The Institute (協会)

Anthony,

I think you got it all pretty well covered, except maybe The Money Trail (i.e. - How much does the church spend on lawn maintenance, verses community development; or ratio of foreign missions to local missions - I know of a few churches who give enormous amounts of money to missionaries overseas (with a large number being teachers in Missionary Schools, go figure), but haven't seen a "local" person come to know Christ or into fellowship with the church in years). Thanks for the post, and the links - the idol sereis at the Journey was really good; I'm still processing it all.

Good list, and it'd be good to hear us flesh out some of these points.

I'm intrigued by the term shire Christianity. Am I correct in assuming it's an ivory tower or isolationist term? (i.e. Frodo didn't want to leave the shire) or does it have another connotation?

Our church is decidedly a "parish" church. Sticking to the geographic boundaries of our community. Even though our community represents a wide sampling of the socio-economic spectrum, our church for the most part is mono-ethnic. We semi-annually have joint services with a sister church who represents another ethnic group but they're mono-ethnic as well. Even with community outreach, invited guests, etc., I've not seen any sustained momentum to show me this trend will soon abate.

I don't know what "40-something women and their children" preaching sounds like, and perhaps I never do. Can you point to a sermon online that fits this description?

One point I would add to the the list (perhaps it's inferred in #3) is lack of compassion for the poor, foreigner, orphan or widow. (Matthew 25, James 1)

Have to focus on work now, thanks for the post.

Chris G., good stuff. I didn't even think about the money trail. And good "overseas" vs. "local" distinction. I'm already beginning to this 50s mentality creep into missional conversations where evangelicals are more open to learning and reaching Africans than they are blacks.

The local stuff still needs work. You're right!!

i like how some people are talking about sustainability. a mature church is a sustainable church. working for social, spiritual, environmental and economic sustainability.

christ church in berkeley is doing some fantastic things, check them out: http://www.projectpeaceeastbay.org/what/focus.php

Emphasis on programs instead of people. I used to be a member of a church that more or less had an individual program for everyone from infants to seasoned citizens, and separated the seasoned citizens into those with sports cars, those with RVs, and those with both. Some exaggeration here, but what family has 27 different tables to which its members are assigned? Should the church be like this?

Well said on the money trail, too. If you can tell a man's priorities with a look in his wallet, you can probably do the same with a church.

How about "openness to chaos" ?

Churches of people who dislike/fear chaos don't go much of anywhere because as soon as you start mixing in non-Christians or living the Gospel, chaos is bound to happen.

You know what is funny Prof Bradley. If I am not mistaken, we have had only one baptism group (and most of those had been around for a while) in two and a half years. That is wierd right?

applying the gospel in sanctification????

I have read this blog about 3 times in the past two weeks, and have enjoyed the various article and video links, your (Anthony) comments, as well as the people who have commented. However, this particular blog makes my stomach turn (literally). Not in an "I completely disagree" kind of way, but in an "I'm nevous about what I am about to type" kind of way, hence, my name "nervous"...enough of the disclaimer, and down to the point: perhaps questions would shed light on my thoughts particularly about the mono-ethnic church point. Okay, I think what I need is a clarification of the purpose of the church. I understand that rural areas are going to have mono-ethnic congregations, but what about a church in the city, where perhaps 95% of the population is Asian...what then? Does that church start hosting video game nights for white 14 year old suburban boys? Assuming that the Asian boys in the community don't play video games, why would they try and reach kids 15 miles away for the sake of diversity? Do we as Americans like diversity just because? What is it's purpose? My mind is exploding with thoughts and questions which I have little to no answers of, but eagerly thirst open, honest truth about. I think about this often, and I don't like easy, cheesy, answers. As well as I love questioning things. I don't know what I am trying to say, or even what point I made in this comment. I also need to add that my nervousness and excitement kept me from sharing 99% of what I am thinking...I can't really think straight, as this topic is of keen interest to me, for whatever reason. Blah...let me give an analogy, then maybe you'll have pity: You know the feeling when you're in a swimming pool, waistdeep, and you start running, with all of your strength, but you really aren't moving at all. It's like that, all of these ideas, observations, thoughts, questions, but they aren't exiting...I'm going to end now...there ya go.

Nervous, great questions that need to be explored. Thanks for posting them!!!

this jesus action figure is very offensive to my friends.