tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586514696677130494.post8269498291801699824..comments2023-11-17T06:49:22.037+00:00Comments on Dinger's Soapbox: Musings of a cream crackered youth worker...Dingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06749477392668714630noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586514696677130494.post-50461043017423753142009-05-02T10:53:00.000+01:002009-05-02T10:53:00.000+01:00It's relatively easy to locate my (and most likely...It's relatively easy to locate my (and most likely the majority of churches in Northern Ireland) in those two categories. And it's not where I'd like it to be. Yet I know that I belong to a Church that has good intentions, and does want to bring the gospel, bring Christ into a broken world. But as I've explored this issue over the years that I have been a part of my Church, my perspective on the situation is that Churches are too safe. We don't want to take risks. We don't want the rough kids coming into our youth clubs because of the risk to the physical building. We don't want the people coming into our Church who are going to smell of smoke. We don't want any diversity in our thinking or beliefs because it poses a risk to the Orthodox values and theology of the Church.<br /><br />Many of our Churches hold great intentions, and a vision to bring people to Christ. But our Churches must face up to the need to get their hands dirty, to be forward thinking in how they reach out to a modern world, and to have the faith that whatever challenges they face that the good traditions which they hold to (in doctrine and value) will hold strong through the face of the challenges of that world.Nea Wilkinsonnoreply@blogger.com