Barna's "Revolution"
by John Brimacombe
There's a new book out by George Barna that is creating controversy in the local church, and I feel compelled to review and comment on it. I will tell you right off the bat that there is probably much that I am going to agree with in this book. I have read other blogs and comments on it and some of Barna's feelings are my feelings too. Yet, there is an attitude that Barna takes about traditional, evangelical Christianity that I am already feeling uncomfortable with. I have decided to read Barna's book, chapter by chapter, and comment on it. So...let's go!
Barna starts off in chapter one by giving us the hypothetical (I'm assuming) story of two Christians, David and Michael. To make a long story short both men have dropped out of the local church. Yet David has continued a meaninful and deep relationship with God, while Michael has not. They now play golf on Sunday mornings at "the Church on the Green" (pg. 3). David is typical of a new breed of Christian called "revolutionaries."
David is involved in evangelism, missions, and family devotional times. He is a model Christian. Yet I have to ask...what about meeting with a body of believers as the early church did (Acts 2)? Perhaps Barna is going to address this (I hope), but I can't help but think that the first impression I get from this book is the total, one-sided, almost extremely monolithic idea that meeting with other believers isn't important. Again, I haven't read all of it yet...perhaps I should, but this is the idea I get from the first and second chapter.
In fact, Barna summarizes this chapter by saying that these new breed of disciples "aren't willing to play religious games and aren't interested in being part of a religious community that is not intentionally and aggresively advancing God's kingdom." Now, I can identify with this. I have been involved and have seen churches that do play religious games. But do all of them do? I get the impression that Barna is about to make some very broad blanket statements about the local church that I just can't agree with.
In fact, I'm stunned by the focus of this book which seems to be it's okay to leave the local church, especially considering that Barna has focused most of his life in helping the local church get beyond all of the things that he is complaining about now. Are all of Barna's books that deal with the local church reaching out to people now obsolete? Are all of his books which deal with marketing and evangelism and helping churches see the bigger picture now considered yesterday's news?
Again, I'm hoping that Barna will focus on the establishment of house churches or some kind of alternative that helps people connect with other believers. I think there is a missions perspective that sees house churches as legitimate ways of doing church. But one thing I wan't to see here is balance. What I have come to realize is that there is room in the kingdom for all types of churches; traditional, mega, seeker, cell-based, apartment, and even cowboy churches!
One last thing! Barna says that these "revolutionaries" are people who are dedicated "to being thoroughly Christian by viewing every moment of life through spiritual lens and making decision in light of biblical principles" (pg. 8). But I must ask, can this happen without the help of those who have been especially gifted? Ephesians says that God has gifted certain people within the body of Christ to help equip the body to do ministry. I'm sorry, but not every person has these gifts! I benefit from gathering with other believers in a larger context and singing, worshiping and hearing a message from those who are supernaturally gifted.
While I could "do" church on my own, and perhaps within a small group...would I be benefiting to the greatest degree? I'm not trying to make our pastors and ministers in supermen and women, but I do think that God can speak through a gifted preacher or worship leader in a way that I truly experience God and grow.
Again, I hope to read a more balanced approach as I continue to read Barna's book. Let me conclude by saying that I do think Barna is on to something however. I think what he has to say could be applied to small groups (sunday school, biblie study, home teams). I think that wanting more of God is not a bad thing. But as someone else has said, there is a New Testament pattern of large-group celebration wed to small group discipleship (The Second Reformation, William A. Beckhman). I suggest that those interested in this subject read that book!
jab
posted by John @ 8:38 AM
4 Comments:
John, I thank you for your comments here. I was recently asked some of these same questions by my brother in law (a youth pastor in Arlington). I am kicking around the idea of starting a small group of mostly people who don’t know God and some who claim to. I cannot say that I have read this book yet though I have read some portions. I don't think Barna is advocating the change, I think he is simply stating what he sees happening through his polls and ministry. I think it is a very accurate view in light of my own readings and experiences with people.
I know several people who claim to have some sort of relationship with God who see no point in church as you and I know it. I was raised in church and some of what they see is fairly accurate. I just chose to deal with it rather than walk away. These people don't want to waste their time with people that are less than genuine. They don't want church to be a place to put on your game face like you would at work. They want to have a relationship with God, and don't shun the idea of gathering for fellowship but their ideas of what we 'have' to do as far as church goes does not revolve around tradition. I think even those who say they will not darken the doors of a church, as they attempt to follow Christ, will eventually start a church or become part of a church. As people gather to learn God's word, traditionally or not, they will become a church if they seek to follow the NT. This is a different discussion though.
I used to look at discipleship as a 12 step program. “First you need to ..., and then you need to...” But since reading 'The Quest for Christ' I see it differently now. It's more of a process. Some people fit into the mold of a 12 step process and that works for them, good. Others do not fit that mold. For them, we must meet them where they are and help them move toward a closer relationship to Christ. I see the church in the same light. Some people will do it in a way that is comfortable to you, and some will not.
