BLOG. 5/30/13. WHAT IN THE WORLD IS CHURCH MEMBERSHIP ALL ABOUT?
For the Traditionalist Generation, in which I grew up, no one ever questioned existing institutions much; we simply accepted them as ‘givens’. And growing up in church institutions generally meant that one would at some point be expected to “join the church.” It was something like a rite of passage.
The emerging generations are formed by entirely different set of influences, and are asking healthy questions—not about the advantages of a particular church and its activities, but about how it will equip them to function in the larger context of their lives. They look at ageing congregations, and observe parents and grandparents who seem unwilling to ask the critical questions about the meaning of the Christian faith, about: What is the purpose of the church? How is it important to the Christian message? How does it relate to their 24/7 lives? What is the true content of the Christian faith? What are Christ’s demands? What are his promises? Is it good stewardship of my time and calling to discipleship to engage in church activities? Does it deserve a place in my set of priorities?
These questions were partially provoked by my reading of a book: The 20/20 Workplace: How Companies Attract, Develop, and Keep Tomorrow’s Employees Today. As I read this provocative book, I found myself wondering the same thing about Christian communities, and observing how some church communities seem to ‘get it’ and are able to attract, develop, and keep the emerging adult generation. There are parallel patterns. There are factors that attract, etc. that should be true in vital church communities: 1) the sense that I am part of a community in which I can be in collaboration with, and inter-related to the other components of the community beyond myself; 2) That there is authenticity in the very essence of the community so that it reflects the core values of Christ’s gospel, and is transparent in such an incarnation; 3) That there be personalization, so that I am not just some generic “church member,” but rather a unique person at a particular life-stage, with differing needs and differing daily engagements and mission in my calling to Christ; 4) That the community be open to innovation and to new ideas and forms, and in which I am allowed to offer innovative practices—able to “turn traditional practices on their head” (to quote the authors of this book); and 5) a community which embraces the social connection which is so much a part of my culture in the use of the social media.
This opens the door to all kinds of fresh and creative understanding of what Christ came to be and to do, and for which he creates his church. Folk have a right—even as the enterprising younger adults with the business community—to know how they, as persons, fit and how the church equips them to live joyfully, meaningfully, and authentically in their daily incarnation as Christ’s New Creation people.
I am convinced that such an understanding of Christian community is loaded with all kinds of positive potential. Wow! What do you think?
