This is the next phase
of the development of the church, as we know it.
In the West we are experiencing the postmodern
age of Christianity. I suppose there are many things
that most moderns don't understand or even want
to try to about postmoderns. The fact remains this
is going to be the new breed and look for the church.
We need to embrace and try to help engage them
into the fabric of the Kingdom.
Postmoderns look very rebellious and anti-authority
type people to the moderns. I have found the current
move of God is always persecuted and misunderstood
by the last one. We humans usually criticize what
we don't understand. The tragic thing about the
modern church system is that most people are so 'Word'
orientated, that they actually pass judgement on
anyone different then them. The modern church is
founded upon ones own individual pursuit of knowing
about God. They pumped us over and over with the
understanding that the knowledge of the scriptures
is the pathway to spirituality and knowing God.
Consequently we have raised up a generation of 'bibliologists'
who are self made theologians. I am not against
learning and study. I have spent my entire adult
life of 25 years in study and will probable continue
till I depart. I totally trust the Holy Spirit
will guide us into all truth. I fear that we corrupt
the true community life when we give people a bible
and say "read this and you will know God!" It is
western logic that seeks to connect to the Spirit
through carnal understanding. It has never produced
the results we were looking for; and never will
without the experience of His presence. Jesus said
an evil generation seeks a sign or wants to see
something. The proper pathway to true spirituality
is having the ability to hear something. This is
why it is difficult in the west to achieve an eastern
mindset. We have a motto of 'seeing is believing',
or show me and then I will believe. St. John makes
it very plain in the book of the Revelation that
we are to HEAR what the Spirit is saying to the
church. And even the Father told the disciples
over and over, "This is my beloved Son, HEAR ye
Him!" Jesus told Thomas, "You believe because you
see me, but blessed are those that believe who
have not seen."
The mystical group is already providing some great
qualities that are bringing the church back to
center. They are not willing to blindly submit
just because someone says they are the authority.
They believe in a different style of leadership.
One that is more of a team effort and plurality
of leadership for the their churches. This will
help in the future because the church is not founded
upon one man or leader. The postmodern church seeks
deep meaningful relationships. Their sense of belonging
is causing us to rediscover the sense of true community
life. Another great attribute of this generation
is they are very pluralistic and this is delivering
the church from its judgmental spirit.
* this is an excerpt from our new book Touch
Me & See Coming soon! |
Mosaic Issues:
·ecological destruction
·human rights
·destruction of ethnic cultures (including by "imperialistic" missionaries)
·racial and religious intolerance
·sexual discrimination
·abuse of animals
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More Topics:
Global Awareness
Longing for Intimacy
Real Spirituality
Generation Concerned
Universal Distrust
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