church and sacraments 1

7/30/2019 Church and Sacraments 1

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THE CHURCH


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5/16/2013 Church and Sacraments 1 2

THE CHURCH FROM BELOW

The Church is a naturalcommunity

It fulfills many socialization

needsThere is recognizable fellowship in the

Church

There is a sense of community whichis foundational (not a luxury, but anecessity)


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The Church is a politicalcommunity There are socially ordered relationships and

patterns of authority and decision-making

It is not a question of whether politics will exist inthe Church; rather, it is only a question of thequality of the politics

Ol Boy networks often are alive and well. This is

not entirely negative, but can have some negativeconsiderations

There are positive considerations as well


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SENIORS

Birth Years: before 1926

Formative Factors World War I

Great Depression

Serious about faith, close relationship with God Appreciate stability

Close family ties

Rooted in community

Generation least affected by stress Actively engaged in church, volunteer activities

Part of the Greatest Generation


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BUILDERS

Birth Years: 1927-1945

Formative Factors Great Depression

World War II

Cold War Appreciate stability

Family, Community, Friends, Employment

Not open to change- prefer predictability

Emphasis on Duty, Obligation Part of the Greatest Generation

Satisfaction found in simple things


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BOOMERS

Birth Years: 1946-1964 Formative Factors

Cold War

60s: Counter-Cultural Movement

Vietnam

Question authority (the establishment)

Uncertain of the relevance of the church

Curious mixture of laissez faire andutilitarianism

Search for Excellence in all of life


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BUSTERS

Birth Years: 1965-1983 Formative Factors:

Watergate

Vietnam Syndrome

Inflation, Unemployment

Age of limitations Question authority (Boomers are Establishment now!)

First generation not to have it better

Interested in process of growth, embrace change

Disenchanted with superficial stuff- even in church! Interested in relationships, involvement

Want options, not directions

Feel abandoned, are disillusioned


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MOSAICS/MILLENNIALS

Birth Years: 1984-2002 Formative Factors

End of Cold War

MTV Age/Clinton Presidency

Desert Storm

The Digital Generation (non-linear thinking)

High Levels of Stress/Anxiety

Self-Reliant- and Skeptical!

Interest in spirituality

Believe in the Bible- but not in absolute truth!

Brighter than previous generations (IQ)

Relationships more important than achievement


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GENERATIONAL VALUE SYSTEMS

Key Factors in Generational Identity,per Strauss and Howe, The FourthTurning, An American Prophecy

A Common Location in History

Common Beliefs

Perceived Membership in a commongeneration


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The major generational watershed, as far asreligious beliefs and practices are concerned, isbetween those who in our research we callPre-boomers (born prior to 1946) and those

who have come after. Although Boomers (born1946-1964) and Xers (born 1965-1979) differin some respects, they are much more like

each other than like Pre-boomers. JacksonCaroll, Circuit Rider, 22:5


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G.I. Generation Value Cohort (pre-1946) Consumer Generation Value Cohort (post

1946)

Deferred Pleasure vs. Instant Gratification

Group vs. Individual Orientation

Assumptions of Sameness vs. Difference

Spirituality of Place vs. Spirituality of Pilgrimage

Results: Bimodal Congregations, Gil Rendle,The Multigenerational Congregation


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CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS

Currently, 75% of Americans are Caucasian By 2050, only 50% of Americans will be

Caucasian

The Hispanic population has overtaken African-

Americans as the largest minority population In some areas of the country (e.g., parts of

California), there is no longer a majoritypopulation

Racial and Ethnic diversity- a fact of life 15-20% of population moves every year


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BehaviorWatch MTV

Registered to vote

Have been divorcedTake anti-depressants

Watched X-rated movie

(last 3 months)Received prof counseling

Filed lawsuit this year

Christian19%

83%

27%7%

76%

15%

3%

NonChristian24%

79%

23%8%

87%

15%

4%


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Contemporary American Beliefs: God helps those who help themselves, 81%

All religions teach equally valid truths, 40%

All people pray to the same G/god, 53%

If you do enough good, you will go to heaven, 55%

Jesus was not resurrected physically, 40%

The Bible is not completely true in all it teaches, 34%

The primary purpose of life is enjoyment, 58% Satan is not real, only a symbol of evil, 60%

Whatever works is the only truth you can know, 32%>


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A community ofcommon language:meanings, priorities, and values. This becomesconventional for the In-Group

A community ofInterpretation:

Common meanings The difficulty of translation

A community ofmemory andunderstanding:

Characterized by an inner continuity and empathyamong persons who have understood and relivedthe same events. It has a shared story.


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The Church is a community of actionand belief: it espouses a mission or apurpose which can be expressed in many

forms of action Evangelism

Education

Edification Worship


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A sociological description of church:the church is a body of persons who sharesome measure of common life, values,

meaning, and loyalty. It has an historicalcontinuity, identifiable by certain beliefs,ways of work, rites, outlooks, and feelings.It may be more; But it is at least theabove.


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THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD

The First Church: Orthodox Churches, theRoman Catholic Church; Protestant churches inEastern Europe, Greece, Middle East, Ethiopia,South India

The culture tolerates Christianity at best; in someinstances, governments are openly antagonistic

There is a certain reliance on the spiritual legacy ofwhat has gone before. In some instances, this

substitutes for vital Christianity There are examples (e.g., Poland, Russia) of a

renewal of traditional Christian churches.


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The Second Church: Western Europe,USA, Canada, Australia The second church is undergoing a time of

serious crisis

Malaise and apathy Ground for renewal (Pentecostalism, evangelical

churches)

The effect ofmaterialism

Breakdown in commitmentYet, a renewed interest in spirituality among

young people


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The Third Church: Central and SouthAmerica, Africa, AsiaAdeveloping church, characterized by youth

and activity

In the stage ofearly commitmentAsimplicity and integrity to itA church of the poor

Many forms oflay leadership prominent

New relationshipswith the second church Legacy of Liberation Theology remains Pentecostalism is quite prominent


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THE CHURCH & CULTURE

ChristAgainst Culture Christ opposed to culture, either-or (Tertullian) The Christ ofCulture

Agreement, guiding civilization (Lib. Protestants)

ChristAbove Culture Synthetic (Aquinas)- affirming, transcending

Christ and Culture in Paradox

Duality, both obeyed (Luther) Christ Transforming CultureAntithesis, yes, but Christ converts men and

cultures (Calvin)


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THE CHURCH

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