Proclaimer Blog
EMA: a prophetic word
This year's EMA kicked off well yesterday despite rain storms, floods and power cuts (all included in the admission). I want to blog about David F Wells' session which which was extremely significant. I found it enormously helpful, I might even say, prophetic. I warm greatly to David. Not only does he hail from Rhodesia (which means he understands cricket, an important quality in a real man…) but he has lived in both Manchester and London thereby sampling all kinds of British extremes.
David's overall point was that we are ministering into a culture that is inherently spiritual, though not religious. How does this show itself? He suggested four changes that are all significant.
- Virtues into values. We used to treasure character traits. These have been trumped by competencies. We care more what someone can do than what kind of person they are.
- Character into personality. Character is embedded virtue: honour, duty etc. These qualities have been trumped by how you appear to be, not what you are.
- Nature to self. The trouble with human nature is that it is a great leveller. Everyone is the same. Self makes everyone special and unique.
- Guilt to shame. Guilt implies a moral code that has been transgressed. Shame is simply the feeling one has when one is caught doing something that someone else might find offensive.
Very, very insightful. More of David today and tomorrow (in a panel session). Great times.