in-no-va-tion (noun)
1. The act of introducing something new.
2. Something newly introduced.
3. A word you will not see on a Church of Christ website when perusing its core beliefs, values, and commitments.
Another reason Churches of Christ are struggling to engage our emerging culture is that we are paralyzed by the fear of being wrong. Our heritage, which has trained us to try to be “right” in all things, has seriously altered and impaired our God-given creativity gene.
We’re deeply suspicious of the word “innovation.” In the next Elders meeting, use it in a sentence that does not include the names “Nadab” and “Abihu” and then sit back in awe as you watch facial ticks emerge randomly and then sync up in an act of self-organization that would amaze a colony of ants.
In order to be innovative, we have to be willing to make mistakes. Creativity demands false starts and wrong turns. We struggle to cultivate such an environment in Churches of Christ. Is it because we are still holding on to an image of a bureaucratic God who is looking for reasons to exclude us and is willing to use even the most sincere of blunders as justification? I’m not sure that’s the case, but I don’t think I can dismiss it either.
I don’t view God in this way, at least not on a conscious level, but I must confess that I am hopelessly addicted to methodological correctness. I have a hard time pulling the trigger on an idea or an initiative until I’m positive I’ve got it right. I’m not this way in all areas of my life, just church stuff. I wonder why?
I spent most of my twenties reading books in search of the right method for doing evangelism, organizing a church for growth, and interpreting scripture. Rather than try something and see if it worked, I kept looking for the perfect method that offered a risk-free guarantee. The result? I spent more time reading about biblical interpretation than I spent actually reading the Bible. My “books on evangelism read to actual evangelistic conversations had” ratio is about 5 to 1. I’m still not sure I’ve found the best way to do it, so I continue to look for a better method.
Why? Because I can’t shake the belief that somewhere out there is one way to do something that is better than all the other ways. I love the idea of my being the one to find it! I think this belief is somehow connected to my religious heritage. (I could be wrong about this, which of course terrifies me all the more!)
I’m a product of my tribe. We know deep in our bones that what we’re doing now is not working. It’s obvious we need to change. But we can’t seem to muster the required creativity. We can’t bring ourselves to embrace innovation as a way of life.
So we sit by the side of the road, paralyzed by the fear of embarking on a risky mission.
If only we knew someone who was able to make the lame walk. Even if we did, I wonder if we would have the courage to get up and follow him?
Telling Stories, Asking Questions, Learning Lessons
Right on Wade right on. I think to many people think more about sharing their faith instead of actually doing it. I really wonder how we would react to Jesus in today’s time. Interesting to think about
” Every child of God is morally bound by his relationship to Jesus to accept all truth as he becomes aware of it, but the relationship we sustain to each other does not convey the right to formally bind our interpretations upon each other.”
Wade, I believe the reason “we can’t seem to muster the required creativity” is a pride issue. Yea, we do know deep in our bones that what we are doing now is not working, but the guilt associated with that is not as bad as the guilt that would be associated with the admittance that we actually have something wrong……. and have some room for improvement. Proclaiming yourself to be THE church and THE ONLY church has lots of baggage……..the least of which is pride. So, it’s circle the wagons and stay the course. Get a chip on your shoulder, dig your feet in, and declare to the world that you are the last bastion of truth. That will win the world over to Christ.
I believe we’ve been conditioned to fear failure above most everything else. How many VCRs flashed ((12:00)) for someone’s fear of messing something up? Success is only as permanent as your last accomplishment, while failure hangs over you forever. Innovation is discouraged in the workplace, the church, the government and often, in the family. No one wants a rocking boat.
The deep roots are probably a lack of faith. Most of us have little trouble debating that which we know to the core to be true. Most everyone will stand up to defend a spouse or child, because we’re thoroughly invested and thoroughly convinced. I have seen many come to blows over the superiority of a sports team. Many will sacrifice to trumpet a political tenet. And yes, there are the Luthers and Gandhis and Shellys that will stand up for what they believe at the core. Most of us, I fear, harbor doubts about our faith to some degree that cause us to second guess attempts to proclaim it outside of “safe” circles.
“Lonely are the brave”. So few are willing to stand up in this day and age… for anything. Our kudos need to go out daily to those who try.
Wade,
Micro managing will be the biggest obstacle within the c of C?s when we are willing to trust the Spirit more and our control less then “innovation” will come because it won?t be from us. Just recently I read recently that if you pray the Lord?s Prayer everyday (don?t know how many times) then our prayers and our heart will focus on “God?s Will” being done instead of our own. Prayerful then we will be able to interpret the Spirit?s desire (which will always be a concern).
Recently in our book club we stopped meeting because we spent quite a bit of time talking about evangelism and social activism but no time was spent actually doing it. Everyone became frustrated and said we would not meet again until we actually had put our plan into practice. That was six months ago and nothing has happened. Sad tale…
So off to Pepperdine to here about a whole lot of other things we are not doing, maybe I will just spend the week in the boat or on the beach.
