so dramatic...bring on the revolution! hope Cali is treating you and yours well!!

we've been having a similar conversation here. 

relying on techniques over substance.  from what i observe, the quest for relevance ends up being the ministers'/church's way of "keeping up with the jones'" - there is never a moment of rest - there's always something bigger and better to be done.  soon our conversations are all about "how" and not "Who".  and in the end, like earl recently wrote, we just come off as "gimmicky".

if i were being completely honest, i'm saddened and maybe even bewildered by the lack of conversation among ministers about jesus.  a good friend of mine wrote recently during the holidays, "what a shame, isn't it, that the church pays such little attention to jesus, like a family reunion with the brightest light not present.  we must always keep him in the center, the preeminent place in everything." 

i don't think it's too late.  if there is one thing i see in politics right now, it's that there is a longing to be involved, to be a part of a cause.  that longing, i believe, is initiated by a deep hunger for purpose, carrying an opportunity to point to christ.  i have a lot of hope (obama buzz word). 

Yes, my generation is looking for a cause to get behind, to believe in. Even those who claim to know Christ want to be involved with a group that seems to be making a difference. Sadly most churches, and I'll emphasize "most", aren't feeding the hungry, clothing the homeless, blessing the poor. If we truly did those types of things the way Jesus commanded His people to do the rest of the world would be forced to take notice and many would see a side of Christianity they've never seen before. There would be a wave of people coming to know Christ like we've never seen before. If only we completely lived the way we should.

Actually, I see more in this generation willing to do things like feeding the hungry, clothing the homeless, and blessing the poor.  These are valuable things.  We should do them.  It's what the scripture calls true religion.

What I'm afraid of is that we're ready to abandonned the clarion call of scripture to evangelize, to spread the good news message.  I'm afraid of a generation afraid of criticism taking to the social gospel and not to the Full Gospel.  I'm afraid of works without faith.

We need to be challenged to something deeper, not something that rhymes or message points that all begin with the same letter.

I am praying it is the former and not the latter.  I am optimistic about the future, though major change is neccessary in order to see this wave we are hoping for.  My part is to be a part of the change that needs to happen.

This  is so funny. My friend and I were just discussing the relevance of the church today.

Each human heart has a desire to make a difference. I'd venture to say it's a lot like how Mike Pilovachi said that we have nothing more than someone who is unsaved other than Jesus. We are not prettier, smarter, more atheletic...anything. Yet somehow, Jesus was enough. Jesus was so relevant that the revelation He left behind is timeless. Yet staying relevant never seemed to be His focus. Following the leading of the Holy Spirit kept Him relevant. He didn't dress a certain way, watch MTV to see what they were doing, dress Himself up in the form or fashion of someone else because it looked like maybe God was blessing them. He was totally satisfied with who God made Him and God's approval of Him that He didn't have to strain for men's approval or popularity. And somehow being is the most well known and controversial religious leader of all time.

This can go all across the board. What is important to the Father and then how Holy Spirit do we capitalize on that and see that in a pracital sense? If Your will is there to accomplish then how do you want me to go about this?

So then I think the issue becomes less about staying relevant and being on top of the latest social injustice and more about us individually and coperately asking, "God, what is on Your heart for me or my group to do that will make a difference? After all, without You I cannot produce any fruit--even You said this."