In this chapter, the author begins by comparing the dilemma the modern church faces today with a story he read on the front page of a newspaper where the members lost their restraint and literally resorted to physical violence. Along with that story, he also compared the dilemma of the modern church with the story about the emperor’s new clothes where the people were afraid to say what they actually saw. He explained that relationships of that sort send out a negative message to even the unchurched people and is a clear sign for the need to rethink the church community.
A Look in the Mirror The author says that the church needs to look in the mirror for revealing signs of a realistic assessment of the need to rethink the church. One problem might be “An Absence of Authenticity,” which is usually demonstrated in a behavior where a person conceals his true feelings. A second problem is “The Presence of Broken Relationships,” which means members begin to accept an ongoing broken relationship as a normal relationship — this is the way people respond to each other. And, the third problem is “A spirit of Exclusion.” Usually, church members are only friendly to people they like.
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Consequently, that begins with doing what it takes to “Make Membership Matter.” Therefore, it should be made clear that members should know and understand doctrinal and lifestyle issues, as well as the purpose and mission of the church. Next, we should “Have a Clear Commitment to a Mission;” therefore, members should be committed to the fact that Jesus Christ and his work is the “one and only thing that is vital between us” (136). The third ingredient is to have a “Compelling Vision,” of what they want to become as a community. And the final part is to “Work at Developing Community,” which is about establishing high-quality relational