As a child, we were taught that the church was the
building. While we intellectually understand that
the church is the people, a congregation often makes
decisions that lead us to believe that perhaps this is
not the case. As we evert the church model for the
postmodern, post-Christian world, we need to evert turn inside out-many of our thoughts and beliefs
about how we go about “doing” church. This is NOT
about changing our beliefs but about changing how
we engage in ministry.
There is urgent kingdom work that needs to be
done. The postmodern, post-Christian world is suffering. People are more connected digitally than any
prior generation but find themselves lonelier than
ever before. Our neighbors seek hope, meaning, and
a sense of community and belonging. Mental health
is in crisis with staggering levels of depression and
anxiety. While our neighbors struggle and need help,
so many churches are ill-equipped for this work-the
kind of work the church should be the very best at
providing. After all, we have the Good News. Sadly,
though, our methods of sharing this Good News and
reaching others outside our congregations are no
longer relevant, so it is as though the church is mute
and the community culture is deaf or vice versa.
In Inside Out, authors Kay Kotan and Michael Scott
unpacks resources for the ever-emerging church in
the American culture. If the church is to be relevant,
compelling, and faithful in its commission to reach
new people, we must embrace these trends and plot
a new course to navigate them in our local contexts.
The need for this navigation and course correction is
critical, and the timing is urgent. We have no time to
waste. The church has remained hesitant for too long
as culture has charged forward by leaps and bounds.
There is no more waiting. The time is now. The
mission is too important to delay any longer.
