Contagion

Seth made a good point over on his blog. I think this can apply to the "emerging" church too. I don't really classify myself apart of the whole emerging thing and yet I'd consider ourselves a church that is emerging...continually growing and changing. One of the dangers with being a new church that is doing new things and not incorporating old traditions is that we can push against the old ways of doing things that we forget to run once we've got momentum. It's hard work when you're cultivating new ground...not everyone likes it. You have to push against old and comfortable ways of doing things. Often you have to question why people value what they value. Do we really have to sing Battle Hymn of the Republic to make you happy? Can't you sing that in the shower and get the same effect?

The rub comes when the momentum shows up and there is no longer any need to push anymore...people see the vision and are willing to run towards it with you...but you want to push some more...it's more fun. You've tasted the blood of seeing people squirm and you like it. Having most everyone on your side is too easy. There's a pride in knowing some people don't like you (yes...messed up but true for some). And without even realizing it, you become what you originally started pushing against...you just can't see it.

I don't want to get stuck pushing so hard and so long that I forget to run