Macrorepentance—Ignoring We Believe 2010
There has been a high level of cynicism toward leadership in the CGGC as far back as I can remember. Cynicism doesn’t build Kingdom.
We have discussed the reasons for that cynicism on this blog many times. Since I entered the ministry in the CGGC, leadership has discovered and then blithely tossed aside one fad after another: Spiritual Gifts, Personal Evangelism, the centrality of Expository Preaching, Making More and Better Disciples, Missionality External Focus and Church Multiplication to name only a few.
I suspect that it is the culture of leading by chasing fads that birth the eye rolling counter-culture of cynicism toward every latest thing that comes down from on high.
As many of you know, I’m distressed by the revision of We Believe. However, I am more profoundly distressed by the cynical response to it. I understand the response. It’s classic CGGC counter-culture. But, it’s time for repentance.
I’ve talked about the revision with a number of people and nearly every conversation has followed a similar script. I hear some version of the same three comments when I have the conversation.
1. “I disagree with parts of it" or "I disagree with it as a whole.”
2. “’They’ are going to push it through anyway.”
3. “I’ll just ignore it.”
I’ve made no secret of the fact that I thoroughly disagree with the revision. It seems that ‘they’ are determined to make it a reality. But, my friends, I believe that “I’ll just ignore it” is the wrong response.
Do you understand how important the rewriting of We Believe is?
The revision will have a shelf life of anywhere from 20 to 40 years if CGGC history is instructive. George Barna predicts that the percentage of Americans who live out their spirituality in a traditional congregational setting will be cut at least in half between the years 2000 and 2025. Reggie McNeal argues that we are already living in a ‘post-congregational’ era.
Leadership doesn’t have the luxury of this outdated Doctrinal Statement and the counter-culture doesn’t have the luxury of “I’ll just ignore it.”
To be missional is to be all about Kingdom. The cynicism of “I’ll just ignore it” has a long history in the CGGC. However, “I’ll just ignore it” doesn’t build the Kingdom.
If you disagree with the revision, don’t practice the cynicism that has been the mark of the CGGC counter-culture. The Kingdom deserves better.
If you are a General Conference delegate come prepared to fight for the Kingdom. If you are not a delegate, talk to as many people as you can who are delegates and let them know what you think and how you feel.
It’s time that we put “Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness” into practice. Don’t be cynical. Don’t let this revision tell the story of who we are for the next generation.
posted by bill Sloat at 1:32 PM
11 Comments:
Bill, as one who is not CGGC, it is hard to express an opinion. I do have a question. If you fight for what you believe in regard to the revision, what happens if you lose? Do you reluctantly adhere to it to honor your commitments? Do you ignore it to honor the Jesus of the Gospels? Do you leave the CGGC?
Tux,
First, how are you doing?
Second, I will be true to my beliefs. I have no plans to leave the CGGC.
I am a walking pharmacy these days, but I am okay. Today was the best blood pressure day yet. I am learning how to live a whole new way. Most of it is permanent dietary changes and lifestyle changes (working out). I miss some things, but things are good.
I suppose the reason for my question is what one does when one feels the rules on them are not biblical.
On one hand, I like the autonomy I have being non denom, but I have no accountability layer and that is sometimes like tap dancing in a minefield.
Tux,
Keep up the good work with the lifestyle changes. The Word is clear. Every good thing we do begins with an act of repentance.
As far as my future in the CGGC is concerned, I’m confident that I’m on track with this We Believe stuff. As you know, I think I’m called to be a prophet.
Part of being a prophet is the receiving of prophetic messages from the Lord.
Most of what I write here is simply a matter of strong conviction that is the result of the passion I have for truth because the Lord has wired me as a prophet.
However, I believe that my convictions related to We Believe have come to me as prophetic messages.
Imagine, if you can, being Isaiah or Jeremiah or John the Baptist and living in a very religious culture but believing that the message you preach is from the Lord and is also one that goes precisely against the conventional wisdom of the leading religious figures in your faith culture.
