i wonder how you feel reading this? i read it and i wonder if it's not right when we look at a huge number of people who have left the church and the easier way is to put the onus of responsibility on them for leaving. maybe they just can't understand how the church can preach the gospel and say that we are a reflection of Jesus Christ but when they read the gospels and when they see what Jesus did for people that didn't belong, they wonder why everyone acts like the older brother in the story about the father and two sons (you know the one which they call prodigal).

i know there's two sides of the coin, i've been on both. i know this is why i left and i know that part of it was on me... and i know from meeting people in places like clubs, at work, at concerts and travelling across the country the last few years that have left the church that yes it is their choice to leave, but there's another part that isn't their choice. Maybe we aren't preaching in our churches the same message Jesus had, or maybe we're not acting as a reflection of Jesus Christ we claim we are? What's your take?

A reflection of Christ? is a post from: PomoTheo - Missional Perspectives

I also want to let you know about an upcoming series on the topic of 'Impediments to Missional Church'. The idea is to highlight some of the fundamental posture changes that need to happen in our consumer/attractional oriented churches before missional can ever take place. Some readers may conclude that it will be easier to start anew rather than lead change through the current organization....We'll let you decide that one!

Remember, PomoTheo.com seeks to become an important catalyst and voice for the missional movement in Canada (and abroad of course). Please add us to your readers, your news feeds, your podcasts feeds, and of course, comment along the way.

PomoTheo Updates: New Podcast and Series on the Way is a post from: PomoTheo - Missional Perspectives

Modern denominations, which include pretty much everyone, but I'll pick on evangelicals because they tend to think they're cutting edge when it comes to connecting with the world around them, are doing a poor job raising post-modern leaders from within.

Why? I think it's because they measure success and new leaders with a modern lens and thus can only conclude inadequacy.

For leaders, in an effort to minimize the loss of new leaders, the solution is to get these individuals to prove or gain experience. Make them work in the modern attractional consumer church for a few years to see if they 'get it' before accepting the rick of a 'trial' or 'test' model of post-modern church.

Success, on the other hand, is not measured in the transformation of a few, but whether an event captures the attention of many. Regardless of their initiatives do anything they must at least give the impression to people that they've done something. Although they claim efficiency (church development) they combine energies and impact few.

What's going to happen? Post-modern leaders won't play the game. If postmodernity is really a completely different culture than what's found in current evangelical modern churches, then being trained within that setting detrimental at worse and boring at best.

Here's a discussion between two young pastors, one employed at a 'emerging-missional' church in a modern denomination. The other, from the same denomination, can't get affirmation to do a post-modern/missional church plant. Read on, it includes a hockey analogy

D says: i got two sermons to write before i start on the conference stuff

R says: haha. the life of a modern pastor

D says: wow...you're really cranky these days

R says: i figure i'll talk to anybody who'll listen....which is nobody these days

D says: you're all suited up...u got ur skates on...great stick and glove...but u won't play coz u wanna to change the rules b4 u step on the ice...

R says: hang on

R says: good analogy, i'm thinking

D says: i'm listening

R says: i'm all suited up, i've got my skates on, great stick and glove, but i won't play cause i'd have to do it in front of a crowd that won't even cheer along

R says: i'd rather start my own team and play with people on the ice cause everyone dreams about being on the ice

D says: they ain't gonna listen to u until they know how hard u hit and how fast ur slapshot is

R says: who?
R says: i do'nt care about the owners
R says: all they care about is how many ticket sales they get

D says: so????

R says: they have all the money, but they only control a small segment of th epopulation
R says: little do they know that 80% of the market remains untapped ready to give

D says: this....isn't too bad...

Are Evangelicals Inept at Raising Post-Modern Leaders? is a post from: PomoTheo - Missional Perspectives

Simply put, to remove the Bible from the equation because its details on homosexuality are scant will mean adjusting your church community into a simple community club. Furthermore, you throw away the only manual on why these people should be included in community. You would become like so many United Church's in Canada: one dying club of old people gathered in the name of cross-stitch and bingo instead of Jesus. In fact, it is my strong opinion that Jesus is primarily revealed through two things, the scriptures about him and the community about him.

