07.21.08
the Present Future
Reggie McNeal writes,
“The point is.. all the effort to fix the church misses the point. You can build the perfect church–and they still won’t come. People are not looking for a great church… The age in which institutional religion holds appeal is passing away.
“Church leaders seem unable to grasp this simple implication of the new world–people outside the church think church is for church people, not for them.”
* * *
“The church was created to be the people of God to join him in his redemptive mission in the world. The church was never intended to exist for itself. It was and is the chosen instrument of God to expand his kingdom. The church is the bride of Christ. Its union with him is designed for reproduction, the growth of the kingdom. Jesus did not teach his disciples to pray, “Thy church come.” The kingdom is the destination. In its institutional existence the church abandoned its real identity and reason for existence.“God did not give up on his mission in the Old Testament when Israel refused to partner with him. God is a reckless lover. He decided to go on with the mission himself. We do not need to be mistaken about this: if the church refuses its missional assignment, God will do it another way. The church has [refused], and he is [moving on]. God is pulling end runs around the institutional North American church to get to people in the streets. God is still inviting us to join him on mission, but it is the invitation to be part of a movement, not a religious club.”
Derek said,
July 21, 2008 at 8:39 am
Where was this quote found?
len said,
July 21, 2008 at 10:45 am
Derek, probably in The Present Future but I haven’t got the booko on my shelf at the moment..
jordoncooper.com » Archive » God Wants Me to Be Rich said,
July 21, 2008 at 7:10 pm
[...] This could be nicely balanced against what Reggie McNeal has to say as posted by Len today. “The church was created to be the people of God to join him in his redemptive mission in the world. The church was never intended to exist for itself. It was and is the chosen instrument of God to expand his kingdom. The church is the bride of Christ. Its union with him is designed for reproduction, the growth of the kingdom. Jesus did not teach his disciples to pray, “Thy church come.†The kingdom is the destination. In its institutional existence the church abandoned its real identity and reason for existence. [...]
Derek said,
July 22, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Len,
I was thinking the same….I’ll dig my copy up and take a look for it.
Thanks
jordoncooper.com » Blog Archive » God Wants Me to Be Rich said,
July 23, 2008 at 8:56 pm
[...] This could be nicely balanced against what Reggie McNeal has to say as posted by Len today. “The church was created to be the people of God to join him in his redemptive mission in the world. The church was never intended to exist for itself. It was and is the chosen instrument of God to expand his kingdom. The church is the bride of Christ. Its union with him is designed for reproduction, the growth of the kingdom. Jesus did not teach his disciples to pray, “Thy church come.” The kingdom is the destination. In its institutional existence the church abandoned its real identity and reason for existence. [...]
Links for July 24, 2008 | Based on a True Story said,
September 4, 2009 at 10:18 am
[...] I am an intentional non-voter. I never bought into the “duty” lectures or many other reasons why its important that I vote. David Fitch wrote a great post on not voting. ———————– Next Reformation quotes Reggie McNeal The kingdom is the destination. In its institutional existence the church abandoned its real identity and reason for existence. read more… [...]