There is a prominent philosophy that has been sweeping church circles that has been having a damaging effect. That philosophy is the relentless pursuit of "The Church should be Cool". I know this very well because I've been in that mindset before. It was a mindset that drove me. Instead of focusing on being a relationally driven church that lives and teaches the ways of Jesus to a lost and dying world...the church is driven by what is cool or entertaining.
I feel as I look back on my own journey that my drive to show that Jesus is cool was driven by being in very legalistic churches growing up and early on in my life. As a kid Church wasn't cool. In fact it was very boring. It didn't do a whole lot to connect with me. The songs were boring the preacher was longwinded and the people were very judgemental. I remember worrying more about what would people think if I didn't wear a suit today than that actual worship of God. It is for this very reason that many have left the church because they claim it isn't relevant to their lives. But when you are passionate about Jesus and know that the church is the answer for this world....you revert to anything you can to convey the message. So what is the normal direction most take from this point....they try to make the uncool...cool. The irrelevant....relevant. The "what seemed to be fake" to be real.
Now let make it clear. I don't see anything wrong with being what many may say is cool/relevant. I don't mind the worship bands that play cool music...the pastor who wears jeans while he preachesl...the videos that drive home the message. I don't mind the free coffee and donuts in the morning...who doesn't? :) None of that stuff is bad. I begin to have a problem with above mentioned items when it becomes the "end". I believe the above mentioned things are just a "means to an end". Some churches think that because they are hip or cool means that they are doing a great job in the "Great Commission". Let me be very clear here. Just because you are gifted in drawing a great Crowd doesn't mean you are doing the Great Commission. In fact....it's the opposite.
The very first word in the Great Commission is the word "GO". Go and make all discples of all nations. I would argue that the mantra of the modern day church is not GO. The mantra of the modern day church is the word "COME". The difference behind those words are really a line in the sand. The word "COME" invokes a very attractional philosophy. It translates into "you better look cool/hip so that when people "COME" to your church they will want to stay...because if not they are going to go to the next church that is cool/hip." IF you have the "COME" Commission than it's just a waiting came to see whose going to show up. I think that Jesus knew people better when he said...GO. Jesus knew that people had to be motivated. This is also called the "Attractional" view of ministry. You'll see slogans and mottos that suggest that their church is better than anybody elses church. "The Place to Be"..."Discover the Difference". Many churches have slogans to suggest why their church is the best church to "come" to.
I believe the better answer lies in being "Missional". That is simply put...."being the hands and feet of Jesus everywhere you GO". I also see a major difference between the Attractional vs. Missional views in this way. The attractional view of church focuses it's attention on building an empire. I can't say it's true for 100% of churches but most attractional churches focus on "growing their church". The major questions swirl around "how many did we have?"...."what was the offering". The "Missional" approach lies in building the kingdom of God.
I believe being trapped in the "cult of being cool" has robbed many pastors and churches of it's soul. That does not mean they have lost their salvation. It just means that it has take away it's true focus of reaching this world for Christ. When you got more wrapped up in the details of lights, camera, action....and less focused on worship and building community amongst the people...you've lost it. I can remember many, many weeks where I was more focused on being cool in my sermons...then I was in showing God's love to somebody. It is easy to fall into the trap. I believe it's a natural reaction that many have bought into because more people don't go to church today than used to. So they want to change people's minds.
Remember.....You don't need to make Jesus or the Bible more relevant....They already are. You have to make yourself more relevant because relevance changes everyday. Don't let relevance steal your soul.
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