The USA Today recently published an article called “Americans freely change, or drop, their religions”. You can find it here. The article was based on research entitled “U.S. Religious Landscape Survey”, which was released Monday by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. Al Mohler is just one of many that have started to comment on the results of the research. You can read his response here.

In a nutshell the research shows that the nation is constantly shifting amid religious choices, unaware or unconcerned with doctrinal distinctions and that unbelief is on the rise. I guess much could be made of the research. But then again, it may not make that much of a ripple.

My perspective on the research is jaded by what I’ve seen and have been a part of over the last 2 years. I think I’ve mentioned in another post, that many believe that Western Europe is years ahead of the US when it comes to post-modernism and general views of the church. This is not necessarily a good thing, but it does give great insight into how things could conceivably start to evolve in the US. Much of Western Europe is considered to be post-Christian. The church and religion means little to the vast majority of people here. They see it as irrelevant and offering no real value to their lives.

This research is the first step (or one of the first steps) towards the same type of thinking in the US. I don’t have an opinion as to how long the transformation takes, but I do believe that those of you in the States are on the path to finding out what a truly post-modern, post-Christian culture looks like.

A very thoughtful look at how you do church needs to be taken. Without adjustments you may find that many of your “cathedrals” will be museums just like they are here.

Cheers.

I was watching a show recently where a part-time character was killed in an auto accident. One of the main characters was responsible for telling the spouse about her husband’s death. The main character commented that until this particular day she didn’t even know the wife (they worked at the same place), but was now the one that brought the news that would make up one of the worst days in the life of the wife. The main character would now be known as the one who told the wife of her husband’s death. She would be “that” person in the wife’s story of her life.

It got me to thinking…what part have I or will I play in the stories of others? When my neighbors tell their life story what part will I play? Will I be the one that showed them what Jesus was like, or will I show them what hypocritical religion was like, or will I even be mentioned at all?

I hope that when others I know, or will come to know, tell their stories, that when I’m mentioned it will be because in me they saw and experienced the hands, feet, eyes, mouth, and ears of Jesus. Hopefully they will say that I pointed them to the throne of Christ.

To me, this is the heart of missional living.

Cheers.

I recently wrote about what it means to live “missionally”. That is, to be actively engaged in where and how God is moving, regardless of where it is or how it’s happening. I wanted to touch on the topic again today and give you another resource to listen to as you explore what it means to be a missional Christian.

Very rarely have I found someone that is able to articulate for me the thoughts swirling around in my head. Heck, I can’t even do it for myself. So, imagine my amazement when I listened to a couple of messages from Matt Chandler at the Village Church in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area when he absolutely nailed my thoughts on the church and living missionally. Of course, he says it much better than I ever could. Take time to listen to Matt’s short 3 message series entitled Salt and Light.

You can get them here (directly from The Village website) or use this link to subscribe through iTunes.

Cheers.

The term “missional” has gained prominence in the last several years. It’s a way of describing a person, group, church, etc. of being “on” mission with God. This isn’t about just sending missionaries to foreign places, although that’s part of it. It’s about being involved in the work of God anywhere and everywhere that He is moving. And rest assured, God is moving in places all over the world. To live missionally we must go to those places, or perhaps stay right where we’re at, and get involved in what God is doing.

Anthony Bradley at TheResurgence.com asked the question earlier today, “Why does America have orphans if it has Christian churches?” It’s a very short article, well worth your time. And it’s just a fraction of what it means to be missional. Here’s the link.

Cheers.

…that seems to get it. link

Cheers.