Something seems inherently wrong with church educational philosophies.
Committee --> Program --> Disciples
Where's the discipleship factory?? Oh yes, it's that white bearded committee coming up with another ingenius one-shoe fits all Savior Program!! Look at it pop out the discipled by-product at the end of the line. Look how nice, neat, clean, and uniformly packaged everything is! Wow!
But there is a mindset deserving careful consideration if we are to find transformed lives in our churches. It bears some semblance to the method Jesus used in training his disciples after he called the babes into committed relationships of following his lead.
Covenantal Relationships --> Time --> Disciples
There is no key, no program, no magic wand. It's discipled people (listening to God's voice) rubbing shoulders with babes, investing their time and lives, and leaving it up to God to transform lives.
Let's not get immodest in how we think about creating disciples in churches. We ain't got a shot in hell to do it even with the most brilliant program. At most, we can invest our very lives in others, just as Jesus did, and then we leave the results to the Savior (Jesus) and the Transformer (Holy Spirit).
Rub your aroma off on others as you pray. That's the only way.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
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4 comments:
It is nice to know someone else in this world believes treating people like humans rather as machines is a good idea.
I do agree with you about how committees take over and take away from authentic relationships.
But, I would suggest that you are presenting a false dicotomy: why can't both of these items (committe and covenant relationships) coexist? That is, why can't it be the perogative of the committee to develop programs with the express goal of creating an atmosphere in which covenant relationships can most effectively be developed?
With Hope,
Stephen
Sure, the committee can make it their perogative. But the committee must be committed to it, rather than getting sidetracked with a programmatic easy way out.
That was my point, exactly.
I was just concerned you were throwing the baby out with the bath water.
good stuff, my friend
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