Posts Tagged ‘Patrol Magazine’
I recently read an article in Patrol Magazine that I think fits rather nicely with our discussions about community. Stephen Simpson is a professor at Fuller Theological Seminary and asks the question, “Why is church so dull?” and I don’t think his answers are what you would expect. Here’s an excerpt:
As much as postmodern evangelicals bandy about the word “community,” our gatherings have changed very little. Stylistic alterations might add some hipster flair, but the focal point of the liturgical week remains theater. A dozen or so people perform for a few hundred that sit, stand, kneel, pray, and sing on command. We squeeze real community into the gaps, between events with a hierarchical structure. Not only is this a long way from Biblical models of the early Christian church, it’s a breeding ground for messy group dynamics. And, again, it’s boring.
The issues he raises are exactly what we’re wrestling with. I’m not saying you should agree with everything he says, but please take some time to read the whole article by clicking here, then come back and share your thoughts.
