Etch A Sketch Church, Part Two

Are we an Etch A Sketch church in an iPad World?

I am grateful for the creative and energetic ways folks have engaged this question, both online and in person. Every person who responded so far has done so with a “Yes.” Some form of lament or critique has accompanied some of those yeses. Other folks have expressed at least some affirmation for an Etch A Sketch church. Everyone has agreed, however, that to simply be an Etch A Sketch church in an iPad world does not make room for the fullness of the gospel to be known and lived in our current North American context.

Here are some of the fascinating contrasts, insights, and metaphoric reflections that have emerged so far from this conversation:

Etch A Sketch Church

relates primarily to itself and its own inner system

limited capacity to communicate and amuse

nostalgic

one function

reductive

incarnational

focused attention

iPad World

 intimately and mutually connected to diverse and far-flung “others”

wide-ranging and ever-expanding ability to communicate and amuse

future-focused

multi-functional

expansive

digital/virtual

easily distracted

What do you think? Do these insights ring true with you in the context of your local mission center or congregation? And, if we are, indeed, an Etch A Sketch church in an iPad world, what does this mean for the ways we live together as the body of Christ and how we engage the world? Etch A Sketch Church, Part Three will begin to explore this in concrete and practical ways. In the meantime, the conversation will continue in person and online as we seek, together, to be faithful servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries. Please add your perspective to the mix!

(Thanks to the following folks, who responded via Facebook, Twitter or this blog and whose insights are incorporated above: Lisa Dahill, Karol Gafkjen, John Hickey, Larry Isbell, Dan Kreutzer, Steve Stewart, Rebecca Suchomel, Christine Wulff.)