Apprentice 2 Jesus

What is “relevant”?

Our post-modern angst in the evangelical church to be “relevant” has always disturbed me. What in the world does “relevant” mean, anyway? As usual, I simply cannot put those thoughts into eloquent words, or even coherent words. When I try to explain my displeasure with this “postmodern church” I end up sounding old and crotchety. I’m only 42, so “old” is not a good descriptor as yet. The other word just may fit.

I think “relevant” really comes down to: “I want to hang out with the people I want to hang out with, even in church. If I’m young and hip I don’t need old crotchety people around me!”

Mark Galli puts it succinctly and in perspective. He says the Church doesn’t seem to care about “relevance” when it comes to “target audiences” like you would find in most cities and communities: audiences like the poor, the widows, the orphans… you know… biblical stuff.

Again, I mangle this up, so here are his words:

Few churches that consciously seek relevance want to clear the way to church for the poor, the homeless, welfare moms, drug-addicted men, or those trapped in nursing homes and convalescent hospitals. These “target audiences” are not very relevant to many “casual, contemporary” churches.

Bingo. That’s what I meant. Thank you, Mark Galli. By the way, the quote came from this article on liturgical worship, in case all two people reading this might be interested. (Or, is it three now?)