I’ve been having some ongoing conversations with a buddy of mine centered on how we can reach the young people of our community. In so doing it is quickly becoming apparent that the way we’ve been trying to “do church” for so long is just not working any more. It’s time to start asking some new questions:
I found these in Reggie McNeal’s book, Practicing Greatness: 7 Disciplines of Extraordinary Spiritual Leaders. I’ll admit, the title sounds like only so much emergent baloney at the moment but the questions are spot on and I plan to give this one a read.
Wrong question: How do we “do church” better?
Tough question: How do we “be church” better? Or how do we deconvert from “churchianity” (institutional religion) to Christianity (the movement)?Wrong question: How do we grow this church?
Tough question: How do we serve this community?Wrong question: How do we develop ministers for the church?
Tough question: How do we develop missionaries to the culture?Wrong question: How do we develop church members?
Tough question: How do we develop followers of Jesus?Wrong question: How do we plan for the future we see?
Tough question: How do we prepare for the future God sees?Wrong question: How do we develop leaders for church work?
Tough question: How do we develop leaders for the Christian movement?
