The church is changing, it has to because it must. The change can be compared in a lot of ways to what it is like for someone to leave the home they grew up in. We all grow up with layers of who we are and what we believe. It gives us clarity, security, safety, predictability.
Each governing conviction can be borrowed from a friend, brought on by an event, or galvanized by members of our own generational clan. When you leave home and are thrust into a new environment you begin to experience life on your own, taking what you've learned and applying it to where you are. For some people that's when it hits the wall. Large chunks of what they have been taught has to be relearned and questioned. Why do I feel this way, think this way, practice this, believe this, insist on certain things, start from here, or want to end up there? You only ask those questions when you are out of the incubator and things are no longer comfy.
The values and pictures you had, become clouded with the fog of reality and practicality.
In ministry there has been this shift in leadership. It's happened through the generation that will effect the largest part of the church and it's future. The change has happened because people are hungry, authentic, and no longer want their relationship with God to be an event or program. The ebbing of their discontent was partially soothed with every bell and whistle the church's budget could buy. But no matter how much they were engaged the anesthesia was short term in the wake of their remaining void. The church today loves to be messy, socially aware, ridiculously honest and authentic and their desires no longer allow the church to be built around personality or creed.
Where did these people come from? They despise safe, predictable, clean, and attractive. These people came from being the followers of those who tried to lead them. They became the leaders because they were sick of following an imitation. They lead but claim no leadership. They make new ground but don't claim to be grounded. If you want to group them or tag them they will run to the furthest extreme of the unidentifiable to remain in the mystery that they crave. They wear Christ's name proudly, live strong in God's Word, and are crazy about being His hands and mouth to a hurting and ravaged world. They don't want to hold open a door but instead they want to build one for those who don't have one. Their world is outside of the walls of the church and that's is because they have realized they are the church that is out of this world and in this world.
The lessons they are learning are very simple.
1. It's about a relationship and relationships.
2. It is about going where hurting people are and not where you want them to be.
3. Even if you are the only one giving a voice, give a voice to those who don't have one.
4. A life worth living is a life that can't be penned with steps or a process.
5. They crave a revolution of the soul.
The lesson we must learn as leaders.
1. Enable them and go on their journey.
2. Don't be afraid to let them screw up. (It is not like our generation has been perfect.)
3. Be their friend and connect them with each other.
4. Give voice to them because they don't have one.
5. Get into their life, into their mess, and be willing to go the distance.
6. No one has ever been loyal to them in this world. When you talk about loyalty you're speaking a foreign language. Talk about vulnerability and going through it together. Loyalty has resulted in disappointment for them but being together in journey will be your God send.
7. Don't offer help if you know full well you can't give it.
8. Say you're sorry and admit when you've screwed up.
9. Don't tell them what to do.
10. Don't have an agenda for them.
11. Aid them in their cause and vision first before you ask them to join in yours.
12. Feed their hunger. They eat one portion before going to the next so be ready to change the way you serve their courses.
13. Help them love their kids. They don't know how. We didn't teach them very well.
I'm done, thanks for accommodating me.
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