Although I think (and I've experienced this) there will be and maybe should be a certain degree of "reaction" at the beginning of something new, it can't stay in the realm of reaction or it goes nowhere. I think that's fort of what you're saying Todd. There's going to be a degree of getting rid of the old in order to make way for the new - I think that's fine and good - needs to happen. BUT, if we have as a foundation for these new things we are doing only the disgust for former things, we have a lousy foundation - winds will blow - we will fall down.

There's got to be theology behind the madness. I mean by that - we have to have a good solid positive reason for doing what we're doing, and we must know what it is. Why am I starting this new church or community of faith? What is my purpose? What is a "church" anyway? You've got to have a good idea of what that is before you do these things. Why "simple church"? To be cool? To NOT be something else that's not so cool?? I hope not. There is a thick, deep theology behind why this movement is happening in the church at large. Let's get hold of that and go forward.

Here are a couple of quesitons: What is God's purpose? What is He trying to accomplish? and What can I do to best help bring that about? - well, do that. I think His purpose is to re-establish His Kingdom on earth - to bring it all back into line. I think His purpose is to recreate us into the people He intended us to be (spiritual formation - transformation). I think the church, the Christian community, is a tool for that purpose - a formation ground. So, that being so, how can we "do church" in order to best facilitate the production of these recreated people??? Our ecclesiology should flow from the answer to that question. (Thanks Todd Hunter!)