Quote:
Originally posted by Spelca:
the Church itself is a conservative institution
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Is it? Not in communist eastern Europe. Not in China. Not in Singapore. Not in Nazi Germany. The underground churches were, and are radical.
A thriving growing alive church is countercultural. Ennabling a revolution of peoples souls, values and community. Dead, dying decaying and shrinking churches are conservative.
The church I am in in New York, is countercultural from the isolationist, careerist, addicted, stressed out culture of professional Manhattan.
It is seeking to radically reform the society, replacing isolationism and disconnectedness with connection and community, accountability and relationship. Replacing careerism and addictions like workaholism, with self esteem based on God, not on peoples acceptance, success or materials that are temporary and varied. Replacing the stress and habitual rudeness so prevalent in financial sectors, with inner peace, time spent breathing, non-retaliational or vindictive confrontation, and self worth not measured on the job description, partner, apartment size, address or other such factors.
Counter-cultural to the values so foundational to the maelstrom that is Manhattan.
[ 10-26-2003, 07:56 PM: Message edited by: Yorick ]