Session 12

1) Reflect on Shenk's statement (p. 6), "We must concede that political freedom is not a correlate of spiritual vigor." I discussed this issue at length with my daughter and wife. Persecution appears to be a stimulus for missional eccelesiology.

I think this is a powerful statement and it seems true in history. It seems to me that one of the most vital characteristics of Christianity is the level of commitment of the participants. There are a number of factors that can help to solidify and test the commitment, but nothing is better that opposition. Opposition to Christianity seems to be the refiners fire that makes sure that those that commit to it really commit. It eliminates people from partial commitment, and heightens the involvement of those genuinely committed. So while it does seem to affect the quantity in the short term adversely, it definitely affects the quality of those involves positively. I think in the long term then the quantity increases because of the spiritual fervor and commitment of the few that were committed in the beginning.

2) What do you think of Luther's 7 characteristics of an ideal church (p. 36)?

I think they’re fantastic. I was all pumped up when reading this until I read the few lines afterward when Luther himself admitted that he couldn’t find people that wanted to really live this way, so he settled for something else. It is a bit discouraging that Luther felt this way in his time. I think these could be great pillars of a local congregation. It doesn’t really address the purpose of the community, but it could really be a church’s description of “who we are”. Sometimes these statements are more effective in communicating with non Christians than telling others what “we believe”. 


3) Intriguing statement about transcendence by Berger, explain this phenomenon (p. 40).

I think it is an interesting theory, and it probably goes against what modernists believe in that things must be explained and that is what people want. It supports the idea that people are drawn to something they will not fully understand, something mystical. I’m not sure that is completely explains the situation, but there does seem to be some level of continual desire that is lost when the church becomes increasingly secularized and the sacred is lost. At that point it simple becomes a human organization and no more dynamic than the leadership. With a higher degree of transcendence there is a curiosity mixed by fear that draws people in and keeps them interested. I just got an e-mail from a friend in the mission field in Indonesia. She shared a story of a group of villagers becoming very hostile and even violent to the local missionaries. They were involved in some degree of the supernatural, but many of the village members recognized it was just lead by a few of the men and all depended upon how they felt. These new Christians in their midst scared them, but they were also curious. Not only that the four men that were threatening and violent to the missionaries all died in separate incidents in the next 6 months. The mystery increased, but so did the interest.

4) One of my favorite maxims is noted, "The church exists by mission, just as a fire exists by burning" (Brunner, p. 87). How does one keep the fire going?

I think the increase of short-term missions trip participants can work both ways on this issue. On one hand it can really encourage and pen the eyes of Christians and show them what God can do through them. People can return changed and can then change their lives in such a way that they can live more missionally back at home. This can give them an added level of confidence when it comes to evangelism as well as accountability within relationships if they happen to travel with fellow church members and friends. Unfortunately, in our list making society, some people leave an experience like and check evangelism or service off the list for the year. or more. They simply are unaffected in their present life and return to the same habits, only feeling better because they have this on their spiritual resume. I think the single best way to keep the fire going is to continue to nurture and develop your own relationship with God in such a way that you are simply compelled to share it as you interact with others. We can’t be the people that complain about church and then try to invite people to come with us.

5) [Ponderings: "I have been reflecting on the 20th century. I was born in 1949, I don't feel that old, but in looking at one-half century of life in America. I wonder, where are we headed? My synopsis is that Christendom was at war with itself and lost; both sides lost in each war. German social conformed ideology, financial unrest, and political regret from previous wars were in conflict with British ideology of individualism in social contract ideology, colonialism, and triumphalism. Individualism won and community (socialism/Leninist-Marxist communism) lost; China, India, and Islam present new challenges to American political/economic individualism/triumphalism. Today, America is the world's third largest mission field, Britain & Germany (Europe) are post-Christian, postmodern."]

Respond to the statement about the crowning achievement of the Enlightenment Movement being the "autonomous self" in modern cultural development (p. 95). How does this perspective influence the church and community of faith we are striving to form in 2007?

I think it is a clear and present danger to the development of faith communities. The good news is that the more people isolate themselves and become little train wrecks, the more community looks appealing. The best way to combat this is to solidify the importance of community and work diligently at communicating community standards to those that are involved and those that are curious. The best thing the church has going for it in this regard is that it can essentially maintain (which requires a lot of work) while the rest of society continues to erode in its commitment to communal living. I think there will always be a thread of true communal Christian living and at some point it will increase again. It reminds me of the Turning Points in Christianity class I took by Dr. Harrold, no matter what the church did to destroy itself, or the world did to suppress the church, eventually a remnant remained that carried their faith on to the next generation in a powerful and world changing way. I believe that God is maintaining a remnant, many remnants in our world for His purpose.