"When the Church Stops Working" (Andrew Root and Blair Bertrand)

TITLE: When the Church Stops Working 
AUTHOR: Andrew Root and Blair Bertrand
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2023, (176 pages).
 

"The Church is in crisis." That's nothing new. "The world is influencing believers more than the Church." That's old news. "The Church should try harder, work more, develop better programs, and become more relevant to the secular world." Been there, done that, what's next? Well, what if the Church should move away from its conventional measurements of success such as numbers, more efforts, and imitation of "successful" megachurches? Now we are listening. Beginning with a frank assessment of our prevailing culture, the authors point out the influence of secular society over the church at large; dividing societies into three major dichotomies: Secular vs Sacred; Public vs Private; and Immanent vs Transcendent. Secularism now sets the agenda, not the sacred. In a culture that prefers to keep the faith as private as possible, it is now possible to not believe in God and not need God. Along with that, secularism diminishes the awareness of the transcendent. The key to understanding how to revitalize the Church has more to do with this environment instead of throwing more money, programs, and innovation into the Church. In a bold shift from a myopic focus on internal Church dynamics, authors Andrew Root and Blaire Bertrand help us understand the trajectory of ministry for the future. They first critique the conventional ministry strategies, especially those based on "rules of capitalism."  One popular way is that of acceleration in order to have more: Do more, get more, and perform more. Many churches that adopt this practice will tend to rush hastily with their plans instead of waiting for the Lord. One popular capitalist maxim is, "It is not the big who eat the small, but the fast who eat the slow." Churches swallow this whole: hook, line, and sinker. They remind us of the critical need to learn how to wait for God's timing. Unfortunately, impatience often drive human decisions through accelerated programs instead of waiting upon God through prayer and trust. Another catchy strategy is to use the popular mission-vision statement to drive the Church forward. The authors then point out the difference between a "mission statement" and "missional theology." The former put human actions at the center while the latter lets the Word of God drive any action. They call for the use of a "watchword" instead of a mission statement. In contrast to a "password" which we use to enter and forget, a "watchword" is something that shapes us to observe and discern things beyond mere results. The use of such a "watchword" helps us appreciate the relationships we have as we encounter one another, and to wait in such a way that we may encounter God. Weaving together the stories of faith, we let God speak to us in a way that blesses the relationships we have with one another. 

Root and Bertrand also have some things to say about small churches. In chapter seven, they point out two "traps" that such churches can fall in. The first is family domination where a few families discourage the entry of newer members. Without being "invited" to such a clique, it is hard to grow. Secondly, there is the "endowment effect" which leads to sacred cows we are afraid to slay. We need to move away from just the family sheep and learn to care for all sheep. The authors then close with a story of Pastor Mike Woods, whose way to revitalizing the Church began with a "watchword." In fact, it is to link the old watchword with the new, From "Nothing can separate us from God's Love" to "Never Alone." Identifying this watchword is key not only to the revitalization of the Church but to the recognition of her identity. The job of the leader is to amplify this watchword everywhere, that the entire church ministry will flow from that. The source of this watchword: God.

My Thoughts
If there is a way to summarize this book, it would be the 3Ws: Wait-Watch-Work in their order. The first is to learn to Wait. Just like the Book of Acts, we need to remember that Acts begin not with chapter Two to go forth and multiply. but with One, to wait upon the Holy Spirit to come. This teaches us the discipline of waiting upon God. We need to resist the temptation of rushing like the world does. The discipline of waiting forces us to sense the moving of the Spirit. If God doesn't move, we need to stay put. When God prompts, then move. Far too often, churches panic whenever numbers come unfavorably. From financial to attendance numbers, their ministries function on the basis of reacting to crises. If we learn the discipline of waiting, we will not let these factors influence our direction. Faith will be the guide instead.

Secondly, we need to learn to watch the movement of the Holy Spirit. The book of Acts is not about the "Acts of the Apostles," even though most of the key leaders are the apostles like Stephen, Peter, Paul, etc. It should be more accurately titled as the "Acts of the Holy Spirit. The authors point out how many churches erroneously use busyness as a mark of health. That is something we all need to be careful of. I have heard someone mention BUSY as an acronym for "Buried Under Satan's Yoke." This can be arguable but the main point is that we should not busy ourselves in doing what the world tells us to do. We need to watch and pray for the direction God's wind is blowing. Move with the Spirit. Serve in God's flow. Watchfulness and prayerfulness should be the key marks of such a strategy.

Finally, we need to locate our Watchwords. If the first two Ws are done well, this will eventually be revealed. The authors remind us that while new generations will need new watchwords, they should not be totally different from the old ones. God moves in mysterious ways. Learning to identify our watchwords should be the most important thing any leader could do. Otherwise, we will be running ourselves empty. Unless we learn how to put first things first, we will be foolishly putting the cart before the horse. God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supply, so says Hudson Taylor, a famous missionary to China. 

This is a remarkable book that helps us look out of our conventional ministry boxes. It should be required reading for leaders or anyone burdened for the Church.

Andrew Root (PhD, Princeton Theological Seminary) is Carrie Olson Baalson Professor of Youth and Family Ministry at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is the author of more than twenty books, including Faith Formation in a Secular Age, The Pastor in a Secular Age, The Congregation in a Secular Age, Churches and the Crisis of Decline, The Church after Innovation, and The End of Youth Ministry? Root is also the coauthor (with Kenda Creasy Dean) of The Theological Turn in Youth Ministry. He is a frequent speaker and hosts the popular and influential When Church Stops Working podcast.

Blair D. Bertrand (PhD, Princeton Theological Seminary) is a lecturer at Zomba Theological University, teaching consultant with Theological Education by Extension Malawi, and adjunct lecturer at Tyndale University, Toronto. He has served various Presbyterian Church in Canada congregations as an ordained minister and lives in Ottawa, Ontario.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Academic via NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.