Week 2 of 2010 and some thoughts on churches and leadership within such.
Been introducing a group of new leaders within our church to the postmodern/modern debate. For some people the debate and its pro's and con's are old hat, but for many its a new issue.
My group was an eclectic group of differing ages, gender and ethnicity. But here's what was interesting - the idea of "deconstruction" resonated with them all. They all described aspects of the way they had been raised in churches, and/or the emphasis that they had all experienced that they knew needed to be deconstructed.
Now while many of us think the postmodern movement needs time, but only so much time, to deconstruct before they head to construction - what became even clearer to me in leading the conversation was that careful deconstruction is a key component of not only philosophical leadership but all leadership.
Deconstruction is the taking apart of the existing structure not to destroy it or demolish it, but to ensure the right bricks stay in place and the wrong bricks are removed ....to enable the structure to be stronger and have a effective future.
Deconstruction is not to destroy - but to improve.
There was not one person in the group last night who did not value deeply the Church and its mission and purpose. And because of that value they wnated to see the Church be all that the Church could be and needs to be.
Leaders should not fear deconstruction.
The question that we then raised was the question of whether or not a generation from now - removed from any postmodern/modernity debate - would the next generation see what we've built as needing to be deconstructed also?
Or, to put that question in a better way "how do we build something now that does not need deconstructed in the future?"
Is that possible?
The answer we came away with is yes. It is possible if leaders stay fluid, organic, flexible. There is a way to lead that will see what is built last and not need deconstructing. But it will require constant reading, researching, morphing.
Entropy remains a big enemy. We can experience entropy in our theology (we should be reformed and always reforming); entropy in our methods (we veer to comfort and familiar when we need to veer to courage and adventure); entropy in our practices (when we need to adapt and constantly modernise).
If we fail to battle entropy - we will see the next generation deconstruct what we are building, but if we attack entropy ......the next generation will not need to firstly deconstruct before they can build, but they can quickly stand on our shoulders and build even bigger.
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2 comments:
So Gilbert, if you deconstruct, like any good builder, you need a blueprint of what you will build in it's place. What's the blue print? Does it hold to sound doctrine, or is it another form of humanism?
This is a good question. If a person wants to demolish part of his house, & rebuild, he starts with a plan, or blue print. He does not go around knocking holes in the wall & tearing out windows & doors, looking for inspiration as to how to rebuild, he has to have a plan, & a solid foundation.
Same should go for the post modern "emergent church" movement.
From what I've read, the long term blue print of the emergent church movement is a "multi-faith" movement, (ecumenism) where Muslim, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews & Christians & others come together to discuss & build relationships based upon common ground values & beliefs. Ecumenism is simply a path to apostasy.
Problem is, God has called us to be holy, or set apart, from the world religious systems. Remember 2Cor. 6:14 "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers"?
Bear in mind, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is a stumbling block to the world. If you belong to Christ, the world will hate you. The Jesus of the Bible is not compatible or acceptable in any way to any other religion or belief system in the world. To suggest otherwise is foolishness.
Jesus said "I am the way and the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father but through Me". This is an exclusive, not inclusive claim. There is no common ground between Christ and the Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, Mormon, or any other religious system in the world. According to scripture, and Jesus Himself, apart from Jesus, all roads lead to judgement and an eternity separated from God.
Ecumenism does not work, unless you preach a different christ, one of love and forgiveness, and leave out the holiness & righteous judgement of God.
So what is the blue print for your deconstruction, Mr. Foster, is it multi-faith? Interfaith? What standards do you use in determining what to "deconstruct"?
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