Comments on: UnChristian – Chapter 8

By: real live preacher

real live preacher — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 20:46:22 +0000

I would say that the key here is community and permission. Most people give permission to certain others to be honest with them. Most people are offended when someone off the street walks up and starts passing judgment on their lives.

You have to earn the right to speak honestly with someone. Making a judgment call about behavior and life isn’t bad and it is unavoidable. It’s choosing whether or not you have the right to confront someone that is the real issue, at least as I see it.

By: Shane Vander Hart

Shane Vander Hart — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 00:19:01 +0000

I’m speaking from my perspective in Iowa, and I’m not just thinking church-based ministries, but para-church as well. I obviously can not speak to what is going on in your community.

By: societyvs

societyvs — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 23:39:02 +0000

“A lot of those programs already exist” (Shane)

Some of those programs exist – lot would mean they are big within many churches – this is blatantly not so – usually the most opportunities some congregants get for actual involvement is prayer meetings and bible studies – and for programs – that does little for involvement in the community.

Really liked your ideas about programs – it’s that kind of thinking that will propel the church into the next millenium with a positive outcome.

By: Shane Vander Hart

Shane Vander Hart — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:02:08 +0000

You know the problem lies more in my summary, than in the chapter itself. They did touch on that some. For instance:

Instead of just speaking against divorce… mentor a single mother’s son, etc.

The ministry I serve encourages people to come into juvenile detention centers to meet with kids (not just Bible studies, but also play board games and just to be present in their lives) and mentor high-risk kids in the community.

With homosexuals – get involved in AIDS rallies, work in hospices, show compassion and care. Those are some off the top of my head examples.

A lot of those programs already exist… it is just getting people plugged into them.

By: Societyvs

Societyvs — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 01:07:01 +0000

““The perception is that Christians know more for talking about issues than doing anything about them.””

I would say that hits the nail right on the head about a lot of people’s basic feeling with church and experience that have seen them leaving. I have to say I also see the same problem in a lot of churches in that there is a lot ‘talk’ culture but a not a lot ‘do’ culture. Things need to change or at the very least balance out better.

I think the guideline are a step in the right direction but they seem to address a single problem – listening to another – which makes sense in a mere ‘talk’ culture. I think the bigger problem which is not addressed is how to ’serve the communities’ around us – and this is going to require programs that show true concern for the basic needs of those around us. Talk will take us a little ways – we need to start seeing actual programs that show our compassion and demonstrate our beliefs.