As I peered out our kitchen window this morning I was considering all the questions I have right now: When will we sell our house? Why Nashville? Why can't I go back to the comfort of an office and a consistent paycheck? Why?

It occurred to me, this is exactly why we are embarking on this next adventure in our lives--an adventure that we believe God has taken 5 years for us to understand. He wants us out there--where the people we want to influence for the Kingdom are. But, even beyond that He wants us to be the people who take what we have learned in the classroom and help answer people's questions. Questions people are often afraid to ask in church.The number one thing people usually say to me when they find out I'm a pastor after conversing with me a bit is: I'm sorry. Why? Because they assume they offended me in some way. Maybe it was their language, their attitude, their something. It used to make me chuckle because of how consistent it was, not it makes me sad. Why don't they say, "Oh, you much be a person who is full of love, grace, and truth"? No, they say, "I'm sorry." The second question is almost always--just that--a question. "Gene, what do you think about . . . ?" Something of that nature. Somewhere people learned it wasn't okay to ask questions in church. Maybe for awhile, but after awhile you'd better stop asking tough questions. It shows doubt or lack or spiritual growth. Really? It shouldn't be the case, but often it is. I have learned a lot these past 2 1/2 years because I haven't been in the position to just talk without giving people no chance to talk back. People have great questions. Not only that, they often ask the same questions that I still have after all these years. I've also found out that people are often processing things a lot differently than I think they are. I'd rather journey with someone for a lifetime so that they can journey with God for a lifetime, than to journey with them until they continue to ask questions too long for my comfort. We believe God has called us to Mind the Gap. To be people who journey with spiritual seekers--an abundant group I might add. This is our hearts desire.

Reaching the Cultural Creative

Along our journey we have had several mentors and friends speaking into our lives regarding our mission. Some time ago, our friend Lavon mentioned Earl Creps and his upcoming journey to Berkely. After reading his book Off Road Disciplines and resonating with it completely, we began reading and listening to other work that Earl Creps has “out there”. We have not ever had the opportunity to meet Earl Creps, Lavon speaks highly of him. We almost got to speak with him on the phone….but I suppose that doesn’t really count for anything. Anyway, we have had some sense of affirmation by tracking his journey from afar and wanted to share with you this:

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Who is shaping our culture?

By Arundhati Bhanot

There is an emerging group of people the world over, who are working to evolve a new set of values, to take up issues that are close to their heart

There is a growing movement involving about hundred million people in the USA and Europe, weaving a new cultural fabric, reframing how we see the world today. They are called the Cultural Creatives, a term coined by Paul Ray (Ph.D. in sociology).

Ray in a book co-authored with Sherry Ruth Anderson (Ph.D. in psychology), The Cultural Creatives: How 50 Million People Are Changing the World, writes: ''These creative, optimistic millions are at the leading edge of several kinds of cultural change, deeply affecting not only their own lives but our larger society as well. Innovation by innovation, they are shaping a new kind of American culture for the 21st century.''

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"Denatured Church" by Gilbert Bilezikian

Alone_in_crowd Gilbert Bilezikian offers insights into why the church in America is moving so slowly and why mega churches are having little impact on our culture. Here are a few of his thoughts:

The church is "denatured" through...individualism

“But the church in the West is being overtaken by individualism, which entails increased material pursuits, so you can afford to be self-sufficient. Strong anti-community forces are at work. Family life is practically non-existent as we are pulled away in different directions.”

The church is "denatured" through...embracing the values of culture

“The bane of the church is that it becomes worldly. Instead of imparting the Word and becoming an agent of change, it adopts the values of the world and integrates them into its structures and life."

The church is "denatured" through...an over reliance on corporate tactics

“The biggest problem is the definition of its leadership structures. There are very clear directives in the New Testament for how the church is to be constituted, on the basis of community, which implies congregational participation, consensual decision-making, accountability of leaders to the congregation. Leadership should not be directive but developmental.”

However, Mr. Bilezikian says the church has discarded these directives and replaced them with worldly models of leadership, such as those found in corporate business. So we find the pastor as CEO. “We even adopt the language, for example, calling them senior pastors. Where does that come from?”

He says today’s highly hierarchical models of leadership smack of government, military or political administrations and they result in the Church becoming institutionalized.

“Instead of being a movement, it becomes an establishment. This is not new, of course - it started when the Roman Emperor Constantine established Christianity as the state religion.”

Read the complete interview

How are you working to keep your church from being denatured?