Clarity in Prague

Good academic theology always points to reality and truthful engagement with it. We have been listening to doctoral students present reports today. Good projects. As we closed a session, Nancy Murphy - a faculty member at IBTS and also a Fuller Philosophy professor - commented, that if churches want to 'keep their kids and young people', they shouldn't ask how we might retain the kids, but instead look to engaging in mission ourselves and allowing our young people to be engaged in it.

This is why mission and ministry have to be held together. What we are - how we seek to reach out in serving - and the explaining and proclaiming of why we are the way we are and why we do the things we do - this is what draws in young people, who are looking for meaning, purpose and real engagement in life.

The congregation that asks, 'how can we continue as we are?' has lost the plot! Didn't Jesus say something about that? Such a congregation ceases to be Christian church. But the congregation that looks to expend itself and all that it has in meaningful mission? That sort of congregation is always growing into a glorious future.

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 
(Luke 9:24 NIV)