Innovation

Okay... this will be a different kind of blog. A friend of mine from church linked me up with another blog-pastor-guy named Ben Armon. Ben's blog on the church and innovation is copied below. Read it,then I'll blog on...

Why innovation is a joke in the church
My iPhone has opened pandora's box for me in the world of podcasting. It turns every car ride into a church service; every trip to the DMV into a conference session...

One thing I can't get over is how flippantly the Church throws around the world "innovation." Big difference between the innovation I'm hearing about in podcasts from the New Yorker conference and the TED talks... and what the church is calling innovation.

Innovation in the church has almost become formulaic.... "We have the greatest story in the world!" we cry, and then "innovatively" insert pop songs and cultural references into our services, proving that... well... look who's borrowing from who.

These days, innovation isn't recognized or rewarded in the Church until it's no longer innovation... it's commonplace. But true innovation will always leave the masses of men scratching their Selsun Blue, wondering, "Whaaa?" or "Can we really do that?" or "What's the connection?"

True innovation is completely unrecognizable while it's innovating.

Okay. So I don't really disagree with anything Ben wrote. The only question I have is when did the goal become to wow people with true innovation or even psuedo-innovation?

The goal is relavance. We live in a culture where the masses accept "god" or the concept of god but that's where it ends. The truth is they find God and usually the church irrelevant to life. The goal of any change or adaptation is not innovation it should be effectiveness (meaning they can hear and will listen) and relevancy (meaning that people connect to the message).

As one who "planted" a church and who has been plugging along for ten years in that church... I'm not overly excited about being cool or innovative (maybe I'm old). I am pumped about being effective and relevant.

Now here's the rub: effectiveness requires innovation and adaptation. I trust that you understand I'm not talking about adapting theology, but how we communicate to the people of our culture.