Relevant Magazine has an interesting piece online from Jason Johnson about relevance and what it means in today’s church.
Relevance. It has become the ecclesiological buzz-word of the postmodern culture. The church spends large amounts of time, energy and money on this idea of relevance, and Christians themselves are doing everything they possibly can to feel like—in some part—this term is an identifying mark on who they are as followers of Christ. This idea of relevance is admirable and necessary. But as I look around and evaluate my own attitudes toward this culture and understandings of how the Church relates to it, I (first and foremost) might have it backwards.
I believe that on some levels the idea of relevance has been reduced to a formula of learning to speak the right lingo, dress the right way, be familiar with the right music and movies, be involved in the right causes, go to the right churches, hang out with the right people, eat the right foods, drink the right drinks, have the right hairstyle and, most importantly, be familiar with all of the most relevant leaders and thinkers of this postmodern/emergent generation.
Honestly, admit it, when you encounter someone who does not know who Rob Bell or Brian McLaren are, does it not surprise you just a bit?
This really got me:
The fact that we have to spend so much time trying to be relevant should tell us something. It is an indication that relevance is not something that happens naturally. That’s why we have to spend so much time manufacturing it according to the formula.
It’s true that people are looking to make their faith relevant. I believe non-believers want to see why the Christian faith and GOd should be relevant to them. But dressing a certain way, watching the right movies, drinking the right drinks doesn’t make you relevant.
If you’re trying to do that, it makes you a fake and a phony in my book. I think people are much more interested in authenticity than relevance.
My dad may not be the most stylish man on the block. He may not know a thing about the latest trends but people can look at him and see true, authentic faith. And they’re drawn to that.
His faith is real and constant. In the midst of trials and tribulations he remains faithful and he continues to tell others and share with others about how God has remained faithful to him.
If we’re true to ourselves, God and others, our faith becomes relevant — regardless of whether or not we listen to U2, Cold Play or the Gaither Vocal Band.
The idea of relevance also brings to mind many episodes of “What Not To Wear.” (I know – I’ve watched it. Are you shocked? Laurie’s a huge fan.)
The image of relevance brings one picture to mind. The thirty-something mother who’s trying to dress hip for her kids or her kids’ friends.
“No. It looks bad!”
Why? Because you’re trying to be something you’re not. You’re 36 years old and trying to pull off a mini-skirt.
If wearing Mossimo or Stussy isn’t you then wearing it isn’t going to draw people to you or to Christ.
Paul said, “I have become all things to all men so that I might win some to Christ.” But I don’t think Paul was going around, hanging out with the Romans, wearing a Toga just so he could fit in.
When I’ve gone to Austin Street to minister to the homeless, they’re not expecting me to show up in torn dirty clothes and sleep on the streets with them. They want to see that I’m authentic with them. I don’t try to hide that I live in Waxahachie. I don’t try to hide that I have fairly decent clothes. They don’t care. They’re excited to see that my faith has made an impact in my life and it can make an impact in their lives too.
Johnson ends with this:
Wear the torn and tattered jeans, listen to the indie-pop music, read the most current authors, even buy a Mac if you want—but never substitute those things as what it truly means to be relevant. Relevance is found only through the inevitable expressions of a heart that is pursuing the greatest of all causes.
Great thoughts my brother… love it.
Relevance comes from love… authentic passion for life… Sure some of the labels you mentioned I dig – Stussy… Apple Mac… oh and the Gaither Vocal Band RAWK!!! But I would dig them if noone else did.
We need to be ourselves… Goths… Punks… whatever??? Our faith is a one-on-one thing… its a personal thing… that we should be passionate about. Real passion!
Think Paul in Philippians 3 – His relevance comes from the resurrection power and not from what he has or is.
Fab – need more of this
Great thoughts my brother… love it.
Relevance comes from love… authentic passion for life… Sure some of the labels you mentioned I dig – Stussy… Apple Mac… oh and the Gaither Vocal Band RAWK!!! But I would dig them if noone else did.
