Thought Provoking Articles

27 09 2010

Here are two articles I read today that I thought would interest you as well.

The Retail Church by Chris Thron looks at some of the unintended consequences of not having neighborhood churches.

The Psychology of Worship and Church Growth by David Virtue examines some of the key elements that make a church a vibrant faith community, and what happens when they are absent.

I hope you enjoy these articles as much as I did. A special thanks to my father-in-law for sending me the link to David Virtue’s commentary.


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Categories : Brotherly Love, Church Attendance, Fellowship, Marks of a True Church, Neighborhood Churches, Spirituality

Some Questions

25 09 2010

A while back Julia and a friend were talking about church and our friend said when she feels burned out she goes to the “Hypothetical Church” where people really know and care for each other, bear one another’s burdens, and help each other with the daily struggles of walking with God. As you know, I’ve been thinking a lot about the way Americans do church. Here are some questions that have been rattling around in my brain for the last few months.

▸ Why is it that week after week millions of us meet, sing some songs, listen to a sermon, have a cup of coffee, talk about things that don’t really matter, and go home unchanged?

▸ Why do we spend so much time on programs within the church that we have no time or energy to minister to people outside the church? (I read recently that 51% of Americans say they don’t know an evangelical Christian).

▸ Why are we satisfied to call a pot luck dinner and small talk fellowship?

▸ Why are we so afraid to let those we call our brothers and sisters know our short comings, our fears, ours sins?

▸ Why are so many of our kids dropping out of church, or worse, leaving their faith behind altogether?

▸ Why do so many Christians feel that they are doing well in their relationship with God because the regularly attend church services?

▸ Why do we spend so much money on buildings, retreats, concerts, computers, lights, choir robes, and coffee when there is so much real need in the world that is going unmet?

▸ Why is God so powerful and His church so (seemingly) impotent?

▸ How am I part of the problem?

▸ How is God calling me to be part of the solution?

Like Todd Agnew says, “I’ve got better questions than I have answers.” Let’s seek the Lord together to get His answers.


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Categories : Brotherly Love, Church and Money, Church Attendance, Churchless Christians, Fellowship, Generation Gone, Outreach, Questions, Rethinking Church, Spirituality

The Year of Living Without Church

7 09 2010

About a year-and-a half ago our family stopped going to church. We have attended sporadically during that time, but have not been part of congregation since April 2009. I’d like to share my Top Ten Insights from The Year Without Church.

10. I was able to step back from the busyness of being an elder, a member of the pastoral search committee, occasional preaching, and trying to start a small group for men, among other things. Becoming an outsider gave me something I lacked while we were regular churchgoers – time. I now had time to think. Why was I doing all these things? Is this really what God wants me to do? Were my motives for service always godly?

9. A lot of church activities and programs I was involved in were busy work. For example, I spent way too much time in elder meetings and not nearly enough time doing the job of caring for the congregation.

8. Much of what I did in the name of fellowship (at least on Sunday morning) was simply small talk over coffee and high carb snacks. Rarely did I ask people what God was teaching them or if they had any burdens I could help them carry. I mostly talked about work, kids, weather, sports, and other “safe” topics. I didn’t share a common life with my brothers and sisters centered on our relationship to Christ, and even more rarely did I work together with them for a common goal which brought glory to God.

7. When I first quit going to church I thought I had all the answers to the church’s problems, now I know I don’t. I believe the Lord has given me good insights into ways the church could make positive changes to more effectively reach a skeptical culture, but He has also shown me He’s the church’s savior and I’m not.

6. There are a lot of people who have been hurt in some way by the church. They do not want to be churchless Christians, but have found being part of a church makes it harder for them to follow Christ rather than easier.

5. I visited several churches during The Year Without Church and found most of them sorely lacking in friendliness to new people. At many of the churches I visited not one person spoke to me either before or after the service, even if I visited more than once. It is all too common to be ignored when you are a new visitor.

4. When I attended church regularly I was so busy maintaining church programs or was sufficiently satisfied with the status quo to realize there might be different and better ways to do things.

