Ministry Journey Blog

Published in Connections Magazine (Jan/Feb 2013)

Learn about Connections here

The Return of Adult Relationships: A Simple but Revolutionary Resolution

by Marcus J. Carlson

I have always struggled with New Year’s resolutions. My struggle is not so much the decision to make a resolution for the New Year, nor is it a struggle to keep the resolutions I have made (I think it goes without saying that all struggle with this). My frustration with making resolutions on January 1 each year is not rooted in how crowded the health club is every January and February. It is not an issue of the superficial and selfish nature of many of the resolutions we make. It lies in the nature of discipleship and what it means to be a follow of Jesus Christ.

As followers of Christ, we recognize that until we come face to face with Jesus, we have not yet arrived. Our journey of growth is not finished; God has more for us than can be found in our present reality. To be a disciple means to be one who learns and follows, and requires a willingness to grow and to change. It is my belief that as disciples we should be a people who make resolutions to change, rooted in Christ and not our own desires. If there is something in our lives we believe God is calling us to change, then we should begin our work right away—and not be dictated by the calendar.

Though I recognize that resolutions can have their place in our lives as we seek redemption and transformation in Jesus Christ, I also believe resolutions can be a communal act not limited to individuals. Communities, churches and families can make resolutions to be more like Christ as well. In 2013, I would like to offer a suggestion for a resolution you can begin right now.

The world around us continues to experience dramatic change. The world is perhaps more complex than it has ever been—and in many ways, everything is different. Yet some things have not changed since the beginning of time. While the problems of the world are complicated, I would argue that most of the solutions to these new problems are not new at all, nor are they complicated. However, they certainly are difficult in application.

Recently I was asked to identify the most significant problem our children and youth are facing today. Without hesitation, I said, “the lack of significant, invested, authentic, Christ- following adults in their lives.” The greatest challenge facing our children and youth today is not any of the hot buttons we target to solve our problems and address our fears, such as the economy, the media, the national debt, the lack of prayer in school, divorce, video games, social media, or gay marriage. Yes, the world has changed—and in many ways our children live in a significantly more broken world than those before them.

While the world is a very different place today than it even was in 2000, there is something that has not and will not ever change: the Gospel. In a time where everything is new, nothing has changed. Since the beginning of the world we were created to be in relationship with God, with each other and with the world. The Great Commandment still applies: our greatest call is to love God, love others and love ourselves. This one simple yet difficult call covers every problem, challenge, culture and generation.

Our children and youth do not need a culture war. They do not need more technology. The solution to their (and our) brokenness is not found in government, political parties, personal freedom, capitalism or consumerism. What our children and youth need are more adults in their lives. Not just any adults either, but adults who love them, accept them and seek the needs of the children and youth above their own.

As adults, we have abdicated our responsibility to the children and youth in our homes, churches and communities. The only reason our culture is raising our children is that we have allowed it. We do not have to be more entertaining, relevant or attractive than popular culture. We already have access to a much better story—the Gospel—than the story the world is telling our children and youth. As human beings we are always attracted to the better story, and so the great news is we do not have to tell a new story. Rather we need to get back to telling the oldest and best story that has and ever will exist: God’s story.

The biggest difference between American culture now (as opposed to the past) is that adults are no longer invested in the lives of the children and youth in our homes, churches and communities. At a time when our children and youth are exposed to more harmful realities—and during an age where the world expects more, offers less and crushes our children and youth—we as adults have walked away from our responsibility to care for, walk with and be in relationship with the children and youth around us.

My doctoral supervisor, Dr. Chap Clark, states we need to reverse the ratio of youth to adults. For many years, youth ministries have utilized a ratio of one adult for every five youth in our youth ministries. Chap suggests we need to reverse this and every youth (and child) needs to have at least five Christ-following adults in their lives besides their parents.

In fact, there are even intentional movements and ideas to put this structure into place. The church I currently serve has decided to engage with this initiative. We are working on casting the vision, supporting parents in this endeavor and thinking about how best to live in this vision in our church and community. Perhaps now more than ever, our children and youth need adults in their lives who love them in the name of Jesus.

