Church and Culture
Trendwatchers and authors Reggie McNeal and George Barna have written recently of the impending challenge facing the Christian Church. Both are pessimistic about the Church's ability to survive without incorporating systemic change as soon as possible. Barna's book, Revolution, and McNeal's work, The Present Future, posit similar themes. Each author believes that traditional church growth and development strategies no longer work and that present organizational and operational models are inadequate for the postmodern era. Some hear McNeal and others theorizing that the Church must force itself to recognize where the culture is and where it is heading in the future. Critics hear him saying the first new reality of the changed culture is the imminent collapse of the modern manifestation of the Church.
Such dire predictions cannot be taken lightly.
At the same time, we need to cautiously explore such pronouncements along with the reassuring belief that the Church is the very Body of Christ.
According to our Lord's own words, the Church He was building was based on a confession of faith in his lordship. And this Church would prevail even against the very gates of Hades. Confusing the Church with culturally derived expressions of ecclesial organization is always dangerous. Such organizations may indeed be destined to demise due to their overt dependence on human schemes, structures, and reasoning. In our own community, we once heard the thundering voices of evangelists, preachers, and teachers who warned of the Spirit's departure from such churches. They referred to biblical stories and testimonies for corroboration of this horrendous possibility.
In this issue of Holiness Today Brad Moore and Arnold Ytreeide take the discussion of cultural challenge into the very heart of the culture. Media—whether the arts, film, or theatre—represent an unmistakable challenge to the Christian message. Dean Flemming moves the discussion beyond the culture of Canada and the U.S. to global settings where contextualization makes communication of the Good News possible. Roger Hahn reminds us that we "live in a period of history when we need to revive this understanding of a theological core that must stand at the heart of interpreting Scripture." Lee Woolery challenges us: "It is not just reaching our culture, but connecting with our children and grandchildren who ask questions about church that we find increasingly difficult to answer."
The verdict is still out, depending on whom we listen to. For me, the message of transformation through the work and ministry of Jesus still holds promise for every age, including those yet unborn. Whatever strategies we employ must be consistent with this timeless truth.
David J. Felter, editor in chief
Holiness Today, May/June 2006
Please note: This article was originally published in 2006. All facts, figures, and titles were accurate to the best of our knowledge at that time but may have since changed.