3. I deeply miss being with other Christians and sharing Authentic Christian Community, but I do not miss attending church services. When did church become a spectator sport?

2. The Church, when operating in the power of the Holy Spirit and according to scriptural guidelines, has the potential to be the most powerful force for God the world has ever seen. When it does not operate this way, the Church is merely a semi-sacred country club designed to benefit its members.

1. Just like it was not good for Adam to be alone in the Garden, it is not good for me to be alone in my Christian journey. I desperately need to be a part of a vital faith community that is devoted to Jesus and to each other; a group of people who are committed to bear each other’s burdens, love each other, forgive and put up with one another, encourage, not judge each other, work together to more fully reflect the love of Christ both within the church and to a world in need of God’s mercy and grace.

Is there a church like that? If so, please pray we will find it, and soon.


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Categories : Brotherly Love, Church Attendance, Churchless Christians, Fellowship, Generation Gone, Rethinking Church, Uncategorized

Rip Current

26 08 2010

Our family recently went on vacation. One day we met extended family at the beach to swim in Lake Michigan. When we arrived the others had been there for a while. They immediately warned us of the strong rip current in the lake. Lake Michigan is not always a tame lake and has claimed nearly 20 victims this summer alone.

We entered the water with a combination of excitement and caution. Despite the warning, I wasn’t prepared for the ferocity of the rip current as the waves rushed back to open water. We enjoyed to waves, but warned everyone near us of the danger.

After one exciting trip on a powerful wave I noticed a young boy in the waves between sand bars. The look on his face said he wasn’t having fun anymore. He was scared, clinging to his wave board for dear life. If a wave separated him from that board he wouldn’t be able to stay above water. He was too far out for me to get to him quickly. I thought another man about fifteen feet from the boy would offer to help, but he seemed oblivious to the peril the boy was in. The man watched him drift away and caught the next wave. The current carried the boy farther out and toward my nephew who promptly went to see if he was alright. My brother-in-law also swam out to help. Nathanael and I grabbed hands forming a human chain.

“Hold on tight!” I shouted grabbing the wave board and pulling the boy toward me. Joel and I each held of one his arms and walked him toward shore.

“I can make it frooglug glug here,” he said just as another wave submerged him.

About thirty feet from shore, in safe, shallow water a woman looked at us with a puzzled expression on her face.

“What happened?” she asked.

“He got caught in the rip current and was dragged out into the lake. He needed help getting back. I think he needs to rest on shore for a while,” I replied.

She took him back to the beach and we went back out to enjoy more abuse from Lake Michigan’s pounding surf.

Life can be a lot like that afternoon at Lake Michigan. As I pondered the event I began to see parallels to what happens in a church community.

▸ The boy didn’t set out to drown that day. He just wanted to have fun. The strength of the rip current overwhelmed him and he was soon fighting for his life. None of us intends to get into tough situations, but life has a way of overtaking us when we least expect it.

▸ Most of the people at the beach that day were wrapped up in their own little world and seemingly unaware of the surrounding danger. The man closest to the struggling boy paid no attention to him, even the boy’s mother had no idea he was out so far. We often go through life enjoying the good things it brings our way while others around us are hanging on, white knuckled, to their wave board too tired from the struggle to even call for help.

▸ The boy wanted to rely on his own ability to battle the current when it was clear he was losing the fight. How often, when faced with similar situations, do we fail to acknowledge our need for help?

The incident also provided a great picture of how Christians should act when practicing the principles of Authentic Christian Community. A key principle is found in Philippians 2:4 – Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

▸ Realizing how quickly someone could be carried beyond reach made us vigilant. We looked out for our family and anyone else might be in trouble. Where else, if not the church, should we open our eyes and see those struggling around us? By following Christ’s example of putting the interests of others above His own, we will be aware of the dangers we all face.

▸ The boy didn’t think he needed help, but we could see he did. Sometimes it takes an objective view to help us see we are in trouble. When Christians put the principles of Authentic Christian Community into practice we will be on the look out for the struggles in our friends’ lives, even if they think they’re doing fine.