Rather than set another New Year’s resolution to lose weight that we will abandon before Valentineʼs Day, let us make a resolution to commit to rise up and be the church God has called us to be. Let us see that every child and every youth in our families, our churches and our communities has at least five adults besides their parents investing in their lives. What would our families, our churches and our communities begin to look like if this were a reality? Instead of embracing a new ministry or church program or finding the best new Christian book for a great new sermon series, why don’t we commit once again to facilitating Christ-centered relationships?

Perhaps instead of leaving the ministry to children and youth to parents, young adults and those who can help our children “behave,” why don’t we as the church commit to investing in the lives of children and youth? Doing so would not only change the lives of our children and youth, it would change our lives, the church and the world.

It is a simple resolution to understand, and yet very difficult to live. If we want things to be different in this world, if we want our children and youth to have the abundant life that God has promised them, then we must be different. May we choose this year—and every year after— to return to investing our adult lives in the children and youth around us so that we may live out this simple and revolutionary resolution that will change the world.

Marcus J. Carlson

is a pastor and spiritual director who has worked in youth and children’s ministry for over 13 years. He serves as Associate Pastor of Bethel Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, CO. Marcus and his wife, Jessica, have two children.

Published in Connections Magazine (Nov/Dec 2012)

Learn about Connections here

An Orange Christmas

by Marcus J. Carlson

Orange is not the first color you think of during the Christmas season. Sure, it’s a great color for fall and even for the pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving Dinner, but orange at Christmas?

Let me start by confessing that orange is my favorite color— to the point of a mild obsession. My car is orange, and my laptop keyboard, cover, bag and iPad case are orange. I have several orange shoes and orange shirts (including some orange clergy shirts), and sundry other orange items. I also love all things pumpkin, especially those things that have both pumpkin and caffeine. Living in Colorado, youʼre almost expected to like orange, at least if you are a football fan. As someone who has a ton of Christmas decorations, I cannot say that any are actually orange. So why orange for Christmas?

Recently in our church we have begun an important conversation we hope will shift our church community and culture. There is a movement that started out of a church in the South called think orange. The concept is pretty simple, but the application is challenging and varies widely.

If you remember back to elementary school, you may recall combining the colors yellow and red to create orange. Red represents the heart, which is the family. We know that what constitutes family varies widely, but we are all aware of who we know to be our family. Yellow represents the light, that Jesus is the light of the world, and his bride—the church—is to be a light to the world. Yellow represents the church, both

the church universal and our local church communities. The two forces often operate separately, sometimes overlapping or interacting. However, when the two forces come together, they create a new, more powerful (and rather bright) force— orange.

In our church we are seeking to think and be orange. We want to look at how the church and the family come together as one, and also to consider how the various generations in our congregation come together. We have created great division in our church between the generations—partially through specialized ministries—at a time when we desperately need each other. For the first time in the history of the church, we have at least six generations coexisting together. Thinking orange for our church also means building much needed intergenerational connections. Our hope is to rethink how we operate and to examine our current and future ministries in light of this idea of thinking orange.

In an increasingly complex, isolated, fast-paced and broken world, we are in need of radical change—not only in culture, but in the church as well. We have become complacent, seeking our own comfort instead of transformation. This is understandable because for many individuals and families, life is such a constant struggle that we are just trying to find a way to survive. While this is understandable, Jesus did not go to the cross so that we may be comfortable. Christ desires more for our life than survival; instead, the desire of the heart of God is that we would have abundant life.

As I listen to individuals from each generation, I am discovering that while each generation is very different from the others, we have much in common. As I listen to children, teenagers, those in middle age and our seniors, I hear some of the same challenges. Each generation feels isolated, ignored, misunderstood, lonely and overwhelmed. As I talk with families I find that so many children, youth and parents are feeling overwhelmed, insecure, and alone.

