Robert Webber, author of The Younger Evangelicals, has died. The church has lost a keen analyst.

I learned from Robert Webber that the church I grew up in is not the church of all time. I don’t need to hold its characteristics in high esteem. I just need to get on with following Jesus.

Webber told us how the church is changing and how it needs to change. He was closely in touch with young people, and especially with young people who love Jesus and who would go to the ends of the earth to do something for him. Webber knew what he was talking about.

Many pragmatic churches, like old shopping malls are dying. Very few people under 30 are in pragmatic churches. The handwriting is on the wall. Leave. Do a start up church. Be a tentmaker. Build communities. Small groups. Neighborhood churches. Be willing to let your life die for Jesus as you break with the market driven, culture shaped, numbers oriented, WalMart-something-for-everyone church. Be an Abraham and take a risk. God will show up and lead the way.

Quote from an interview conducted by Jordon Cooper via Darryl Dash.

Shopping centers are certainly different now than they were twenty years ago. In fact, we are in the third or fourth different configuration of shopping centers in my life time. Why shouldn’t the church expect to make adjustments?

Robert Webber, we will miss you. I’m thinking that St. Paul might be interested in some of your concepts and theories; perhaps there will be time to discuss them.