▸ We had to stop our fun to help someone being overcome by the waves. As Christ-followers we should always be willing to be interrupted and inconvenienced for the sake of someone not strong enough to make it on their own.

▸ Even though the boy repeatedly told us he could make it on his own, my brother-in-law and I walked him back to the safety of shore and his mother. A church community should never look for the least it can do to help. Christians should be committed enough to each other to not let go until the crisis is over.

This is the call of Authentic Christian Community. Live your life not with the me-first mentality our culture embraces, but by looking out for each other’s interests as well. Then we will rescue those caught in life’s rip currents and demonstrate the power of Christ’s example.

Father,
Open our eyes to others’ needs. Move us to come alongside. Help us to never let one of our struggling brothers or sisters drown. Use us to bring them safely to shore.
Amen.


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Categories : Brotherly Love, Fellowship, Relational Bridges, Rethinking Church, Uncategorized

Carols, Cards, and Caring: Authentic Christian Community in Action

12 08 2010

Last December some friends of ours gathered at our house to enjoy the Christmas season together. The adults sat upstairs talking about grown-up stuff while the kids watched Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer, you know the one with Burl Ives as the Snowman/Narrator. Believe it or not some of the teens had never seen it! There was the typical party fare – sloppy joes, chips and dip, fruit and veggie trays, and, of course, Christmas cookies. One particular treat was having Julia squirt whipped cream directly from the can into the mouths of some of the little kids. Everyone was enjoying themselves and the festive atmosphere of the party.

Someone suggested we sing Christmas carols. We gathered in the living room where the fire was crackling and got out the hymn books so we could sing more than the one verse of the carols. One of the girls asked if she could play the piano for the first carol. She sat down and played part of the carol and then stopped.

“That’s all I know. I played this as a duet in my recital and I only learned my part,” she said with a sheepish grin.

Without missing a beat, well not too many beats anyway, another pianist slid in and continued the song so we could keep singing. As we sang those familiar carols, the wonder of God’s love in sending Jesus to be our savior fell on us all and we felt His presence in the room. It was a joyous, worshipful time complete with a four-year old expressing her love for Jesus by gracing us all with a dance that warmed our hearts and brought smiles to our faces.

When the singing ended, the kids went back downstairs for more teenage fun and the adults moved into the dining room to play cards. We were about three hands into “Up and Down the River” when someone brought up a concern that was troubling them. As we continued to play cards, we talked about the issue. Advice was offered, encouragement was given. Open ears allowed the person to be heard even though it was not an easy topic to discuss. Around the table, as cards were being shuffled and hands played, burdens were shared and carried by the group.

As our friends were leaving I had a very satisfied feeling in my heart. We had not gone to church, we had done something even better. We had been the church – worshiping, caring, loving, and helping each other live in a world full of concerns and burdens.

That’s what I mean when I talk about Authentic Christian Community. This story doesn’t cover all aspects of ACC, but it paints a picture of what is possible when people meet together and share a common life centered around their relationship with Jesus and each other. It is this type of corporate caring that is going to renew churches and inspire outreach. It is this type of relationship that Generation Gone is looking for. It is this type of community which will bring the healing touch of Jesus to a battered and hurting world.

Father in heaven, renew your people to love each other and to unreservedly show that love to those who need it most. Amen.


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Categories : Fellowship, Generation Gone, Relational Bridges, Rethinking Church, Spirituality, Uncategorized

Authentic Christian Community

5 08 2010

Last week my daughter Beth wrote about Generation Gone. It is the most read post on the blog. Thanks Beth, and great job.

One of the things that would help churches keep members in the 20-40 year old demographic would be an emphasis on developing Authentic Christian Community (ACC). A brief description of ACC is found in the opening chapters of the book of Acts. If we take a look at the snapshot of the early church given there we can discover the source and impact of ACC in the early church.

