Christianity is Un intellectual And other Myths about the Christian Faith
Dr. Paul D. Borden. The Need Christianity – The Number One Faith in the World Christianity – The...
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Transcript of Dr. Paul D. Borden. The Need Christianity – The Number One Faith in the World Christianity – The...
Dr. Paul D. Borden
The Need
Christianity – The Number One Faith in the World
Christianity – The Fastest Growing Faith in the World
The Church of Jesus Christ is Declining – Continents Most Identified Historically with the Protestant Reformation: Europe North America
Australia and New Zealand
Less than 20% (17.7%) of the population attend church regularly▪ 9.2% Evangelical▪ 5.5% Catholic▪ 3.1% Mainline
Average congregational worship attendance is 124 people
Loss▪ 3000 congregations a year die▪ 3800 new congregations a year are started▪ 10,000 new congregations a year are
required to equal population growth
Declining as a Denomination
Regions Dying
Congregations Dying
Losing Dollars
God is Still Performing Miracles
The Region Began to Decline Congregations of 500-700 in Worship
became Congregations of 100 or less in worship
The average age of congregations increased 65-75 years of age
The average age of pastors increased 55-70
Mission dollars decreased as congregational incomes decreased
Region was cannibalizing itself (Selling properties to pay current bills)
Went from 37 growing congregations to 153
Went from 30,000 in worship to 42,000 in worship
Went from decreasing mission dollars to a 25% increase in mission dollars
THE KEY STAT: Went from 800 baptisms
a year to 2000 baptisms a year
Planted almost 80 new congregations (12 states – 3 foreign countries)
Many new congregations start with 200-500 in worship
Now have close to $6 million for congregational reproduction
THE KEY STAT: Have gone from 2000
Baptisms a year to 4000 baptisms a year
The Reason(for dying denominations)
Christendom Has Influenced the
Western World for 1000 Years
Society’s Institutions Christianized People
Society’s Language – Christian Language – the Same
Society’s Institutions Stigmatized Non-Christian
Behaviors
Society Took Christian Positions on Good and Evil
People Were Cultural Christians
Challenge for the Church Help People Become Regenerate
Christians not Cultural Christians
Morality without Regeneration Leads to Hypocrisy and Cruelty
Individuals
Communities
Nations
The Church was often Silent on Sins
Related to Power and Greed
Cruelty and Hypocrisy Two World Wars (Cruelty in the Name of
God)
Racial Injustice (Often in the Name of God)
Recent History – Media Coverage of Sinful Church Leaders
Sexual Abuse (Often by Religious People)
Misplaced Power and Greed
The Depression
Denominational Wealth
Religious Leaders in Bed with Politicians
The Western World Has Changed – Christendom is GONE
The Western Church has NOT Changed – Still Lives in a Christendom World
Leslie Newbigen – Missionary to India from Great Britain – 1950’s
Observed Missional Churches in a Non-Christendom World ALL Congregational Activities Designed
to Achieve the Mission
(A Missional Congregation) Returned to England
Observed Non-Missional Churches in a Non-Christendom World
Preparing for the Answer
Three Basic Assumptions
(These Three Assumptions Build a Theology)
That which is healthy grows
and reproduces
God created the church to attack the Gates of
Hell
Matthew 16:18
The Gospel never changes but the church
must be constantly changing
If these three assumptions are true than the Church of Jesus Christ is:
A living reproducing constantly morphing missional entity that
has one goal, the continual making of new disciples.
The Church of Jesus Christ in the USA has become an inflexible organization catering to consumer
Christians at the expense of making disciples.
The Answer:
Make Two Fundamental
Choices
Choose to be a Missional Entity or an Organization with a Mission Statement
(This is really a choice between obedience or sin)
Choose to implement your decision to be missional or continue business as usual
(This is really a choice between becoming obedient
or remaining disobedient)
This second choice will impact your perspective on:
HistoryOrder and InformationOrganizational Structure and
Politics (Control and Recognition)AgendasSignificance and Survival
Success for Congregations that Make the Right Fundamental Choices
(A Well Tested Strategy
that Works)!!!
Key Assumptions Behind the Strategy
Most Pastors Cannot Lead A Congregation to Make the Right Choices – Alone
Most Congregations Cannot Make the Right Choices without Outside Help.
Making the Right Choices Involves Truth Telling and the offer of Hope
Key Assumptions Behind the Strategy (cont)
The Right Choice will Not Occur Without Pain (Usually Significant Pain)
Without Accountability Nothing Happens
People Must Be Attracted to Accountability
Learning Occurs As it Happens Repeatedly at Different Levels
Denominational Groups Employing the Strategy with Success (50%)
Baptists Church of God, Anderson Methodists Open Bible Presbyterians Lutherans Salvation Army Pentecostals and Charismatics
Covenant Based Pastors Covenant with Each other Denomination Covenants with the Pastors
Meet One Day a Month for a Minimum of Twelve Months – Focus: Leadership Congregational Health Spiritual Formation
Leader Must Have More Knowledge and Effective Experience Than any Pastor in the Cluster
The Part of the Strategy that Actually Produces Change
Two Parts: Week End Line in the Sand Event One Year Coaching with Someone on the
Church Campus Each Month
Begins Two Months Before – Congregational Self-Study
Interviews and Focus Groups on Friday Evaluation and Training with Leaders on
Saturday Preaching and Congregational Report
on Sunday Deadline Provided to Accept or Reject
the Consultation Report
Top Five StrengthsTop Five ConcernsTop Five Prescriptions with
Deadlines (Addresses Each Concern)
Deadline to Accept or Reject with Consequences
Someone on the Congregation’s Campus Each Month
Purpose: Implement the Consultation Report Provide Resources for Health and Growth Help Leaders/Congregation Learn New
Habits and Stop Old Habits Confront Stubborn Power Brokers Provide Accountability
Consultant Must Have More Knowledge and Effective Experience Than the Pastor
Coach Should Have More Knowledge and Effective Experience Than the Pastor
During the 12 Month Period – Two Lay Training Events for Congregations Represented in the Cluster
First Lay Training Event – Describing a Healthy Congregation and how to Become One
Second Lay Training Event – Making the Great Commission THE value that Drives all the Congregation Does
Assumes Trainers Have More Knowledge and Experience than the Pastors Leading the Congregations
An Overview of a Week End
Consultation
Adulthood
Birth
Infancy
Childhood
Adolescence
Maturity
Empty Nest
Retirement
Old Age
DeathVrms s
vrmS
vRMS
VRMs
VRMs
VRms
vrMS
vRMS
VRMS
VVision…………Where are we going?
RRelationship…Who is going with us?
MMinistry………How do we get there?
SStructure……..What do we control?
R
V
m
s
S
M
r
v
Mission Vision
Legos Third Places
Staff Led Congregations
8-10 Basic Ministries
Marry Responsibility, Authority and Accountability
Board/Council Governs Pastor Leads Staff Manages Congregation Does Ministry
God is Blessing Across Four Nations and over 30 Denominations
Transformation is OccurringNew Congregations are being Planted
A New Stream of Disciples are Entering the Kingdom Every Day