Comments on: Justifying Failure? http://billeasum.com/20080803/justifying-failure/ The unmotivated are oblivious to the obvious Thu, 08 Jan 2009 11:48:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.3 By: Jeremy http://billeasum.com/20080803/justifying-failure/#comment-710 Jeremy Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:13:24 +0000 http://billeasum.com/20080803/justifying-failure/#comment-710 "Is it inevitable that the church in America become like the church in Europe? Is there enough of a nucleus of serious people to spark a spiritual Awakening?" This may sound backward, but I'm thrilled at the combination of a complacent church and a wealthy, aggressively capitalist society. Mind you, I'm not thrilled about either of these on their own, just what happens with combination. It makes it impossible for the U.S. church to become the imperialistic church of Europe's middle ages. The result that keeps exciting me is what appears a natural (if prolonged) death of institutional churches, alongside the explosively growing small churches meeting in theaters, bars, schools or anywhere else they can manage. America won't tolerate an authoritarian church, but might flock to a spiritual ground swelling. “Is it inevitable that the church in America become like the church in Europe? Is there enough of a nucleus of serious people to spark a spiritual Awakening?”

This may sound backward, but I’m thrilled at the combination of a complacent church and a wealthy, aggressively capitalist society. Mind you, I’m not thrilled about either of these on their own, just what happens with combination. It makes it impossible for the U.S. church to become the imperialistic church of Europe’s middle ages.

The result that keeps exciting me is what appears a natural (if prolonged) death of institutional churches, alongside the explosively growing small churches meeting in theaters, bars, schools or anywhere else they can manage. America won’t tolerate an authoritarian church, but might flock to a spiritual ground swelling.

]]> By: Kettle http://billeasum.com/20080803/justifying-failure/#comment-708 Kettle Mon, 04 Aug 2008 23:04:56 +0000 http://billeasum.com/20080803/justifying-failure/#comment-708 There is an overall anxiety in the country about the demise of the local church. Apparently Hughes suggests we should just set the bar lower to a level we can reach. I have often felt we are at the Jordan River trying to decide if we should cross or not. In a country that is so rich it cries out over gasoline prices, not starvation, then I'm not sure even Moses could turn things around. Is it inevitable that the church in America become like the church in Europe? Is there enough of a nucleus of serious people to spark a spiritual Awakening? There is an overall anxiety in the country about the demise of the local church. Apparently Hughes suggests we should just set the bar lower to a level we can reach.
I have often felt we are at the Jordan River trying to decide if we should cross or not. In a country that is so rich it cries out over gasoline prices, not starvation, then I’m not sure even Moses could turn things around.
Is it inevitable that the church in America become like the church in Europe? Is there enough of a nucleus of serious people to spark a spiritual Awakening?

]]>