dennis j adams

I have read thousands of pages, gone to more seminars than I would like to admit and listened to some of the most popular preachers and teachers in world speak on the subject: Church Growth. I have even had a private meeting with David Yonggi Cho! I absolutely know that we need change in the Church for this postmodern era that we live in. When one studies the history of the Church it is easy to see that change came about right at the time when it was most needed. This is one of those times! Yes, one of those “God wants this done now times!” (my quote not anyone else’s.)

Some want to defend her at the present state. Some want to just leave her and try to adjust to the secular world (good luck!). Some desire to dialogue about what can be done. Dialogue is a good thing. There is power in words and words can bring change. I know that some of you reading this blog may feel that you cannot trust who you may be in dialogue with. There is a serious problem in the Church when trust is an issue. That is a true gauge or measure, if you will, to point to the fact that change is necessary. We do not need clichés to keep this boat floating and we do not need weighty statements of promise with no action either.

At this point we need dialogue and that dialogue to be prayerful and sincere. With the exit strategy going on in America I really get grrrish, (I like that better than bullish or bearish), about sticking up for what was! What was is not working so let us move into what is or at least what will. Yes, we need change and we need it now.

I wonder if men and women who have decision making privileges really know what their strengths are. Being voted into a position does not tell me that you know who you are or what you may be able to do! What it tells me is that you can really politic well. What makes me want to follow a leader in Church growth is when that leader lives in the present, reaches back to pull from history, values, so when he sees into the future he knows where he is leading us! Go over to missionalcog.com and view the Engage21 videos. Read the comments and get involved! We are in a period of our Church that certainly needs attention and plausible change.

My Heart To Yours

Dennis

1. 
   travis johnson said...
   5:31 am - March 20th, 2008

   Dennis,

   I want change. But, I can’t envision exactly how it will play out. I guess there are a lot of variables. In the end, indecision about change is a decision to die. A decision to maintain status quo is a decision to marginalize the mission of Jesus.

   I’ll take my risks. Let’s take another step forward…enjoying the journey with you.

   tj

2. 
   thoughts said...
   12:08 pm - March 20th, 2008

   Travis, I agree whole heartily with your comment. Being a risk taker is what it will take to bring the change that is so, so necessary in the Church. I trust that the steps of our journey together will be educational and yet surprising to see how the Lord transfers leadership into the hands of those that will break the status quo. To envision the change will take some real effort and corroboration on all those on the journey.

   Best

   Dennis

3. 
   Scott Huggins said...
   10:11 pm - March 20th, 2008

   Dennis,
   Thanks for the recent email you sent. It was encouraging. The subject at hand speaks to me greatly. I have noticed that we will speak of change, make plans for change and even try to make change but, it isn’t until we feel a complete loss of something that we wish to make amends. It is not when we feel the threat of loss that we try and change it. That is what the church has been doing and speaking about for years. Change will occur only after we have been stripped of our idols. What used to be can no longer be anymore. When we look back we gaze upon what was. When we have nowhere to go, we can only look foward if we want to get somewhere. When we pitch that tent and the cloud moves on it shows our displacement with God and our inability to trust and look ahead to the unseen. Faith is the evidence of things unseen. To not be aware of where you are going is Gods ultimate plan. We should start to evaluate some of our current doctrinal thinking and learn where our idols are. Maybe then we can change when we realize how it is our doctrines that cause us to pitch our tents. Don’t get me wrong here, doctrines are important but how many doctrines have been amended since you have been a believer. What once was seen as the only way to see something is now different. Change is inevitable. We ourselves can’t get past the walls we build around ourselves to keep it safe and to not allow others in who think differently. That is what the Pharisees had to deal with when Jesus began his earthly ministry. He brought change. To finish; The word logos means to proceed foward, or a proceeding word. That in a nutshell means follow the word with an open heart and do not pitch our tents in doctrine of men. Know the difference. Right?

4. 
   thoughts said...
   11:20 pm - March 20th, 2008

   Scott,

   I appreciate your sensitivity that comes across as I your read the words that you have shared. Your heart is certainly desiring what so many of us are wanting and that is change in the COG. Yes, change in the Church also! The Church that Jesus left in our hands to be stewards over! Doctrines of men can be so ultimately destructive to the soul and heart of any person. I hope that many seek the fresh Logos of and follow that. It is time that we let others in too see and hear from their heart and experience what they have received from the Lord.

   I do believe that we must have a goal if we plan to return or go forward into “grassroots” ministry to take the Church outside its wall of precepts and also to stop the marginalization of Jesus’ command to “Go” and to “harvest”.