So ran an advertising slogan I used to hear in my youth. Mainstay was a brand of cane spirit. I don’t know if they still sell it even, I haven’t heard the ad for several years.
But the phrase “rethinking church“, which I’ve seen quite a lot in the blogosphere lately, reminds me of that old ad.
You could continue as you are at present, or you can change to Mainstay. Of course a lot depends on what you are at present. You could be a drinker of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malmsey, Meths or orange juice. or you could change to Mainstay. Would changing to Mainstay be an improvement on what you are now? That depends on what you are now.
And I have the same question about “rethinking church“. A lot depends on your present thinking before you start rethinking, and very few people who advocate “rethinking” church seem to say what they think church is before they start rethinking.
I mean, what if I’ve been drinking Mainstay all my life — what difference will it make if I change to it now?
So if you are one of the “rethinking church” people, let the rest of us in on the secret — what is it that you are now, and that you will stay for the rest of your life, unless you rethink?
1 Comment
23 January 2008 at 12:27 am
I am, collectively with others, the Church. The Church is a living, breathing body of people. As a follower of Jesus I am a part of the Church. I am a part of the body. This can not change.
What needs rethinking is how the Scriptures are applied to the Church. How does the Church best fulfill the commands and teachings of her God?
We must question “business as usual” and ask if how we have always done what we have done is in keeping with the teachings of Christ?
We must look at American Christianity (that is where I live) and ask what difference are we making in our culture? How are we advancing God’s Kingdom claims? How are we affecting and changing the lives of others?
The vast majority of American Christianity follows a passive, attractional model of the faith. A small percentage of people actually are involved in serious kingdom work………..the rest are along for the ride. How do we get the people in the back seat into the front seat?
Bruce