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FWG 2004 Newsletter

Future Watch: 2004 Issue 1
An e-mail publication of the Evangelical Congregational Church Future Watch Group

Articles included:
**Times, They Are A-Changin'
**Acting Up In Church
**Hard Words From the Emergent Church
**Who Attends Small Churches?
**Exporting Culture
**Can Busters Lead E.C. Churches?
Scroll down for each article--

Times, They Are A-Changin'
by Tim Seiger.

No one seems to be willing to unreservedly embrace change. Even the most progressive among us often only embrace the change that others should make.
But no matter what you happen to think about change the fact is change happens. If your experience has been anything like mine, while you accept that change will occur you do so with a subtle conviction that change is a necessary evil. That is, you still believe more strongly that no change would be better and you will at least try to slow the rate of change by properly managing it.
But what if this thinking about change has been all wrong? What if, rather than trying to manage change we should be leading and even encouraging change? What if change is not simply a necessary evil to be tolerated and managed but is instead a good gift from God to keep us from being deceived into believing that we have ever arrived at a place in our walk through this world where we can simply stop and say we have gone far enough.
I am becoming more and more convinced that change is a very necessary component of our spiritual well being. Further, our reluctance to receive and respond to change has cost us a vitality in our spiritual experience that makes us far less effective ambassadors of Christ. We lose our effectiveness if we ever become confused about where our true home is. Our journey of faith must remain a journey and a journey will always take us to places we have never been.
C.S. Lewis, in speaking about suffering in his book, The Problem of Pain, offers an insight into why change matters and what it is we look for when we oppose change:
The Christian Doctrine of suffering explains, I believe, a very curious fact about the world we live in. The settled happiness and security which we all desire, God withholds from us by the very nature of the world: but joy, pleasure and merriment He has scattered broadcast. We are never safe but we have plenty of fun, and some ecstasy. It is not hard to see why. The security we crave would teach us to rest our hearts in this world and pose an obstacle to our return to God: a few moments of happy love, a landscape, a symphony, a merry meeting with our friends, a bathe or a football match, have no such tendency. Our Father refreshes on the journey with some pleasant inns, but will not encourage us to mistake them for home.
This world is not our home. But like a weary 5 year old on a long drive we often whine, “Are we there yet!?” And God gently reminds us that we have a way to go yet but offers us a story or a picture or a drink or a break to refresh us and renew our resolve to continue the Journey. So, buckle up and let’s go!
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Acting Up In Church
by Bud Daneker.

At some point, if you haven't already, you will probably experiment with drama during a worship service. Critics will tell you it's fluff, needless entertainment which detracts from authentic God-worship. And they are right---if your drama is poorly done and your motive is misunderstood. Consider the following good reasons for including good drama in your worship services:

---We want to reclaim art for God. "Every good gift comes from the Father," James wrote (1:17). Yet we've surrendered many of the arts to the world and then find ourselves bent out of shape when theatre is risqué, dance is sexually overloaded, and paintings are nihilistic. Creation is saturated with God's art. God employs art for His purposes throughout Scripture. So it's inconceivable that God would have some conflict with art being employed in His worship.
However, for drama to be art and not fluff, it needs to be done as well as is possible. DO have your drama team memorize lines. DO have rehearsals during the week. DO use props. DO NOT be afraid to be creative and attempt things like mimes, monologues, or boundary-pushing subject matter. DO NOT be afraid to spend some money for good wireless mics and lighting. DO NOT be afraid to take your drama team to the theatre to observe and learn from the pros.
Nothing screams, "Mediocre!" as much as drama poorly done by actors and actresses who are reading from scripts.

---We want to connect Scripture to life. This is what Jesus did so masterfully when he said, for example, "Look at that field of lilies...." Or, when he pulled a child to his side and said, "Unless you become like him...." Drama can be extremely effective at helping people to connect with the Scripture and message. Drama can raise questions: "What DOES the Bible say about that issue?" Drama can help people identify: "I've felt that way. Is there an answer?" Drama can lower defenses when people are moved to laugh or cry. Drama can help to develop worship service and message themes in a very effective manner.
What drama does not do well is preach. Avoid drama that functions like a TV sitcom---present a problem, poke a little fun, and then offer a nice, tidy solution. Use your Biblically-based message to offer solutions. Drama which offers solutions tends to be overly simplistic and artificial. Do not be afraid to let people feel uncomfortable at the end of a drama...that's a good thing.
Here's a warning: Many of the dramas published in book form by Christian publishers is "sitcom" drama. It's cute but too much like cotton candy. The Christians in your congregation will find it an interesting addition to your worship service: the seekers will find it superficial and it will confirm for them that it really isn't safe to bring their deep and authentic questions to your church.

