Comments on: 6 Ingredients for Passing on Culture

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:14:46 +0000

Hey Sam, I agree on most points. However here are two reasons I see creating such as process.
1) As you said, many Churches don’t have a “culture” to pass on. Perhaps just the process of trying to consciously pass it on would help them create it.
2) I don’t see this so much as a substitute for discipleship, as a response to modern realities. With most Americans moving every 3-5 years, you have to be conscious about maintaining the culture of a church.

By: Samuel Jones

Samuel Jones — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:23:16 +0000

This also reminds me of a comment by Jim Gilmore, about how Promise Keepers did really well as long as they were charging, but got a lot of flack for charging, but when they quit charging people quit coming. Something bred into Americans that worthy things are worth paying money for, and things that don’t cost money can’t have real value. 😛

By: Samuel Jones

Samuel Jones — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 17:25:53 +0000

Unfortunately, most 501c3 churches I know need a transformation of existing culture before it would be worth while onboarding new folks in such a way. I have heard of churches whose pastor and elders make a point to spend real time with new folks, or at least the heads of new households. In some ways, I think people who want to be a part of something gradually absorb the culture that is there, even if that is different that the culture that is professed, and the culture changes and shifts depending on who is involved and who has influence.

If that last thing I said is true, then I think the list can be boiled down to two:
1) Those God gives the responsibility of leadership to should work to establish and maintain a culture of active, intentional obedience to Christ
2) – #6 from your list. Mentor/community follow-up/relationship, which we could call ‘discipleship.’

I really think a return to real Discipleship might be a real missing key. I’m growing skeptical of what can be accomplished by top-down programs/retreats/lectures. (I’m not saying those things are bad, but I think we rely on them too heavily)