Hard and Holy: Church
This past year, we’ve had the unique opportunity to study the Church. We’ve been able to look at what “church” is for, what it was intended to be, what we desire to give and receive, generational differences in church expectations, and what is Biblical intention vs. what is Western tradition. We’re still working through this, and we won’t fully understand anytime soon, if ever.
First, we have learned that there is a definitive difference prior to Covid and now. Church has changed, both in those working for the Church and those attending. Over 20,000 people left positions of ministry last year. It also seems 1/3 of people did not return to church after the pandemic, 1/3 are more committed than ever, and 1/3 are on the fence. The world (and Church) will not be going “back to normal”. Instead, we will have to adapt to a new era for a different world and generation.
Subsequently, the American Church will not grow in this new era without transparency and depth. Doing “church” exactly the way generations did it before us, in the 80s, 90s, and 2000s, will not be effective. The Millennial and Gen Z generations are not here out of institutional loyalty. They aren’t going to trust leaders because of position. They aren’t going to show up because of coffee or modernity or production. They’re going to show up when we’re transparent, when we’re raw, when we’re asking the hard questions, when we’re admitting the hard truths, when we’re a safe place for doubts and struggle. That’s part of what’s meaningful to the next generations. And if we can’t be honest, open, and transparent as leaders, we’ll lose them.
It’ll be messier and more out of our control as church leaders, but we have to trust the Holy Spirit with that. We offer what we have, even if it’s messy and broken. After all of that, the good news: God promises to give beauty for ashes, and yet we often limit these miracles because we try so hard to hide our ashes (and cover our a**es). It’s time to boast (brag, possess, own- at the very minimum- identify and hold with open hands) about our weaknesses in the Church, so His power can be made perfect in us.
sources:
https://www.usf.edu/hr-
https://www.barna.com/
https://www.barna.com/
https://www.barna.com/
https://ifstudies.org/blog/
https://www.pastoralcareinc.
Isaiah 61; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
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