Comments on: The Kinds of People the 21st Century Needs (2) http://alexmcmanus.org/2007/08/27/the-kinds-of-people-the-21st-century-needs-2/ On a Quest Into the Mystic... Sun, 14 Mar 2010 23:17:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: The Kinds of People the 21st Century Needs (4) - Alex McManus http://alexmcmanus.org/2007/08/27/the-kinds-of-people-the-21st-century-needs-2/comment-page-1/#comment-219442 The Kinds of People the 21st Century Needs (4) - Alex McManus Sat, 09 May 2009 20:57:58 +0000 http://alexmcmanus.org/index.php/2007/08/27/the-kinds-of-people-the-21st-century-needs-2/#comment-219442 [...] A turning to some form of Christ following community [...] [...] A turning to some form of Christ following community [...]

]]> By: The Kinds of People the 21st Century Needs (3) - Alex McManus http://alexmcmanus.org/2007/08/27/the-kinds-of-people-the-21st-century-needs-2/comment-page-1/#comment-219441 The Kinds of People the 21st Century Needs (3) - Alex McManus Sat, 09 May 2009 20:55:27 +0000 http://alexmcmanus.org/index.php/2007/08/27/the-kinds-of-people-the-21st-century-needs-2/#comment-219441 [...] A turning to some form of Christ following community [...] [...] A turning to some form of Christ following community [...]

]]> By: Alex http://alexmcmanus.org/2007/08/27/the-kinds-of-people-the-21st-century-needs-2/comment-page-1/#comment-165619 Alex Tue, 19 Feb 2008 23:41:08 +0000 http://alexmcmanus.org/index.php/2007/08/27/the-kinds-of-people-the-21st-century-needs-2/#comment-165619 Jim, thanks. your comment made me look twice. Rich, standing in the midst of a rapidly changing river can be scary. to tell you the truth, sometimes, i scare myself. let's navigate these rapids together. Andy and Robo, we're thinking along the same paths. Jim, thanks. your comment made me look twice. Rich, standing in the midst of a rapidly changing river can be scary. to tell you the truth, sometimes, i scare myself. let’s navigate these rapids together. Andy and Robo, we’re thinking along the same paths.

]]> By: Jim http://alexmcmanus.org/2007/08/27/the-kinds-of-people-the-21st-century-needs-2/comment-page-1/#comment-165284 Jim Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:37:30 +0000 http://alexmcmanus.org/index.php/2007/08/27/the-kinds-of-people-the-21st-century-needs-2/#comment-165284 Alex, This really sucks. I hate this. Because it really changes everything. I'm overstating of course. Or perhaps more accurately, I'm over-representing one side of my "processor". Because the other side completely agrees with you and loves everything you said here. Connection seems to be the key. Connecting people to God and to each other and to nature and to themselves. There may always be a stream of people who need a club to belong to in order to feel connected. The buildings and the programs and all that crap helps to initiate and foster those connections. But there seems to be a growing proportion of people who want community to deepen more organically. Thank you for ticking me off. Alex,

This really sucks. I hate this. Because it really changes everything.

I’m overstating of course. Or perhaps more accurately, I’m over-representing one side of my “processor”. Because the other side completely agrees with you and loves everything you said here.

Connection seems to be the key. Connecting people to God and to each other and to nature and to themselves. There may always be a stream of people who need a club to belong to in order to feel connected. The buildings and the programs and all that crap helps to initiate and foster those connections. But there seems to be a growing proportion of people who want community to deepen more organically.

Thank you for ticking me off.

]]> By: » The Kinds of People the 21st Century Needs (4) into the mystic http://alexmcmanus.org/2007/08/27/the-kinds-of-people-the-21st-century-needs-2/comment-page-1/#comment-165237 » The Kinds of People the 21st Century Needs (4) into the mystic Mon, 18 Feb 2008 11:58:47 +0000 http://alexmcmanus.org/index.php/2007/08/27/the-kinds-of-people-the-21st-century-needs-2/#comment-165237 [...] A turning to some form of Christ following community [...] [...] A turning to some form of Christ following community [...]

]]> By: » The Kinds of People the 21st Century Needs (3) into the mystic http://alexmcmanus.org/2007/08/27/the-kinds-of-people-the-21st-century-needs-2/comment-page-1/#comment-158182 » The Kinds of People the 21st Century Needs (3) into the mystic Sat, 12 Jan 2008 11:03:41 +0000 http://alexmcmanus.org/index.php/2007/08/27/the-kinds-of-people-the-21st-century-needs-2/#comment-158182 [...] A turning to some form of Christ following community [...] [...] A turning to some form of Christ following community [...]

