Jun 11 2007
Enemies of church
Above is the “Church Pews” bunker at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, PA, the site of the 107th U.S. Open Championship. I am an observer of culture and churches. It is always interesting to me to get postcards or see ads for churches that claim they are “different” or “relevant.” It is like every church is in competition with each other.
I don’t believe that other churches are our competition. It is sports, TV, money, beaches, mountains, lakes, boats, motorcycles and other activities. I also think affluence hinders the church. None of these activities or objects by themselves are bad. It is just that many people would rather go play golf or go to the lake than spend time in church.
Whenever I leave early on a Saturday morning from my house I see everyone out early cutting grass, working on their home or headed to the lake. But when I leave on Sunday morning @ 8:00 AM the roads are empty. Why is it that people can get up on Saturday but not on Sunday?
We can criticize people all we want about not attending church or we can reevaluate how we are attempting to reach our communities. If what you have been doing in the past isn’t working then maybe it’s time to change. Why do people get up early to go play golf? Why do people wait in traffic jams for hours to go to football games or NASCAR races? Because it brings some sort of fulfillment to people. The problem is those events, good as they may be, will not matter a hill of beans for eternity.
I truly believe that people want to be a part of something bigger than themselves. I’ve given up on debating issues because that will never change the world. But bringing water to someone in need does. Repairing a city damaged by a catastrophe gives you an opportunity to speak. Helping your neighbor bring party items to their backyard that you don’t even drink shows you are a friend that can be counted on.
Our enemies are not the churches across the street or anywhere. Other Bible believing churches are our partners. They are going to reach people that your church won’t meet. Our enemies are those events, objects and money that keep people from seeing the need to have a relationship with Jesus.
What do you think?
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14 responses so far
I agree, Kevin.
That is why I use a quote from the Patron of my Order, St. Gregory the Great.
“The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist”
Like St. Paul says, we can have all knowledge, but without love, we are a clanging symbol.
I think what you are doing is great! Get out there and change the world, the Holy Spirit will change hearts as needed!
Great thoughts, Kevin.
One of the biggest weaknesses of my church is outreach. Don’t get me wrong, I love my church and there are great things happening. BUT, as a “church”, we aren’t walking our outreach talk. I include myself in that statement.
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” Kind of hard to feed the sheep when the shepherds are hording the food, eh?
A statement that hit me during a group bible study was that People are not the enemy, that powers and principalities are the enemy.
We drive through a golf community on our way to church on Sundays. We can see down the fairway at a stop sign and at 9 there are already many people golfing on Sundays. I think churches need to start doing outreach at the these places on Sunday morning. It may be hard, but so what? It needs to be done. At least something needs to be done. We spend so much money on Kid’s programs, but often times, the parents only come to church to bring their kids. We need to be doing stuff for the parents. You want to reach out to single moms? Have a night out for them for free and watch their kids while they do something at the church. Put up signs at the Medicaid office. Some will come. They need the break. We need to reach out to dads too. If they are saved, I bet the kids will come to church too!!
Kevin, I noticed that over on Art Rogers’ blog you told Gene you would pray for him. You may have responded to Dozer’s comment (Murpheys’ Law Post) by e-mail, but just in case you haven’t responded, please do! He is truly hurting and he is a brother…
KB,
Here’s my thoughts…People work had all week. Saturday is a day to do the chores: mow the yard, do the laundry, etc. Sunday is their day to play. We’ve got to figure out ways to help them see that worship is an integral part of their live, not an option. It’s not so much about evangelism on the golf course, but to re-orient their lives around on Sunday towards living the gospel and being the gospel, not coming to church to be taught the gospel.
The church culture is somewhat the enemy. We stay in our bubble so much at times. The idea of reaching/meeting the people on a Sunday morning is very important. A worship service doesn’t have to be done between 9 and 12 on a Sunday morning.
Sadly we do have to be ready to the view that the church is the enemy. There are people who are ok with some Jesus talk but mention church and hatred spews. People may despise the other team they are playing for a sporting event, but they have a team to root for in going. In worship, we don’t show the unity of rooting together that often.
We have to get away from the slide show and billy graham versions of evangelism. We have to get to building relationships so that people see we have something worth being apart of.
Janna,
Excellent observations. I may use those for my message on “Why Church?” this Sunday. Check tomorrow’s post–I could use your ideas.
Janna - right on! Sometimes we are our own worst enemy!
A friend of mine is doing a series on how we are to be Christians all of life and that our mindset of Sunday morning only is a passing cultural issue that we have to break out of. He is pretty smart on this topic. (and an Assembly of God Pastor)
From a Baptist preacher:
http://www.greaterthings.com/Ridenhour/Protestant_Evangelism/TwoSticks/index.html
Great Post Ryan…I don’t know that the Golf Course is necessarily the competition as I don’t see that many people playing Golf on a Sunday morning percentage wise.
Probably the greatest competition of a church is itself. Often times we feel just because we have a church people are going to be drawn or attracted to us. We think because we are good people and we pray people are going to be drawn to us.
But often times we are the one thing that drives people from us.
This makes me think of what Augustine once said, “Preach the Gospel; use words when necessary.”
On the competition between churches, I know a local pastor who told a woman attending a traditional church with her husband to come to his contemporary church since she seemed to be a contemporary person and let her husband go to church by himself.
I heard about a very conservative church in Nacogdoches, TX, that stopped meeting on Sunday Mornings. Instead, the church was instructed to spend their mornings out in their community, walking, doing yardwork, whatever. The idea is to be out when your neighbors are out. They meet in the evening for their weekly service instead. I don’t know all the details, but it does sound like a good idea when you realize that many people use Sunday morning for these activities.