Far too many of us are moving down the "gotta do more" pipeline in the "Attractional" church model. However, I am finding that the things we are saying we "Gotta Do" are not where it's at, for the people around me. I wish it was as easy as a new praise band singing swanky new songs, and some slicker programs. The Research is out, and conclusive. Most of the churches we know that are growing is by transfer growth, or people who have recently exited the church, but are now looking to re-enter somewhere.
Most conversations about church today center around "METHODS" or the widgets and gadgets (Programs) we use for the big event Sunday or mid week. Speaking of Church as an "event" is just bad theology, and an improper use of the biblical word. We talk far to much about church than we do about Jesus at our Leaders meetings. It seems to be more about our stuff, than his stuff, all the while we are assuming our stuff is his stuff.
Yes, the conversations are usually about "church"; it's about methods, forms, and structure. Which gadgets will we use, how we will apply this gadget to our church, how big, how small, how often, who will widget the widget, how much, how new, how old.
The conversation is usually always about how to "reshuffle", "re-organize" the "Stuff". Managing "the stuff" is overshadowing the central heart. A lot of people are chocked to death busy, but not feeling any more connected. Ask them!
People, it's time to stop playing with the stuff! The stuff does not matter. Lets talk about engagement. Who is engaging people? Where are people being engaged, Are people being transformed? Ask them ! Hand out a one question church survey. I know what the answer will be, because I've been asking it for 5 years now. The stuff we are killing oursleves managing is not making one hoot of difference for them they are saying.
Read Neil Coles book "Church 3.0"
"Missional activist Alan Hirsch points out what being missional is not.’ First, the missional church is not synonymous with the emergent church , which is primarily a renewal movement to contextualize Christianity for a postmodern generation. Missional is nto the same as evangelesitc or seeker-sensitive, terms that generally apply to a more attractional church. Missional is not a term from Church growth; it has a bigger agenda. Finally, missional is not just social justice. We should engage the needs of the world, which is part of the mission but certainly not the whole of it.
Hirsch goes on to say: “A missional theology is not content with mission being a church-based work. Rather, it applies to the whole of life of every believer. Every disciple is to be an agent of the kingdom of God, and every disciple is to carry the mission of God into every sphere of life. We are all missionaries sent into a non-Christian culture.”..............
When we teach about organic church, it is not the kind of church (organic, seeker sensitive, purpose-driven, whatever) that is attractive to lost people; it is Christ, and Christ alone. When we make it about church- what kind of church. what is done at church, how it is done, who the preacher or singer is - we miss the point. Unless we realize that it is Christ in us what makes church anything better than the Kiwanis Club, we miss the plot. Lost people do not spend their hours trying to figure out how to get to church, or what kind of church they would like. The typical lost person sees only two things that church is good for: marrying and burying, and most are trying to avoid both.
Lost people are curious about Christ. It is not accidental that three of the best-selling books in recent years are about Jesus Christ:.....Jesus is on people’s minds and in their curiosity. They want to be part of something that is significant. They also want to be a part of a close-knit family that cares for one another. I believe that an organic, relational, and missional expression of church offers a better opportunity for people to experience those things. Being another spectator on Sunday morning is not enough for most people who have not yet found Christ, and it shouldn’t be enough for those who have found Him." (Neil Cole, Church 3.0 2010, pg 47,49)
No comments:
Post a Comment