incarnating the church

Continuing the theme from the last post, I wonder how incarnation concepts apply to change and progress in the church?

When we think about influencing "the world" for God, we talk about this idea of incarnation-where you become a part of a culture not entirely your own and basically be an influence that is acceptable most of the time to the culture. There are times to make counter cultural stands for sure, but much of the time it's about engaging the culture and serving the culture.

What about change in church life? I feel institutional church life is largely about how to build the institution with others from the world who can be made to think and believe like the church. I long more and more for church to simply be a body of people who are on a mission to bless the world (even those who won't become members of the institution) and partner (not compete) with other religions and faiths in announcing God's kingdom work in the world (all what I believe to be in line with Jesus' mission when He was on earth).

Typically pastors are taught to act like CEO's and to guide a church to where he/she envisions the church should be. I have a problem with this though. I am not the CEO type. Furthermore, the vision and dream I have growing in my heart for the church goes against so much of traditional church thinking and practice. In fact, it may counter some church theology since practices are often the result of theology.

I know increasing numbers of pastors whose visions for the church and their seeming ability to accomplish it are incompatible. So they simply leave the pastorate to serve God's kingdom another way. I do not judge these folks and affirm how God leads them.

But, what if there's a calling to incarnate church culture? To work with a people whose beliefs and practices at times go counter to where you see the church should be going for the purpose both of serving these people and dropping seeds and hints of a different direction and purpose for the church. When do you work counter to church culture and when do you go along with it? What do you do if things that are a big deal to the church go directly against what you believe to be God's purpose for the church? Do you stand up and fight and likely destroy any possibility of change or just go along with the flow quietly spreading salt and feeling like no change is happening either?

In the end, I think there's value to the church incarnation perspective. But it's not easy, at least the way we as pastors are taught to think and practice. The biggest battle is likely with self, not the church.