Great installment as usual, Kent! I'm curious, though, about what such a change in church discipleship would look like. What purpose should questions serve in church discipleship if the answers aren't about persuading people to agree with one thing or another? Or are they just for that purpose?
I think questions in discipleship should help lead someone to a self discovery of Jesus and His ways, not a person’s personal preference or opinion. It’s about persuading people to understand and apply God’s character, way, and mission.
“But it makes me wonder if our model of discipleship in our churches today allows for the same kind of questioning and wrestling. Do we give people a forum to ask hard questions about Jesus and Christianity? Do we allow people to bring their doubts out into the open for a good conversation?” I believe many churches will say they do, but I question the truth of that… I certainly do not believe most would preach a sermon entitled “Encouraging Deconstruction”, less their flocks be reduced in numbers.
Instead, we get sermons on deconstruction where it is described as an enemy of the Church, another cultural bogeyman that is simply the result of a depraved, secular American culture*. This instead of looking inward and seriously asking itself what part of the blame may rest at its own feet. The Church finds it much easier to focus outwardly, to blame “the culture”.
So, we are told to “hold fast to the Gospel” as a means of cultural warfare. At face value holding fast to the Gospel rings true. But for far too many in the Evangelical Church, this works itself out in the culture wars and a dangerous dance with Christian Nationalism. Holding fast to the gospel means unqualified support of political figures and policies that encourage discrimination against those who are not Christian. In essence to create a subclass of citizens**.
*Heard one recently that did just that.
**This is all my own opinion of course, and many in the Church have and will continue to disagree with me. Which is fine, that is a discussion that I am not afraid of. But when I am accused of having a spiritual crisis (defined as a loss of faith) because of my position, this is what bothers me. Questioning the direction of a large portion of the Church in the U.S. is not a crisis of faith in Jesus on my part, but a crisis of faith in the direction of the Church I have been associated with for so many years.
The tough thing is…how do we throw out the bath water without throwing out the baby? How do we stay connected to Christian community (which is commanded by Jesus) while calling out the behavior? Jesus gave us a good way to navigate this. Keep going, Joe! Love you, brother! 👊🏽
A tough thing indeed. Calling out the behavior is a tricky thing and something I have learned some lessons on. While others may continue to do so, and for leaders I think at times it is appropriate, I will no longer call out behavior by committed Christians that I deem unchristlike on social media. It's just not the right forum for weighty discussions and many people in the discussion are more acquaintances than actual friends. It never in my experience has led to any change of heart. I now reserve these type of discussions to personal connections. People I know well and I feel are at least open to a discussion as opposed to an argument. I wish more leaders would tackle the tough subjects in the way you are doing Kent. Like the example I gave in my initial comment, the tough subjects like this one seem to elicit a response from many leaders that is more what is wrong with the culture (and yes, there is plenty wrong with our culture in this country) and how do we attack this enemy? There are some well known evangelicals (Russell Moore, Beth Moore, and Philip Yancey to name a few) who have called out the behaviour of many Christians in today's polarized environment, while keeping the baby. I just wish there were more. Love you too man!
Yes! Discussion not argument. Relationship not Screens. Just because I have an opinion on everything I scroll past on social media doesn’t mean I have to share that opinion.
Great installment as usual, Kent! I'm curious, though, about what such a change in church discipleship would look like. What purpose should questions serve in church discipleship if the answers aren't about persuading people to agree with one thing or another? Or are they just for that purpose?
Thank you.
I think questions in discipleship should help lead someone to a self discovery of Jesus and His ways, not a person’s personal preference or opinion. It’s about persuading people to understand and apply God’s character, way, and mission.
Expertly said. I couldn’t agree more. Thank you for this Kent.
Thanks, Aaron! I appreciate you taking the time to read it. I hope you and your family are doing well.
“But it makes me wonder if our model of discipleship in our churches today allows for the same kind of questioning and wrestling. Do we give people a forum to ask hard questions about Jesus and Christianity? Do we allow people to bring their doubts out into the open for a good conversation?” I believe many churches will say they do, but I question the truth of that… I certainly do not believe most would preach a sermon entitled “Encouraging Deconstruction”, less their flocks be reduced in numbers.
Instead, we get sermons on deconstruction where it is described as an enemy of the Church, another cultural bogeyman that is simply the result of a depraved, secular American culture*. This instead of looking inward and seriously asking itself what part of the blame may rest at its own feet. The Church finds it much easier to focus outwardly, to blame “the culture”.
So, we are told to “hold fast to the Gospel” as a means of cultural warfare. At face value holding fast to the Gospel rings true. But for far too many in the Evangelical Church, this works itself out in the culture wars and a dangerous dance with Christian Nationalism. Holding fast to the gospel means unqualified support of political figures and policies that encourage discrimination against those who are not Christian. In essence to create a subclass of citizens**.
*Heard one recently that did just that.
**This is all my own opinion of course, and many in the Church have and will continue to disagree with me. Which is fine, that is a discussion that I am not afraid of. But when I am accused of having a spiritual crisis (defined as a loss of faith) because of my position, this is what bothers me. Questioning the direction of a large portion of the Church in the U.S. is not a crisis of faith in Jesus on my part, but a crisis of faith in the direction of the Church I have been associated with for so many years.
The tough thing is…how do we throw out the bath water without throwing out the baby? How do we stay connected to Christian community (which is commanded by Jesus) while calling out the behavior? Jesus gave us a good way to navigate this. Keep going, Joe! Love you, brother! 👊🏽
A tough thing indeed. Calling out the behavior is a tricky thing and something I have learned some lessons on. While others may continue to do so, and for leaders I think at times it is appropriate, I will no longer call out behavior by committed Christians that I deem unchristlike on social media. It's just not the right forum for weighty discussions and many people in the discussion are more acquaintances than actual friends. It never in my experience has led to any change of heart. I now reserve these type of discussions to personal connections. People I know well and I feel are at least open to a discussion as opposed to an argument. I wish more leaders would tackle the tough subjects in the way you are doing Kent. Like the example I gave in my initial comment, the tough subjects like this one seem to elicit a response from many leaders that is more what is wrong with the culture (and yes, there is plenty wrong with our culture in this country) and how do we attack this enemy? There are some well known evangelicals (Russell Moore, Beth Moore, and Philip Yancey to name a few) who have called out the behaviour of many Christians in today's polarized environment, while keeping the baby. I just wish there were more. Love you too man!
Yes! Discussion not argument. Relationship not Screens. Just because I have an opinion on everything I scroll past on social media doesn’t mean I have to share that opinion.
Keep having healthy dialogue, Joe!