Those who have "not been coming to church" ( January) have been missing for more than 30 years. Boomers left when "Jesus People" movements weren't embraced by mainline churches. Busters left when we stayed with "green book only" worship and insisted that contemporary music was "dumbing down." We've made the sacraments the "ends of grace" instead of the "means of grace" (we talk more about baptism than Jesus in our preaching). Until we change from maintenance to mission, we'll continue to wonder, "Where did everybody go?"
Those who have "not been coming to church" ( January) have been missing for more than 30 years. Boomers left when "Jesus People" movements weren't embraced by mainline churches. Busters left when we stayed with "green book only" worship and insisted that contemporary music was "dumbing down." We've made the sacraments the "ends of grace" instead of the "means of grace" (we talk more about baptism than Jesus in our preaching). Until we change from maintenance to mission, we'll continue to wonder, "Where did everybody go?"
Walnut Creek, Calif.
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