The Modern Challenge (before, say, 1970): “Prove to me rationally that Christianity is true.”
Christianity in Response: The Church as Truth Delivery System
- The Leader: Pastor as Scholar
- The Setting: The Classroom (the Auditorium as BIG Classroom)
- The Deliverable: Information (preferably the Knock-Down Argument!)
- The Delivery System: Instruction
- The Objective: To be seen as being right.
The Transitional Challenge (1970 to mid-1990s): “Demonstrate quantitatively (numbers) that Christianity is relevant.”
Christianity in Response: The Church as Thriving Enterprise
- The Leader: Pastor as CEO
- The Setting: A hybrid (ideally) of Performing Arts Center, College Campus, Child Development Center, Bookstore, Recreation Center (indoor and outdoor), Mall Food Court…and huge parking lot. Usually suburban.
- The Deliverable: Fully Occupied/Consumed Families
- The Delivery System: Full-service Programs
- The Objective: To impact, including redemptively, as many lives as possible.
The Post-Modern Challenge (today): “Share with me experientially how Jesus makes a difference.”
Christianity in Response: The Church as Incarnation
- The Leaders: Anyone who Incarnates the Culture of Christlikeness
- The Setting: Life (“at church” and everywhere else)
- The Deliverable: Transformation, both Spiritual and Social
- The Delivery System: Relationships with God and People
- The Objective: To connect people redemptively with God and one another.
Question 1: Is my account of Christianity in Response to Post-Modernism “fuzzy” (lacking in concreteness and specifics) because we just haven't done enough of it yet? Or is it fuzzy because there will never be “One Best Way?”
Question 2: Why is the Post-Modern Challenge the best thing to happen to Christianity in centuries?
