|
At some point in my childhood, a Jeep made its way to my grandpa’s farm, and we grandkids were all enamored by it. Back then, Jeeps had the reputation of being really rugged and still somewhat rare in the general public. They were featured in the WW II movies that were part of that age, and when they became more readily available to the general public, people wanted one. They were “the toughest 4-letter word on wheels”
Growing up, we thought of Jeeps as rugged and reliable. They were so reliable that not only did the military use them, but the US Post Office also chose a version of them as its vehicle of choice. But then, at some point, that reputation of reliability and ruggedness changed.
Why am I telling you all of this?
Yesterday, I was supposed to have breakfast with a Jeep owner who couldn’t make it because his newer model Jeep broke down! Of course, this happens with other vehicles too, but the narrative of being “tough and reliable” having changed it was a bit more poignant. It seems to me it was after one of the ownership changes that Jeep’s quality issues began, but I don’t remember exactly when that was. Still, in my mind, the idea of owning a Jeep changed from “That would be cool!” to “They’re cool, BUT they have many problems.” The pastor better expressed this new sentiment when he said, “Dang, Jeeps!”
Change always happens in any organization. In Jeep's case, they have switched from a value of ruggedness and reliability to economy and profit. Or, as Boulder Author and professor Jim Collins would say, the company failed to adhere to what originally made it “great” (Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't).
Another way of saying it was expressed to John in his vision of the seven churches of the apocalypse: “They lost their first love!”
It's evident that the church in the United States is facing challenging times; many of our churches are still faithful, but they aren’t what they used to be. They’re good, but not great. And one has to ask whether, like Ephesus, they too have lost their first love… whether they have focused on other values instead of “Loving God and loving neighbor) maybe a little too much of loving self? I’m not talking about individual self-love but that of the organization serving its own self rather than the community in which it lives.
If that is the case, the problem with that is that, just like my pastor friend, when we focus on alternate values of personal profit, the impact is not upon us but on the user or those you serve down the road—and, all too often, on the side of that road instead of traveling it!
So, how do we reclaim that first love in our churches?
Well, one “expert,” David Fitch, suggests that the pathway forward for many of these churches is to return to some of the classic disciplines that made the church what it has been throughout history. In effect, he calls us to “return to our first love” so that we will again experience the blessings of the Holy Spirit at work in our midst.
Fitch’s book, Faithful Presence: Seven Disciplines That Shape the Church for Mission, will be the focus of our 2025 Gathering. But you don’t have to wait until September to learn more about these disciplines; you can read his book or begin practicing some of the disciplines now. And as you do, share your experience with others around you, because there’s nothing so contagious as a rugged and ready faith.
| 
