speak generally about “suburbanite, yuppie, right wing, judgmental” Christian people, for we are talking about people after all–people who are diverse, possess varying degrees of seriousness regarding their own Christian maturity, and who have received varying degrees of attentive, helpful discipling over the course of their life as followers of Jesus.  Besides, even if many of these people in an affluent area of suburban Kansas City fall short of many Christian ideals (and they do), did Jesus not come for these people as well?

Even the rich, yuppie, suburbanite can be redeemed.  And even the rich, yuppie suburbanite can do great things for the Kingdom if they become generous, compassionate, and mindful of those who are poor.

I think the biblical and historical data, when taken comprehensively, show that Jesus came for both the rich and the poor, men and women, slave and free, Jews and Gentiles, Republicans and Democrats, Chiefs and Raiders fans.  In fact, I can’t find a people group for whom Jesus did not come.  The God Christians worship is a God who possesses deep concern for the poorest of his children, yes, but in order to address their suffering, frustrations, and hardship, the gospel enlists those who are rich for God’s righteous mission.  John Wesley was right to express concern for those in his movement who began to amass wealth–those who submitted themselves to the rule of a holy community began to become regarded as hard working, honest, diligent, and trustworthy, and economically they prospered.  Wesley felt that wealth endangered the soul, but nevertheless recognized the opportunity to parlay that wealth into blessing.  Thus the dictum commonly attributed to Wesley, “Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, to all the souls you can, in every place you can, at all the times you can, with all the zeal you can, as long as ever you can.”

I’ll close with two stories.  A friend of mine in her twenties has devoted the last several years to serving the poor in one of the major urban centers of America.  She has discipled other young people to care for and remember the poor, and invested in a number of church groups in hope of instilling virtue in a generation of Christians currently being trained to live the holy life that includes a heart for justice.  Along the way she has gathered innumerable stories of hope, love, and joy while working among the poor.  She has seen God present while living alongside the poor.

Another friend of mine has spent the last several years working among the rich, proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ.  She has worked to move individuals toward generosity, service with and to the poor, and an increasing life of simplicity.  She has heard many stories of people who have given up on accumulating more stuff, have dedicated time to serve the poor, and have shared their experience of working among the least of these with friends and family members, resulting in a larger number of people who wish to join in the care of the poor.  She has heard stories of God’s blessing toward those who are rich as they have joined in God’s mission, and rejoiced.

It is currently faddish to decry the rich in the name of the poor, but Jesus came to redeem us all.  The rich from our greed (I consider myself quite rich since I have a house, car, and little want).  And the poor from the tyranny of wondering where the next meal will come from, where money for the heating bill will materialize from, and if their children will ever grow to be happy.  Our concern should be for all.  Our lives should give witness to the truth.  Our hope should be in Christ.  And our hands should be about his work.

God save us all.

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Fishing :: A Saturday Meditation

Something within fishermen tries to make fishing into a world perfect and apart–I don’t know what it is or where, because sometimes it is in my arms and sometimes in my throat and sometimes nowhere in particular except somewhere deep.  Many of us probably would be better fishermen if we did not spend more time watching and waiting for the world to become perfect.
–Norman Maclean, A River Runs Through It 

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”  
–Mark 1:17

I grew up fishing.  My dad is a fisherman, as was his father before him.  You could say that I am a fisherman, and the son of a fisherman.  I have many great memories of being on the lake, river, or a small pond situated on a piece of farmland.  My discipleship in the art of fishing began with a Snoopy rod.  I’ve since advanced, though not much.

The words above from Norman Maclean are beautiful words.  They are also true.  Fishing is an art that requires patience, technique, experiential knowledge, and a little luck.  Presentation, lure selection, and casting location can all be precise, yet every outing is an adventure that comes with no guarantee of success.  You can have partly cloudy skies, clear waters, perfect temperatures, and been the first to hit the water, yet have your first cast come up a tangle of line or your first setting of the hook come up with a old sunken tire.  Even when conditions turn out perfect, in fishing perfection is fleeting.

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

As Maclean states above, “Many of us would probably be better fishermen if we did not spend more time watching and waiting for the world to become perfect.”  I can’t imagine what my life of fishing would have been like if we would have only set out when all conditions were perfect, or only cast our line into the water on those moments when all was just right.  If fishing hinged on perfect conditions, it would’ve been a rare day for us to make it into the water.  It wasn’t uncommon for my dad and I to arrive at the boat ramp later than he would’ve liked thanks to my desire for a breakfast taquito from Whataburger.  Every spring when we first put the boat in the water there was no guarantee the engine would start.  Depending on the condition of dad’s aluminum bottom boat, there were seasons in which we would have to gauge the amount of water we were taking on so that we could take a guess concerning how much time we had left on the water before we were in danger of sinking.  One of my greatest memories with my dad and Gramps was being on the lake as a light sprinkle set in.  Being just a small boy, I thought every raindrop was a fish disturbing the surface of the water.  That moment is burned in to my memory.

When I read Maclean’s words I not only thought of my lifetime of fishing, but I thought of my lifetime of discipleship to Jesus.  I stopped and pondered the words.  I considered how Jesus had called a handful of fishermen to be included among his close knit band of followers, and how for each of these young men a lifetime of fishing experience lent perspective to what Jesus had called them to be and to do.  How often might it have been that conditions presented themselves perfect for the type of fishing to which Simon Peter, Andrew, and the brothers Zebedee had been called to by Jesus?  I’m guessing not often.

How often have I, as someone who has worked directly and indirectly in church leadership, longed for perfect conditions under which to fish?

• “If only the people were…”
• “If only the community were not so…”
• “If only I were not so busy…”
• “If only I had preached a better sermon or taught a better lesson…”
• “If only the world were not so corrupt…”

That world for which we long that is “perfect and apart” is called Kingdom, the reality which has come and is coming.  While Jesus calls us to be fishers of people it is only natural that our eschatological hopes would birth a longing “somewhere deep” for all of creation to be made new.  Yet it is in the time between the times in which we now stand, patient yet expectant, putting our hands to the work we have been given and in the process becoming men and women who fish with a greater degree of skill.  The fact that the world is not perfect is what makes discipleship to Jesus so compelling.  Without conditions that fall short of perfection, we’d be robbed of the beauty of grace and redemption.

Instead of watching and waiting for the world to become perfect, we cast our line in the midst of an imperfect world with the hopeful expectancy which comes through the gospel of Jesus Christ, knowing that the adventure which awaits is one worth the risk of losing our lives in order to find it.

God grant me the grace to face the chaos of the waters.

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