Very insightful, especially this: "In fact, being self-referential is often the result of not looking inward, assuming one knows what God wants without listening, preaching to others without reflecting on how one’s own attitudes and behaviors create obstacles to others’ truly hearing the Word and becoming disciples."
Well, it is self referential for the reasons you get to. Any organization has to be both self referential and driven by mission. As Catholics say: ad intra and ad extra. The most pressing self referential question is "What is our mission?" "Making disciples" may be the problem. Jesus talked about the Kingdom of God. Do Christians know how to live in the Kingdom of God? Is their mode of living a manifestation of it? Did the Synod delegates come out of the experience with an expanded consciousness of God present?
Very insightful, especially this: "In fact, being self-referential is often the result of not looking inward, assuming one knows what God wants without listening, preaching to others without reflecting on how one’s own attitudes and behaviors create obstacles to others’ truly hearing the Word and becoming disciples."
Well, it is self referential for the reasons you get to. Any organization has to be both self referential and driven by mission. As Catholics say: ad intra and ad extra. The most pressing self referential question is "What is our mission?" "Making disciples" may be the problem. Jesus talked about the Kingdom of God. Do Christians know how to live in the Kingdom of God? Is their mode of living a manifestation of it? Did the Synod delegates come out of the experience with an expanded consciousness of God present?