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May 20, 2008
Innovation of Ideas
(Filed under: Think Ahead)
I don't know about you, but oftentimes when I think of innovation, my mind immediately jumps to products or services. Things like the telephone, the assembly line, solar panels, airplanes and wireless Internet come to mind. Tangible innovations that have changed or are changing the way way we live. We can see them, touch them and use them.
The other kind of innovation--the intangible type that is more difficult to get our minds around--is ideas. Although equally as innovative, ideas are often forgotten when we talk about innovation. The theory of relativity, Newton's laws of motion, loving your neighbor, paying it forward and ending slavery are very innovative ideas and are definitely a part of changing the way we live.
Some recent brands have done a decent job at introducing innovative ideas. Consider Citibank's "Live Richly," Nike's "Just Do It" and Dove's "Real Beauty" campaigns. All ideas and concepts that have changed or are changing the way we live.
It's this innovation of ideas and not products where I think the church is best positioned to be catalysts of. Our track record has been full of ups and downs. Martin Luther and no more indulgences was a good thing. The Crusades, not so much.
What are you a part of innovating? How can the ideas within your community help change the way people are living and interacting with each other?
Posted by Brad Abare at May 20, 2008 7:05 AM
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Comments
I'm liking your comments about innovation. I have often mentioned to many that innovation is not always the newest thing out there but sometimes doing the traditional really really well.
The church can innovate in a number of ways regarding technology... getting over the fear of engagement may be the first "innovative" step.
Posted by: John at May 20, 2008 7:21 AM
The entire GREEN movement is an idea in innovation. You can't buy GREEN, but you can live GREEN.
I, often thinking as well, would hope that the church be seen in the same light. Christianity is not something you buy but something you choose to live.
Do we need a life-recycling campaign complete with ripped off logos and designs? No, please no. But we might want to consider the trees and their huggers when we aim to impact the thinking of our culture. They've figured out how to do it.
Posted by: Richie at May 20, 2008 9:14 AM
I'm not part of it, but I think the house church movement is an innovation in community. I feel that the current way we're doing it is not achieving biblical community - folks like Imago Dei and Ecclesia seem to be innovating in this area, and Francis Chan has started a whole new initiative regarding community.
I've written about this on my blog recently. Check out: http://jessephillips.wordpress.com
Posted by: Jesse Phillips at May 21, 2008 5:47 AM
Here's a novel idea.
How about some of the churches getting together and actually doing something good for humanity with all the tax free billions they rake in?
Americans are SICK of what we see. We are lied to by our government our corporations and our religions.
Instead of being profit driven tax cheats-how about churches put people before profit?
I'm not holding my breath
Posted by: brian at June 2, 2008 10:34 AM
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