I certainly agree with you that some things that are happening make me feel uncomfortable. Some of them I believe are legitimate concerns. Some of them are simply me out of my comfort zone. I would have a hard time putting someone who is not a member of my church, someone who I have not confirmed their beliefs into a position of leading a small group. But I know churches who have done this, let alone small bands of people who are seeking God but don’t want to look like a church.
This idea of 'I'm not going to play religious games' in my opinion is simply a conscious realization that some churches do, though typically the church is offended by this comment. Anyone who says they will not play these games including those described as 'revolutionaries' can easily find themselves doing so. I too agree that we need all kinds of churches. For some a big church works better and for a cell group can act as a church.
Now, on the topic of help by those gifted. I think we agree that no one person has all gifts. Yet, which ones are truly musts? What would we consider not forsaking the assembly of the believer? Assembly is a pretty broad term, it could simply be fellowship. Is the statement directed to the overall church, or does Christ require that for a local church to be real it must contain cumulatively all gifts? If so, what about speaking in tongues? I don't think you are suggesting that all churches have someone who can cumulatively fulfill every single gift. But if we agree that not all must have every gift, then w/out any guidance in the Bible, are we to choose which ones a group must have? I don’t' think Barna is suggesting that these people have no help from those with giftedness. I think he is simply trying to pull us out of our comfort zones to see the there are people who don’t' come thru our doors that really do want a genuine relationship to Christ and how do we meet that need?
And I know you benefit from the way you do church. I loved it when you played and lead worship for C2. But consider this. What we do in church and call worship does not in and of itself constitute worship. I can worship God much more throughout the week than I can in the 20 minutes of the worship set of a 'worship service'. I enjoy it when it seems real. I don't enjoy it when it seems staged, or like entertainment.
And sometimes I take exception to words in a song that don't really seem to invoke what we are trying to do. When the words don’t match the mood or it’s just a song I find myself frustrated at what we are doing. In a worship set I am seeking to surrender myself to God, to prepare myself to hear His word so I can apply it rightly to my life.
But then again I do this myself regularly, several times a week before getting to church. So what really is it that I 'need' from church? I have mentors (seminary professors, pastors) who keep me grounded. So, what is it really that I need from church? I can be involved as David (in the book) is w/out the church. I have a personal ministry of evangelism, missions, and bible study, sometimes family, sometimes alone. I have believers whom I get together with to discuss the Word and have solid fellowship with. So, again I ask what do I ‘need’ from the church model that we have come to know.
This current model is the only one that seems to be 'recognized' as being church. I am doing far more effective evangelism outside that model than within it. I am not preaching to masses, but you know as I do that most of the people coming to hear are not 'doing' from what they hear. Most of them are not growing apart from what they 'hear' on Sunday. So, if I can reach a few who can in turn reach a few more, I think God’s ability to use me in a small group setting effectively outweighs preaching to deaf ears. That is why I think the 'to the greatest degree' needs to be rethunk.
We in the church want more out of life, more sales, more money in our accounts, more people in the churches, more giving in our budgets. We focus on the more. But Christ focuses on the individual. Though Jesus preached the overwhelming example that we have the most of is the outpouring of himself into a few who in turn did the same. So, can we do more than Christ by focusing on crowds?
I am not knocking your comments here; I am simply adding my own. I tend to agree w/what I've read of Barna's book though I'm told that a certain SBC Seminary President now calls him incredible.
I should read the book as well, so I can make more accurate comments but I have certainly enjoyed your comments and the thinking you provoked me to.
Now, I want to make one last comment. We have some guidelines on what church should be but many things are left wide open. I think the church has made up its own rules (using Scripture to back up its own ideas rather than developing its ideas from Scripture) about what church should look like. If someone wants to do church a different way, the church labels them another denomination and sometimes heretic if they make the church feel too uncomfortable. Talk to the people who were at CRC when all the major changes happened. Some people left for the same reasons as above. Some stayed. Some probably felt they were heretic simply for taking the name ‘baptist’ out of the name. Again, I am not attacking anything that you say here. In fact, though I make these statements I also run across those who make me feel 'very uncomfortable'. I think some of that is due to tradition, some due to immaturity, and sometimes due to a sheep in wolves clothing.
Excellent commentary from two guys who have not read the book yet. I can't wait to see what hand wringing you do when you actually get areound to reading it.
Hey anonymous,
I've read the first two chapters...In fact, I've skimmed through the whole thing...but now I'm doing a more detailed reading! My opinions may change after I have read the whole thing more thoroughly...but again, like I've already stated, I think I will agree with much of what Barna says. I just don't think one has to write something actually encouraging people to abandon the local church and it is also the blanket statements that Barna is making!
john b.
I don't know what all this is about, I haven't read the book either and I think I like and am also troubled by it too.
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