By Pastor Jon
As you should be aware, Intentional Christianity is our buzz this week, as we continue to introduce components reflective of our specific DNA. This started with Sunday’s Sermon, and was followed with this first Piece.
And now continues in what you are reading.
The previous two media offerings should help to set this stage, which is my way of saying, “Make the most,” like only God is watching. I may post a collection of shorter pieces (stop laughing) in what remains. Well, presently, I am at least intending to do something in this vicinity. You gotta love intention. We are now at Thursday. Sunday is a-coming. There are a number of angles I still want to cover, which encourages this purpose. However, as I edit this piece, the length has become more expected. This underscores the cultural challenge. In everything.
Such is the writing life!
In light, I want to begin on a context I will describe as a real challenge for Insiders, especially for those long-in-the-church-attending tooth. We all approach reality with an idea of what to expect, often informed by long-held patterns of experience. This is no different when talking about subjects related to those inside a local church.
My contention in this piece is that because of the relative lack of serious discipleship, we have incarnated a type of Christianity that is more an excarnate form from the biblical, and what was modelled in the early Church. This has created a bad habit inside Evangelicalism, which is not good for her health, and will be further road-tested as culture continues to become more post-Christian. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as persecution purifies, even as the challenge may not feel as much, in the real time.
Whether this present movement inside the West leads to more abrupt forms of persecution indicative of our brethren round the globe, we can only project. The point I want to presently underscore is that – to flourish – involves the power of habit or liturgy, to channel James K.A. Smith. And that we are prone inside Evangelicalism to foster a form of the Faith that is light on character-substance, but heavy on gifted-entertainment, which leads to spiritual hobbitry.
Just as in any matter of engagement, we like to get comfortable with our environment, and very easily become complacent about change. I was discussing with the children on the way to school this Morning about how it is important to try and remind yourself when moving into new situations that these are mostly just different. Not wrong, but different. Because when something is different, we tend to very quickly conclude that something is wrong, which then motivates us to leave. This understanding has come through my studies in cross-cultural ministry, and it vital into the missional life.
This type of circumstance is also encouraged by our modern predicament, where we can freely choose our own path, and then another, and another. And because this again appears like the way things just are, it seems entirely reasonable to continue this process. If something is reasonable, why seek any change?
I do not think it is beyond the realms to suggest that the church in Aotearoa needs some positive assistance toward Flourishing. This is not news. There will be many suggestions. Tradition and theological emphases will inform on the specifics. While accepting this is expected, I believe this Intentional angle is relevant, no matter.
Therefore, in the rest of this piece, I want to briefly consider why change-for-good aspires like it is more difficult; underscoring the need for an “always reforming” commitment to “bear more existential teeth” into our every day.
This next point may initially read tangential, but stick with it.
I was reminded reading a social media friend about the likely historical fact that the majority of Jesus’s disciples were younger-in-age, like late-stage-teenagers, underscored through the work of scholar, Craig Keener.
As I’ve thought more, I’ve two contrasting sentiments. (1) Of course, this seems true from our modern moment. This is the period when we become more like Sir Edmund Hillary, and appear more willing to climb every mountain. The bigger questions of life are most often first broached, and the search-out-for-answers, begin to take on a new form and intensity, in this period. We seek to find. We read to know. We want to live for the real thing, and become more insistent about cheap substitutes. The real debate is how much we actually follow-through beyond our youthful big talk. I have to confess, any comprehensive substance is under serious doubt, in more than our words. And (2) these are years when the church says, “You need time!” This is too obviously true when considering the heights of leadership, even as the older generation too easily use this pretext for holding onto power, even as the lack of discipleship process further makes this untenable. And to be sure, this “You need time!” perspective is elevated through the larger cultural expectations and translation of the modern way we inform life. What I mean is that we don’t expect people to locate maturity until their 30s. And this presumption is not formed inside a vacuum. It has been long incubated inside general culture. Therefore, generations are becoming shaped with this idea as acceptable. But, biblically-speaking, as you analyse, it should be arcing toward the opposite, as we now intersect both these recent points.
This not only affects discipleship, but how we conceive of discipleship, the translation of time, and the shape and substance of life’s journey.
For example, as the serious period of initial growth-into-adulthood happens round the early-to-middle 20s, and general culture says it’s understandable to reject these responsibilities, any external modifications can become more personally resistant, especially into the tougher, more internal, character-forming places. This can mean fewer get as serious like they should. This can be a matter of degrees. Those that do really stand out, become culturally elevated inside the church. They become the next leaders. They get separated, and so a pattern of discipleship can happen. This is the kicker. It has a donkey hoof. This expectation is fine if you’re viewed as a leader, but if not, this does not tend to be as required. This makes character formation more a tactic for the gifted, instead of a demand, for every Christian as a call for Christlikeness. The ramifications should be obvious. This means “the rabble” keep-on-middling-on until that period of life actually arrives, when it makes cultural sense to settle like a rut.
Sadly, as a Pastor’s son, with all his life in the throes of Evangelicalism, this has been my experience, with the modern example too often discouraging as expected.
But understand, and it should be – understood, that is – that to see real change is not going to be easy, especially as the church’s leading generation is already locked into their mid-life; as the demands of change, the security of the status quo, and other priorities, make that “keep-on-keeping-on,” the more desired-for location.
Therefore, in light, maybe you should think of Intentional Christianity like a man being forced to go to the Doctors.
Positively encouraged!
You know he doesn’t really want to go; well, initially, at least. He may know something is wrong, but is more than reticent to keep his routine from being shafted. He will grunt and accept the pain and hassle for a time, until it becomes seriously serious, or his wife finds out. Then he will, magically, find the motivation.
Maybe that is you?
If you have more feminine appeal, feel free to use another analogy for the same general point.
If the life; maybe this Christian life, experiences more you’re like going through the motions, and you’re even having thoughts about it plain not working – and you’re not exactly sure why – there are many more things that need to be covered to properly diagnose. However, an Intentional process would get you to the Doctor, so to speak, where things would become exposed as you journey on.
Let me underscore. This is not going to feel easy. This may not be something you are presently excited about. You may not even “want” to take this path. But understand, this is the road of the Flourishing process. It is not the entire road, of course. But, it helps to practically ground the rest.
And this will take time to translate. Think about how long it has taken you to arrive at this point?! By God’s grace, you can make the journey. After all, this is the only way it transpires!
The challenges are real, but God is greater still.
You don’t have to walk alone.
I am now calling this Intentional Christianity reality, LOVERPOOL!
For the Fame of His Name