As I think about literature, for example, I see a big shift occuring in the
40s. Last week I mentioned the advent of the beat poets and how they marked
a departure from previously known styles. Hemingway too, is significant.
During this time, it seems writers began unpackaging their methods and
modes. As they dared to ask, “Why have we always done it this way?”, new
styles emerged.

In the 60’s, culture unpackaged itself. Think about it. Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin--they were still musicians, but their work was dramatically different than that of their predecessors. Of course, the society around them was also unpackaging itself. People began to challenge the establishment on things like the Vietnam War and racial segregation. They weren’t afraid to ask, “Why have we always done it this way?”

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In the 80’s, business changed. De-regulation altered the landscape. People let go of the notion of working for one company for life. Suddenly, the
rules changed. Hierarchies started to flatten. There were no sacred cows.
Again, the question was, “Why have we always done it this way?”

And so I ask...is this the decade the church needs to change? I mean, really
change in a dramatic way? I think so. In fact, more than that, I think it’s
already happening. Sure, there have been changes throughout the last
century, but I think the major “unpackaging” is about to begin.

The story of Christ will remain unchanged, but I expect that
everything else will be up for debate. Perhaps we will no longer have
“professional pastors.” Perhaps we will no longer have church buildings.
Perhaps bigger will no longer automatically be seen as better.

Does this mean the mega church is doomed? Maybe. Maybe not. I think there will always be people who hold out against trends. But for Christians to dig in their heels and say, “No, we’ll never change,” is a bit like a company
that continues to use business practices from the 70s even though the world around them has been radically altered.

What do you think? Do you buy into my 20-20-20-20 thesis? Let’s open up the
discussion and learn from each other.

In the meantime, here are this week's resources.

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Movie of the Week

Moulin Rouge

Directed by Baz Luhrmann

Moulin Rouge is the story of a naive young poet, Christian (Ewan McGregor), who ventures into the Bohemian underworld and finds star-crossed love with the courtesan, Satin (Nicole Kidman). It’s a musical extravanganza set in the Paris made famous by artist Toulouse-Lautrec. The pace is fast and the edits quick. I’ll be interested to see if this film replaces The Rocky Horror Picture Show as the next cult classic. In any case, the question to ask is, “How do I relate to the main character?” You might be surprised at the answer.

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Book of the Week

The New Man

by Thomas Merton

I’m a huge Thomas Merton fan and this book is a classic. Merton, a Trappist monk, is generally regarded as the foremost spiritual thinker of the twentieth century. Although he died an untimely death in 1968, this work still has much to say about our current assumptions regarding spiritual identity. Making reference to Prometheus and coining the phrase “Promethean theology,” Merton critiques the many ways in which modernity has shaped our view of the spiritual life and offers an alternative. Ahead of his time, Merton is an important voice to read on the road to the trans-reformation.

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CD of the Week

Songbird

by Eva Cassidy

She was known for her “hauntingly beautiful voice” and unusual gift for cover tunes. The songs on this album include “Fields of Gold,” “People Get Ready,” and “Over the Rainbow.” Cassidy died in 1996 from melanoma. She was just 33. Her songs are spiritual and her voice is powerful.

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Links

Soulflare.com

A site blending art and poetry. Includes special exhibits and permanent collections.

The Barna Group

Check out the latest findings on the future of the Internet and faith. According to George Barna and friends, 50 million individuals may rely solely upon the Internet to provide all of their faith-based experiences by the end of the century.

HREF="http://www.bmwfilms.com">BMWfilms.com

What happens when the director of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon makes a short film using a BMW? Find out. This site features several short films by famous directors. It’s a fascinating look at the innovative ways companies are using the Web and new technologies to communicate with the world.

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Here's a working desire statement, let me know what you think.

The Ooze is a non-profit Web site and events community. Our vision is to
usher in the trans/post-reformation by discovering and supporting the
emerging voices of visual artists, writers, storytellers, theologians and
musicians--those who are unpackaging the Church and the story of Christ. We desire to contextualize our journey in the postmodern culture through incarnation, experience and love.

Partially exposed (unpackaged),


Spencer