A new era: The decline of Christendom

Christian spirituality has been the integral and fundamental part of society. Popes have been in charge of government and the world used to look to Christian ministers for decision making.

Times have changed. We live in a post-Christendom era. That is, the church is no longer the centre of society. In Australia, the church is on the sidelines, sometimes yelling out principles of holiness to a coutry that doesn't always listen.

It's not good enough to try and make the church the centre of it all again. Let's face it, the early church grew fastest during the first three centuries when it didn't have governmental authority and some new followers of Jesus were persecuted for their faith, some even martyred (read about a guy named Polycarp!).

So how does the church exist in this post-christendom era? I think we need to stop pumping up the idea of the church to people who are anti-church. Lets rather talk about God and the fact that Jesus can bring freedom into people's lives. After all, we're about witnessing the growth of the Kingdom of God, not the Kingdom of the Church.

Is it taking hold of you?

As I walk down the street and see someone with their new hotted up car,
As I stroll past the electronics shop I witness someone buying a new plasma screen, and I realise I'm getting the symptoms...
When I envy my neighbour's financial position, and when I gossip about the new possessions of my friends, I realise I'm coming down with something...
As I trade my new phone in for another one, and as I complain about my other mate having a new X-Box, I realise the sickness is taking hold of me...
When I struggle to pass the clothes shop without wishing for more, and when I throw out clothes just to buy the latest fashion, I realise I have caught this wretched illness...
I've read the symptoms, I've worked out what I'm coming down with. I know the sickness that is taking hold of me; this wretched illness...
Affluenza

It's time to unroll the scroll!

Here's a sneak preview of my message tomorrow at Melbourne Corps - Project 614:

Jesus walks into the synagogue following his baptism, and his time in the desert. A Jewish leader asks him to come and teach the congregation. He unrolls the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, and finds where it says:
'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor,
to heal the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. To proclaim the year of the Lord's favour...'

Right here, at this significant moment, Jesus tells the people his future mission. He says, and this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing this day (see Luke 4:14-30).

It's time to unroll the scroll. Too long have churches rolled up the scroll, and said, this mission is too hard, it's too costly, it's too demanding, it's too tiring. Hey. Unroll it. Check out the mission that Jesus is on about, and be on about the same.

Lay aside your life for the task of winning the world for Jesus. No other task seems to compare. Then, we won't be able to hold back the Revolution that God will bring.