Posted on 09/04/2009 7:13:35 AM PDT by Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus
Nothing called church planting, urban or rural, should look like what Davis describes. He shouldn't be listened to as an expert. It's up to you, but you've been warned. I'm convinced that there shouldn't be able to be an entire doctorate that could be gotten in something called Missiology. I recommend to anyone---just study the Bible---imitate what you read there.
And what is it you read there? You start by going out evangelizing. And guess what? The gospel is the same for rural, urban, kids, adults, elderly, grunge, biker dudes, and university professors. Remember that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16)? Remember that it is spiritual weaponry that pulls down strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)? Remember that the Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17)?
But that's not why the urban church doesn't grow, according to Davis. We've got to assume from what he writes that "meaningful relationships" are required with people "outside the church" in order to evangelize them. And why don't we have those relationships? He says because of "personal separation issues" and "traditional taboos." This is Trinity speak you're hearing. You get it from your Missiology D. Min. It means "you gotta be likem to winnem." For armchair theologians, it is Pelagian influence. And it is definitely you winnin' 'em with your missiological technique. In the end, you get the glory too (see 1 Corinthians 1-2 on this)!
(Excerpt) Read more at kentbrandenburg.blogspot.com ...
Seeing the move from one extreme to the other is fascinating. And a little inspiring, considering the youth of the audience. It's a terrific outreach program for St Marks.
Be glad that you have a different culture than the world---your music is different and your dress is different. Don't be ashamed of that, any of it.
Fair enough. However, it seems relevant to me that Christ dressed exactly the same as an ordinary Judean of his day. He could and did disappear into a crowd. It wasn't his dress that set him apart.
True enough - but then again, back in His day, there wasn't the choice for average people between dressing modestly and dressing like a tramp. Back then, people who dressed like tramps were readily recognised as prostitutes. Nowadays, it's a bit more difficult to make that discernment.
Paul said he became all things to all people to win people for Christ. One thing he never did was to compromise who he was, what he was doing, and WHO he was doing it for.
This is the kind of thing that could lead to a ‘Christian’ standing at the altar of an unknown pagan god and announcing that he knows and serves that god.
Oh wait, already happened.
God is bigger than your theology.
Will
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