Separation of Church from State – But Not State from Church

by | Oct 10, 2006 | Culture, Ecclesiology

As Exemptions Grow, Religion Outweighs Regulation – New York Times Did you catch the NY Times article castigating churches for their tax exempt status? It may be a more popular idea to jump up and down on the church today, suggesting that we should be treated like any and every other business and secular non-profit group in the country. Just a comment or two: 1. The NY Times presents a hopeless double standard, along with others in the national media and other secular groups. I think it a bit disingenuous to suggest that the church and state should remain seperate, except when it comes to the church’s paying taxes like a business and further being accountable to the government for the way the church’s affairs are conducted. Where was the scream for the much hallowed Jeffersonian ecclesiastical separation from governmental affairs in this article? I’m not asking for mandatory prayer put back in the public schools; just that the government shouldn’t have it both ways: one hand stiff arming us from public involvement and another in our pocket pilfering our offerings. Why would the NY Times care that the church was escaping the clenches of the state, when they argue so often for such separation? 2. Redefinition of Ministry by the churches. Why are churches building “day care centers to funeral homes, from ice cream parlors to fitness clubs, from bookstores?” I know, evangelism, right? I’m not convinced. Is the Time so interested in seeing the church taxed like a business or secular non-profit group because the church has been actiing more like a business secular non-profit group? What’s...

Death of the Divided Church

by | Sep 23, 2006 | Ecclesiology, Seeker-Sensitive

Axis Denied – Christianity Today Magazine The Generation X church, at Willow Creek is officially dead. Is anyone surprised by this? The “Axis” service at Willow Creek was originally designed for 20-somethings to have a church within a church. Before receiving the executive axe, Axis grew to around 2000 in attendance just five years ago. Within the past five years, it has plummeted to 350 in attendance: marks of a religious fad. Why was it so unsuccessful? Consider the quote: Integration will better fulfill Willow’s multigenerational vision, said interim pastor Steve Gillen. He said Axis didn’t connect young adults with the rest of the congregation. Once they outgrew the service, Axis members found it hard to transition into the rest of the Chicago-area megachurch. Young adults also struggled to meet and develop relationships with mentors in the larger congregation. In my estimation, when you divide the church and isolate it around age groups you have just secured the death warrant for the church. I’m not talking about a youth Sunday School class or an AWANA program. But when you create a church climate where a certain segment is designed to have no involvement with the greater congregation and larger ministry of the church, you have just consigned the concept of community and the image of the body of Christ to the spiritual waste basket. But really, Axis was not segmented purely around 20-somethings, was it? The very definition of who they were trying to reach defies its make-up. 20-somethings? Does this refer to those who are in their 20’s or does it include 40 year olds you hate growing...