Truth is narrow, but grace is wide.

But herein lies the rub: Christianity has been on a long-term trend of decline in every Western cultural context that we can identify.

In order to develop a pioneering missional spirit, a capacity for genuine ecclesial innovation, let along engender daring discipleship, we are going to need the capacity to take a courageous stand when and where necessary.

Unless the church is equipping believers to embrace the values and vision of the kingdom of God and turn away from the materialism, consumerism, greed, and power of the present age, it not only abandons its biblical mandate, it is rendered missionally ineffective.

We have to assume now that all mission is cross-cultural.

Real leaders ask hard questions and knock people out of their comfort zones and then manage the resulting distress.

But the standard churchy spirituality doesn't require any real action, courage, or sacrifice from its attendees.