Post-Christian Era

It’s said that we’ve entered into a “post-Christian era”…

I’d suggest that rather we’re entering into our first true Christian era. An era encompassed by believers that will alter this damaged and highly negative perception outsiders have of us as Christian’s. All the while Engaging within the world and caring about all as opposed to just each other. It’s moving in the direction of inclusion, as opposed to exclusion.

The fact of the matter is, as I’ve stated many times before: What we’re doing, is simply not working. 

It’s heart wrenching for me to write a post on issues such as loving the poor, diversifying congregations, putting our money towards others before the needs of ourselves, things that are seemingly quite orthodox to what we’ve know Christianity to be, and yet receive such extreme strong criticism.

Though the questions remain, “How does this happen? How have we gotten a Christianity that is now defined by its exclusivity,1.7 million dollar homes, oppression of women & gays, and condemnation of anyone or anything that is not adhering to their doctrine?”

Before we address this I think we need to differentiate between saving the life of the Church and saving the life of an institution. It’s mistaken that our culture is at odds with Jesus but I’d suggest our culture is at odds with his supposed “followers”.

Yes 76% of Americans still yet identify themselves as Christians its speculated that only 20% of these people actually attend church. Majority of which are embarrassed to wear the label “Christian”. The numbers are weening, the people are leaving, and the ship is sinking, and I’m having such a hard time understanding why so many church pastor’s are not changing?

Our lack of acknowledging the facts, numbers, and statistics showing us that there is a big gaping hole in the ship doesn’t change the fact that there is still yet a BIG GAPING HOLE IN THE SIDE OF OUR SHIP. 

Again, the Church isn’t dying, in fact it’s thriving. I think that the Churches best days have yet to come. It’s the institution, many have mistaken as the church, that’s dying. This institution is only a means in which we’ve used to fulfill the purpose of what the Church is called to do.

The old is going, and whether we like it or not, the new era is coming.

I think this means that it will be uncomfortable, messier, and much harder than what we’re used to. It will mean that we will have to eventually engage with questions having to do with science, sexuality, and the presently given “progressive” culture.

I hope we can understand that our voluntary submission as the body of Christ is not a matter of altering our theological disposition while denying any pleasure or comfort found in our present model of Church. Rather, it is the exact opposite! This is about a testimony of the coming kingdom of heaven already portrayed through the life of Christ and His early Church…

This is our mission. This is our call. The ship is sinking. The institution is dying. BUT the Church is still yet thriving!