Good thoughts Wade. I would add that this post seems more directed to leaders (pastors/elders/deacons) in the coC. What is sad is our handcuffing those creative dreamers in our churches. Think about those in the pew that are dying to engage in risk or dream big dreams and yet we cause them to suffer. Involving ministers job descriptions are all about warehousing Christians (some not all). Therefore we don’t allow those new to our community to challenge us, rather we stick them in environments that are noncreative, nonimaginative and just plain boring. What if we allowed those on the “outside” or “new Xians” to challenge us and shape us instead of making ourselves shape them? What if the “outsiders” could evangelize to us?
“Now, wait a sec Clark, couldn’t they [outsiders] shape us to sin more?” Again, we are find ourselves scared that anything “outside” the church building could taint us as well as our holy God.
Saying something like, “Pray for God to show you what he wants your community to be in this particular context” is scarey because we don’t have some 4 point Purpose Statement to keep us in line. I hope our tribe can dream and risk failure. I would rather be apart of something that risked everything than “play it safe.” Heck, I’m still scared to risk everything for Jesus.
Good news, Wade! There are places where dreamers are allowed to be part of the action. Here in the far north it is so cold it keeps the Southern Command away from us and we get to worship the Lord … and LIKE it!
Wade… Good job…I think that creating a habitat for leaders to be allowed to lead, and for the creative to be creative is the biggest challenge in our movement…thanks for addressing it…you da man…
Wade –
I agree with you 100% (which I rarely say to anyone) that: “We struggle to cultivate such an environment [of innovativeness and creativity] in Churches of Christ.” But, being by nature a “creative” person, myself (and rather positive in my “mature” years), I believe that we must start by being the innovative and creative individuals who comprise “the church.”
For a start, we should try to be “real” and “transparent” in our lives for all to see. I learned that lesson many years ago, by accident, acctually, and without “premeditation,” but by struggling through very some difficult times as a Christian and not giving up. As I was persevering and bemoaning the fact that I was being such a “terrible” example to everyone around me who I so wanted to influence, I had someone who had become a very good friend (outside “the” church) tell me, “Oh, but I admire you tremendously. You face your terrible problems and keep trying to solve them with God’s help.”
Wow – was that a shocker! But, I have tried ever since to continue to be that way, no matter what, and have found that in our (my) brokeness, we can be strong through our everlasting Redeemer and reach others who are struggling even more mightily than we because they do not yet have such a Redeemer.
And, as we – individuals in “the church” – strive to do so, we will, as a church, reach others with the good news.
Wade,
This is, by far, the best stuff I’ve ever read of your writings. This is really rich stuff! You’re verbalzing everything that I was feeling about six years go, my friend.
Have you thought about publishing this?
Articles like these are the reason I became enthralled with blogging. I have always known there was something wrong, I just didn’t know there were other people who felt the same. I love the fact that you have put it in writing. Thank you and keep it up!
Wade,
Thank you so much for your unbelievably transparent, gut-level, honest observations of modern Christianity. I have been a reader of your blog since the beginning and you wouldn’t believe how therapeutic it has been for me to see someone else out there not only articulate the feelings I’ve been having, but also someone with the courage to say it.
This last blog entry couldn’t be more accurate of the affliction I suffer from. I could have written this blog myself and wouldn’t have had to change anything but inserting my own name. I have been in pause mode for some time now out of fear of doing the wrong thing but I will add one additional reason to why I sit.
This past year I have discovered a complete lack of theological foundation. I couldn’t creatively jump for the stars because I wasn’t even standing on anything. I am only now begining to find a foundation to plant my feet on. That being said, will I have the courage to jump off this new found theological dock into new and innovative waters? It sure is scary to think about. Especially when it’s your job. It’s so easy to confuse failed ventures with being a failure as a person. There is such of fear of “not measuring up” to people’s expectations of me. That’s a hard feeling to shake off.
Oh well, thanks enough of my opining, this is your blog. I just wanted you to know how much your blog has meant to me. God bless you.
Wade,
This series has been great. Patrick Mead touched on something in a previous comment that I’ve often thought: how much of the Church of Christ’s future will be affected by whether or not the power centers (journals, universities, megachurches) of our denomination remain in the South? As a native Southerner, I love the South very much…but it strikes me that in terms of language, custom, and communication with an “emerging” culture, the South is usually the last part of our American society to “emerge” from anywhere or anything.
I remember attending my undergrad alma mater (in the South) and, with several of my friends, developing a false sense that the Northeast, North Midwest, West, and Northwest were all fertile mission fields for us Alabamaians and Arkansans. For the COC’s to pull this off (authentically embracing a missional Christianity and truly affecting our postmodern culture), perhaps we Southerners aren’t the ones to ask? Just wondering your take on this…
It won’t change. Not entirely. That’s why I’m leaving. Many community churches seem to be as biblical if not more. They’re also the ones with the guts to be innovative.
Thanks, Wade, for this VERY thought provoking series. You can see that it stirred up quite a response. It would be a great subject for a book. You have time to fit that into your schedule, don’t you? I am running these off (including all comments) for our elders and some other leaders. Thanks for being so open.