The Unexpected Adventure- "Worship With Class"- Ephesians 5:8-10, 15-16
Mark recounts of a time he and a high school classmate organized a Sunday morning service as part of a class reunion. They were able to host the service in the high school gym and the turn out was encouraging. Reunioners led the worship, and the former class president delivered the sermon. It became a part of future reunions.
The Action Principle of the chapter was "try something different" when it comes to witnessing. This might mean a different type of Sunday morning music, the use of certain kinds of technology or a wider variety of worship times. "Our biblical message should never change, but our ways of communicating it must. Wise innovation and effective evangelism go hand in hand."
I agree with Mark's premise, but just because it is new, doesn't always mean it is effective. One thing that I find surprising about ALL of the churches which I have attended is the almost 100% lack of leadership-sought feedback from the rank and file. As a the principal at Rountree, I regularly seek feedback from parents, teachers and students. Then, whenever possible, we make positive changes from that feedback.
Why are churches so afraid of getting honest, timely feedback from members? The ability to solicit and evaluate feedback from dozens to hundreds of people is so easy thanks to the internet, the only two reasons I can see why it is not done is:
1. Ignorance of either the importance of such feedback or the technology that would allow the collection of the feedback.
2. Leadership either doesn't want member feedback or knows it wouldn't implement feedback-based change even if that feedback were provided. (I am not sure I have ever used "feedback" so often in one paragraph.)
I got a bit off track, but my point is, try new things, but make sure those innovations are having the desired effect.
I just finished a three-paragraph reply and hit the wrong button and lost it. Jo might have been able to retrieve it, but she is in bed, so here goes again.
ReplyDeleteMost pastors (staff) feel that they don't work for a church...they work FOR God and just happen to work AT a church. (The senior pastor and God make a majority.) That is one reason RBC no longer has business meetings. They feel disagreement with them is disagreement with God.
I know a couple of people who have been involved with church leadership and they contend that much of the reason for this situation is financial. A church, like any other business, must meet bills such as utilities, insurance, payroll, etc. To allow dissension might mean the church could not meet expenses and (1) such would not be a good Christian witness and (2)if the church has to dissolve they can't reach people with the gospel.
The issue also involves the age-old issue of democracy. Should a leader follow the wishes of the people he leads, or should he do what he (and God) knows is best?
This is also why so many leaders settle for mediocracy. Mediocracy (don't rock the boat, this has worked in the past) maintains a place in the community and provides a safe, comfortable place for Christians to pat each other on the back and collect prayer requests each week.
You have jumped feet-first into some radical (almost to the point of revolutionary) concepts these past few months. Don't throw the baby out with the bath water in your relationship with the church as it is now. It (RBC, Second and others is doing a lot of things right.)
You mention not to "throw the baby out with the bath water". I am not in danger of ditching Ridgecrest or church attendance due to my thoughts, musings or ideas. No organization is perfect. I agree that, even though flawed, many churches are doing many things right.
ReplyDelete