Signs of Hope for the Church: Innovation

My former pastor Mike Smith once said something to the effect, “Don’t say that Baptists have never done a certain thing. Baptists have done a lot of things they may not be doing now.” This is true of the church at large. Every form of ministry was at one time new and untried.

In a missional church class several years ago, students helped me to see that innovation happens in the church in response to a cultural need, the innovation matures and become institutionalized, and then society changes and innovation is needed once again. In reality, the church must always be in the process of renewal.

This is not to say that innovation is quickly accepted. Once a practice becomes established in the life of the church, change is hard if not impossible. One reason is that change is uncomfortable. Another is that each practice has someone willing to fight for its continuity even if it no longer works.

Innovation is not easy, but reality eventually dawns and I believe more churches are becoming open to trying different methodologies as part of the mission Dei. How can we encourage innovation in the life of the church?

First, we must know what is essential and what is not. What are the basics of faith and practice and what is negotiable? These are hard conversations, but just because we have always made certain statements and done things one way does not mean that these are central to our theology. The scriptures do not tell us when to worship but we are encouraged to do so. Eleven o’clock on Sunday morning may be an accepted time for worship but it is not biblical!

Second, we must exegete our culture and understand the opportunities there for ministry. Our example is Paul the Apostle, who never abandoned his faith in Christ, but was willing to use his knowledge of the Greek and Roman cultures to clearly articulate the Gospel while building on the Jewish practices of mutual support to establish new faith communities. His innovations provided a way to penetrate first century culture with the Christian faith.

Third, we must recognize the gifts and skills of those within our fellowship that broaden and strengthen our ministry. God sends our way those needed to build up the body of Christ. Whether clergy or laity, we must unleash their abilities in order to engage our context.

Fourth, we must listen to the outsiders and neophytes. If we truly want to make an impact in our community, we will listen to the voices of those outside our fellowship and tap into their expertise. New believers or those who are new to our fellowship also offer valuable insight. Why did they choose to join us? What do they see with “fresh eyes” that we have overlooked?

The mission of God was instituted by a creative God, one who continually surprises us with love and provision. As God’s people, we must be follow that example.

Comments

Check these out

Confessions of a Recovering Southern Baptist

I am grateful for my heritage as a Southern Baptist. I was exposed to the Bible and worship from a very young age. I grew up in a church in south Alabama that supported the Cooperative Program of missions giving. This meant that our church had the benefit of being part of a supportive group of local churches and the educational opportunities that afforded. Our state convention provided varied and effective ministries with groups like orphans, ethnic groups, and college students. We supported missionaries at home and abroad. We had good Bible study and training literature (which we paid for, of course). I went to an accredited seminary and paid a remarkably low tuition. Wherever you went on a Sunday morning (in the Southeast and Southwest, at least), you could find a church that sang the familiar hymns and studied the same Bible lesson. In hindsight, I realize that this Southern Baptist utopia was imperfect. There were significant theological differences, often geograp

The Bible Tells Me So

As I read the story of the Good Samaritan during my devotional today, I was reminded of the times that I have heard the story in the Christian education setting of the local church--as a youngster in primary and intermediate classes (old terminology), as a young adult in college classes, and then as an adult, often teaching the passage myself. The characters and story line are very familiar due to these experiences of Christian education. These are challenging times for Christian education in the church. Like so much of what is happening in the church today, the old forms do not seem to support present needs. What once worked no longer seems to be effective. Christian education or the formation of believers is in a state of flux. In an article on ethicsdaily.com , retired professor Colin Harris addresses this issue. He points out that the period of the 60’s and 70’s “saw the beginnings of a loss of vitality within the educational dimension of church ministry, as the

Metaphors of the Kingdom of God

In a recent blog , consultant Seth Godin addresses the power of metaphor. He points out, “The best way to learn a complex idea is to find it living inside something else you already understand.” In other words, “this” is like “that.” “When you see a story, an example, a wonderment,” says Godin, “take a moment to look for the metaphor inside.” Jesus turned this around. In the use of parables, he told a story or provided a metaphor and challenged his hearers to see the truth within. For example, in his teaching on the Kingdom (or Reign) of God in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus compares the Kingdom to such things as a mustard seed, yeast, a hidden treasure, a net, a king, and a landowner. His hearers are encouraged to use their imaginations to understand something that they had never experienced. He also attempted to shift their perspective so that they might see signs of the Kingdom breaking into their present reality. These are metaphors for the Kingdom. Where do w

The Tragedy of Willow Creek Community Church

File photo of Steve Carter, Heather Larson, and Bill Hybels As Christian brothers and sisters, we need to pray for Willow Creek Community Church. On the eve of the Global Leadership Summit, a worldwide conference sponsored by the church in cooperation with the Willow Creek Association, church leadership imploded as a result of further allegations against former pastor Bill Hybels. Last year, Hybels introduced the team who would assume church leadership upon his retirement--lead pastor Heather Larson and teaching pastor Steve Carter. Although the founding pastor planned to stay on to assist in a time of transition, reports of sexual impropriety involving Hybels surfaced early this year. He accelerated his departure from the church and left the board of the Willow Creek Association. When other charges emerged last week, teaching pastor Carter resigned. On Wednesday evening, Larson and the entire elder board--lay leaders who provide accountability on behalf of the congreg

A Future for the Global Leadership Summit?

Craig Groeschel, the founder and senior pastor of Life.Church. The Global Leadership Summit which began as a project of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois, and its founding pastor, Bill Hybels, over 25 years ago was held this week without Hybels. For several years, the GLS has been now produced by the Willow Creek Association, a spin-off organization and a loose network of churches but Hybels has been its driving force. Attended by thousands at the church facility in South Barrington and broadcast to thousands more at satellite locations, the annual meeting brings together not only evangelical leaders but outstanding speakers from business, charitable organizations, politics, and business. For the first time, Hybels did not appear due to allegations of sexual impropriety brought against him over the past year by former employees, staff members, and business associates. He has already left the church and resigned from the board of the association.

Barnabas File

Search This Blog