MWR : Hope for the prodigal church

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Aug. 2, 2010 issue

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Hope for the prodigal church

Pastors from two generations proclaim a wake-up call

By Bill Zuercher

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HESSTON, Kan. — The church in Western culture is like the prodigal son in Jesus’ parable.

Ringenberg

The church has squandered its birthright, lost its vision and ignored its call to proclaim and live a message of redemption through Christ.

But there is hope for the prodigal church, just as there was for the prodigal son.

This was the message shared by two pastors of different generations — Duane Yoder and Jessica Schrock Ringenberg — at the South Central Conference annual meeting June 25-27 at Hesston College and Hesston Mennonite Church.

Yoder is senior pastor of Lindale Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg, Va. Schrock Ringenberg is pastor of youth and young adults at Zion Mennonite Church in Archbold, Ohio.

Using the theme “The Prodigal Church: Responding to God’s Call,” the two speakers shared the pulpit twice and spoke individually twice.

They said God’s intention for the church has not changed: to manifest the kingdom of God and carry on the ministry Christ began. God still holds the church, prodigal though it may have become.

The pastors quoted alarming statistics, attributed to author and theologian Marva Dawn, for the church in Western societies.

The generation of those now in their 70s and 80s held to the Christian faith at about 90 percent. The next generation claims about 66 percent adherence. Those in their 30s and 40s weigh in at about 33 percent. The next younger group accounts for about 18 percent. At the present trend, those now in early childhood will embrace the Christian faith at about 4 percent. This is a wake-up call to the church that cannot be ignored.

Through acculturation, affluence and self-sufficiency we have slid down a slippery slope. As evidenced by popular culture, political pandering, hateful discourse and pseudo-Christian rhetoric, the church is drinking at cracked cisterns, putting “God language” on every possible issue while ignoring Christ’s admonition to bring wholeness and to worship in spirit and in truth.

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Comments

Jesus said, "if ye love me, keep my commandments". therefore the true meassure of our love is determined by the meassure of our obedience to the commandments of Jesus Christ. The question "what is more important, relationships or rules"? is irrevelant. Afterall, relationships are the product of obedience to Christ's words, and rules are pointless if not founded on the word. On the other hand, a desire to be obedient because of our LOVE for THE MASTER, will welcome biblical applications to the instructions found in the word. As for making room for those that think different, there may well be a place for that. The problem is, that all to often those that think differnt think "outside the word of God, and for those, the only room we should give them, is room for repentance.

- Cor Harder (aug 9 at 11:58 p.m.)

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