Churches Belong In Culture
Over at The Resurgence blog, Mark Moore, previously noted for his trash-talking ability, has posted a sizzling review of the movie Jesus Camp (which portrays nutjob charismaniacs) accompanied by a boot-to-the-head assessment of American churches and seminaries (see below). I think this analysis is both frightening and honest. Mark Moore's comments pertain to 1) Christian leaders, 2) Christian students, and 3) Christians. Take a deep breath...
Seminaries are, for the most part, terrible at understanding the culture in which ministry is done. While the seminary may be an expert in teaching the thinking and theology of great men of the past, they gravely mistake that we still live in the past alongside those men. They fail to understand issues of contextualization and missional theology that is rooted in a deep understanding of the gospel. As a result, they produce pastors that are as culturally irrelevant as the schools they attend. Our churches are filled with pastors who understand the gap theory, but fail to see the gap between their church and the cultural context it exists in...Pastors must study theology in order to understand the gospel, but they must also study culture in order to understand the people to whom the gospel must be preached...
What is the answer? Seminaries that are willing to come out of the dark ages in order to train pastors capable of contextualizing the gospel in their culture...
A film like [Jesus Camp] is not simply an exposé of the strange happenings in the Pentecostal Church. It is an exposé of the way the Church is viewed as ignorant, irrelevant, and powerless. It is an accurate film. It is an accurate assessment.
I like this guy. Here's the whole article - TheJesus Camp: An Accurate Assessment.
7 comments:
Ariel, that article is good stuff. Thanks for directing me to it.
Of course, this sort of quality I come to expect from you.
thanks for the link
I realize this may be a crazy question. It came to me as I read Mark's words. The question is this: must one be literate to function in the ministry of shepherd (pastor)? Any thoughts?
Later,
Horton
The issues raised by Mark Moore in relationship to JESUS CAMP are vital and in need of attention, especially concerning his accurate take on the current reality with seminary life. Being a current seminarian I affirm Mark's critique of attending a school where good theology is upheald, but the culture is treated as something that we must learn how to tolerate, or somehow market to succesfully if we are "survive" ministerally in the culture we find ourselves in. This is a travesty to say the least. Not only my seminary but all others should seriously consider offering a course in contemporary culture, maybe even taught by an adjunct not normally on the seminary staff. It could even be non-credit for all I care, as long as some type of relevent, culturally concerned, missional emphasis was at the core. Unfortuantely what often happens is semaries try to address this need by offering weekend seminars and such, which will not satisfy. Enough on that.
Horton, as for your question: must one be literate to function in the ministry of shepherd (pastor)?
For me this is a question of effectiveness. Why one may not have to be literate (assuming you are meaning literate in the cultural sense) to operate and survive in the ministry of a pastor, I feel that effectiveness is greatly limited. How can we effectively communicate the gospel in the culture we find ourselves in if we know nothing about it? The short answer is we cannot.
"The question is this: must one be literate to function in the ministry of shepherd (pastor)?"
I like Must_Decrease's answer, and I'll echo those thoughts: The Bible doesn't say that a man must be "literate" to be a pastor - but the Bible says he "must be able to teach." In a largely literate society, literacy is essential - both to understand the Bible well and to interact with culture in such a way that people will see the eternal relevance of Jesus Christ.
In an illiterate society, the rules might be different - but reading the Bible for oneself will always be of premium value for a leader.
"Not only my seminary but all others should seriously consider offering a course in contemporary culture, maybe even taught by an adjunct not normally on the seminary staff...as long as some type of relevent, culturally concerned, missional emphasis was at the core."
I'm 100% behind this proposition. I find that it's the rare class that combines theological excellence with cultural significance, or at least points students toward that task as essential. Giving the timeless gospel culturally-appropriate clothing - this is the essence of the missionary task.
Quoting blocks of scripture verbatim doesn't get it done.
Ariel,
Thanks for your time that you used for responding to my question. I am still processing this thought. I am thinking that the function of shepherd may be alot different than the system manager position that we often refer to as "pastor". The odds of an illiterate person landing such a managerial position are likely in the direction of improbable.
I am just rethinking so many things!
Thanks again for your time.
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