Been to one church that provided a fist full of brochures and documents about all the things the church had going on. None of them involved the community. I guess they were like a club with lots of programs for the members. I wish you much success, I am sure it would be fun, but no thanks.
Another church I visited just enough to determine that the pastor was a bit too enamored with their demonination...and those robes - not the St. Francis, humble type robs - the stately, majestic, power robes that seemed to be worn for...I'm not sure why. My advice, its Jesus we should be enamored with. And take off that rob. If you must wear one, try a simple, humble one like the rest of the altar guild were wearing. The leader should be the servant, not the king. Godspeed to your growing, enthusiastic church, but no thanks.
And then there was the latest, rapidly growing dynamo church. I felt like I was in Branson. My 10 year old loved it, with all its choreographed programming, state-of-the-art multimedia, and well-paid programmers. I swear, everyone on stage was either paid to do what they were doing, or had special training from some stage manager from Branson. Normal people don't act that way. You have to be intentional and well trained to smile and move like that in unison. You sure are pulling them in. I heard you talk about it and your accomplishments twice in the one service I attended. The mouth speaks what is in the heart - or you can't hide your pathology, it finds a way of coming out. Where your heart is, there is your treasure. I wish you many blessings and kingdom fruit, but no thanks.
Then there was the case of deceptive advertising. It was billed as something new, edgy, unconventional, relevant. Meeting in the river market was a strategic move. It sent a message. The pastor was polished and was making attempts to be cool - he called the apostles 'the boys'. Didn't Jesus tell us to be aware of wolves in sheep's clothing? He forgot to warn us of baptists in post-modern clothing. My maxim that you can't hide your pathology again. Does a traditional baptist, conservative, evangelical message about sin, wrath, heaven, and hell with the passages read from the Message and meeting in a bar count as "something new and fresh." Does singing explicit worship songs with two awesome guitarists and a message that could have been preached at any of the 100 or so other conservative churches in the area count as "seeker-sensitive"? I wondered if some of the other aspects of a robust gospel might have been more "new, fresh, and relevant" for the post-modern folks they seem to want to attract? My advice - don't sucker punch them. Amway does that. It is not a good way to do your friends. I wish you grace and peace. May God's presence be with you. But no thanks.
Then there was the small, struggling church of maybe 20. They couldn't afford the association fees, got kicked out, and had to change there name. They meet in a dilapidated church building that was half burned down. The 20 looked like misfits. Some with tats, peircings, long hair, shaved head. An asperger's dude hung in the corner. No love bombs, just looks - a new guy. I guess they are not used to getting new guys in very often. Three pastors, one a woman, and only one paid part time, when there is money. Though they did not have a fist full of fancy brochures to give me, in the one they did have, one of the two paragraphs described their desire to serve the community. The unpaid worship team structured the songs to be meditative - extra choruses, extra bridges. After the worship, they took a break. Cool. The message was presented in a down-to-earth, humble style. No heavy-handed persuasion. No polish, no stories from a pastors resource book, no heurmanuntical devices were used or needed. The message stood on its own. Just a clear, real presentation delivered in humility (He couldn't be anything else in that setting). Hmmmm.......not sure yet why you are so small. Godspeed to your church. Thanks. Maybe I'll be back.
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