She was one of the most famous persons that lived in the 20th century. Practically every person alive today knows who she is . . . her given name was Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu and she was born about 4 miles from where I am sitting writing this blog. She may have had a greater impact on the world than anyone in recent memory. She was known to the world as Mother Teresa.
For 60 years she produced. In one of the toughest places in the world, and among some of the neediest people in the world. She is one of the best solid, production-oriented people in ministry. She represents modernity at it’s best. Liquid Modernity on the other hand, describes the shift away from that, to ultimate individualism, flexible-morals-theology-truth-reality existence that the world is today. Talk about values in contrast!
I know what the church looked like with a Mother Teresa, but what does it look like with liquid modernity? How does the church operate, grow, function in an unstable world, an “impermanent” world? Nothing is stable any longer, not your work, job, home, family, these formerly stable items, are now in a constant state of flux. No one here even uses landline telephones anymore, cell phones have completely taken over (and I hate the darn little thing . . . I can’t ever get away from it!), everything is mobile, my computer, PDA, phone, LIFE! This generation values “speed, innovation and independence” in comparison to structure, production and teamwork.
So what is church, in a speed-innovation-independence framework? How does the Ancient Text marry the contemporary setting? These are super critical questions as I seek to minister to a congregation which is already a mix of 13 denominations and at least five different nationalities, just after the first week! And of course everyone has an idea of what this congregation should look like and be like . . . and none of them agree . . . so what does the church look like in a liquid modern culture? A liquid church?
For 60 years she produced. In one of the toughest places in the world, and among some of the neediest people in the world. She is one of the best solid, production-oriented people in ministry. She represents modernity at it’s best. Liquid Modernity on the other hand, describes the shift away from that, to ultimate individualism, flexible-morals-theology-truth-reality existence that the world is today. Talk about values in contrast!
I know what the church looked like with a Mother Teresa, but what does it look like with liquid modernity? How does the church operate, grow, function in an unstable world, an “impermanent” world? Nothing is stable any longer, not your work, job, home, family, these formerly stable items, are now in a constant state of flux. No one here even uses landline telephones anymore, cell phones have completely taken over (and I hate the darn little thing . . . I can’t ever get away from it!), everything is mobile, my computer, PDA, phone, LIFE! This generation values “speed, innovation and independence” in comparison to structure, production and teamwork.
So what is church, in a speed-innovation-independence framework? How does the Ancient Text marry the contemporary setting? These are super critical questions as I seek to minister to a congregation which is already a mix of 13 denominations and at least five different nationalities, just after the first week! And of course everyone has an idea of what this congregation should look like and be like . . . and none of them agree . . . so what does the church look like in a liquid modern culture? A liquid church?
4 comments:
I would say it looks like what happened in Nickel Mines, PA, a week ago today and what has transpired since...a Christian culture virtually unchanged in generations in the way they live and believe (the Amish), collide with the modern world in the worst way possible in the form of a deranged killer who murdered their daughters. The Amish community responded instantly to forgive and minister to the family of the murderer.
The weekend after the event a Mennonite pastor from Lancaster came to preach at our church, and I questioned his wife and friends that came-how did the Mennonite community respond? (The father of one of our members missed the police roadblock by one turn). They had $60,000 raised for the survivors and counting almost immediately. I was told anyone who could offer practical help did so.
Then I read newspaper accounts that a biker contingent did a charity ride for the hospital caring for the injured girls, the Methodist pastor of the widow had Amish visiting his church going to the funeral of the killer. Churches and individuals from all over the world are offering to assist...it is possible for us in a modern, changing society to make an impact. The word "forgiveness" was in the headlines and the non-praying world everywhere was asking-how is this possible? The undiluted message of Christ's forgiveness is still powerful and life-changing!
Liquid . . . what a multi-faceted word - ultimate individualism - or water throwing itself off Niagara in blissful self-abandon to a greater cause - like Mother Theresa.
Out of our innermost beings will flow living water, bringing life to all.
And yet each drop gives itself as one individual choice.
Beth, thanks for a beautiful word picture-you put into a nutshell what I was trying to say, and it really encouraged me. It's easy to get discouraged, feeling like one of those single drops, or a mud puddle! I like the idea of many together making a waterfall, or a mighty ocean.
Also wanted to say that is really cool to hear that Mother Teresa was born there, and what her real name at birth was. Like most other people do, I consider her as one of the most admirable people I have ever heard of. Someone we can learn a lot from.
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