the church that mirrors a failing system

Grace has some insightful thoughts on the implications of a failing economy on the church system that was designed to mimic capitalism. Here are her conclusions:

I don’t know if there is hope for economic and political change or revolution in that arena. That isn’t what I want to address. These articles highlight the depth of failure by the church to model an alternative truth.

A few thoughts…

• The dominant cultural model of our churches has been to copy the models of corporate business in organizational structures, leadership styles, productivity, performance, and marketing.
• Perhaps those systems that mirror the corporate culture will also mirror their collapse.
• Should we look to these same systems to organize the recovery of a church that could be different?
• The church that exemplifies the kingdom is not conducive to the powers of an elite oligarchy.
• The church that is an alternative witness to this culture will look radically different than the celebrity-led, consumer-fed, mega-campus complex.
• God forgive us for the turbo-capitalism that drives us to success rather than faithfulness.

Sometimes the failure of all that previously worked is the doorway to an opportunity to be stripped of what is unnecessary and introduced to the beauty and simplicity of life in the kingdom. I have a glimmer of hope that the church is being turned in this direction.

Be sure and read her whole post.