Unnecessary tensions
In many of our churches there is an air of tension about change. Some churches are already in the midst of change and dealing with some of it's consequences. Some look around them and see the state of decline and lack of young adults and fear what they are sure must be inevitable. I am wondering of some of the consequences are coming because we are changing the wrong things?
Many of us reacted to decline and graying of our congregations by assuming that it was a music and worship style problem. So we engaged in the battle to "upgrade". Some of us saw a few inactive or dissatisfied members move our way, but all in all there have been few unreached persons who have responded. Maybe that was not what was keeping them away.
Maybe we don't have to exchange the really important aspects of our churches. Maybe we just need to change the way we deliver the really good things about our Churches. What we need to do is share our best. Most of our churches are really good at showing love and support for each other. We have some awesome times of fellowship. We know how to rally around hurting ones and go the extra mile to help a friend. That is what the unreached need most about us.
So I would suggest that we may not need to change everything, just change the folks that are getting to enjoy what we do best. Jesus did not call for a revised Temple worship, He called for showing what the community of faith can do best, love. For most churches what they need for fresh life is not to tinker with their programs and services first. It is to strategically find ways to let the awesome power of the love and fellowship they have leak out of their walls and into the world around them.
Many of us reacted to decline and graying of our congregations by assuming that it was a music and worship style problem. So we engaged in the battle to "upgrade". Some of us saw a few inactive or dissatisfied members move our way, but all in all there have been few unreached persons who have responded. Maybe that was not what was keeping them away.
Maybe we don't have to exchange the really important aspects of our churches. Maybe we just need to change the way we deliver the really good things about our Churches. What we need to do is share our best. Most of our churches are really good at showing love and support for each other. We have some awesome times of fellowship. We know how to rally around hurting ones and go the extra mile to help a friend. That is what the unreached need most about us.
So I would suggest that we may not need to change everything, just change the folks that are getting to enjoy what we do best. Jesus did not call for a revised Temple worship, He called for showing what the community of faith can do best, love. For most churches what they need for fresh life is not to tinker with their programs and services first. It is to strategically find ways to let the awesome power of the love and fellowship they have leak out of their walls and into the world around them.

