6/30/21
Schwarz, Christian A. "Chapter 6: Your Starting Point." Color Your World with Natural Church Development: Experiencing all that God has designed you to be. St. Charles, IL: Church Smart Resources, 2005, 167-183.
Schwarz closes his book by observing that, with the help of his NCD profile product, it is possible to find an appropriate starting point for growth, then chart out some appropriate steps (Schwarz 2005, 168). He considers that the appropriate goal is always radically different from present reality and will necessarily be difficult to reach. This requires celebrating strengths, working with weaknesses, and accepting where you are at present (Schwarz 2005, 170).
Schwarz again presents a "center" point of balance which looks very much like that of enthusiastic broadly evangelical thought (Schwarz 2005, 172). At the same time, he says we are all learning from everyone else as we seek to find balance. This balance is one of personal life (Schwarz 2005, 173), one he suggests should initially make us emotionally uncomfortable. To deal with this discomfort, Schwarz advocates working on our areas of weakness for at least two weeks, sharing our discoveries with other Christians (Schwarz 2005, 174), and networking with others who are strong in our weak areas (Schwarz 2005, 175). This counsel strikes me as mechanistic at best and, at worst, as a quest for hidden knowledge which will be a key to enlightenment.
Schwarz then instructs readers to generalize the process to a whole church, just as it was teated in one person. "Since the church is nothing other than people, increasing your own spiritual health is a direct contribution to the health of your church" (Schwarz 2005, 176). I recommend considering that statement well, as it contradicts historic definitions of the church.
Schwarz observes three reasons that a church might not wish to use his product. His counsel is that all the reasons are bad and that the church should eventually be driven in one way or anothe to turn to his methods (Schwarz 2005, 177). This unveils the dangerous conclusion of his thinking. He is right and everyone who disagrees is thwarting God's purpose. In the end, it is necessary to use his NCD products. He makes this crystal clear (Schwarz 2005, 178). The goal is to reach a "breakthrough." What this is is anyone's guess. Therefore, anything will probably do (Schwarz 2005, 181). Schwarz closes with a strident warning. If you do not use his NCD product, you are being disobedient to God.
Thus ends a dangerous book, full of dangerous teaching. The Church is not merely people, and it is not in need of a secret knowledge sold by Schwarz or anyone else. It is built on Jesus, the God who has reconciled sinners to himself. It is present where the Gospel is proclaimed and the Sacraments are administered rightly. And the gates of hell cannot stand before it. Accept nothing less.