I read an article on Religion News.com (link below) that discussed all the various scandals that have affected the churches and para-church ministries and how much damage has been done to the name of Christ and people. The author uses the dread word 'deconstruct' to stay our whole church organization needs to be torn down and rebuilt. As might be expected, the article is long on teardown and lacking on what the new church would look like. The author also almost completely passes over the content of church teaching as an issue.
Despite the extreme solution advocated, the article does bring up some good points. I'm pretty sure predating Covid, I was having questions about how we do church in America these days. While I haven't reach an answer, here's some thought I have.
Agree, disagree, or something to add? Please do so.
Link to the article: https://religionnews.com/2021/08/04/...o-deconstruct/
Despite the extreme solution advocated, the article does bring up some good points. I'm pretty sure predating Covid, I was having questions about how we do church in America these days. While I haven't reach an answer, here's some thought I have.
- We have to remember the church is there to be an advocate for God. We are not there for our own amusement.
- I think we can't afford head pastors with no accountability. Church constitutions where what the pastor wants, the pastor gets have to go. This means church boards and members must be willing to disagree with the pastor as necessary.
- Church leadership position can't be given out as a reward for generous giving, long term attendance, or friend/family of the pastor.
- When issues occur in the church, we have to resolve them Biblically. No more sweeping them under the rug. So many of the issues that have damage the church, occurred years ago and are now coming to light.
- We need to accept, especially conservatives, that our positions will be viewed with increasing hostility by society. We need to do better at offering an alternative to society and better training on dealing with the hostility.
- Going along with 5, church as a social club will become either unstainable or not different from society. While fellowship is important, it's not the sole purpose of church.
- I have been doing reading on why men don't go to church. I think we need to change how men are talked about and treated in the church body. They won't go somewhere where they are made the point of jokes or diminished as individuals. This again goes back to number 5.
Agree, disagree, or something to add? Please do so.
Link to the article: https://religionnews.com/2021/08/04/...o-deconstruct/
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