Wednesday, October 29, 2008

The Church Needs More Heretics

-noun
1. a professed believer who maintains religious opinions contrary to those accepted by his or her church or rejects doctrines prescribed by that church.
2. anyone who does not conform to an established attitude, doctrine, or principle.


Seth Godin, in his latest book Tribes, defines heretics as the new leaders. The are the ones who challenge the status quo, who get out in front of their tribes, who create movements.


Today, October 31(ignore the post date above!), is known primarily as Halloween. Modern consumerism and industry has changed what was originally a religious celebration into something entirely different. But that's not what this post is about.

October 31 is also the day that Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses, or points of discussion, on the door of the Church at Wittenberg Germany. That simple act touched off a series of events that led to the Protestant Reformation and the splitting of the Church into several branches of beliefs. The Reformation is not what this post is about either.

What we need today are more heretics. Check out some comments from a few of today's great church thinkers as they participate in a Reformation Celebration in Wittenberg.

Change is made by people, by leaders who are proud to be called heretics because their faith is never in question. I'm working through information that I've heard, talked about, read, and seen over the past three weeks that is beginning to crystallize in my brain.


I'm thinking I am becoming a heretic - anyone want to join my tribe?

1 comment:

Cathy Hutchison said...

I loved that quote by Seth Godin too. Glad to learn you are one of the "heretics." I'll take inspiration over status quo any day!