While these challenges are great, we already have the answer and it’s not hard to understand. We need each other. The church and the family (whatever your family looks like) must come together. We need each other. People from every generation, from the greatest generation to those just entering the world, need each other. We do not need another worship service, small group, ministry program or event to attend. We do not need to try to overthrow government or culture; we need individual transformation. Whether the challenges are economic, relational, emotional, physical or spiritual, we are facing immense challenges as individuals, families and communities. The amount of pain, anger, worry, fear and hatred that exists around us and in us today may be the most significant that it has ever been. It is time for transformation.

I believe that while our challenges are great, the fruit is ripe for the harvest. In this time of great need, there is great potential. As we come to the end of this calendar year and as our families gather in the midst of chaos to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas, I believe that something new, something amazing, something miraculous can begin.

As we reflect on the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, this tiny Christ Child who entered the world under such surprising circumstances, I believe that through the power and grace of God, Christ can surprise us once again. It is time for the church of Jesus Christ to think and to live differently, to think and live orange. It is time for each of us as individuals and in our own families to join together with the Church of Jesus Christ, each and every generation, and lead the world. Transformation starts with each of us, and as we are transformed once again by the love and grace of Jesus Christ, we can be made new.

As we celebrate Christmas, we can be reborn once again. We can renew our trust in Jesus Christ—not only for our salvation, but for new and abundant life. The church cannot see the family as an entity to be entertained, and the family cannot see the church as another activity to participate in. We must see each other as partners in a greater mission, a big, beautiful, simple and difficult mission that can transform the world.

Each week in our church service as we pray the Lord’s prayer, we utter the phrases “thy kingdom come” and “for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever amen.” As this hectic Christmas season draws near, as the Christ Child comes to us once again, perhaps these words can be more than something we utter each Sunday.

Perhaps they can become the primary thoughts of our minds, the deepest desire of our hearts and the focus of our lives.

May our families and the church come together this Christmas season and think, live and be different. May we come together and become one, experiencing transformation as we think orange. May each and every generation join together so that the church of Jesus Christ may be all that it was created to be. As a result, perhaps this new, big, bold thing that we create may bring about the change in the world that is so desperately needed. This Christmas, I invite you to think orange.

May we all find new life in the Christ Child this Christmas.

Marcus J. Carlson

is a pastor and spiritual director who has worked in youth and children’s ministry for over 13 years. He serves as Associate Pastor of Bethel Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, CO. Marcus and his wife, Jessica, have two children.

I have been doing a lot of really great reading lately, a bulk of it by Mike Breen. The following quote is one I have been wrestling with and one that is deeply connected to thoughts and passions I have had since saying yes to Jesus over 17 years ago.

“Church health and growth is all about life-the Body of Christ being an organism rather than an organization.” Mike Breen

I do not question the statement, because I believe it to be true. There is no doubt that we have over-institutionalized the movement that Jesus started. I love the church, but there is also no question that its current form is not sustainable, not effective and is more consistent with the kingdom of this world than it is the Kingdom of God. That said, I know that we need some sort of ‘structure’ and ‘organization’ to the church. I have been wrestling with these kind of questions since answering the call to ministry over 16 years ago. It’s a journey that I abandoned for a while and am glad to have rediscovered. I suspect like most things involving Jesus, the answers are simple to find and will take the rest of my life to apply…

Book Review

Published on Book Sneeze & Amazon

Review: Red Letter Christians

Red Letter Christians by Shane Claiborne and Tony Campolo

In this book Claiborne and Campolo engage in a dialogue covering a wide array of issues that we face in the world today. From the social, fiscal, theological and more Shane and Tony seek to discern what the words of Jesus really mean for followers of Christ today as we seek to find the abundant life Christ desires for us in a world filled with conflict and chaos. While not every topic that one could imagine is covered in this book, the most controversial and significant topics raised in the church and in culture in the past decade are addressed.

