Shifting Vision

From Helen Harms, the WV-WMD Synod’s Director for Evangelical Mission.  A shift in our vision for what the church is…

Old model: Attractional church (marketing church so people will come to us)

New model: Incarnational church (God putting on flesh through us so that we can be Jesus, meeting people where they are)

Old model: Temple in Jerusalem, people have to go there

Ancient/future model: Jesus is cornerstone of new Temple, his people are living stones, the Temple is mobile, and not a building

Old model: church growth

New model: kingdom growth- thy will be done, thy kingdom come, on earth, as in heaven

Old model: you need a building to be a “real” church

Ancient model: Jesus and the early church never owned buildings. In 100AD there were 25,000 Christians. By 310 AD there were 20 million

Future model: you don’t need a building to be “real” church. Consider China at the beginning of the “cultural revolution.” Christianity had been essentially outlawed. There were 2 million Christians. China today has more than 60 million Christians. Not only that-- many congregations have to share a Bible, a page at a time!

Old question: How can we get people to come to church?

New question: How can we be Jesus to the people in our neighborhoods, blessing them with his love?