---We want to move people emotionally. Good drama makes people laugh or cry. And God has so arranged it that when we laugh or cry, we are very open to what God has to say through His Word. You might know that our brains are wired so that all information we receive MUST be received through the "primitive" part of our brain which also serves as our emotional center. For a human being to make a decision about anything, from a car purchase to becoming a child of God, the information must first be filtered through the emotional part of our brains. (Yes, I'm well aware of the overwhelming and absolute necessity of the influence of the Spirit. But I suspect God's Spirit is also aware of how we've been created and it's safe to assume he takes advantage of that.) This is why a good communicator (from a good car salesman to a good evangelist) knows that we also "buy" on emotion and "justify" based on fact. Therefore, if we can lower defenses and help our congregation develop openness for the Scripture, we become far more effective teachers and preachers.
The danger is, of course, manipulation. You know it when you're there, so don't manipulate. Stick with Truth.
The most effective drama source, in addition to writing your own. Go to the "service builder" portion of the site and you can search by subject matter and/or scripture. Often you can preview a portion of the drama in which you're interested. You're able to buy only the drama you intend to use rather than purchasing a whole book for just the one or two dramas you might use.
I would be happy to learn of other drama resources-- let me know and I'll pass them on.
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Hard Words From the Emergent Church
found and forwarded by Pete Wood.
Brian McLaren quoted a friend, Ed Chinn, in an e-mail newsletter Brian regularly publishes. Ed's "stepping-on-toes" quote follows:

"... in my own devotional time this morning, I read John 3:31-32: The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard... ("The Message" translates this passage as, "The earthbound is earthbound and speaks earth language; the heavenborn is in a league of its own. He sets out the evidence of what he saw and heard in heaven...") The primary reason I ever attend a church service (or frankly, even have serious or long conversations with Christians) is the hope that I will hear something proclaimed out of heaven, something that carries the majesty, the revelation, the heart and breath of God. I want my heart to burn with a word from Heaven. I want to hear something which rumbles through the corridors of His chamber and then creates a sonic boom when it enters my "earth space." I am not interested in a 3-point guide for living or recycled Oprah or political perspectives or even a Bible study or exploring "styles of worship." And, I'm not looking for more apologetics and theology. We all know that the more traditional churches live in a ghetto of unreality; they speak only to themselves, write books for themselves, and make music for themselves. No one else has any clue what they're saying. That's why serious people have been ignoring them for a couple of decades. While I appreciate the freshness and youthfulness of "the emergent church" (or "postmodern church movement" as some call it), sometimes I think they have simply become better conversationalists. They've learned the language and the concepts of the natives and are very good about engaging them in real conversations. I greatly admire and enjoy that. But, very honestly, I've not heard very much in that world that really testifies of anything seen in Heaven. Like most other church worlds, they speak from a distinct "earthview" and in a distinct earth-language."++++++
[Brian offered the following summary:]
Ed is telling us something humbling, something we need to hear. The emergent movement (a dangerous term - see next paragraph) has wonderful promise, but it could just become another marketing gimmick to sell books, build egos, and bolster sagging spirits with a new invisible wardrobe for a pudgy, pasty old emperor. No doubt, in some quarters it will squander its potential, but if you care about the possibilities being actualized ...please... let's aim deep and high. Wendell Berry, one of the people whose writings most fill my soul, has something important to say about movements. I hope you'll take a couple of minutes and read his article at http://resurgence.gn.ap c.org/issues/berry198.htm (Thanks, Jeremiah Smith, for the link) Everything Berry says there is relevant to us.
Check out more on the "emergent Church" at http://www.blogger.com/app/.
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Who Attends Small Churches?
found and forwarded by Pete Wood.
Pete offered the following from the Barna Update, Sept 2, 2003:

