So, You Want To Change

*** This blog is part of the Revolutionaries Synchroblog. The introduction of the synchroblog can be found here. When all are posted, I will add and edit and you can read everyone's thoughts on the subject. ***

The Topic

Individuals who are dissastisfied with the church and have walked away from the institution but yet they are wanting to connect with God and make a difference. There are questions that are geared to them by Glen. Those questions are the following:

1. What do they/you need?
2. What did/do you need as you as went/are going through this transitional phase?
3. How can a ministry or service help them/you?

My Take

There are rumblings in the institutional church. Do you hear them? In some of the churches the rumblings are loud. They sound like an earthquake is occurring. In some of the churches they are faint and don't hardly make a noise. The sound like someone occasionally hammering a nail into the wall to hang a picture up.

Yet, across the United States, there are people who are fed up with the institutional church and are leaving or at least packing their bags. Most of these individuals seem to be waiting for the last nail in the coffin to be nailed in. When that last tap hits, they are out of there.

Now there are many circles who are arguing wether this is a good thing or it is a bad thing. Is this "movement" and "shift" is it going to damage the Church or is it going to help the Church. That I believe is a discussion for a different day.

This post is for those who are hurt and dislussioned. This post is for those who have left or are waiting to leave. This group is diveresed. It travels across the plain from the soccer mom to the CEO to the pastor. Many of them are tired of the status quo and they are dreaming of more but they are not sure if there is more.

A few days ago, I was shuffling through a wide range of music. To be honest, I am not sure what the actual intent of the song is meant to be but when I heard the song and meditated on the words, I saw those individuals who want to make a change. The words of the song are listed below and a "youtube" is below. The Youtube is the same pic - but it is a recording of the song. Read the words, listen to the songs and then finish reading the article.

Right Now By Beautiful Republic

You want a change, it's written on your face
You feel alone, a little out of place

You hide away the scars and the mistakes
You've been tired, uninspired, something's going to give

Right now
He knows who you are
The light and the dark
He picks up your broken heart
Right now
He's telling the truth
That you will make it through
His love can rescue you
Right now
Right now

We've all been there, we're walking down the same road
So don't be scared, you're not out there on your own
Just take a breath and shut out the madness
Letting go is beautiful
There's so much more
Just waiting there for you

This is your life
The giving and the taking
A journey in the making
This is your life
The fighting and the kneeling
The hurting and the healing
Don't throw it all away...

Here is the Song:



People want to change. They want the Church to be what God has called it to be but the church is not. The reason it is not is that much of the institutional church (imo) is far away from the message that Jesus came and gave.

The individuals that are hurting and want to change, they see this and sense it. It pains them to see the Church in err. A difference is what they want. They really want the Kingdom of God here among the people. They want for His mission to be carried out instead of a Church Club.

So, the following questions were asked. I am going to answer them in simple terms and maybe expound when/if anyone wants to hear my opinions.

1. What do they/you need?

They need permission and encouragement. The "professionals" would say that they need their benefits. Thus, an organizations that could help provide insurance for people going "solo" would be beneficial.

2. What did/do you need as you as went/are going through this transitional phase?

They need support through words and prayers. They need safe places to vent. They need sabbatical plases to go and rest to be with God.

3. How can a ministry or service help them/you?

An organizations can be the "backbone" for the above. They can be the network resource for the, They can be the safety net for people to step out on.

Hmmm, not sure if this is where I wanted to go.

Dialogue and help me flush it out.

For those out there hurting. I am sorry.