Authentic Christian Community Is Produced by
▸ a group of Christ followers being filled with and empowered by the power of the Holy Spirit to put into practice the teachings and example of Jesus in everyday life (Acts 1:4-5, 8; 2:4, 38-39)

Authentic Christian Community Produces
▸ devotion to the life-giving essentials of a vibrant congregation (Acts 2:42)
▸ togetherness of the members of a church so they can “do” life with each other (Acts 2:42, 46)
▸ generosity & praise so that people’s needs are met by the community and God is praised for His goodness and provision (Acts 2:44-45, 47)
▸ sharing of the gospel message and spiritual fruit in the lives of those both inside and outside the church (Acts 2:43, 47)

If churches in the United States would devote themselves to developing Authentic Christian Community, they wouldn’t have room enough to hold all the young people (and older ones, too) that would desire to be a part of it.

If you or your church wants to develop this type of Authentic Christian Community then you can reserve a date to host or attend the 21st Century Wineskins Seminar that Relational Life Ministries(1) is presenting this fall. The seminar, consisting of four modules, is designed to equip churches, small groups, and individuals to share the story of their faith in Jesus in a relational way in the context of Authentic Christian Community. Module Two is dedicated to helping you and your church develop a deeper expression of Authentic Christian Community.

(1) Relational Life Ministries exists to equip churches, small groups, and individuals create authentic Christian community, where people experience God’s mercy and grace, and grow to be more like Jesus.


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Categories : Church and Money, Church Attendance, Fellowship, Generation Gone, Outreach, Prayer, Relational Bridges, Rethinking Church, Sharing your Faith, Spirituality

Generation Gone by Beth Hardy

26 07 2010

One of the troubling problems of the church in the 21st century is the lack of young people in their 20′s and 30′s. A large number of the folks in this age group keep their faith, but drop out of church once they enter college. Many churches are rightly concerned about this situation and are seeking answers regarding how to end the exodus. Here is a post from a guest blogger, my daughter Beth, with one person’s answer to the question,”Why don’t you go to church anymore?”
- Chris

This is the story of how I, Elizabeth Hardy, became part of “Generation Gone”.

The first I heard of the phenomenon of young people going off to college and dropping out of church attendance was probably three or four years ago, while I was still in high school. I promised myself, “I will never become one of those students.” I went off to college about two years ago, still absolutely sure that I would remain a good Christian, regularly attending church like I’m supposed to.

Things did not go as I planned. I tried. I attended one church fairly regularly for two months, then tried several others before sinking into Generation Gone. Why? I was so determined to find a place where I could worship God, love others, and be loved by them. Instead, I found places where, for all the fellowship I got, I might as well have read my Bible, talked to myself about it, and turned on a praise and worship CD to sing along with.

Now, perhaps this was due in part to the fact that I am very shy. I try to overcome it, but I’m wretchedly uncomfortable around strangers. I probably need to put a little more effort into introducing myself and meeting new people. Even so, must I be expected to do all of the work toward integrating myself into a church? Is it fair that I can walk in, listen and worship for an hour or so, and then walk out without hearing one word spoken to me individually?

I hear so much about the programs churches are putting in place to attract people of my generation: everything from “relevant” messages and “contemporary” music to coffee lounges and modern décor. There are college and career groups specifically designed to bring my generation back to church. To be honest, though, I don’t care a whole lot about any of that. Any biblical message is relevant to me, and I like hymns, too, not just pop-rock sounding music (I actually like the hymns better). I don’t even drink coffee! What I want is people, not programs. I want relationships, where people care about me as an individual, and I can do the same for them.

The great paradox lies in what I believe to be the reason I can’t find this kind of relationship. Like I said, churches are trying very hard to bring my generation into church. Why doesn’t it work? Because you’re trying to bring my generation into church, and not me. Nobody likes being lumped into a generalization. God made us each wonderful, distinct individuals, with our own quirks, abilities, goals, and trials. How, then, can we expect to minister to a generation, when contained within such a group are so many people, each with a different story to tell? How, unless we slow down enough to listen to a few stories at a time, and allow ourselves the sweet vulnerability to tell ours to others? No sermon series, no musical genre, and not even the most delicious gourmet coffee are as attractive to me as the trust that allows people to freely give and receive God’s love together.


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Categories : Church Attendance, Fellowship, Generation Gone, Rethinking Church, Spirituality

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