In PART I I explored these attributes:
·
They Walk the Walk but don't
Talk the Talk
·
They don't like labels
·
They don't do Nostalgia as
we do
Let’s look at some other attributes. In particular, consider your
children, grandchildren, friends and neighbours, and see if you agree with
these.
4 : They want
something that works
The old children's song goes, 'Jesus
loves me this I know, for the bible tells me so'. Along with love, truth is
seen as a hallmark of Christian faith. However, people today are less likely to
ask "is it true?" They are more likely to ask "does it
work?" People are attracted more to those who live an authentic Christian
life rather than someone who tells you what you should believe. To put it
another way, people trust authenticity more than authority.
Today truth is relative and people
who claim to profess absolute truth are viewed with suspicion. It’s only right
that people should question what the Bible says and the claims it makes. James
3:17 says this, ‘But the wisdom from
above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and
good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity.’ Open to reason means that
you can argue with it, pull it apart, meditate long and hard over it but in the
end, God's truth will speak to you through the still small voice of the Spirit.
5 : They are choice-driven
Most of us take a trip to a
supermarket each week for the weekly shop. We probably take it for granted that
for each item we buy, there are 3 or 4 alternatives waiting to be chosen.
Choice is a given today. I drive a
Ford but there's no law which says that everyone should do the same. And yet,
the culture in many churches is a one-size-fits-all
approach. The preacher decides the hymns, the readings, the theme and how long
the whole thing will last. Who would think of going for a meal in a restaurant
where you are given a menu with a single choice on it?
People today are much more
discerning about what they choose. They don't see one religion as having the
whole truth and may well dip into various religions or spiritualities. We used
to give this approach the name New Age
- a pick and mix approach to faith and life-style. Many today turn to yoga or
tai chi to aid their mental and spiritual wellbeing and yet these used to be
banned in church - still are in some. I
will write in a later bulletin how we might cater better for this choice-driven
or consumerist culture.
6 : They support
causes, not institutions
Every year, millions of pounds are
raised for Children in Need and Red Nose Day. Similarly, vast sums of money
have been donated to the poorer countries of the world through Live Aid. And
yet, in some churches, they still pass around the plate so that people can drop
their offerings in to support the upkeep of the institution. What would a young
21st century person with no prior experience of church make of that? Are they
tempted to ask ‘do you take Master Card?’ or ‘can I use Paypal?’ Does the use
of a collection plate convey the message that the church is forward-thinking
and engaging with the issues of today’s world?
People are more likely to give
generously to a cause which they believe in and can be seen to make a positive
difference rather than donating into an amorphous pot of money which is used to
keep the show on the road. How often have you heard the preacher explain where
the money will be used before the collection is received?
For discussion:
4. ‘The Bible tells me so’ – how do you
respond to this phrase?
a. … in matters of science like the
creation of the world
b. … in matters of life-style like
co-habitation and marriage
5. We are a consumerist society – is
this a good or bad thing?
6. Do you know where the collection
goes and how well it is used?
a. Are there better ways of allowing
people to contribute to the church financially?
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