Having been able to interact with both Shane and Tony, as well as take a class from Tony at Eastern, I admit a personal bias towards this book at the outset. That said, I wanted to review this book carefully and critically. I do not agree with everything in this book. There are parts of this book that made me angry, others that created confusion and some that created discomfort. In this way, this book is very engaging. It is simple to read and understand. Shane and Tony give enough information to leave the reader satisfied, yet their dialogue also creates a desire for more thoughtful dialogue. While I did not agree with every perspective shared in this book, this is the book I have been waiting for. The church and our culture today is in desperate need of a book like this one, a book that is willing to tackle difficult issues through thoughtful, gracious dialogue. It reminded me of many conversations from my college years as well as conversations I continue to have today over coffee with those of a different or like mind. Jesus’ words are not intended to be a weapon, rather they are meant to be an example of how his followers are intended to live and exist in relationship with God, each other, and the world. This is a great read and I strongly urge every thoughtful follower of Christ to take the time to read it.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Rev. Marcus J Carlson

I have always believed that God shows himself both in the secular and the sacred, especially when it comes to both creation and the arts. I admit I am not at all a musician, but I enjoy music. I like many others have found a song by a group called Mumford and Sons to be deeply spiritual and powerful. I do not think it is intentionally Christian. It seems to attract people of all different faith perspectives and it has created some incredibly powerful conversations with those I know, especially those who do not have a relationship with Jesus. I am amazed at how God speaks and reveals his kingdom around, through, in and in spite of us. I encourage you to check the song out!

Lyrics to Awake My Soul :

