US theologian Brian McLaren is not alone when he says, ‘Things are only now getting bad enough that Christian faith finally has a chance of getting significantly better.’ In the US and the UK most forms of Western Christian faith are shrinking, with church movement but not church growth. However, McLaren suggests that if the Church could rediscover its call to unconditional love and service rather than focusing on a set of unquestionable beliefs, its future could be not decline but a new era of powerful renaissance. While organised religion is in decline, he sees a potential for ‘organising religion’ to take its place. He describes this as ‘missional migration’, which flows from a reaction against a Church which has been oppressive and genocidal, rooted in a conception of God as being violent and judgmental. Such heritage turns many away from the Church, offering nothing for those who identify as ‘spiritual but not religious’.
Christian comeback is coming
Written by David Fletcher 23 Sep 2016Additional Info
- Pray: for the Church to reach the unchurched through innovative activities using God’s word as a plumb-line. (Ro.8:2)
- More: www.christiantoday.com/article/the.christian.comeback.is.coming.says.brian.mclaren/96090.htm