Abstract
Change in society and scriptural thought changes. The declining traditional churches have undertaken to focus on scriptural thinking, striving for change in its calling of Missio-Dei . Missional thinking requires a paradigm shift which takes time. A change in thought at congregational level and specifically its members, is not occurring at the same pace. Thought change brings uncertainty – also at the level of church identity. The identity crisis within the traditional church, exacerbated by new groups within society, further hampers the churches’ objective of missional change. The challenges posed by the pace of the changing context, are faster than traditional mainstream churches can accommodate. The diachronical approach regarding the declining mainstream churches and the influence of the fast developing society is directed according to different methodologies. This article seeks to raise the understanding regarding the identity crisis prevailing in the declining traditional churches, taking cognisance of the challenges that face such churches within an ever faster changing society.
Highlights
Die tendens van krimping in die gereformeerde hoofstroomkerke het sedert die eeuwenteling al drie die susterkerk-gelowiges gedring tot besinning, denkverandering en omkeer tot gehoorsaamheid aan die Groot Opdrag
Omdat denkverskuiwing ’n proses is wat met tyd ontwikkel, is dit nodig om denkverskuiwing in die krimpende gereformeerde kerke in die lig van gereformeerde identiteit in ’n postmodernistiese konteks diachronies na te vors en die resentste bevindings te formuleer
Alston en Welker (2003:244) verwoord só ’n verskynsel soos volg: ‘We seem to doubt whether it is true that the revealed will of God should be obeyed ...’
Summary
Read online: Scan this QR code with your smart phone or mobile device to read online. This article seeks to raise the understanding regarding the identity crisis prevailing in the declining traditional churches, taking cognisance of the challenges that face such churches within an ever faster changing society. Die tendens van krimping in die gereformeerde hoofstroomkerke het sedert die eeuwenteling al drie die susterkerk-gelowiges gedring tot besinning, denkverandering en omkeer tot gehoorsaamheid aan die Groot Opdrag. Die susterkerke het hulleself uitgespreek om deur daadwerklike besluite die tendens teë te werk en te probeer omkeer (Acta 2012:509–511; Dreyer 2009a; Niemandt 2007:65–70; Van Helden 2013b). Denkverskuiwing binne die susterkerke moet egter nie net met die Groot Opdrag en gevolglike missionale bediening verbind word nie. Van Helden 2013a; 2013b; 2015a; 2016), asook die krimpende getalle wat jaarliks in die susterkerke se jaarboeke aangedui word. Ter verdieping van hierdie tendens is die mens se denke die dieptepunt agter die krisis (Van Helden 2013a)
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