How fickle my heart and how woozy my eyes

I struggle to find any truth in your lies

And now my heart stumbles on things I don’t know

My weakness I feel I must finally show

Lend me your hand and we’ll conquer them all

But lend me your heart and I’ll just let you fall

Lend me your eyes I can change what you see

But your soul you must keep, totally free

Har har, har har

har har, har har

awake my soul…

awake my soul…

How fickle my heart and how woozy my eyes

I struggle to find any truth in your lies

And now my heart stumbles on things I don’t know

My weakness I feel I must finally show

Har har, har har

har har, har har

In these bodies we will live,

in these bodies we will die

Where you invest your love,

you invest your life

In these bodies we will live,

in these bodies we will die

Where you invest your love,

you invest your life

awake my soul…

awake my soul…

awake my soul…

For you were made to meet your maker

awake my soul…

awake my soul…

awake my soul…

For you were made to meet your maker

You were made to meet your maker

Published at Youthworker Online (A part of Youthworker Journal)
The ‘Us’ has become ‘Them’
I remember early on in my youth ministry career, besides being young, immature, arrogant and having a chip on my shoulder; I was also part of a mindset that seemed to be prevalent in youth ministry: the battle of ‘us’ verses ‘them.’ The us refers to youth workers and the them refers to the senior pastors, adults and others that just did not get youth ministry. It was not just the youth workers that were young that thought this way; you heard it from almost everyone in youth ministry. Mike Yaconelli was constantly critical of those in the ‘them’ crowd in the church for not understanding the nature of ministry. While there was (and still is) plenty of arrogance in youth ministry, I believe there was some truth to the idea that it was youth workers who really ‘got it.’ The church was resistant to new ideas, unconventional thinking, creativity, and outside the box thinking. Youth workers attempted to lead the way in helping the church think differently. I remember so many conversations around this topic as recently as 2005, but something has changed.
Hopefully some of us (present company included) have grown up and matured (some would say ruined). Youth ministry has changed. It does not have the importance, power or influence that it once did. The busyness of culture, the lack of youth and adult participation and the economic realities that have changed the church staff market in general are all part of the equation. The world has changed, the church has changed and youth ministry has changed. Maybe it all makes sense, or maybe it’s just me. Yet I think there is something else going on. The ‘us’ crowd, the creative, innovative youth workers that used to lead the way, have become ‘them.’ It’s no longer the senior pastors, adults and other leaders of the church that are resisting change. It’s now those of us in the youth ministry world. I am not sure what happened; perhaps we are just comfortable or maybe even tired. We have lost some of our power, leverage and influence. I don’t think youth ministry has matured though. In fact our youth ministries seem more theologically immature than ever. I see some of the same games, strategies and mindsets that I experienced as an intern in the late 1990’s. Youth workers seem more resistant than ever to ideas from parents and those outside their circles, especially senior pastors.
While I have yet to hear a single youth worker utter the death phrase ‘we have never done it that way before,’ I see so many youth workers operating out of that very mindset. What happened to our innovation? What happened to our thoughtful, cutting edge, rebellious nature? Where has our sensitivity and discernment to the changing needs of culture gone while trying to engage the Holy Spirit? While I would say that we have lost our way (and we did need to grow up), I also believe youth ministry has become a victim of its own success. We have fallen into the trap of being professional ministers. We have lost sight of the mission and have found comfort in our own empires (no matter how large or small). Much like the church leaders of the past (and perhaps the present), we are unable to challenge our own thinking, especially if what we are doing is appearing to work.
The problem is that I am not so sure it is working anymore. Sure we have amazing youth ministries with fun games and messages that change lives instantly (or at least we think). Yet, in a world where our teenagers hide more of their lives from us, we have created an alternate world that looks more like a Christian bookstore than the Kingdom of God. Our youth are coming to faith and experiencing radical change, and moments later they are off to the parking lot to have sex in their cars. Our student leaders are not the youth that are ‘sold out for Jesus.’ They are the youth that are able to manage multiple selves and pretend better than others. Everything has changed, and the problem is that we have not changed with it. It’s now those in the ‘them’ crowd that are leading the way and it’s those of us in the ‘us’ crowd that are stuck in our own comfort.
Rev. Marcus J Carlson has worked with children and youth for over 14 years and is a spiritual director. He current serves as Associate Pastor at Bethel Lutheran Church in Colorado Springs, CO. (marcusjcarlson.com).

While I my primary nature is undoubtedly introverted, I also tend to be a fairly reflective person. During various seasons of life and ministry, I have found myself focusing my reflective moments on differing things. At this moment in life, I have been reflecting quite a bit on my ministry passions, gifting and non-negotiables. This past week I spent about four days at our national denominational gathering. It was a gift as my time there created many opportunities for reflection through my own involvement and leadership, the speakers, the time of worship and the many great conversations. While I did not necessarily learn new things, I was reminded of the things that matter the most to me that had slipped to the back of my heart and mind, I was challenged to think more carefully about my call and the call of the church and I was given new language, ideas and hope both for ministry and the church. Combined with personal reflection that was already occurring as well as the place in life that I now find myself, here are my current reflections on ministry…

The non-negotiables…

There are some non-negotiables for me when it comes to life and ministry. We live in a world that is increasingly complicated and complex and as God’s story continues to unfold, I believe that while we continue to learn there are some things that are not flexible in any context. The first of these is Christ. The nature and person of Christ is a non-negotiable for me, as is the triune God. A second non-negotiable for me is the authority of Scripture. The person and role of the Holy Spirit who is alive and active in the world is a non-negotiable to me. We are called to live and walk in the Spirit. A fourth non-negotiable is the call to think and act theologically. Life and ministry must be viewed and expressed theologically. God must be at the center as the source of life rather than personality, desire or any other well-intentioned source. The fifth and final non-negotiable for life and ministry is dialogue and relationship, both of which must be a priority for us all. There are probably other non-negotiable items and issues that I am forgetting; however, it seems to me that one of the dangers of non-negotiables is that the list is non-existent, not applied, or far too long.

My own gifting…

I believe in and support a scriptural perspective on the spiritual gifts, where God has given us all gifts that are for our good, the good of the church and the good of the world. The primary spiritual gifts God has given me include discernment, administration, leadership and teaching. Outside of (and because of) the spiritual gifts, there are some gifts in ministry that have been affirmed in me. My strongest gift is equipping people in the use of their gifts, and for ministry, service and leadership in the lives of others and the world. I also believe I am gifted in making disciples through the power of the Holy Spirit and because of those who have poured into my own life. Whether through ministry, networking or leadership, equipping and discipling those inside and outside of the church is an area of passion and gifting that has been a key part of life and ministry. A final key gift in life and ministry comes in my ability to build meaningful relationships with a wide variety of individuals.

