The Christian faith has been marked by conflicts between reform
movements and the establishment from the very beginning (consider Paul and the
Judaizers). Without a doubt, the Spirit
of God tends to move in unusual and often chaotic ways. For
the most part, reform movements through the centuries have started outside of
the established church. These include the
monastic orders, Protestantism, mission societies, and even theological
education.
They don’t stay outside the church for very long,
however. The church always attempts to
institutionalize these movements and bring them under the wing of the establishment. The church needs the enthusiasm and fresh
insights of these movements to provide both vitality and new direction. Of course, when this happens, the reform movements
tend to become organized, controlled, and domesticated.
The trend continues today and has actually accelerated
due to the social and technological resources available to spiritual entrepreneurs. There a number of entrepreneurial
organizations that are doing things in a new way, thus seeking to “reform” the
church and adapt its mission and ministry to a new culture. We see this in “moderate” or progressive
Baptist life with the news agencies, social action and education groups,
mission organizations, and theological institutions that have been created to support
churches that have broken with an old way of doing things.
There is still a desire among many to regulate or control
these entities, absorbing their strength, but also domesticating them and sapping
some of their vitality. Is there any way
to break this cycle? Is there a new model that will encourage cooperation,
collegiality, and community without domestication?
For this to happen, we must not only be creative but
willing to live with some level of discomfort and ambiguity. In The Monkey and Fish
, pastor and
third-culture proponent Dave Gibbons says, “I need to learn to embrace chaos
better, because movements of God are marked by chaos.” As the various movements of the Spirit
manifest themselves today and in the future, we will be increasingly challenged
to learn that lesson.
, pastor and
third-culture proponent Dave Gibbons says, “I need to learn to embrace chaos
better, because movements of God are marked by chaos.” As the various movements of the Spirit
manifest themselves today and in the future, we will be increasingly challenged
to learn that lesson.
Comments