It’s been a very busy three weeks outside of The Shepherd’s Study, hence the silence here on the blog, but as I finally have a little down time, here’s the August installment of Around the Study. There’s actually been quite a few great blog posts and news articles in the past month, so I’ll provide a few that might prove a little more interesting or worthwhile for you in your busy ministries.
- The End of White Flight (7/19/08) – Conor Dougherty had a great article in the Wall Street Journal on the new demographic change in many of America’s large urban areas such as San Francisco, Atlanta and Washington D.C. as white populations move back into the cities and black populations move out. Obviously this had led to clashes regarding class and culture as happened decades ago.
- For Discussion: Have you noticed culture change in your ministry field? What impact has that had on your ministry situation? How has your congregation dealt with the change or is dealing with the change?
- The Life Christians Desire (7/21/08) – Late in July, the Barna Group came out with the results of a survey asking Christians and non-Christians what they want most out of life. The researchers discovered that the closer people hold to the teachings of the Bible and the greater their exposure to the Word the greater the impact the Christian faith has on the life people desire. At the same time, the further away people go from Scripture the less of a priority Christian faith becomes, even to the point of lives without the Word prove to be lives without purpose. This should really come as no surprise to us, but it is sad that those in many mainline “Christian” denominations have less desire for faith to be part of their future. Lord, keep us steadfast in your Word!
- Top Reasons for Church Attendance (7/29/08) – Some interesting statistics on why people get connected to a particular congregation. It’s surprising to see that doctrine is one of the top reasons church attenders and non-attenders join a particular congregation. I found it also interesting that pastors and their preaching play a key role in why people originally join a church, but they play a much smaller role in keeping new members connected to their congregation. Some common sense factors come out as well – The friendliness and fellowship of the congregation play a big part in the initial reason for people to join, while ministry involvement is the key factor to keep them there.
- Post-Evangelicalism (7/31/08) – Gene Veith comments on the growing movement known as “Post-Evangelicalism” that is defined as a way of relating to the present seriously compromised, perhaps terminal, condition of evangelicalism by accessing the resources of the broader, deeper, more ancient Christian traditions that contemporary evangelicalism, in its pragmatic idolatry, has largely abandoned as sources and influences. Veith’s comments on the movement and book recommendation are worth checking out!
- When The Church Knows Its Identity and Soul (8/1/08) – Brad Abare at Church Marketing Sucks has had an interesting series on the identity crisis of the 21st Century American Christian church, and the sad results that happen when a church or church body forgets its identity. I found his final installment particularly insightful when it comes to the congregations we serve.
- The Secret of Authentic Christianity (8/2/08) – To wrap up this month’s Around the Study, I’d like to share with you a great devotional thought from Pr. Paul McCain at Cyberbrethren. It’s always a good reminder for us Lutheran shepherds (or any Christian for that matter!) as we busily serve God’s people with Word and Sacraments, that it’s not all about us or all about them, but all about Christ and him crucified! When you get a chance, check out what Pr. McCain has to say and God’s blessings as you proclaim Christ crucified in your congregations and communities!
