Hope for the West
Time to round off the series on Why don’t we see dynamic church planting movements in the West of the same magnitude that we are see in many parts of the developing world?
I’ve re-read the contributions that came in and a few thoughts keep returning.
1. Consumer heaven
Compared to the rest of the world we live in a consumerist paradise. The market economy delivers a standard of living unparalleled in human history. Alan Hirsch commented, “All is available now we don’t have to put our longings off and connect them with hope in God. The market creates a false immediacy. Life is like a Sunday afternoon, people can’t feel the need for the gospel.”
If you thought consumerism was solely a babyboomer disease think again. All the signs are that Gen X and expecially Gen Y are embracing buying as a way of life. See: Has Gen X fallen through the cracks?Has Gen X fallen through the cracks?
2. The struggle to believe
Alan Hirsch again, “Their is a pervasive existential crisis of belief and meaning in the West. Transformative movements are filled with people who really believe that their message is the answer to the world’s problems…..they believe and they act out of their belief.”
You could argue there is still plenty of “belief” in the West outside of the cultural and intellectual elites. But what is missing is the willingness and urgency to act on belief. We’re content.
3. The Church is in danger of reflecting this culture
The Church in its many forms — traditional, evangelical, pentecostal, charismatic, conservative, house church, contemporary, emerging, mega — reflects this context. It’s not the whole story. But it is the recurring temptation.
Don’t fool yourself into believing the log is only in your brother’s eye.
The Scriptures are under no illusion about the impact of the good life on the spiritual vitality of God’s people:
When I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, the land I promised on oath to their forefathers, and when they eat their fill and thrive, they will turn to other gods and worship them, rejecting me and breaking my covenant. Deut 31:20Neither was John Wesley:
I fear, wherever riches have increased (exceeding few are the exceptions), the essence of religion, the mind that was in Christ has decreased in the same proportion. Therefore I do not see how it is possible, in the nature of things, for any revival of true religion to continue long. For religion must necessarily produce both industry and frugality; and these cannot produce riches.Interestingly, both Deuteronomy and Wesley link the getting of riches with the blessing that flows from faith and obedience. Both warn to the consequences of that blessing.
4. Kairos time
As “Barney” pointed out, ultimatley this is the mission of God. The West is God’s mission field. It’s a mystery. We still have a job to do. But don’t assume our destiny is in our hands to control. We may understand how movements “work” but we can’t control them. We partner with God but he calls the shots.
Paul planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. I Cor 3:6
My last thought. . .
1+2+3+4=God may graciously choose to discipline his wayward child the West.
Read Hosea 11 and Hebrews 12 then pray. He’ll begin with the Church. Not the church down the road but your church, whatever stream you’re in. He’ll begin with you and he’ll begin with me. And he’ll deal with the culture—modern and postmodern.
It may be the only hope we have.
