Boo-yah. Way to bring it. I like your thoughts. Let's have lunch soon.

I most definitely fall into your category. I've only been blogging for a couple months and have been somewhat distracted in that time by getting my site up and all, but I definitely feel like I should be posting more.

In response to your observation of the social dichotomy in American Christianity, you should definitely read The Restructuring of American Religion by Robert Wuthnow. It is a history of Christianity in the 20th century and a fascinating read. Of particular interest is the last few chapters where he chronicles how in the last quarter of the 20th century, American christianity has become extremely polarized - to the point where holding a middle position is quite difficult.

Scott,
I certainly can relate to your feelings, and sense of blah with the Church. It certainly can be a drag, and this is something I wrestle with myself from time to time.
Yet, you know as you read the Scriptures the kind of vision God is pouring out for us to help him with (or to jump in on).
For those of us who have eyes to see it, even as blurred as we do because of our human nature, and personal bias, we are still called to help enact this vision in the world.
Interestingly, in my own prayer life, I have been wreslting with something. That is if we in the local church had as many outreaches to the local community (helping with real needs) as we do studies and such, we'd be known as places of salt and light.
Yet, as my Bishop likes to say about Anglicans, is something I think is true of many American Christians in general, "We like our book studies, Bible studies, etc, but we don't do all that much."
It's time to leave the holy huddle and get out there and rub shoulders with the world.

So maybe.. less blogging is ok...if it gets you out there?

Pax,
Father K

Hey Scott,

Well after the demise of Radio Rebellion, I had another false launch with the vox thing, but of course all the while I wanted more. So I worked on learning the Word Press format (because I'm apparently not smart enough to get MT). I now have a new blog where I thought I would be blogging through a book idea, but I am stuck in the less is less sometimes a little more or less. I don't think I can blog about church anymore. There's just nothing left in it for me either.

I read some of the Amber chronicles as a result of lurking around your blog. Thanks for that! I didn't get to finish because school reading had to be and in what a hurry! That Zelazny can write.

I think that Father K is right...the mission left the blog about two years ago. I don't know what these things are for anymore with the notable exception that I wouldn't have exposure to wickedly cool personages such as yourself!

Peace (that's english for Pax ;)

Chris

todd - absolutely. I'll drop you an email.

chris - thanks for the recommendation. I'll add it to the list!

K - I hear what you're saying, and I think you're on to something. I don't think it's the blog that's a distraction but rather the whole nature of suburban existence. That's probably a whole post itself - but I do think that the blog malaise is probably a part of a more general staleness that includes a sense of spiritual isolation.

chris - If you haven't read the second series, be aware that the first is far and away superior. It feels like the second series just sort of grinds to a halt, which is disappointing because it starts out pretty strong. Still, he has an interesting way with fiction.

I've always treated this as sort of a place to throw around ideas and get feedback and critique. But for that to work, I need to be generating ideas - and that's just not happening at the moment. Part of me says that I should just write for the discipline of writing - there may be something to that. I suppose the way to find out would be to try it... ;)

"I am less hopeful for the future of the American church than I have been for a long time."

I hear ya there... I wish it wasn't so, but that's just how I feel directly related to my experiences.

I unfortunately share your sense of "blah", I just wish that my context was more like yours:

"We're fortunate enough to be a part of a wonderful local church that we absolutely love - but based on a lot of anecdotal evidence that I encounter, I think it's the exception, unfortunately."

I am living your anecdotal exception... I still have hope at this point, it's just a lot less than it was 5 years ago.

Thanks for being so honest about where you're at!

Hey Scott -

I hear you, but I've got to come at it from another angle...with one of hope for a few reasons: because of where I'm at and because of what the church is capable of.

Senses of the 'blah' feeling are a part of this existence where we care so much we get tired of seeing no change and stop caring for a little. But God's story is alive, true, and at work. Because we don't see evidence of it locally or even nationally does not mean it has stopped, it's at work in ways and in places we aren't familiar with.

I've been moved toward the notion suggested by Kevin about living the gospel out, and having the church do the same. In fact, our church philosophy is going through major restructuring because of this heart to be the church, not just to be a church. Being a part of a people that go and do something in the name of Christ and for the Kingdom is empowering and invigorating. Meeting together once a week without action coming from our belief makes for impotent religion and we ought to give up our right to talk about it if we aren't actively moving toward it. Anything else is a complaining session about society and what the church is not.

What motivates me the most is when I'm inspired by what a church is doing. What gets my anger stirred up is talking about what the church is not, or about the various failings of the Christian church...and there are many.

What is positive in all this is conversation. What we must be wary of is apathy because of what we don't see or what the larger body is not. Remember that throughout the story it's been about a remnant of folks returning to God. It takes a prophetic voice. It takes prophetic action, meaning putting into practice the burdens we have for the church, if only on a personal level.

I could post on our church and where we're going with this whole thing, but this has gotten long enough. But just insight into where we're going...we're looking at working alongside of social services, schools, etc. Our heart is not to be a separate entity, but to be a part of the Kingdom of God wherever its at work.

Blessings to you all as we continue to wrestle with these things. As far as reading, not sure how you feel about Rob Bell, but got done with Velvit Elvis and loved it. His podcast is good as well. If you go to it, check out the sermon "Wine and Heaven." Take care all...

curtis - thanks for the thoughts and encouragement!

josh - hey bro, good to hear from you. I think there's a lot of wisdom in what you're saying. I'm just not experiencing it at the moment. And I need to keep that in mind - that there are others who are - and that there is more going on quietly and graciously than is happening publicly and negatively.

Thanks man - hope all is well with the family. I owe you an email or two. ;)

I agree - Scot McKnight's Jesus Creed blog is the gold standard of Christian blogging, and all the rest of us pale in comparison. But as I've commented on his blog, I think the danger for all the rest of us is to try to blog like Scot, when really our calling may well be to blog quite differently. I simply can't be one of these folks who reads everything and links to everything, and I can't post every day. But I feel like I have something to say a couple of times a week, and that's enough for me. We need to be cautious about celebrity-ism and copycatting, even in the Christian blogosphere, when really it all boils down to a sense of vocation and calling and blogging in such a way as is appropriate to who we are.

Al - I agree; I've long ago accepted the fact that I'll never be a daily blogger, for exactly the reasons that you state. Lately, though, I've been quiet even for me! ;)