When Jesus said 'I will build my church', he didn't put any time
limit on it. It's because of Jesus, I am optimistic about the future of the
church. So, whilst I don't sit comfortably with the doomsayers, who suggest the
body of Christ, in the UK, is likely to disappear, I am able to read the signs
of the times and think it highly probable the denominational landscape, as we know it, will look very different in twenty years from now. It means, however, whilst every congregation of the body of Christ can look
forward positively towards Jesus' church being alive, in our nation, none can
make any assumptions concerning their place with it, in even ten years time.
Evenso, the future of the Church is not an 'if', but a 'when'. What will
it look like is becoming a growing question within the consciousness
of the mainstream, rather than simply the adventurers. The ferment this is
creating will hopefully prove to be sufficient to prise many of us (here I'm using 'us' for Baptists) away from our assumed traditions.
Maybe we can
use preaching as an example? I don't read in my Bible the suggestion preaching
is something which happens according to any particular style. What I do read,
however, are some clear convictions concerning the word of God.
Do we need people who can articulate and open up the word of God,
for the people of God to implement authentically in discipleship, engaging among
the people groups they inhabit? Absolutely.
Do we need Ministers who simply assume because they 'preach', but make
no attempt to root this word in the ordinary lives of people, who can live it
out, their particular congregation will continue to draw from the wellspring of
life?
Absolutely not.
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