I am re-reading the book "The Wounded Healer" by Henri Nouwen and it is cutting me deep. I am challenged by his words as he implores his readers to consider the culture, technology, and philosophy that is infecting the hearts of humanity. He asks the hard question "what does it mean to be a minister to this arising generation?"
Well, this generation has arisen and that very question is being asked all over the globe. What does it mean to minister to this generation? All around we hear the muttered question "is it relevant?" and pastors, prophets, and Popes are turning to the People of Darkness to ask them what would be the best way for the People of Light to act in order to maintain the illusion that the Church is evangelizing without fear of butting heads.
Now, I do not believe that intentionally butting heads is a proper alternative, nor do I believe that making the Church conform its practices to the petty selfishness of western culture is the accurate response either. To go to either extreme is foolish and a misrepresentation of the Gospel of Christ.
I found that I needed to stop, take a step back, and look at the whole of my actions and beliefs and look for the discontinuity between the two. I am utterly guilty of living out a broken gospel. I learned the hard way what was needed out of the ministers of today. Not fiery messages about eternity, not pleas to support a foreign government, not lessons on the importance of tithing, not fancy lights and energetic music that reflects the style of the age, or the cliche advisement to pray and to read. What good is reading without understanding, a job without training, or action without wisdom to give guidance?
Do not misunderstand. I am not suggesting that Christian Rap or Christian Rock, or whatever Christianized genre you listen to is wrong. Nonetheless, I could argue that the poor quality found within them is far more sinful than anything I've heard on Top 40 radio in the past 5 years.
What the Church needs is for her leaders to wake up to the needs of the body. The body is sick and the physicians are too busy trying to revive the dead rather than heal the sick trying to stay alive. The culture is screaming out for answers and understanding, but what words have we when we refuse to engage in our own lives and dive deep into the inner self and to navigate the darkness in our souls? What hope can we possibly give to those suffering from shadow when we ignore our own shadows and pretend that all that is within us is Light?
We are not Light! Christ is our Light and we are to become Light, but instead of moving our hearts to a place of reflection and meditation, we shame those of discipline and accuse the contemplative of being ineffective in the World.
I now seek to live this more contemplative life. It is the only way that I can truly engage with those in Darkness, to those in need of answers and guidance, to those in need of Christ.
I believe it's time to reevaluate our understanding of Christ's command to be "in the world but not of it." We are not only of the World...we are far too disconnected to be remotely "in it."
It's time for the Church to be real, not relevant.
Grace and Peace,
Stephen
Well, this generation has arisen and that very question is being asked all over the globe. What does it mean to minister to this generation? All around we hear the muttered question "is it relevant?" and pastors, prophets, and Popes are turning to the People of Darkness to ask them what would be the best way for the People of Light to act in order to maintain the illusion that the Church is evangelizing without fear of butting heads.
Now, I do not believe that intentionally butting heads is a proper alternative, nor do I believe that making the Church conform its practices to the petty selfishness of western culture is the accurate response either. To go to either extreme is foolish and a misrepresentation of the Gospel of Christ.
I found that I needed to stop, take a step back, and look at the whole of my actions and beliefs and look for the discontinuity between the two. I am utterly guilty of living out a broken gospel. I learned the hard way what was needed out of the ministers of today. Not fiery messages about eternity, not pleas to support a foreign government, not lessons on the importance of tithing, not fancy lights and energetic music that reflects the style of the age, or the cliche advisement to pray and to read. What good is reading without understanding, a job without training, or action without wisdom to give guidance?
Do not misunderstand. I am not suggesting that Christian Rap or Christian Rock, or whatever Christianized genre you listen to is wrong. Nonetheless, I could argue that the poor quality found within them is far more sinful than anything I've heard on Top 40 radio in the past 5 years.
What the Church needs is for her leaders to wake up to the needs of the body. The body is sick and the physicians are too busy trying to revive the dead rather than heal the sick trying to stay alive. The culture is screaming out for answers and understanding, but what words have we when we refuse to engage in our own lives and dive deep into the inner self and to navigate the darkness in our souls? What hope can we possibly give to those suffering from shadow when we ignore our own shadows and pretend that all that is within us is Light?
We are not Light! Christ is our Light and we are to become Light, but instead of moving our hearts to a place of reflection and meditation, we shame those of discipline and accuse the contemplative of being ineffective in the World.
I now seek to live this more contemplative life. It is the only way that I can truly engage with those in Darkness, to those in need of answers and guidance, to those in need of Christ.
I believe it's time to reevaluate our understanding of Christ's command to be "in the world but not of it." We are not only of the World...we are far too disconnected to be remotely "in it."
It's time for the Church to be real, not relevant.
Grace and Peace,
Stephen
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