Imagine actually saying to the religious authorities of your day, “Thus sayeth the Lord,” when the Lord is saying something to you they think is wrong.
That’s how I feel about this We Believe stuff. I believe that the things I’m saying, when I’m being true to the Spirit, are hotwired into the will and the word of the Lord.
I’m convinced that I’m speaking for Him.
I have that much confidence about this.
What’s more, I believe that this matters to Him so much that, of all things, He’s spoken to me about this. He really cares. And, therefore, so must I.
I have a friend in the ERC who is an apostolic/prophetic guy who shares many of my convictions on this issue. We chatted recently about it and he said, “You know, Bill, I’m usually on the losing side.” I said, “Well, me too.”
But, here’s the thing. In all these losing issues, the winning side merely led us into deeper spiritual and numerical decline.
I won’t shut up and I won’t leave—at least until I believe that He is saying either shut up or leave or both.
I know how arrogant it sounds for me to say this but I honestly believe it without doubt.
No, it does not sound arrogant. I like what I am reading. Question on prophets though. When prophets give the message from God, there is often a consequence..or response from God in the prophesy.
People of Israel, stop doing xyz or the Lord will ABC.
So, if they go forward with this We Believe, do you see a consequence? Conversely, if they heed your call and abandon 2.0 for something richer...what is God's response?
When prophets give the message from God, there is often a consequence..or response from God in the prophesy.
I believe there is and it's scary to me. And, I'm still working on discerning it.
One thing that I've learned in the last year is how much 1 Corinthians 13 is about the spiritual gifts of prophecy and knowledge.
What Paul says is, "...we prophesy in part but when perfection comes the imperfect disappears."
And...
..."Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror, then we shall see face to face." (Prophets were often called seers.)
Ancient mirrors were cloudly and ripply. Seeing an accurate image takes effort. And, I'm in the midst of that effort.
I won't speak it until I confident in it but I will say that unless we repent of many things that are a part of our church culture--actually, unless we repent of our culture, of the unbiblical values we operate by, we will experience dreadful consequences.
Bill, I would like to see the current form of the document, and also a written commentary on it from you-- generally what you feel is missing or how it is framed wrong, and then also commnets on any specific statements that concern you. That would eb helpful to me.
I was reading a brief history of the CGGC. It was funny one of the things that was always pointed out was that every time the CGGC tried to define itself, it caused more people and churches to leave. I will try to find out who wrote the booklet, it was on dark blue paper and all it's pictures were hand drawn.
I was hopeful for what I heard was being written. Something that would expand the scope and be more inclusive for those brethren who just have slight differences. Similar to what the EFree has right now.
I would almost gamble Winebrenner would be more comfortable with the EFree and how they are trying to bring together the body of Christ rather than continually trying to draw lines in the sand to divide it more. I know he (JW) would have had some issues with their polity and probably some other issues. But they really are trying to bring Christians together to be the Church of God.
And look at those who have stepped away from us, specifically our Anderson brothers. While their theology has changed on santification, they have done a great job in breaking down the Institution and to be more inclusive. They also have taken away some of the barriers that prevent many from preforming their call to ministry. Because of this they have grown and multiplied.
For me I would like to see a one sheet statement of faith, 12 point type describing the tenants of Orthodox Christianity.
If we shrink the scope even more, we continue to embrace the institution and will continue to choke out congregations. At least that is how I see it.
Justin,
I hope and I pray daily that people with a missional and Kingdom mindset will fight for a missional, Kingdom-focus document when we assemble in Illinois in June.
That's you, my friend.
Bill, how can I get a copy of the latest revision?
Dan
Dan W.,
Now we have three: H, M and W!
It's printed in the General Conference Delegate's packets. I also got it from an Ad Council member as an attachment to an email. That individual sent it out to several people because he wanted feedback.
Perhaps you will have to wait until after General Conference to see what happens with it in the brief discussion scheduled for it then.
I'm hoping that it doesn't survive.
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