Method and Message

I've heard for over 10 years now, "the method always changes, but the message never changes", with reference to the gospel and the church. Most people, especially in a post modern society, would agree with that statement to some degree. The only problem is that for many it seems method and message are as intertwined as this picture on the right. So what do we make of it? How can this be solved?

Perhaps first we need to realize there's a problem. Many have the mentality "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". Well folks, it's BROKE! If you consider even the most conservative population growth estimates and the most exaggerated church growth estimates they are not even close! The growth of the church is huge leaps BEHIND the population growth. In other words, "there IS a problem". Now we return to our former question of what are we going to do about it?

There have been many responses that I have become aware of lately. One common response is everything we have done to this point doesn't work. There are many church bashers out there who claim if we just throw everything out we know and start again it will all be better. There is a clear arrogance and fallacy in that idea. Arrogance, because it assumes that the former has brought nothing good. This is clearly untrue, because the former (traditional church, buildings, "old ways") have brought most of us to where we are now. There are not many 20 year old Christians that were brought to Christ through "home church" or any other methods. The fallacy of this mentality is you have to start completely over. Though there are obvious problems with how many "do church", God is still using those methods and what works for one, may or may not work for another.

It seems to me that there are several factors to be considered. One must consider their culture/environment. One must also consider what seems to be working. It is very important to follow where God is leading. If there is a particular way, place, form, etc that people seem to be coming to Christ, we should consider it and learn from it...no matter what "name" is on the building. One must also consider gifts, finances, abilities, etc. It would be ridiculous to try to be or become something that the local church isn't. I'm not talking about little or "safe" faith as much as working IN faith with what God has given and placed before each congregation. Perhaps most important is the need for prayer, unity and open, honest communication among the leadership! If this doesn't exist there WILL be problems at ever turn. That's not to say God can't bless "that mess", but blessings will definitely be limited. The challenge is to let Jesus plant HIS church and let the Spirit guide and gift the people as He chooses. We are at a crucial point in history when the church can decide to sit in our proverbial ways or morph, change, grow and shine brighter than before! Expectations must change, methods MUST change and we MUST be able to distinguish between culture, tradition and God's word. We must prayerful consider the future and what God has in store for His church! It's not just a method we are talking about, it's literally eternity we are dealing with here!