Thursday, May 20, 2010
Change the church... or the world
In talking to ministersI hear a lot of conversation about changing the church. I hear discussions of worship styles, organizational models, and the difficulty of getting "buy-in" to change our culture. Almost every new preacher hired speaks about the mandate to change things.
Of course, this frustrates ministers because churches won't change. Or won't change the way they want them to -- or as fast as they want. Elders get frustrated because sometimes they don't see the need to change things. Or they get tired of repairing the damage from the attempted change. Or everyone has a different opinion of what to change. And how to change it.
Church members get frustrated because everyone can't agree on what should be changed. Or because talk of change implies they have not doing things right. Or they have not been faithful. Young members get frustrated because they think talk of change is the same as a promise of change. Old members get frustrated because they know that the more things change... the more the stay the same.
I wonder what would happen if ministers got all fired up to change the world instead of wanting to change the church? What if time, resources, and energy went into making disciples out of worldly people?
Of course if ministers really became evangelists, then elders and members would have to do the shepherding and the ministry of the church. Members would have to step up and not depend on a paid, professional staff. And the paid staff would have to change their minset from ministers to evangelists.
But if we did that we might change the world. And I'm thinking that if we started trying to change the world then we might find out we are changing the church.
Just my thoughts. What about yours?
Of course, this frustrates ministers because churches won't change. Or won't change the way they want them to -- or as fast as they want. Elders get frustrated because sometimes they don't see the need to change things. Or they get tired of repairing the damage from the attempted change. Or everyone has a different opinion of what to change. And how to change it.
Church members get frustrated because everyone can't agree on what should be changed. Or because talk of change implies they have not doing things right. Or they have not been faithful. Young members get frustrated because they think talk of change is the same as a promise of change. Old members get frustrated because they know that the more things change... the more the stay the same.
I wonder what would happen if ministers got all fired up to change the world instead of wanting to change the church? What if time, resources, and energy went into making disciples out of worldly people?
Of course if ministers really became evangelists, then elders and members would have to do the shepherding and the ministry of the church. Members would have to step up and not depend on a paid, professional staff. And the paid staff would have to change their minset from ministers to evangelists.
But if we did that we might change the world. And I'm thinking that if we started trying to change the world then we might find out we are changing the church.
Just my thoughts. What about yours?
