The Demise and Resurrection of Institutions

Thursday, April 15 2010 04:28:45 PM

A pastor friend asked the question, “Where is it all going?” 

He was thinking about the fundamental paradigm shift of our time.  He is struggling to figure out where it all is going, so he will know where to invest his time and energy in local church ministry.  If he knew how it all was going to come out in the end, he would know better how to reshape his congregation’s life for the future.  He doesn’t want to lead his church down a dead-end-road.

All of us “big-picture people” struggle to get our heads around where the church is going. 

In a previous blog, I noted we live in the age of Wal-Mart, and Panera Bread.  The Wal-Mart culture of our day argues for bigger-and-better (Save Money.  Life Better).  When churches and stores are going “big” there is also a wonderful opportunity for boutique ministries (Panera).  And in fact, most of our churches and non-profits are heading in the boutique direction as fast as possible.  We are finding our niche, our place in the larger context of ministry.

For churches this is about identifying core values and giving themselves to the things they believe in most deeply.   

Where is it all going, long term?

The Wal-Mart age is giving way to a boutique perspective in ministry.  I suspect we are in for another decade of decentralization and niche finding.  But then, a new age of institutions will emerge: institutions that are based fully and completely on the Information Age.  To be sure the institutions of the future will be significantly different. 

Here is my hypothesis:  Institutions serve a fundamental purpose for humanity.  Though we have a love-hate relationship with institutions, we homo sapiens cannot do without them.

I am going to make the argument for the existence of institutions from an evolutionary perspective: based on the human story, our DNA.  We need institutions.  And, while we may go through anti-institution seasons the truth is we desperately need institutions to fulfill a void created by the human condition. 

All of my life I’ve heard the refrain: together we can do what no one can do individually.  This has been the mantra of missions in the 20^th century – we do together what no church could do individually.  This is a utilitarian argument.  From an evolutionary perspective, we learned cooperation provides specific benefits to individuals and groups.  Together we can be successful.  This is a prime reason for the existence of institutions.

A second reason might be stated: institutions give concrete expression to our values.  Why are there church buildings at all?  The earliest church had no buildings.  Church buildings came into vogue during the time of Constantine.  For the better part of three centuries the church had no buildings, other than the homes of adherents.  Then, when the church became “official” it started building buildings and has not stopped since.  In addition to buildings, we have denominations and faith groups galore.   

Why buildings?  Why denominational structures?  Institutions fill a void in the human experience.  We cannot seem to create a “church” without a building; without the fellowship becoming an institution.

I remember when Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church was completely anti-institutional in every regard.  Remember when the church refused to buy property?  They weren’t going to be “that kind of church.”  I was amazed they resisted so long.  Now, Saddleback Church is an institution.  It has settled into institutional life. 

Love them or hate them, institutions are here to stay – because they address a profound need deep in the human heart.

I believe in the relative short-term, American culture will continue its non-traditional, non-institutional focus – at least in word if not deed.  With time, our dissatisfaction with traditional institutions will give way to a season of growing appreciation for 21^st century institutions – shaped by the Information Age. 

Institutions are here to stay.  We humans can’t do without them.

Grace and Peace

Phil and Tiger

Monday, April 12 2010 08:14:25 AM

It has been an interesting year in golf. 

Yesterday Phil Mickelson won the Masters.  It may have been the most emotional win of the long Masters’ tradition.  Last year, Phil struggled and came in second at the Masters.  Several weeks later his wife, Amy (one of the most beloved figures in golf), was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Treatments began and the couple, with three children under 11 years old, held themselves together as best they could.

In the summer, Phil’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer; insult seemed added to injury.

On Sunday, the year of struggle subsided a bit and Phil played a spectacular round of golf; at one point making one of the greatest shots in Masters’ history.  Phil closed out the round with a birdie on the final hole winning by two strokes in convincing fashion.

Because of the weakness that results from cancer treatment, Amy watched most of the tournament from a nearby home.  But when Phil headed down the homestretch, she bundled up the kids and they headed to the golf course.  Weakened as she was, she stood waiting for her victorious husband.  Following his birdie put, Phil raised his arms in victory – and walked into Amy’s arms making one of the Masters’ most personal and deeply emotional moments.

A year of trial, love, patience, and hanging in there together was rewarded with a day of celebration.   It was a deeply humbling moment.

And, then there was Tiger’s year.  In the last year Tiger misbehaved badly with numerous affairs, all the while keeping his public image squeaky clean.  Weeks before the affairs came to light, he affirmed his family was the most important thing in his life.  What a con artist.  The Thanksgiving car crash brought a year of deception to light.

In leading up to this year’s Masters, Tiger had taken time off to work on personal issues.  He chose to come back on the tour at the Masters, partly because this particular tournament is least accessible to the public.  It would be a safe way for him to reenter golf.  And so before the tournament, all the hype was about Tiger.  His 1 PM interview on Monday was carried live on ESPN and Fox News.

Tiger did not play particularly well, especially for him.  He struggled on Saturday and Sunday.  At one point during the last round he hit a ball into trouble and started swearing; after pledging he was a “new man” and wouldn’t swear on the course.  Interestingly, he took the name “Jesus Christ” in vain, though he is Buddhist.

Phil and Tiger, both fallible, both human; not only are they interesting studies in human nature, they are illustrations of what is in each of us.  Under the stress of life sometimes we buckle and prostitute ourselves in a thousand different ways.  We make deception our way of life.

And then sometimes, we rise to the occasion and do ourselves proud.  We face unusual hardship with grace and profound commitment.  The struggle of life bonds us more deeply to those we love.

It has been a very interesting year in golf, one that illustrates the essence of what it means to be human.  The thoughts, feelings and passions that have been part of Phil’s and Tiger’s lives this past year are in each of us.  We have options.  We can behave badly.  We can practice deception.  Or, in the press of life we can prove ourselves to be people of strength and character.

It is up to each of us.  What kind of person shall you become?

Grace and Peace,

Ron