]]> By: Alex http://alexmcmanus.org/2007/08/27/the-kinds-of-people-the-21st-century-needs-2/comment-page-1/#comment-157876 Alex Thu, 10 Jan 2008 14:46:18 +0000 http://alexmcmanus.org/index.php/2007/08/27/the-kinds-of-people-the-21st-century-needs-2/#comment-157876 thanks all for the comments. I can't remember a post where more people said the needed to process the content as much as this one. thanks all for the comments. I can’t remember a post where more people said the needed to process the content as much as this one.

]]> By: Alex http://alexmcmanus.org/2007/08/27/the-kinds-of-people-the-21st-century-needs-2/comment-page-1/#comment-157874 Alex Thu, 10 Jan 2008 14:45:44 +0000 http://alexmcmanus.org/index.php/2007/08/27/the-kinds-of-people-the-21st-century-needs-2/#comment-157874 Tim, I think that's backwards. The church should be faithful with the little it receives, then it would [perhaps] be given much. But if with the "little" they receive they use it for the programs they want to have, why would they change if given the "much"? Tim, I think that’s backwards. The church should be faithful with the little it receives, then it would [perhaps] be given much. But if with the “little” they receive they use it for the programs they want to have, why would they change if given the “much”?

]]> By: Tim http://alexmcmanus.org/2007/08/27/the-kinds-of-people-the-21st-century-needs-2/comment-page-1/#comment-144767 Tim Mon, 22 Oct 2007 20:43:42 +0000 http://alexmcmanus.org/index.php/2007/08/27/the-kinds-of-people-the-21st-century-needs-2/#comment-144767 I agree that many times the church becomes about collecting the offering and most of that offering goes toward making the programs happen. BUT if the people of God that attend those churches actually gave anywhere near a tithe. There would be an abundance of resources for worldwide work as well as the programs they want to have. God's people just need to start trusting God that an investment in the kingdom is much better than somthing for their own pursuit of happiness. I agree that many times the church becomes about collecting the offering and most of that offering goes toward making the programs happen. BUT if the people of God that attend those churches actually gave anywhere near a tithe. There would be an abundance of resources for worldwide work as well as the programs they want to have. God’s people just need to start trusting God that an investment in the kingdom is much better than somthing for their own pursuit of happiness.

]]> By: Robo http://alexmcmanus.org/2007/08/27/the-kinds-of-people-the-21st-century-needs-2/comment-page-1/#comment-138616 Robo Fri, 07 Sep 2007 17:15:42 +0000 http://alexmcmanus.org/index.php/2007/08/27/the-kinds-of-people-the-21st-century-needs-2/#comment-138616 As a poster above said, you've given words to thoughts I've had for the past two years; I've been unable to adequately express those thoughts though. Thanks Alex! I think some of this is tied to our understanding of the Gospel, and our articulation of that Gospel. I blogged about this today (called "The Real Goal?). We can view the church as the end-user of the Gospel, i.e. we use it to tell people about the ticket to heaven, and get them in our pews so that we can grow our tithes and our programs. I realize I'm over-generalizing here, but that is what a "win people to Christ" mentality can produce. Instead, maybe we should view the church as the counter-cultural (in the midst OF culture) witness to the world of the larger reality: the Kingdom of God in our midst. Then, as we live the mission, and invite others to be part of God's mission, it becomes less and less important about finding a building, a staff, a children's program (mostly to keep the already convinced happy), and more about participating in what God is doing outside the four walls of the local church. I'll ponder more on your post. As a poster above said, you’ve given words to thoughts I’ve had for the past two years; I’ve been unable to adequately express those thoughts though. Thanks Alex!

I think some of this is tied to our understanding of the Gospel, and our articulation of that Gospel. I blogged about this today (called “The Real Goal?). We can view the church as the end-user of the Gospel, i.e. we use it to tell people about the ticket to heaven, and get them in our pews so that we can grow our tithes and our programs. I realize I’m over-generalizing here, but that is what a “win people to Christ” mentality can produce. Instead, maybe we should view the church as the counter-cultural (in the midst OF culture) witness to the world of the larger reality: the Kingdom of God in our midst. Then, as we live the mission, and invite others to be part of God’s mission, it becomes less and less important about finding a building, a staff, a children’s program (mostly to keep the already convinced happy), and more about participating in what God is doing outside the four walls of the local church.

I’ll ponder more on your post.

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