Thursday, October 12, 2006
Consumer church...
It seems as if two families recently visited Southern Hills and decided to place membership elsewhere. Abilene has lots of church choices and it is inevitable that not everyone will want to worship with us. However, it was interesting to see the reaction of some to these decisions. One family went elsewhere because their kids didn't "fit" in the youth group at SH. That's happened before and it will happen again. And we have families who worship with us because of our youth group. But some seem to think that we have to make changes in our youth program so we do not lose families like this one.
The other couple did not choose us because they could not find an adult class they really liked. Well, once again, it happens. But I was told that we have to make things "better" so we don't lose families like this. I don't think I agree. How do we please everyone? What if we lose families because we don't sing enough contemparary songs and/or because we sing too many? Maybe we should have a lecture/discussion/fellowship heavy/textual/need based class so everyone will like us and want to worship with us.
And our youth program needs to be more open/more fun/more serious/more evangelistic/more growth oriented/at the building/in homes....and so forth. After all, there is surely a magic bullet that makes everyone happy. We need to be sure and meet everyone's needs/hit their sweet spot/worship in ways that please them/have ministries that they like/and so on.
What if church is not about us? What if we construct our programs in ways that we feel God is leading us to do? Is it possible that we don't need to cater to what people want in a church? What if we do intentional ministry that reaches non-believers? I know everyone will not choose to worship with us, and some will even leave in search of "greener pastures". But just maybe that shouldn't be the driving force behind all our decisions.
So what do you think?
The other couple did not choose us because they could not find an adult class they really liked. Well, once again, it happens. But I was told that we have to make things "better" so we don't lose families like this. I don't think I agree. How do we please everyone? What if we lose families because we don't sing enough contemparary songs and/or because we sing too many? Maybe we should have a lecture/discussion/fellowship heavy/textual/need based class so everyone will like us and want to worship with us.
And our youth program needs to be more open/more fun/more serious/more evangelistic/more growth oriented/at the building/in homes....and so forth. After all, there is surely a magic bullet that makes everyone happy. We need to be sure and meet everyone's needs/hit their sweet spot/worship in ways that please them/have ministries that they like/and so on.
What if church is not about us? What if we construct our programs in ways that we feel God is leading us to do? Is it possible that we don't need to cater to what people want in a church? What if we do intentional ministry that reaches non-believers? I know everyone will not choose to worship with us, and some will even leave in search of "greener pastures". But just maybe that shouldn't be the driving force behind all our decisions.
So what do you think?
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We live in a weird little town - so many choices. Most places don't have as many churches of Christ as we do and they're so close together! You can drive a few miles and find something that suits you or your family.
That being said - everybody has to go where they find that best fit. I came from a place where, if you wanted Church of Christ on the door, there was one. That's it. No choice. No youth group differences. No outreach differences. No worship style differences. Be happy or go Baptist.
I my humble opinion that's how people choose their church (or they go to mama's church.) Now for my question: how do you think people should choose? What should be the reason to go to one over the other? I know how and why we chose SH (it wasn't because of the people) but what do you think should have been the reason?
That being said - everybody has to go where they find that best fit. I came from a place where, if you wanted Church of Christ on the door, there was one. That's it. No choice. No youth group differences. No outreach differences. No worship style differences. Be happy or go Baptist.
I my humble opinion that's how people choose their church (or they go to mama's church.) Now for my question: how do you think people should choose? What should be the reason to go to one over the other? I know how and why we chose SH (it wasn't because of the people) but what do you think should have been the reason?
Great point, Denise. The reality is, when coming to Abilene you have to choose a church. What criteria will you use to do that? It has to be SOMETHING, and knowing whether or not you will be lost in our adult classes of 3 bazillion people is a good criteria. It isn't why we chose SHCC, but my kids were on board because SHCC has a rice table. (Did you, my fearless shepherd, know that we had a rice table? :-) Do you even know what one is and why my kids would care? :-) Everyone has some sort of criteria.
ABSOLUTELY, church is not about us -- but we do have to get/keep people in the door. And I will officially state right now on the world wide web that our adult classes are abysmal. For that reason, there is one more couple working with University students at church (us!), but we could do much better. Because of my own experience of trying to elbow my way into knowing people at church I would venture a guess that it isn't that those folks couldn't find a class they LIKED so much as they couldn't find a class where they weren't completely lost in the crowd. Do you really think a room full of 300 adults is "intentional ministry that reaches non-believers"? I dare say the "un-churched" never would have lasted as long as the family that was searching for a church.
I whole-heartedly agree that church leadership decisions should not be made based on who will stay and who will go and who is in what camp. However, I also strongly believe that we cannot fall into the "what we've always done is good enough" trap. As a "newbie" at SHCC, I made a commitment to not come in griping that things weren't to my liking, but also to never quit having a vision that things could be better. The trick is to see people that have always done it that way to see that it could be better, or even NEEDS to be better.
ABSOLUTELY, church is not about us -- but we do have to get/keep people in the door. And I will officially state right now on the world wide web that our adult classes are abysmal. For that reason, there is one more couple working with University students at church (us!), but we could do much better. Because of my own experience of trying to elbow my way into knowing people at church I would venture a guess that it isn't that those folks couldn't find a class they LIKED so much as they couldn't find a class where they weren't completely lost in the crowd. Do you really think a room full of 300 adults is "intentional ministry that reaches non-believers"? I dare say the "un-churched" never would have lasted as long as the family that was searching for a church.
I whole-heartedly agree that church leadership decisions should not be made based on who will stay and who will go and who is in what camp. However, I also strongly believe that we cannot fall into the "what we've always done is good enough" trap. As a "newbie" at SHCC, I made a commitment to not come in griping that things weren't to my liking, but also to never quit having a vision that things could be better. The trick is to see people that have always done it that way to see that it could be better, or even NEEDS to be better.
Great comments. I don't know exactly how you should choose a church home. We have always gone where we were on staff or where we were asked to come teach or do a special ministry.
Should always seek to be inviting to non-believers,or should we be most concerned with being inviting to believers?
I wish I knew the answers, but thanks for the thoughts. Next blog: how to chose a church.
Should always seek to be inviting to non-believers,or should we be most concerned with being inviting to believers?
I wish I knew the answers, but thanks for the thoughts. Next blog: how to chose a church.
"Wherever two or more are gathered..." , well, there you will find two or more different opinions about many, many things.
Nathaniel always says that change is not always because of a bad thing, and that sometimes we need a change just for the sake of change. Keeping things fresh and real and intentional...that's how I would say it!
Should we be making changes to please others? Probably not...it would be the IMPOSSIBLE mission. There would ALWAYS still be someone not happy...it's this fallen world we live in. I would venture to say we should be making changes to make us closer to God and a more holy people...comfort zone or not.
Definitely something I will be thinking about today! Thanks! :)
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Nathaniel always says that change is not always because of a bad thing, and that sometimes we need a change just for the sake of change. Keeping things fresh and real and intentional...that's how I would say it!
Should we be making changes to please others? Probably not...it would be the IMPOSSIBLE mission. There would ALWAYS still be someone not happy...it's this fallen world we live in. I would venture to say we should be making changes to make us closer to God and a more holy people...comfort zone or not.
Definitely something I will be thinking about today! Thanks! :)
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