Relevance is the “it-thing” of our Christian generation. If you don’t believe me, take a look around next time you’re at church. You’ll be sure to see an abundance of chai lattes with soy milk and hazelnut sprinkles, and most likely a worship leader in a v-neck and trendy fedora. The church is pretty hip nowadays, and while I am quite a fan of chai lattes and fedoras, I wonder if too much of our “relevance” is focused on externals.
To be relevant means to speak to the needs of people. But since when do people know what they need? Churches may cater to what people think they need (rockin’ music and witty, anecdotal sermons), but if the unknown needs of people are not being met then the church really isn’t doing much more than a country club. People will leave church feeling comfortable, but not challenged to be a part of something bigger than themselves.
Most people do not know what they want, much less what they need. All most people know is that something is off. Most people are fed up and disillusioned with the lifestyle, the culture, that promised them so much. They are not happy. The are not free. They do not feel that life is meaningful. Whether or not they admit it, they know it. People are looking for purpose, meaning, joy, love, and freedom, and despite their frantic scramble they have not found it.
Clik here to view.
The focus of the church should not be on the desires of people, but the reality of their need. God can use peoples’ preferences to draw them into His presence, but they aren’t the ultimate objective. If a church plays rockin’ music and serves coffee, I think that’s awesome. But if that’s as far as the relevance goes, the church might as well shut its doors. The church should be equipped to provide what is absent in the lives of so many. It should be a place where people find the missing ingredient of their lives that changes everything. The church should answer the questions that the world can’t. That is relevant.
Clik here to view.