The most important passions for ministry…

This area is one that I have rediscovered in the midst of recent reflection. While these passions were never lost, many of them have taken a back seat to the demands of life and ministry. I have a deep passion for the Great Commandment as it is the simple expression of what is most important in life and ministry. It is the love of God, others (which includes the whole world) and the love of self that allows us to fulfill all God has for us and individuals, families, communities and as a people. The mission of God is to bring about the Kingdom of God in the world, and the mission of the church is to make disciples, the charge Jesus left his own disciples and the mission of the church since its inception. I am passionate about the call to discipleship in the gospels that calls all that know Jesus to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow the Christ. I am passionate about Ephesians 4 as the image of the church and the community of that faith. We are all called to equip the saints for ministry, to use our gifts and to be unified as the people of God, fully mature in our relationship with Jesus Christ.

I am passionate about missional ministry and serving the missional church that truly resembles the movement that was the early church rather that the institution that the church has become. I believe that the role of the church and of all believers is to work with the Holy Spirit to bring about the Kingdom of God in every corner of creation. My passion in ministry is focused on transformation, the radical, Christ-centered change of individuals, families, communities, the church and the world. I am passionate about the work of God and the work of humanity. It is God’s action that calls, saves, redeems, and transforms. Our one action as human beings created in the image of God is to trust. Our relationship with God begins with trust, and our journey of discipleship is marked by trusting God with every aspect of our lives. We were created to be in relationship with God, with others, and with the world.

My personal life verse that has been a source of challenge and encouragement is from Habakkuk 1:5: Look at the nations and watch and be prepared to be amazed, for I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe even if you were told.

Personal Mission Statement: To help others experience transformation through Jesus Christ.

I am not a runner. Plain and simple, I prefer not to run anywhere at all. I do run sometimes as a part of an exercise routine, but I do not find it enjoyable. I have a family history of bad knees and do not like the risk of running. This is part of the reason that running analogies are lost on me. Yet the scriptures are full of running and race analogies. I am certain in the case of Paul that they fit the culture well. I tend to be a fairly reflective person and lately my reflection around ministry has been centered around the analogy of the marathon. Having been at this now for over 14 years, I can see the value of looking at ministry as a marathon. The freshness, newness and initial energy, while sometimes still a part of ministry life are not at the center any longer. Effectiveness, excitement, creativity etc all seem to come from a long-term perspective instead of a short-term perspective. Patience is not my gift, so this is not without its challenges and yet I find myself enjoying the pace and reality of ministry more than ever. The consistent nature of ministry and the slow and steady pace has now outweighed the radical, short-term, life change that used to characterize ministry. I no longer feel guilty about this, because in the end, building disciples that last must come in running a marathon and not a sprint. It only took me 14 years to accept that.

The simple answer is, not much. I have become increasingly aware of how much the world has changed the church. The church today resembles culture more and more, and unfortunately instead of changing the world, the church has been changed by the world. There is no question that this is backwards, and while we must minister to the culture we live in and while context matters greatly, it is my assertion that the church is losing its identity. Having grown up outside the church and having fallen in love with Jesus first, then connecting to the church, I admit I am limited by my own bias and experience. That said, here are five of the ways that the church has been changed by the world:

The church has become overly corporate. The church has become too corporate. In fact, most churches in the United States today look and act a lot more like a corporation or business than they do the body of Christ. This is not to say that some corporate values are not helpful or valuable to the church. Whether or not they are Biblical is certainly up for debate. Certainly the corporate world can teach the church much about systems, processes, policies and how to handle finances; however, the church has not used discernment as to which corporate values should be applied to the life of the church and how those values should be applied. We treat our ministries and programs as products, look at our congregation members and those in our community as customers, and seek to please rather than to lead.

