ZonderFann

yesterday skye jethani visited a host of different blogs talking about consumerism, christians and the church.  each blog asked him a question, and he responded to each one.  below is a list of the participating blogs and their questions.  please visit the blogs to see their posts and skye’s answer to their questions.  and if you have a question for skye regarding the divine commodity, visit the divine commodity facebook group and post it up there, or visit his blog.

Out of Ur – no question, but a book excerpt is up

Flowerdust.net- For those of us who have read The Divine Commodity, we know you’re not being divisive or writing about “what’s wrong” with the church.  We know that it’s a book that explores the culture of modern-day faith and Biblical context and wisdom.

Why should a pastor read this book?  How can those of us who aren’t pastors graciously help communicate the message of The Divine Commodity without coming off like we have an agenda?

Stuff Christians Like -In your book you unfold a beautiful picture of Van Gogh’s faith, something that largely, if not entirely, was missed by believers that lived in his generation. Who are we in danger of missing today? What artists, are worshipping and pointing us back to an unbelievably imaginative God, and going wholly unnoticed in our generation?

Mark D Roberts -I would like to ask you to talk about the relationship between your book and the recent Newsweek cover story on “The End of Christian America.” I can think of several interesting connections, but rather than asking about these, I’d rather give you free reign to comment on how you see The Divine Commodity relating to state of Christianity in America, and especially its purportedly waning influence.

Ben Arment -You wrote about the move among churches from collaboration to competition. I totally see this. In fact, the very churches that advocate cooperation seem to be the most ruthless at gobbling up “market share.” How do we get back from here?

Church Relevance -How can a church best avoid becoming a victim of consumer culture?

Bob Hyatt -So, what do you say to the pastor or Christian leader who decides to embrace consumer-driven ideas and principles for ministry because they “work?”

Cole-Slaw -Skye, what is the most extreme example of consumer-oriented Christianity you have seen or heard about?

The Forgotten Ways -Are you hopeful that we can recover an authentic discipleship ethos in the church given our enculturation by consumerism?

Reclaiming the Mission -how can pastors take advantage of this economic upheaval to forge a new post consumer post American way of being church-mission in the world?

Shaun Groves -What message does God have through The Divine Commodity for church leaders and the rest of us who are fretting over the dwindling size and influence of the American church?

Frank Viola -Skye, suppose that the leadership team of a local church of 100 committed members comes to you and asks, “We want to *fully* unleash the imagination inherent in the members of our congregation to express Jesus Christ in creative and effective ways, and we are willing to do ANYTHING you prescribe to accomplish this goal, no matter how drastic or radical it may be.” What would you tell them?

The Gospel-Driven Church -What specific advice would you give the churchgoer who is growing more disillusioned by the moment with the deadening consumerism of his or her church? The closest you come to prescription in the book is saying it is about personal transformation as seed-planting, but imagine someone is telling you personally that their church has lost all sense of the gospel and discipleship in community and that they don’t know what to do about it. What would you say to them?

Lee Coate -One, is the church responsible and even able to “set culture” as opposed to responding to it or attempting to remain relevant with it?  (This question is based on the angst that many younger “professional” (pastors) Christians have expressed to me regarding their desire to see the church setting the pace in culture as opposed to merely reacting to it.  Do you believe this is the churches calling and if so, is it actually possible?  After experiencing the Religious Right, I’m not sure I want the church dictating government and/or the culture.  In our conversations, art and music are usually mentioned as a way in which the church can regain the leading voice in culture.

Take Your Vitamin Z -Imagine you are talking to a new church planter. What are some practical things that you could communicate to him that boil down what you have learned in the process of writing your book that could help him guard against building a consumer church?

Staying Focused -In your book, you talk about the need to relearn the lost art of friendship (page 103).  Coming from an introvert who finds Facebook and Twitter great tools to aid me in keeping up with people, can you please explain what the lost art of friendship is and how we would go about relearning it?  Also, I’ve noticed that people from other cultures can spend hours and days sitting and sharing together. Is this required in this lost art?

Preaching Today -In The Divine Commodity, you explore how rampant consumerism has invaded the church. On a more specific level, how have you seen consumerism affect preaching, and how might today’s preacher remedy any wrongs?

Off the Agenda -What do you say to the Christian leader who favors applying consumer-driven principles to ministry because they “work?”