Growing Edges of Sabbath

I rarely have the time to just sit and ponder.  Sabbath has afforded me the opportunity to deeply focus on what God is calling me to, where the church is going, and how that fits together in my life.  The book I am reading, my guide for Sabbath this week, is taking me on a journey.  I'm curious to see where that leads.  In the meantime... here is what is swimming in my brain.

"Just as Lewis and Clark functioned under a set of geographical assumptions, leaders of the church in the West today have been operating under a set of philosophical, theological and ecclesiological assumptions."  (Bolsinger, Tod E. Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2015. Print. Pg 27)

 Just as Lewis and Clark made assumptions about what their journey would be like, we too make assumptions about ministry, about congregations, about leadership.  I keep turning the question over and around in my mind.  What are the assumptions we make in churches today?  

• Everyone around us has at least basic knowledge of the Christian faith.  
• Churches have a pedestal position in society.
• If we offer more programs people will come back to church.
• Others should do mission.  I'll just write a check.  
• Church involvement is an indication of strength of personal faith.  
• Faith is only something that we need to worry about on Sunday mornings, well on Sunday mornings that are convenient.  
• Ministry is completely the pastor's, music minister's, youth minister's and church professional's job.  That is what we pay them for.
• If we turn back to what worked in the 1950s and 1960s church will be vibrant again.
• Children and youth should receive Christian education and faith development from the church and church professionals.  
• Money and finances are a taboo subject for churches to discuss.  
• We are the only church/denomination that does things correctly.  
• All of those that are part of a church should agree with one another.  

These are all assumptions, all myths.  We as churches and as church leaders cannot continue living in assumption.  While some of these may have seemed to be true in the past, we are facing a very different scene in 2016.  The world is rapidly changing.  I know that is painful for some people to hear.  I get it, truly I do.  I think back to all of the changes people have seen in just the last 100 years.  My grandmother was born in 1924.  Growing up she did not have indoor toilets and was educated in a one room school house.  By the time she passed away in 2003 there were microwaves, computers, cell phones.  That is a lot of change in her lifetime.  Technologically, socially, culturally, educationally.  I can only imagine the changes I will see in my lifetime.  The pace of change seems to be quicker and quicker each year.  The church is no different.  Others have said it and I will say it as well.  If faith communities are to survive they must put assumptions aside and rethink and retool for the future that is to come.  It means evaluating and keeping what tradition is life giving to a community, developing discipleship and looking towards the ever changing future of God's mission in the world.  

And now to go ponder that a little more....