Tuesday, March 21, 2006

A new Reformation?

A new Reformation?:

Presbyterian Outlook (free registration required)
"...Although he seldom receives credit for it, many new paradigm churches, some of which count their membership in the thousands, carry to a younger generation the ideas pioneered by Schuller.

Are these new paradigm churches thrusting us into a new Reformation, a Holy Spirit-inspired Reformation? Or are such churches simply capitulating to the values of a self-absorbed, dumbed-down, conspicuously consumptive, trivialized secular culture?

It appears that the movement is promoting all of the above...."
Jack Haberer provides an interesting look at the issues involved in reaching out. He gives Schuller credit for focussing on the younger generation, but raises some questions as to how it is implemented. One thing seems sure -- a lot of Presbyterian churches are implementing some aspects of Schuller's program.

You may not agree with all Haberer says in this article, but it's worth reading (and Presbyterian Outlook is worth registering for).

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2 comments:

Pastor Lance said...

Most people have a hard time getting past the idea of a "glass" church and the "Hour of Power" TV ministry. The building was designed to interest the unchurched to stop by and see what was going on. The same can be said of the TV ministry. The heart of the ministry happens behind the scenes. The worship service designed for "believers" does not happen on Sunday morning. They also have a HUGE Hispanic ministry as well as a preaching school.

I do not agree with all the "The Eagle" does and says. However, God has used that ministry to bring thousands to faith in Christ.

Unknown said...

I can remember discussions in youth group in the 60's concerning how appropriate it was to "modernize" and to present the Gospel in different ways.

The general outcome of those discussions was that (1) Jesus presented things in a new way and (2) we should not "water down" the gospel to make it easier for people to accept.

A few years later, I heard a campus minister (Presbyterian) say something very close to "it doesn't matter WHAT you believe in as long as you believe in something."

35 some years later we are in need of the gospel clearly proclaimed, and churches not afraid to say "this is what we believe."

The growing churches are ones that do have a clear message. That should suggest something to the PC(USA)....