If you’re not up to speed on the debate – that’s ok. I find the argument quickly spirals into theology territorialism or pragmatic pride. Neither of which is very helpful. I do think there is a distinct difference in an individuals posture toward the people around them. Which of these would be true of you…
Our family is hanging out in Maui this week. We rode bikes down Haleakala yesterday and a couple things struck me as really out of place – churches. They just didn’t look like they belonged on Maui.
They might not have looked so odd, except Mandee and I had a chance to visit a little church in Lahaina a few years ago that looked so much like Maui we just had to check it out – the walls open so you feel like you’re sitting outside.
All of which reminded me of my summer reading in missiology, contextualization and what it means to start a church “out of the culture.” When people who follow Jesus create a church for people who don’t, it’s not surprising that you get gothic revival in the tropics. When people follow Jesus and form a church out of their faith and their culture, you get a church that looks like it belongs. That’s intriguing and inviting.
Which kind of church are you starting?