Why we should care . . .

Last night’s session with Dan Kimball concentrated on why we should care that we have a new generation that likes Jesus but not the church. Granted I already know why we should care, but he helped me think through the way I talk to others about the need to speak in new ways to a new generation who is much more skeptical of the church than ever before. Not that their questions are actually new, but we now have a culture that allows, perhaps even encourages, them to ask.

It’s been a little while since I read Kimball’s book and in the meantime I had conveniently forgotten the most challenging part of the book, which comes near the beginning and came near the beginning of his presentation last night. We Christians (and especially pastors!) have allowed ourselves to become encased in a Christian sub-culture bubble. We have limited contact with those outside the church. Now I can justify that by saying that my job is to train lay folk who are “out in the world” and interacting daily with those outside the church. But that is a cop out.

Kimball took a hard look at his schedule and his way of doing business and changed so that he had regular contact with those outside the church. And while I think his way of doing this (working on sermons at coffee houses and such) works much better for an extrovert than an introvert like me, it still should challenge me to think about how to increase my interaction (note this is conversation—fellowship—not attempts to convert).

Essentially, he is calling the church to recognize that we are now missionaries in our communities and we need to act like missionaries.

• We need to know their culture rather than creating our own “shrink wrapped Jesus” world (thanks Carmen Deedy!).
• We need to go to them rather than waiting on them to come to us.
• We need to speak their language.
• We need to develop relationships and care for their needs—both spiritual and otherwise.
• We need to pray for them—not just that they find Jesus—but about their jobs, their families, their struggles, their successes. We need to really care for them.
  
  His challenge to us was to think of some people outside the church (and it doesn’t count if they are immediate family!) and to start praying for them. Invite them to join in your social activities so you can develop relationships with them—not for the ulterior motive of converting them or getting them to up our attendance numbers—because Jesus loves them! Let me know if you take him up on the challenge!!!
  
  On a side note, Zondervan gave all of us attending Kimball’s session a copy of The “They Like Jesus But Not the Church” curriculum (leaders guide, student book and DVD) and Kimball gave us a copy of his PowerPoint. So who wants to join me in unpacking all this?!
  
  Finally, here is a thought to mull over today. We have an emerging generation of folks who like Jesus but aren’t too sure about the church or Christians. Yet as Kimball reminded us last night “You can’t really like Jesus and not the Church because the Church is his bride!” A messed up, broken and sometimes confused bride—but his bride nonetheless (my comment not Kimball’s). How can we as a church do a better job of looking like a fitting bride for Christ?