It seems like everyday now, we are hearing about things in decline. Is it really that bad? I suppose it depends on your perspective. Think about these things in decline:
In Decline: Vinyl Records, 8-Tracks, Cassettes; all gone, with Compact Discs probably to follow soon. They are being replaced by Digital formats like MP3.
In Decline: News Papers, Paper Phone books, Multi-Volume Encyclopedias and the like. They are being replaced by the Internet; Bloggers, Yahoo, Google, Wikipedia, etc.
In Decline: The Standard Home Phone (land-line). They are being replaced by Cell Phones.
In Decline: VHS, Laser Discs (anyone remember those), Block-Buster and other video rental stores. They are being replaced by DVDs, TiVo, DVR, NetFliks, Online Movies, Hulu.Com etc.
In Decline: Main-Stream Churches. Both The Christian Chronicle and The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life have recently reported this trend . They are being replaced by... we'll that would depend on who you ask.
And we worry about the decline of these things, especially if we happen to be personally invested in any of these things.
But I want to remind you of something:
Even though there is decline in all these things we cannot afford to miss what ISN'T in decline.
Records may be gone,
but MUSIC IS STILL AS POPULAR AS EVER.
News Papers may be going,
but INFORMATION IS STILL AS IMPORTANT AS EVER.
Land-Line Phones may be going,
but COMMUNICATION IS STILL AS POPULAR AS EVER.
VHS may be gone,
but MOVIES ARE STILL AS POPULAR AS EVER.
Main-Stream Churches (including Churches of Christ) may be in decline,
but THE GOSPEL IS STILL AS POWERFUL AS EVER.
None of these other things have died simply because the method of participation has changed, and our Congregations don't have to die either. Unless of course, we are so committed to the method of how we are 'doing church' that we cannot change. We have got to pay attention to our changing culture around us, and begin to rethink the how of much of what we are doing. And to do that DOES NOT mean we abandon the gospel. Musicians haven't stopped recording songs simply because the digital age has left analog in the dust of history.
And Christians shouldn't stop 'being' the church simply because the way we are currently 'doing' church isn't working like it used to. We must find a way of doing church, of living the gospel, and sharing the love of God that is more effective to a world that just doesn't find the main-stream model relevant anymore.
Some things decline and disappear, but the things that matter won't.
3 comments:
Great post John. It reminds me of a sower of cotton seed. Some think the only good place to sow seed is on the good river bed soil. But around some places it grows too. The only difference is how we plant it and care for it until it is grown to maturity. Sometimes this is difficult to achieve. But if successful, the result is the same, and that is, a great plant that yields cotton. The seed was always the same.
The Gospel is always the same, it is the truth,and is the way. There are a lot of places and ways you can sow it. I just need to start looking around and find a good place to sow it other than in my back yard. :)
Thanks for the encouragement.
Your posts in the past month have been spot on and inspired. Keep going!
Although... I am compelled to let you know, vinyl is making a strong comeback in pop culture...
So, technologically speaking you are correct, but the retro effect is making vinyl the new hotness again.
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