Why #Reimagine..?

WHY? #Reimagine...

To reimagine is not to change what we believe

but how we think about what we believe.

 

If we are unable to differentiate between our beliefs (theology, doctrines) and thoughts (ideas, applications, systems, best practices), then we will ultimately be unable to defend our values and discern the foundations of social change and political preferences.

To reimagine, is to rethink, review and revise, prompted by a Holy Spirit revealed fresh-for-our-times application of the unchanging truth of Scripture. We  are blessed by and greatly benefit from but are not bound by tradition. Transformation requires fresh application.

To reimagine is not to rely on human imaginations; just the opposite, it is a yielding to the revelation of the Holy Spirit that infuses human thinking with the mind of Christ which allows us to know the will of our Holy God. A  unique application to our times and our trials. 

To reimagine, individuals – cohort groups - congregations – collaborations, must employ the gifts of the Holy Spirit (especially prayer) and the resource of scripture.

To refuse to reimagine, is actually an act of disobedience, because we are commanded to be transformed by the renewing of our minds so that we ( individually and corporately) demonstrate God's will is good for all. So that means  our leadership and ministries,  not just our personal moral life  must be transformed: our disciple making, prayer, evangelism, church itself…

We should expect the renewing of our mind, a reimagination led by the Spirit, to result in great works for a great God.

 

Take faith! #Reimagine

Phil Miglioratti

Curator for The #ReimagineFORUM

 

NEXT STEPS ~

1. Affirm that you need to #Reimagine...  if your church/ministry/team/group is going to be successful at reaching people with the Gospel and making disciples.

 
2. Pursue the Holy Spirit; reimagining is not a New Age mind game but a descriptor of what we are called to do in Romans 12:2:
 
          “Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.” Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭CEV‬‬
 
          My paraphrase:
          “Don't design how your church functions based on the perspectives and preferences of this world, but let God the Spirit change the way you think about prayer, evangelism, discipleship, communities…so that you know how to do everything in ways that  are good and pleasing to God.”
 
3. Begn a serious Spirit-led, Scripture-fed journey of listening prayer by scrolling comments below then reading Designing YOUR #Reimagine Journey...

 

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Additional Commentary. . .Resources. . . Replies

  • But isn’t the purpose of a new translation precisely to change things?
    To ask people to re-think the familiar?

    To experience a shift in understanding in order to understand God’s message to us today in a fresh way?

    I think so."


    Scot McKnight 

    = = =

    Also by Scot McKnight -

    This Isn't Your Grand Mother's Church

    #ReorganizeCHURCH...
    #ReorganizeCHURCH... Not Your Grandmothers' Church SCOT MCKNIGHT When I was a child it seemed most people went to church on Sunday. Not only did most…
  • Why #reimagine? #Rethink? #Reassess? #Review?

    Some say ...
    "If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it."
     
    But what if you don't know it IS broke?

     


  • I believe leaders need to “reimagine “ ministry if their church is going to be successful at reaching people with the Gospel and to make disciples.

    Reimagining is not a New Age mind game but a descriptor of what we are called to do in Romans 12:2.
     
    ““Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.” Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭CEV‬‬
     
    My paraphrase: “Don't design how your church functions based on the perspectives and preferences of this world, but let God the Spirit change the way you think about prayer, evangelism, discipleship, communities…so that you know how to do everything in ways that  are good and pleasing to God.”
     
    Please take a moment to pray this for your self, then ask God to use this prayer with many pastors and church leaders,
     
    Phil
    ‭‭
  • WHY? Reimagine...

    Phil Miglioratti @Reimagine.Net

    Change.

    Not an option.

    Because some of our strategies have been proven to be ineffective.

    But worse, some of our systems are defective.

    We have produced church-people who need entertainment to worship, think reading books is discipleship, good food is the draw of fellowship, 2-3% is generous stewardship, and star-power constitutes leadership. 

    We consider our opinions inerrant because we attach a Scripture when we post on social media.

    Our leaders are incapable of equipping us to distinguish biblical theology from cultural theologizing. Our doctrinal statements are not infallible. And our personal comfort is not the focus of authentic Christianity.

    Change.

    Spirit-led.

    Scripture-fed.

  • "In recent years, many of us have seen old coalitions and old certainties torn apart.  Many of us are rethinking who we once classified as “enemy” and as “ally.” Maybe the lines of division were in the wrong places all along. Those who hold to believer’s baptism, for example, have more in common with evangelicals who practice infant baptism than with Latter-day Saints who immerse adults. Those who disagree on how Galatians 3:28 fits with Ephesians 5 but who want to see men and women fully engaged in the Great Commission have more in common with each other than with those who would make gender either everything or nothing.

    A new generation of Christian men and women is coming."

     

    Russel Moore

    Christianity Today

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