Comments on: The Danger of Chasing Relevance http://philcooke.com/relevance_chasing/ Change Revolution Tue, 22 May 2012 20:38:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Bill (cycleguy) http://philcooke.com/relevance_chasing/#comment-6058 Bill (cycleguy) Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/relevance_chasing#comment-6058 <p>Phil,</p><p> </p><p>I came on this a day late I think but would still like to post a comment.  I must admit that I have struggled with this issue.  You wrote the following:  </p><p> How?  Most pastors and Christian leaders mistake “relevant” for “trendy.”   They hope that if they wear the right clothes, use the right words, get just the right haircut, speak on current topics, or play the right music, they’ll somehow be perceived as relevant.  </p><p>I am 6'5" so clothes my size that are "trendy" are hard to find. I try to use words that are understandable.  I have very little hair left.  I do try to speak on current topics as they relate to the Scripture I am preaching.  I don't play music (except a good stereo). The people know I like rock because I have mentioned it but not in a relevance area. Just because it was part of the conversation.  I wonder how I am perceived.  Oh yeah, I am also 55 years old.  But I pastor a church that is almost 4 years old and I am having the time of my life!  They don't care about clothes (just dress casual) or that I have very little hair or listen to rock music.  Every Sunday they want to hear the Word preached with sincerity and vulnerability.  If I can do that, I am relevant.  Am I off base?   </p> Phil,

 

I came on this a day late I think but would still like to post a comment.  I must admit that I have struggled with this issue.  You wrote the following:  

How?  Most pastors and Christian leaders mistake “relevant” for “trendy.”   They hope that if they wear the right clothes, use the right words, get just the right haircut, speak on current topics, or play the right music, they’ll somehow be perceived as relevant. 

I am 6'5" so clothes my size that are "trendy" are hard to find. I try to use words that are understandable.  I have very little hair left.  I do try to speak on current topics as they relate to the Scripture I am preaching.  I don't play music (except a good stereo). The people know I like rock because I have mentioned it but not in a relevance area. Just because it was part of the conversation.  I wonder how I am perceived.  Oh yeah, I am also 55 years old.  But I pastor a church that is almost 4 years old and I am having the time of my life!  They don't care about clothes (just dress casual) or that I have very little hair or listen to rock music.  Every Sunday they want to hear the Word preached with sincerity and vulnerability.  If I can do that, I am relevant.  Am I off base?  

]]> By: Jeff Reid http://philcooke.com/relevance_chasing/#comment-6059 Jeff Reid Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/relevance_chasing#comment-6059 <p>Look at TBN's latest venture into the world of Broadway theatre. (I've said this before)They are about to get a baptism of fire, or a rude awakening, or they'll be laughed out of town, or they'll be totally ignored. But, based on their track record, I honestly (and sadly) cannot imagine them offering anything that even approaches extraordinary, or that garners rave reviews from any theatre critics. What a sad thing, too ~ 'cause, they could surely afford the budget of creating a great musical, or play. But the mentality and perspective necessary to really understand what to do with a trend, are clearly missing. I'm not saying they're dumb, but they just assume that they're already the next big thing, and that "Of, course" everyone will just love it. </p><p>That's a symptom of what you're describing here, Phil. They think, "OK -  the trend is 'Blockbuster Musicals'". "So, let's buy a theatre." (Don't worry about the fact that up until this point they haven't created anything that's worthwhile).  "The public won't be that picky, they'll think we're cooool!!" and then they incorporate the thinking that you've mentioned before, in this blog, about leading blindly. The pastor pep-talk begins, "Come-on brother, get with this vision. If God is for us, then who can be against us?! We don't need a test audience" (And Onward Christian Soldiers plays somewhere softly in the background).</p> Look at TBN's latest venture into the world of Broadway theatre. (I've said this before)They are about to get a baptism of fire, or a rude awakening, or they'll be laughed out of town, or they'll be totally ignored. But, based on their track record, I honestly (and sadly) cannot imagine them offering anything that even approaches extraordinary, or that garners rave reviews from any theatre critics. What a sad thing, too ~ 'cause, they could surely afford the budget of creating a great musical, or play. But the mentality and perspective necessary to really understand what to do with a trend, are clearly missing. I'm not saying they're dumb, but they just assume that they're already the next big thing, and that "Of, course" everyone will just love it.

That's a symptom of what you're describing here, Phil. They think, "OK –  the trend is 'Blockbuster Musicals'". "So, let's buy a theatre." (Don't worry about the fact that up until this point they haven't created anything that's worthwhile).  "The public won't be that picky, they'll think we're cooool!!" and then they incorporate the thinking that you've mentioned before, in this blog, about leading blindly. The pastor pep-talk begins, "Come-on brother, get with this vision. If God is for us, then who can be against us?! We don't need a test audience" (And Onward Christian Soldiers plays somewhere softly in the background).

]]>