Chameleon Christianity: Moving Beyond Safety and Conformity

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Oct 7, 2004 in Church, Culture | 1 comment

by Dick Keyes

We are living in a time of crisis of moral authority, with culture wars raging all around. Although the Christian church’s message speaks to the deepest issues in contention, it often seems ill-equipped to act fruitfully in our society. Instead it can easily become part of the problem, not its solution – especially if we give in to the polar tendencies to turn into either chameleons or a tribe.
When Christians accommodate and compromise before the pressures of being a dissonant minority, we become chameleons. And when we turn inward as a Christian ghetto, using self-protecting measures out of fear, we become a tribe.

But as Dick Keyes explains, we can avoid the perils of polarization through biblical ways forward. One is apologetics – reaching outside of the enclave or sharpening ones argument for truth. Another is overcoming individualism to reclaim a real Christian community. However, no recommendation will be successful without true dependence on God and a return to foundations.

Chameleon Christianity calls Christians to righteously engage the surrounding culture. It provides tools for expressing the gospel and offers a fresh look at Christian community that crosses barriers of age, race, and gender.

Radical Reformission: Reaching Out Without Selling Out

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Oct 6, 2004 in Church, Culture | 0 comments

Here is a great book that I’d recommend…it is by our old Pastor while we attended Mars Hill Church in Seattle…

Today’s mission field starts
just outside your door

“Reformission” is the continual reforming of the mission of the church to enhance God‚Äôs command to reach out to others in a way that acknowledges the unique times and locations of daily life. This engaging book blends the integrity of respected theoreticians with the witty and practical insights of a pastor. It calls for a movement of missionaries to seek the lost across the street as well as across the globe.

This basic primer on the interface between gospel and culture highlights the contrast between presentation evangelism and participation evangelism. It helps Christians navigate between the twin pitfalls of syncretism (being so culturally relevant that you lose your message) and sectarianism (being so culturally irrelevant that you lose your mission). Included are interviews with those who have crossed cultural barriers, such as a television producer, exotic dancer, tattoo studio owner, and band manager. The appendix presents eight portals into the future: population, family, health/medicine, creation, learning, sexuality, and religion.

Every Christian fellowship in the USA needs to make “radical reformission” their #1 priority in the decades to come. Are you in a place of leadership? Drop whatever you are reading and get this excellent primer from Mark Driscoll. ” The Discerning Reader

Buy:
The Radical Reformission: Reaching Out without Selling Out