Understanding Church Growth

So i'm working on my ordination. I'm even slightly enjoying the current book i'm reading. But there are thoughts rolling around in my head - and i have no one to share them with.

Here is what i am getting out of the book "Understanding Church Growth".

1. The Church/Faith/Gospel will spread most naturally and easily between people of the same culture/ethnicity/socio-economic status etc. I agree. I myself will be more apt to listen to a message delivered by a fat, 20-30-something, white guy (aka Donald Miller, Jimmy Kimmel) then i would listen to a message delivered by a skinny, 80 year old, asian guy (David Suzuki). It's not a racist thing - it's simply a connection thing - and i would be more likely to connect, understand, relate to someone who is like me - more quickly - then someone who appears to be nothing like me. While i do agree with this concept, it frustrates me too. It made me think of denominational ethnic churches. And how we can't all seem to come together under one banner of the church (my banner) and be that beautiful mosiac and many parted body of Christ that we were meant to be. Even though i believe it's true that you are more likely to hear the message of someone from your ethnicity, culture, socio-economic, political perspective - it makes me sad that we have a hard time crossing the gaps that seperate us on earth.

2. Missionary Methods of cutting converts off from thier people in an attempt to sanctify them does more harm then good. This is also a concept i had some understanding of. I have friends in a very muslim country - who have explained and spoken to me about this way of doing evangelism and how cutting the new converts off from their community not only gets in the way of many muslims (and people of other faiths) coming to Know Jesus in the first place, but it also closes doors for that recent convert to be involved with thier community and family further - which also makes further evangelism nearly impossible. Not to mention makes life for the recent convert very lonely and full of ostracism. Not that the Christian life is easy, nor should it be - but this isn't about taking the easy way out - it's about Christ being able to work from the inside out - to influence and impact people by being in contact with non-believers, rather then isolating the new believer - and discipling them the western way.

This is a huge problem in North America too. I have been a Christian since i was like eight years old - but the implications, and the desire to change didn't really come until the summer of 2001, after i graduated high school. Then I went off to Bible College - dumped all my friends who were bad influences and never looked back. I regret this. Not because i would have stayed in touch with everyone from high school - we went our physical, emotional, seperate ways. But to just write people off because they weren't followers of God - and were part of the life i was leaving behind - not so cool. Logical maybe, Christian Culturally approved - for sure - but cool - no.

And now - i find myself - with virtually no non-Christian friends. Ok, maybe a relative or two - and some "friends" that i see on occasion - but i would say 90% of my life is spent in the company of "Christians". I took myself out of the context from which i may have been able to impact people with the good news of Jesus (ok - i know it's not me - it's the Holy Spirit through me - but don't nit-pick you knew what i meant).

Granted, I am in a position where i can impact and influence positivly for God. But in reading books on evangelism - it stirs me and makes me convicted that i am missing out on a huge aspect of my calling - and i just feel frustrated that whole generations of people who come to know Christ have been taught in such a way that makes you scared of non-Christians and the negative impact they will have on you - rather then teaching about the positive impact that the Good News of Jesus can have on them.

My hope is that this changes. My hope is that we - who have been caught up in this method can be the agent of change in Christian Culture - not just overseas where people are really seeing the importance of staying within family and cultural systems, but especially here in North America, where I live, and where I have a voice. Then I hope we have the courage to actually do it - and not allow the apathy that defines our generation get in the way.

Ps. If you are on the ordination counsel - look for some of this rant in my book report.