We need to be ourselves… Goths… Punks… whatever??? Our faith is a one-on-one thing… its a personal thing… that we should be passionate about. Real passion!
Think Paul in Philippians 3 – His relevance comes from the resurrection power and not from what he has or is.
Fab – need more of this
No man. Yah gotta learn to “speaky the lingo.”
You should see the cool hand signs our church members are using! : -)
No man. Yah gotta learn to “speaky the lingo.”
You should see the cool hand signs our church members are using! : -)
I thank God for what you have seen, Jonathan, because those complimentary things you have seen are a result of His work in me. There are still many failures on my part, but God has always been faithful to me. PleaseI pray with and for me that I will be more faithful and trusting to know Him better so I will be more faithful to love Him and others as I should. Jesus said, “Love one another…By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, that you love one another.” I find I am too often too proud and self-centered to love Christ and others as He has loved me–even in our own family!
The love of Christ in and through us is what relates us to each other and that same love is what brought us to a good relationship with Him when we first accepted His free gift of salvation. As the author of one of my favorite hymns states, “…the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.”!!
I thank God for what you have seen, Jonathan, because those complimentary things you have seen are a result of His work in me. There are still many failures on my part, but God has always been faithful to me. PleaseI pray with and for me that I will be more faithful and trusting to know Him better so I will be more faithful to love Him and others as I should. Jesus said, “Love one another…By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, that you love one another.” I find I am too often too proud and self-centered to love Christ and others as He has loved me–even in our own family!
The love of Christ in and through us is what relates us to each other and that same love is what brought us to a good relationship with Him when we first accepted His free gift of salvation. As the author of one of my favorite hymns states, “…the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.”!!
I am not sure why I am asked for another comment. I must have entered some wrong information in the right place.
I am not sure why I am asked for another comment. I must have entered some wrong information in the right place.
I am trying your website address now, perhaps it will send this moderation request to you, now
I give up. That’s enough conmenting from me.
I give up. That’s enough conmenting from me.
It simply gives you the option to add another comment if you want.
You don’t have to give another one. You can go back to reading the full blog by clicking on the header up top.
It simply gives you the option to add another comment if you want.
You don’t have to give another one. You can go back to reading the full blog by clicking on the header up top.
Thank you. You can erase or edit the other comments as you like. You might wish to edit or cut this comment, also. I’ve some questions for you. I heard Sally’s testimony and checked out the SIM nurse’s web site and blog.
What if you both did not have to raise money to go to Jos this fall? Would either or both of you go?
You have not told me why you decided not to go, only that you decided not to go. Should I pray about this for you both?
Thank you. You can erase or edit the other comments as you like. You might wish to edit or cut this comment, also. I’ve some questions for you. I heard Sally’s testimony and checked out the SIM nurse’s web site and blog.
What if you both did not have to raise money to go to Jos this fall? Would either or both of you go?
You have not told me why you decided not to go, only that you decided not to go. Should I pray about this for you both?
The overall reason I chose not to go to Jos this year is that I haven’t had a peace about it since January or so.
I don’t know why it is. I haven’t found a clear cut reason. I’ve considered it may have to do with going back to school, maybe other ministry opportunities. I really don’t know.
Laurie has been encouraging and supportive the entire time.
She has done nothing but encouraged me to do what I feel God is wanting me to do.
I’d love to take her with me sometime but for whatever reason I just haven’t had a peace or reassurance to return this year.
The overall reason I chose not to go to Jos this year is that I haven’t had a peace about it since January or so.
I don’t know why it is. I haven’t found a clear cut reason. I’ve considered it may have to do with going back to school, maybe other ministry opportunities. I really don’t know.
Laurie has been encouraging and supportive the entire time.
She has done nothing but encouraged me to do what I feel God is wanting me to do.
I’d love to take her with me sometime but for whatever reason I just haven’t had a peace or reassurance to return this year.
I am trying your website address now, perhaps it will send this moderation request to you, now