From South Africa and although our population is about 85% Christian (of various stripes), I can see similar tendencies popping up, at least among my peer group with some who went through a 'Joseph' moment in their early twenties (after the mainline withered away) and are now somewhat rudderless in their thirties (either still a Christian but unchurched or just stepped away completely).
I've personally found a haven in liturgically formative churches which focus on communal repentive reverence and the Eucharist, a world away from stages and bands (which had a value back then, don't get me wrong). Perhaps it's moreso due to my age, but I do see some younger folks wanting something with a deeper substrate.
Hello Ross, I discovered this after reading your 'best of 2024' post. I liked the first part a lot, but got confused at your proposals.
Could you help me understand why an emphasis on holiness would include so little of what we would normally call holiness? I can see the benefits of parishes and steeples, as you explained them, but they seem like secondary concerns compared to, say, meekness or purity of heart.
Are you saying that we need to deal with malformed church environments before we see growth in the primary matters of holiness?
What a great question. Thanks for taking the time to read my piece and write this down. Yes, I can see exactly where you’re tripped up. The short answer is because I think the Bible leads us to see holiness not only as an inside—>out transformation, but also an outside—>in transformation. The Book of Leviticus, for instance, is primarily about this. About embodying faithful ritual patterns which at first seem merely “external” but slowly become the way by which the people of God are “set apart” for Him. I am short on time, so I’ll try to come back and write more later. But in the meantime, you might be interested in this piece, which explains a bit more. https://www.patientkingdom.com/p/creeds-deeds-and-needs
Hi Ross, thank you. I am on board with 'outside in' transformation, especially since reading Jonathan Haidt's The Righteous Mind, and because Jesus teaches us to store up treasure in heaven 'for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.'
I'm clearer now that you want forms and structures that shape us towards holiness. I think I can also see that your proposals arise from your diagnosis of the problem: that churches have conformed to the market rather than to Christ. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Thanks for sharing. Incisive and clear analysis! And not just applicable in the US (coming from a non-American). Shared it with a few folks.
Wow yeah, super similar. That’s cool to hear. Really appreciate you sharing. May God bless you and your family and his church in South Africa!
Thank you and to you as well!
Thank you, Rudolph! And thanks for sharing. Glad it applies more broadly. Where are you from?
From South Africa and although our population is about 85% Christian (of various stripes), I can see similar tendencies popping up, at least among my peer group with some who went through a 'Joseph' moment in their early twenties (after the mainline withered away) and are now somewhat rudderless in their thirties (either still a Christian but unchurched or just stepped away completely).
I've personally found a haven in liturgically formative churches which focus on communal repentive reverence and the Eucharist, a world away from stages and bands (which had a value back then, don't get me wrong). Perhaps it's moreso due to my age, but I do see some younger folks wanting something with a deeper substrate.
Hello Ross, I discovered this after reading your 'best of 2024' post. I liked the first part a lot, but got confused at your proposals.
Could you help me understand why an emphasis on holiness would include so little of what we would normally call holiness? I can see the benefits of parishes and steeples, as you explained them, but they seem like secondary concerns compared to, say, meekness or purity of heart.
Are you saying that we need to deal with malformed church environments before we see growth in the primary matters of holiness?
What a great question. Thanks for taking the time to read my piece and write this down. Yes, I can see exactly where you’re tripped up. The short answer is because I think the Bible leads us to see holiness not only as an inside—>out transformation, but also an outside—>in transformation. The Book of Leviticus, for instance, is primarily about this. About embodying faithful ritual patterns which at first seem merely “external” but slowly become the way by which the people of God are “set apart” for Him. I am short on time, so I’ll try to come back and write more later. But in the meantime, you might be interested in this piece, which explains a bit more. https://www.patientkingdom.com/p/creeds-deeds-and-needs
Hi Ross, thank you. I am on board with 'outside in' transformation, especially since reading Jonathan Haidt's The Righteous Mind, and because Jesus teaches us to store up treasure in heaven 'for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.'
I'm clearer now that you want forms and structures that shape us towards holiness. I think I can also see that your proposals arise from your diagnosis of the problem: that churches have conformed to the market rather than to Christ. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Really magnificent, Ross. The presented structure is grand.