"Why are small churches small? Why are large churches large and more likely to grow? These are some of the factors explored in this week's report. In that summary you will discover:
Small churches have a higher proportion of downscale adults, who tend to be less aggressive, less inclined to assume leadership, and less oriented toward institutional growth.
Larger churches attract a greater proportion of conservative adults, who tend to prefer knowing acceptable boundaries and working within them. Church-going conservatives substantially outnumber church-going liberals.
Baby Busters are more likely to attend a small church than a large church. They have energy but they are less interested in numerical growth, have less leadership experience and fewer resources to invest in a church.
These are just a few of the findings from our latest research. Find out more about the dynamics of church size by accessing the complete report on our website (http://www.blogger.com/app/). As always, the report is free to those who want to serve the Lord with all their heart, mind, strength and soul."
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Exporting Culture
by Pete Wood.
The influence of American pop culture dominates perceptions around the world. America’s biggest export determines, to a large extent, the negative image of America. We may have noticed a change over the decades in programming on TV, in lyrics, and movies. The Parents Television Council (http://www.blogger.com/app/) has a database that chronicles the levels of base (and debasing) behavior to which our culture is subjected by the media. The influence of these “teaching methods” is apparent as our culture assimilates these behaviors with no regard for God’s standard.
It is biblical tradition that has determined much of America’s guidance in good times and bad. There are people who do not know or understand this. This is our opportunity, but where do we start? We have slowly, easily allowed what seemed “harmless, little” infractions against “proper conduct” to become a whole new “acceptable” way of conduct lacking little concern for neighbor or God.
From a world perspective, this degradation is noted in what is often their only acquaintance with Americans: the imported TV show, music, or the technologically laden violent movie full of expletives and plenty of skin. In a recent article, Mike Medved was quoted, “The biggest concern that people [in other cultures] have is the erosion of local traditions, the encouragement of immediate gratification, the emphasis on a superficial view of reality.” Zachary A. Goldfarb in a Washington Times article refers to a new book (Oct. release) by Marvin L. and Margaret Defleur, Learning To Hate Americans: How the U.S. Media Shape Negative Opinions Among Teen-Agers in Twelve Countries, which contends: “though teens embrace American movies, TV, and music, they believe that the violence, crime and sex portrayed in pop culture accurately depict ordinary life in the U S.” Is this the “Great Satan” that the world sees? Sadly Argentina, is the only country where teens viewed Americans positively. We have helped this with our viewing and accepting in “little bits and pieces” what we may have known was wrong. This is what drives an image of America that many in the world hold.
It matters what our decisions are with money (movies, music), leisure (TV), material goods, or witnessing an injustice and saying nothing. It begins with the individual as to what is acceptable. What should we buy? Should we keep up with the Joneses? Are the Joneses in tune with God? Should we watch that TV show if we know we lend support? Each decision to view or purchase is a vote for something, a support for something. Each decision to purchase should be tempered with need, or want. For His glory, or mine? For if one infraction is allowed the way is paved for others with decreasing resistance. That paved way is often not the path.
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Can Busters Lead E.C. Churches?
by Bud Daneker.
Like me, you may have experienced frustration at recruiting and keeping non-E.C. young people (20's and 30's) on your leadership teams and committees. In honest moments, these younger people have expressed that they quickly become bored, disenchanted, and frustrated with the current style of leadership. To be blunt, the busters and millennials will not easily tolerate the almost endless layers of "approval-seeking" necessary in some of our churches. Nor will they easily tolerate committees which meet for little or no purpose, or committees which will not enthusiastically consider change. But what will most quickly kill the spirit of these coming generations is poor relationships. Younger people are far more interested in creating community than they are in accomplishing business. Do not attempt to excuse this by suggesting that perhaps we haven't found the spiritually-gifted leaders. This is actually Good News: Community is back! If we're to succeed at transitioning our churches to the leaders of the coming generations (and we're overdue at this), we'll have to spend far more time, FAR MORE TIME, at the relational aspects of our leadership teams.
To begin getting a handle on what's involved, read Steve Farber's book, The Radical Leap, Dearborn Trade Publishing, 2004. It's a quick read, a good story, and will give you great insight into the current trend in leadership.
Another helpful book is Patrick Lencioni's book, Death by Meeting, Jossey-Bass Publishing, 2004.
The change in our culture is far more deeply rooted than music preference. This is a world-view shift. It has been a long time since I've heard someone at an Official Board meeting suggest that our first priority is to love each other. But that time is here, now.
Take advantage.

Maintain A Lack Of Context

Tuesday, November 23 2004POST-ELECTION COCOONING AT THE NEW YORK TIMES: The election is over - but the liberal cocooning at the New York Times is not. Compare the following treatment of the latest CBS News/NY Times poll:
CBS News (No byline)Title: "Poll: Bush's Next Four Years"Lead Paragraphs of Story: "The majority of Americans feel optimistic about the next four years with George W. Bush as President, but they disagree on whether Bush’s second term in office will bring Americans together or further divide them.
Most are confident that President Bush will make the right decisions to protect the U.S. from terrorist attacks, and just over half think he will be able to end the war in Iraq successfully. "
New York Times (Adam Nagourney & Janet Elder)Title: "Americans Show Clear Concerns on Bush Agenda"Lead Paragraphs of Story: "After enduring a brutally fought election campaign, Americans are optimistic about the next four years under President Bush, but have reservations about central elements of the second-term agenda he presented in defeating Senator John Kerry, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News Poll.
At a time when the White House has portrayed Mr. Bush's 3.5-million-vote victory as a mandate, the poll found that Americans are at best ambivalent about Mr. Bush's plans to reshape Social Security, rewrite the tax code, cut taxes and appoint conservative judges to the bench. There is continuing disapproval of Mr. Bush's handling of the war in Iraq, with a plurality now saying it was a mistake to invade in the first place."
Burying the lede seems to be a genetic predisposition among New York Times reporters. This time, Nagourney and Elder ladle on eight paragraphs of honey before slipping their readers the bitter pill:
And even after this tense and vituperative campaign, 56 percent said they were generally optimistic about the next four years under Mr. Bush. Mr. Bush's job approval rating has now inched up to 51 percent, the highest it has been since March.I'm not suggesting this poll is full of fantastic news for President Bush. It has some good and some bad. But there's a difference between reporting the numbers straight - which is what CBS News did, to their credit - and constructing an article to present the numbers in the worst possible light. That's not objective reporting, it's an instinctive, reflexive bias against the President. And while it may serve as a nice piece of therapy for reporters in the New York Times newsroom, it doesn't serve the paper's reputation or its readers very well at all. - T. Bevan 7:30 am