The church is incredibly consumeristic. Evangelism has turned into church marketing. We have turned the church into a fast food restaurant, seeking to have a sleek appearance in our buildings, our worship services, and even our staff with culturally attractive hair and clothing. We are constantly trying to find ways to meet everyone’s needs so people will come to and stay in our churches. We inundate people with programs and ministries for every niche so that they do not leave us for the McDonald’s down the street. We want to be sure to offer the right kind of worship service, whether its one that ends in exactly an hour or its a worship service that is perfectly scripted. Entertainment and comfort have replaced theology. Instead of seeking service, we wonder what the church can do for us. The resulting desperation to do and be everything has done more than muddle our message; it has silenced our true mission.

The church is too democratic. Most reasonable people would argue democracy is the healthiest and best form of government we have in the world today. While democracy may be good, like any system or philosophy, democracy is not perfect. Somehow the freedom we are promised (and often feel entitled to) in our country has become the expectation in the church. Much like our government, we have become so inflated that we cannot function. We assume that the values of democracy should be the values of the church, but even a cursory examination of the life of Christ demonstrates that this is not the case. Our call is to sacrifice not to entitlement. Christians have divided themselves into liberal and conservative, sought to please everyone, and make sure every opinion is heard.

The church has become a capitalistic institution. For the record, Jesus was not much of a capitalist. In fact, Jesus was not much of a socialist either. The worship of capitalism in the church has given rise and prominence to the prosperity gospel, one of the great heresy’s of our modern culture. Our treatment of church members, employees, and others has become anything but gracious. Grace and capitalism are not always compatible, and the church is called to be a mission organization focused on service and not what it can do, earn or produce. The production of fruit is God’s business; our business is to trust God and to be faithful. Faithfulness focuses on process, not on the result. Capitalism is focused on production rather than relationship, and this is contrary in many ways to the gospel message.

The church is dangerously individualistic. We have lost sight of community in our world. Our focus is on our own individual needs, wants and desires. Our energy in the world today is poured into our own sense of justice, fairness and our rights as individuals. We have created laws, systems and expectations that emphasize the individual to such a high level that the narcissism that prevails in our culture today was a forgone conclusion. The church is by its very nature and definition a communal organization. Our own focus on individual salvation often neglects our need for community. Our arrogant assumption that we have anything to do with our own salvation has created a narcissistic faith for far too many. When we talk about faith and our relationship with Jesus, our word of choice has become ‘my’ instead of ‘our’ even though the call of the church is to be a community that expresses and lives out their faith together. Our churches have become a collection of lonely, isolated, individual participants rather than a community of faith.

The church is called to be different. Jesus is the light of the world and the church is his bride. It is time for the church of Jesus Christ to act more like his partner and less like a religious mirror of the world Jesus came to transform.

Published at Youthworker Online (A part of Youthworker Journal)

Read the online article here

Review:

Greater Product Pack

Zondervan

This product included Steven Furtick’s new book, Greater, a DVD and discussion guide. The book is well done and very motivating. I could see it used for adults, young adults, or more mature high school youth. It too comes with discussion questions. The DVD and discussion guide are meant to compliment the book, but can also be used independently. The discussion guide is also well done, although it may be geared towards more mature believers and older youth/young adults. The DVD is phenomenal and can be used in almost any youth ministry or adult ministry setting in the church. The best use of this product for a youth ministry would be for the youth leader to get all three pieces, read the book and then use the DVD for youth group or small groups. I would recommend utilizing the discussion guide and the book for small group or youth group discussion along with the video. Greater can motivate anyone to a God sized vision and help provide the confidence needed to achieve those visions.

Rev. Marcus J Carlson has worked with children and youth for over 14 years and is a spiritual director. He current serves as Associate Pastor at Bethel Lutheran Church in Colorado Springs, CO. (marcusjcarlson.com)