The world is continually changing; if we don’t evolve with it we will inevitably become like the guy wearing “Hammer” pants and a John Deere trucker hat, trying to sell his REO Speedwagon cassette tapes at his annual garage sale. Everyone knows that guy! We stare at him in bewilderment, wondering if his “Flux Capacitor” is broken resulting in his now being stuck in a time period he was not made for. “1.21 GIGAWATTS!!!”
Think about your life for a moment. Fifteen years ago the ability to even read this blog (now through you high powered wi-fi) would have been unimaginable. Things that were once seen as vital to our experiences are now becoming obsolete. Technology is at its peak, but like the mighty Himalayas, the peak increases with each sunrise. Our intellectual capacity and understanding of philosophy continues to spawn the trend of this post modern era. We are constantly seeking to evolve so we don’t get lost in the continual changes. Every industry from professional sports to baby apparel invest exponential amounts of resources to maintain their positions as CULTURAL INFLUENCERS in the trends they themselves create. They must evolve!
So Here Is The Question: Has The Church Evolved? I fear that as the trends of the modern era continue to progress, “The Church” (if is hasn’t already) is positioning itself to be influenced by the culture rather than the influencer. In an effort to maintain its popularity, “Church” has evolved to become the advocate for religious entertainment seasoned with moral regulation, rather than the agent for hope, love and change. Obedience and sacrifice are too much to ask for, so we offer a convenient product, evolved with all the trappings to beg you for an hour of your time and a tenth of your....I mean “God’s” money. We have replaced living through faith with fiscal responsibility. I am not saying that the use of technology to advance the Gospel is wrong, nor am I advocating a return to the days of Charles Ingalls doing the morning announcements in Church - where the same building was used as a school....grades one through twelve...not fun I imagine to be taking a calculus test while the kid next to you is reciting, “A...for apple.”
A few days ago I was watching television and I was struck by an interesting commercial. The ad was for the company Gatorade. It was a series of scenes capturing the evolution of the wonderful product known more for its use as a post game bath for Super Bowl winning coaches than its ability to regenerate the bodies of highly trained athletes. However, underneath the brilliant filming was a song that seemed to carry the entire theme for the ad. Sung deeply and with sultry soul, the vocalist recited these words over and over again - “If you want a revolution, the only solution...evolve...evolve.” No sooner did I hear the words when I grabbed the first thing I could write on to jot it down. Those words hit me hard and I began to ask myself a very simple question:
To Keep Up With The Growing Trends - Has The Revolution Of The Church Evolved?
Over the course of the next week or so, I would like to take on the challenge of answering this question. Please know this; I claim to be no expert on “The Church” but I am simply a voice in my generation looking for answers. I will share with you from my heart and from my experience with the Church and I am not in the business of de-faming the Bride of Christ. I love the Church and believe wholeheartedly that it is God’s acting agent for change in this world, and I am merely asking questions to allow a conversation to continue on how the Church can follow her revolutionary leader - Jesus Christ!