Are we to disregard the entirety of scripture because the Bible says little about homosexuality? From my perspective, and hey I'm willing to be wrong too, the Bible is explicitly clear that the act of homosexuality is condemned. But before you conservatives in the crowd sing your heavenly praises, remember homosexuality is a sin among many (that you commit yourself). I also don't buy the thought we live in a society that is more inclusive and progressive (egalitarian, etc.). Ancient Rome, Corinth, *insert wild city here*, would put present day Las Vegas to shame (barely). The difference resides in our interpretation of marriage--more on that later.

Certainly Jesus Christ was counter-cultural when he included the oppressed, women, etc., in his daily commute. He also failed with one in the inner-circle. But that does not open the door to every office and leadership position for practicing homosexuals, just as it wouldn't for straight folks. So, the argument goes, if straight or gay people are not in a loving marriage then they should not be affirmed into leadership positions for a community that emphasizes holiness. The statement now becomes, 'so let same-sex couples marry' and the solution to our inclusion problem is solved. So what constitutes marriage? That's a post for another time which won't be solved here.....

It's quite simple and safe to believe that those with homosexual tendencies can certainly be included in the kingdom of God. It's quite simple and safe to believe that 'Christians' who spawn hate--even to their own kids--are either stupid or sheep in the ultra-conservative pasture. The very nature of many evangelical churches is to be missionary

Nonetheless, observe how it's possible to retain the Bible and still dialogue and be friends with your friends (why label them homosexuals, they're just friends....)

Jesus is the big dot in the middle. The first community square is most conservative churches--using the bible to define who's in and who's out while they worship their little Jesus in the middle. Adam is right, the Bible has too much prominence to the point many don't know the difference between the Word and their zondervan made 'word'.

The second community is open and defines each person as a small dot, some journeying closer to Jesus, the Bible still present yet interpreted through community rather than imposed. That's a post-modernism response to homosexuality and the Bible.

I can see many crying foul that any community can interpret as they please. In a sense, many do, and the nature of our God is that he can be revealed in all of them. However, a smart community will attempt to remain within the bounds of the greater church community rather than creating their own box somewhere further out in the distance.

The Bible isn't an impediment to acceptance, it contains the supreme example of how we need to conduct ourselves to engage God's plan to redeem humanity.

Left-Wing Pomos Comment on Bible v Homosexuality is a post from: PomoTheo - Missional Perspectives

Authenticity, how refreshing. I think we're all angry SOB's most of the time.

Authenticity Hauerwas Style is a post from: PomoTheo - Missional Perspectives

Anyways, joking, but listening to the speech, being Canadian, I could only think: Mcain = modernity, Obama = post-foundational realist....

Obama Victorious is a post from: PomoTheo - Missional Perspectives

Cutting to the Core of Modernism

This book has cut to the core of the modernism--or the people hanging around in the paradigm. Not knocking them, no, but I do want to highlight some thoughts. Let me make a loose assumption: modernism = reverence. That's how church worked for this crowd: reverent, choirs, robes, quiet, old wooden cross, pews. Connecting SHIT with JESUS is irreverent and profane. This is last thing true orthodox Christianity needs.

Others are less offended, equally 'Christian' and reserve final judgment. I think this book selling ploy has worked, and short of buying the book and reading it (maybe I will), I won't say yay or nay. However, I will end with a comment I saw on the topic:

Reminds of Tony Campolo's famous address where he talks about how many children had died from starvation since the beginning of his talk and how most people in the audience didn't even give a shit about it. Then he told the stunned people that the really sad thing was that most of them were more concerned that a Baptist preacher said shit than with the statistic itself.

Oh Shit! It’s Jesus – Momos vs. Pomos is a post from: PomoTheo - Missional Perspectives

Nutter Priest Takes Post-Modernism Way Too Far

You know you have a scam of a religion when you're ordained minister feel they can be BOTH Muslim and Christian at the same time. This woman apparently thinks she can and refuses to cite mutually exclusive theological differences of the personhood and deity of Christ as proof the two don't mix. For her, what 'feels right' is what wins out at the end of the day.

I think it feels right if the Episcopoal church disappeared but that doesn't mean it's right. Muslims don't believe in the Triune God, deity of Jesus, resurrection of Jesus, etc. (although they surprisingly believe he is a 'good teacher', but they don't follow this 'good teacher's' teachings....).

She should be tripped of her credentials and permitted to run a cult that also worships the sun cause it feels so nice against the skin.

Why the Episcopal Church is a Scam is a post from: PomoTheo - Missional Perspectives