When Sunday is first about feeding on Christ and Him crucified, most people won't feel so starved, even if everything else about the church is less polished, and neither will you. The Church will be most provocative and alluring when it is being itself, being who God has constituted it to be, that is, being a mini-society that proclaims the person and work of Christ, and imitates his sacrificial service. The preceding statement is from the book, The Relevant Church: A New Vision For Communities Of Faith.
In this particular offering, the authors seek to dispel the notion that in order to grow the Church, we must appeal to an unmet need in the lives of people who felt the Church was irrelevant; be entertaining. While this technique worked for a while, it did not have staying power, and those who flocked to the Church because of entertainment found themselves leaving for the very same reason; they were no longer entertained. Fact is, no one will take the Church serious until the church starts taking itself serious.
The authors say that Churches need to remember one of the basic phenomena of human attraction: the least likable kid on the playground was always the one trying hardest to be liked. The cool kids, on the other hand, were popular partly because they didn't seem to care if they were liked; they were doing their thing whether or not you were watching.
The Church will continue to be least relevant when it continues to be caught in the act of reinventing itself to gain more friends. This seems to be the "thorn in the flesh" of most Churches today, being more concerned about aesthetics, socialization and making the people in the pew feel good. I sense that until churchgoers are able to point to something significant that the church has done in their lives such as the eradication of abusive tendencies, drug and alcohol abuse abatement, Christian behavior modification or spiritual growth and maturity, they will never be effective in making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. As long as some basic human need has not been satisfied by your church of choice, you will always be an attender and never graduate to the level of vested participant. Until then, churchgoers will be like the least likable kid on the playground who always tries the hardest to be liked and never succeed.
I welcome your comments.
Dr. Moore, I am in total agreement with your analogy of the church's current dilemma. For far too long, the church has used gimmicks which have crippled people and somewhat eradicated the true mission and purpose of the church. There is an urgent need for the church of God in Christ (I don't mean a denomination) to return to her intended purpose--Salvation. I predict these next few years of economic turmoil will cause the church to redirect her focus.
ReplyDeletePeace, love and blessings,
Dr. E.H. Whitman
Dr. Whitman,
ReplyDeleteVery well said. I know you are aware from first hand experience that being a pastor in this the 21st century is more than a notion. Pastors are abandoning their pulpits and their call for vocations that are gratifying and financially fulfilling.
At one point experts thought it was burn-out; however, I contend that today it has more to do with a lack of spiritual maturity in the pew and the growing number of laity who refuse to answer the call to ordained ministry, yet want the responsibility and authority that comes with accepting God's will of sacrificial service and pastoral leadership.
On the other hand we have too many pastors who have opted to be co-opted by bullies in the pew and give way to an anything goes, entertainment theology that appeases the masses at the expense of their very salvation.
I pray your success and strength in ministry as you follow God with all of your heart and your soul.