It seems to me that life is all about paradigms?! Here's a definition from Mr. Webster:
Paradigm - a philosophical or theoretical framework of any kind
In other words, the way we go about do things on a typical basis. Almost a habit, but more of an established way of going about our business.
In church world, at least for the later part of the 20th Century leading up until now, we've had to make some pretty drastic paradigm shifts. Most in the name of reaching people where they are, and some just for the sake of flying in the face of the "establishment." By that I mean the church as it was before we (church planters especially) decided that it wasn't enough to just change a few things, we need to change them all. In many circles, church planting has become a separatist movement, and one that if we're not careful, at least in the culture I'm in, we will not only separate ourselves, but eventually isolate and decide that those who have gone before have nothing to give or offer, except perhaps their money, and abandon them.
We cannot forget it's our place, as the next generation, as well as for those who will come after us, to bring about healthy change and build bridges to those who have gone before us. It seems to me that we believe the church of our mother's and father's, our grandparents and before had no impact on the world. While the methods may have been very different, the gospel was still the same one we preach today; at least for most of us, and countless lives were added to the kingdom. There are great lessons to be learned and much wisdom to be gained by partnering with our predecessors instead of degrading them and elevating ourselves.
Coming from me, one who is all about the latest and greatest, this probably sounds odd. It's my opinion that we must find a way to reconstruct the bridges to our past, and span the chasm to our future if the church in America wants to have maximum impact and keep our focus.
