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Barna Video:
 * George Barna**

[|Christians Must Accept...]

Barna Article:

[|Tribes Hold Key to Restoration]


 * Seven Faith Tribes**

Barna observed that the United States is "on a path to destruction" and decided to research into the reasons why. What he found was that the foundation for this change was due in part to "our willingness entertain--and eventually adopt--alternative worldviews."(13)

The first half of the book Barna goes into defining the difference spiritual groups within the United States, which he calls Faith Tribes. These faith tribes include:


 * 1) Casual Christians - make up the majority of Amercians, around 2/3 of adults. These people call themselves Christians, but do not live in a way consistent with a person of Christian Faith.
 * 2) Captive Christians - act consistently with their belief and have a true passion for loving God. Second largest segment of Faith Tribes, accounting for 1/6 of adults.
 * 3) Jews - Make up around 2% of adults. Characterized by overcoming difficulties as evidenced by their history.
 * 4) Mormon - Slightly under 2 % of adults. Mostly see themselves as family people, and are more likely to marry than any other tribe.
 * 5) Pantheist - Also slightly under 2% of adults. Comprised of eastern religions and New Age beliefs. This group tries to "get the most out of life without forcing the issue." (80)
 * 6) Muslims - Less than 1% of adults. Prefer relatives over absolutes. See themselves as hardworking, peace-loving, moral people with an emphasis on family life.
 * 7) Skeptics - made up of atheists and agnostics, accounts for about 11% of adults in America. See themselves as typical Americans. Pride themselves on being different from 'others'.

The second half discusses how we can change the direction of American away from destruction.

First, although we have seven different Faith Tribes, those tribes have shared values that we can build character upon, despite other differences between each tribe.

Second, we are all followers and called to be the best followers possible. In doing so, we make leaders more efficient and influential.

Third, the top tier of media accounts for 60-70% of our worldview and resulting behaviors, so we must pay attention to what we hear and be careful as to what we are putting out through it. Interestingly, the bottom tier, which includes churches, only accounts for 10%.

Fourthly, we much look to family institutions to do their job. Families are "a source of caregiving, training, relationships, bonding, and support; a means of organizing work efforts; a determinant of leisure preferences and experience; and an arbiter of accepted rules of behavior." Although the current path has lead us to divorce, cohabitation, and two working parents which has lessened the household's effect.

Fifth, the Tribes much not shut each other out. In doing so, we lack promotion of our own beliefs and lose the unity that this nation needs.

Lastly, Barna discusses the vision for restoration. The nation seems to have gotten better--technology wise, reputation wise(debatable), etc.--but 'human' wise not as much. It is human efforts that we need to see increase, and he puts it on the Faith Tribes to be the solution.

Video: Article: [|John Stott Ministry Website] John Stott recognized the growing view that the Church is in decline, and decided to give his own take on what he feels the Church needs in order to get back to its previous state.
 * John Stott**
 * [|Principles for Whole Life Discipleship]**
 * The Living Church**

He begins his list with the 'Essentials'

1. Learning - We must learn from the teachings Scripture, gaining knowledge from pastors, parents, and our own reading.

2. Caring - God was very generous, and we are to model his perfect example, therefore we are to act generously, too.

3. Worshipping - our worship must be formal and informal, joyful and 'reverent'.

4. Evangelizing - we must reach out to others who do not have the knowledge that we do to spread the Word throughout.

Stott goes on to describe four different kinds of worship: Biblical, Congregational, spiritual, and moral, distinguishing between the mix and explaining their significance. He also discusses Evangelism, Fellowship, Preaching paradoxes, principles of giving, and our impact as salt and light, all of which fall into his categories of 'Essentials.'

His most significant points come in the final chapter titled Impact, which is divided into three categories.

1. The Truths of Salt and Light 2. Weapons for Social Change 3. Christian Distinctives
 * Christians are radically different from non-Christians. We are in many cases opposites. For example we are light in a dark world, and salt on decaying meat.
 * Christians must permeate non-Christian society. We cannot set an example for others if we hide in our own communities.
 * Christians can influence and change non-Christian society. We tend to blame others for problems with society without looking at our own failure to impact the trends. It is our responsibility to fight evil and bad things of the like, and not to deny our responsibility to help.
 * Prayer - God hears and answers prayers, so we must make it a priority to pray often.
 * Evangelism - We must have the vision and courage to change our society and not shelter ourselves from the rest of the world.
 * Example - a good example is contagious and provokes other to stand up and be bold as well.
 * Argument - Unjust social structures are ultimately changed with legislation. Legislation depends on consesus, and consensus depends on argument.
 * Action - socio-political action.
 * Suffering - We must be willing to suffer for our cause.
 * Christ calls us to a greater righteousness--a righteousness of the heart and not of laws
 * Christ calls us to a wilder love. Loving our enemy, as an example.
 * Christ calls us to a nobler ambition. Our priorities should be God's name, kingdom, and will.