What is the public square, and why should pastors be there?

​​​​“Public square” is a metaphor for the places where the community’s dialogue takes place. Historically, that meant the physical community centers like town halls, literal public squares and the like, but also included forums like community newspapers, restaurants, bars, theaters, town meetings, and the like. 

Christopher Mann

Today, that also includes radio and TV stations, websites, and more. Too often, however, the public pats the pastor on the head and admonishes him to stay in the church, because that is where his expertise and relevance supposedly begins and ends.
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ReSermon is a group of experienced Christian media professionals who help pastors return to and/or serve the public square, which is desperate for biblical, life-preserving salt. Big decisions are being made, and pastors are missing from the discussion table. 

Can’t Christian laymen be that salt? ​

Answer: “Yes/and.” Pastors have the forward-thinking, intentional and missional mindset, trained and equipped with a formal education, that welcomes Jesus Christ into a public discussion. 

Do all pastors have this mentality, education, inclination? No, no, and no; I’m under no illusion that this description fits all or maybe even most pastors; ReSermon exists in large part because pastors are not showing up to the public square (or otherwise minimize that calling). The pastoral absence from the public square significantly explains its decay, and ReSermon wants to help fix this. 

The public square needs the visual presence of the pastor to attend non-profit board meetings, panel discussions, city council meetings and community discussions, and encourage Christian laity to do the same. In doing this, the pastor demonstrates the importance of Christian laymen serving similarly and infusing into these communities their own unique biblical salting-effect.
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“My people die from a lack of knowledge,” God said through the prophet Hosea (Hosea 6:8). ReSermon is helping today’s prophets reintroduce biblical salt to a culture decaying from its ignorance of Him.

Christopher Mann is the founder of ReSermon.com.

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