Clergy/Leaders’ Mail-list No. 0-008

THIRD GREAT REFORMATION ENVISAGED BY SPIRITUAL FORMATION LEADER

(and seven steps towards this renewal)

reported by David W. Virtue

The leader of one of the fastest growing spiritual formation movements in America says a third great reformation is forming and will intensify throughout the next century.

Dr. Richard Foster, founder of Renovare, an international spiritual renewal movement and author of Celebration of Discipline, says the twenty-first century will witness one of the greatest harvests of Christian mission ever. …

Foster says that much of the energy for this will be centered outside the West. Africa, south of the Sahara, will become the Christian continent-that is (and it is a big “if”) they can successfully overcome the triple threat of Muslim suppression, the AIDS epidemic, and internal tribal wars.

“The really pivotal continent (and the one that will determine whether or not this third projection will actually come to pass) is Asia. Throughout the twenty-first century Asia will be the rising culture. The real question is whether the Christian witness in Asia is strong enough to ride the rise of Asian culture, or whether Buddhism-which is also a missionary religion-will win the day. I believe the Christian witness is strong enough.

Writing in his end of year pastoral letter, Foster, whose books have triggered spiritual renewal in all the major Christian denominations, says that while we live in a post-modern world, we also live in a “post denominational” world. “We are at the tail end of a major form of Christian expression, an expression we have known for nearly half a millennium.” …

Foster writes: “Denominational loyalties no longer define the religious landscape. The people of God did quite well long before the rise of denominations and they will do quite well after they have gone.”

“The church’s privileged position in western society will end. The preferential treatment many have come to expect is fast disappearing and we are being pushed to the margins of society. I expect this trend to continue on many fronts, up to and including the removal of tax exempt status for church properties in the U.S.”

Foster says he views this loss of preferential treatment as an advantage. “Instead of the Church desperately trying to elbow her way up to the table of power, we can instead turn our attention to becoming-by our life and witness-an alternative voice to the madness around us. “In Christ we have been reborn into the new reality of the kingdom of God, we can become ambassadors of peace ion the midst of a violent world, models of civility and grace in the midst of a competitive society, conveyors of faith and hope in the midst of a cynical culture, and the embodiment of agape love to all peoples in the midst of an adversarial society.”

Foster outlines seven steps towards renewal:

1. Let’s become intentionally Godward in our orientation. Not self-oriented, not success-oriented, not church-oriented, not seeker-oriented, but God-oriented.

2. Let’s stop using a marketing approach to church life. The church is not a vendor of religious goods and services but the Community of Faith, living in faith and through faith and by faith alone. We do not need to mimic the entertainment industry of our culture. We win people to Christ not by entertainment but by the power of the Holy Spirit.

3. We should become intentional about learning the “habits of the heart” for Biblical holiness. We need daily spiritual disciplines rather than sporadic bursts of inspiration or enthusiasm.

4. Let’s quit using the strutting peacock CEO of contemporary culture as a model for Christian leadership.

5. Let’s make certain that our Godward orientation is always for the sake of the world. The Church exists for the sake of the world-which at the very minimum means less stress on preserving our institutions and more stress on serving the poor.

6. Let’s get rid of our “edifice complex.” Buildings are not bad, but neither are they the sum total of everything important either. Let’s use buildings to help and serve people and not as monuments to our own egos.

7. Let’s engage in vigorous, culture-sensitive evangelism. All peoples need to hear the good news of Jesus and his love.

[This is an edited version of an item that appeared in the Virtuosity Digest, produced by David Virtue <>]