Comments on: The Church Amid the Economic Storm http://ceruleansanctum.com/2009/12/the-church-amid-the-economic-storm.html Looking for the 1st century Church in 21st century America Tue, 22 May 2012 03:53:34 +0000 hourly 1 By: j a nhttp://ceruleansanctum.com/2009/12/the-church-amid-the-economic-storm.html#comment-46277 j a n Thu, 14 Jan 2010 05:29:39 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=1936#comment-46277 I'm sorry to come so late to such an important post. I believe this economic recession may ultimately end up humbling church leaders, bringing the body together, and turning the Church back in the right direction. But you're right... they're still not really taking it seriously. Sending out a year-end request for $ to make ends meet when thousands are losing jobs and homes shows that the church still considers its own ends to be the first priority. And I think that's also reflected in another aspect worth considering. Two churches where I was previously employed had expansive 5-year vision plans for more off-site campuses (in addition to those already in place), small groups, etc. One church has since closed 2 satellite campuses & abandoned the plan for more. These grand "God-given" visions appear to be expendable depending on funds. Hopefully, stripping away the financial excess will eventually serve to clarify our mission to make disciples. I’m sorry to come so late to such an important post. I believe this economic recession may ultimately end up humbling church leaders, bringing the body together, and turning the Church back in the right direction. But you’re right… they’re still not really taking it seriously. Sending out a year-end request for $ to make ends meet when thousands are losing jobs and homes shows that the church still considers its own ends to be the first priority.

And I think that’s also reflected in another aspect worth considering. Two churches where I was previously employed had expansive 5-year vision plans for more off-site campuses (in addition to those already in place), small groups, etc. One church has since closed 2 satellite campuses & abandoned the plan for more. These grand “God-given” visions appear to be expendable depending on funds.

Hopefully, stripping away the financial excess will eventually serve to clarify our mission to make disciples.

]]> By: Davidhttp://ceruleansanctum.com/2009/12/the-church-amid-the-economic-storm.html#comment-46250 David Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:09:34 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=1936#comment-46250 I don't think that we could look at the decline of the Church in America and question that it has at it's root the lack of strong discipleship. Because discipleship begins with the leadership of the body, it's no big surprise that the decisions being made at the top are less than stellar. Which then begs the question: What do we do about it? Is it enough that we cloister ourselves in our "good" bodies and shake our heads sadly at the predicament of the "bad" bodies? That the Church in America didn't prepare for the economic downturn is only a runny nose on the list of what ails the body. That the diagnosis is terminal remains to be seen. But the current problems are, I think, merely the knock on the door. The Physician stands outside waiting. I don’t think that we could look at the decline of the Church in America and question that it has at it’s root the lack of strong discipleship. Because discipleship begins with the leadership of the body, it’s no big surprise that the decisions being made at the top are less than stellar.

Which then begs the question: What do we do about it? Is it enough that we cloister ourselves in our “good” bodies and shake our heads sadly at the predicament of the “bad” bodies?

That the Church in America didn’t prepare for the economic downturn is only a runny nose on the list of what ails the body. That the diagnosis is terminal remains to be seen. But the current problems are, I think, merely the knock on the door. The Physician stands outside waiting.

]]> By: Franciscohttp://ceruleansanctum.com/2009/12/the-church-amid-the-economic-storm.html#comment-46249 Francisco Tue, 05 Jan 2010 13:30:39 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=1936#comment-46249 I know a person who left a small church because of some issues she had with someone there but rather than reconciling with him, this person now attends a local megachurch. Reason? If memory doesn't fail me, this person said "because there, I can go on without being noticed". Conclusion: People want the religion the megachurch offers them but don't want to involve in serving the body, in being a part of a community and so on. It's strange because you would think at a a larger setting you would find more people like you (given numbers and probability). Or maybe that's part of the problem too... I know a person who left a small church because of some issues she had with someone there but rather than reconciling with him, this person now attends a local megachurch. Reason? If memory doesn’t fail me, this person said “because there, I can go on without being noticed”.

Conclusion: People want the religion the megachurch offers them but don’t want to involve in serving the body, in being a part of a community and so on. It’s strange because you would think at a a larger setting you would find more people like you (given numbers and probability). Or maybe that’s part of the problem too…

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