You See Bones, I See an Army (cont,)

Sorry for the hiatis, you'd think I'd have more time, not working!  So many things to do!
Continuing with chapter 2 by Floyd McClung.

Being incarnational means relating to people in ways that allow us to identify with people without compromising our message.

Paul preached, gathered the new believers, taught and baptized them, and then trusted the Holy Spirit in them to empower them to live thier faith in their culture, not apart from it.

Some people believe that the attractional approach to church is about improving our programs, projecting better audiovisuals, and getting people to come to our church instead of the church down the street.  It caters to the consumer mentality of shopping around to find the church that fits us.  There are church growth conferences dedicated to better parking lots and more appealing children's programs.  When I hear people talking like this, I feel what Jesus must have felt like when he cleansed the Temple.  What have we come to?  Better parking lots?  The right packaging of our worship set?  Is church really that far gone in our Western ways of doing things?

I believe there are distinct advantages to such a simple expression of church and ministry:
1.  It is simpler to get things done.  It doesn't take a long time to conduct the business meeting of the church!
2.  Accountability is more natural and powerful with two or three people.  It is more difficult to confess sins or weaknesses with a larger group of people.
3.  There is grater flexibility.  It doesn't take as long, or involve as many decisions, to change or adapt to new opportunities.
4.  Communication flows more easily with a small group of people.  Misunderstandings can be cleared up more quickly when the group is smaller.
5.  There is greater proximity to people who don't know Jesus.  It is natural for a small group to meet in a restaurant or bar or office, thus keeping a group located among people who don't know Jesus.
6.  Direction is more quickly and clearly confirmed in simple. church.  God often uses two or three others to confirm what he says to us.
7.  Leadership stays natural and relational.  When the leadership functions in a small group of people, it is much more difficult for it to function from a lofty position since everyone knows each other.
8.  Multiplication can happen spontaneously as the group grows.  It doesn't take a worship band, a fat check, a telemarketing campaign, and a new building to plant a new church!

The difference between complicated church and simple church is that the complicated church relies on programs to disciple people, while simple church empowers people to disciple people.

That was such a good end note, I'll end there.  A few comments:

On the paragraph on attractional church.  I believe it is very easy for people (church staff, congregation) to believe this is the best model to reach the community for Christ.  After all, it's like luring ants to a picnic.  You make it smell good enough, they're bound to come.  It makes sense.  But is it Biblical?  Did Jesus spend time making his message 'look' and 'sound' good?  No.  He was at times offensive, angry, and frustrated.  But he delivered the message of salvation clearly and without compromising.  He didn't sugar-coat it.  He talked about sin.  He even specifically pointed out the sin in the people he was talking to.  There's conviction for you!  Let's be basic in our message, not manipulative, wrapping the Gospel in twinkling lights.  Some might say we should strive for excellence in  trying to reach every one we can for Christ.  Yes, we should strive for excellence.  But let's not compromise.  I believe God made the Gospel attractive and powerful and able to stand on it's own without us interferring with it to try and make it better.  It is timeless.  It works by itself, yesterday, today, and forever. 

Also, on catering to the consumer mentality of shopping for church:  I think 'the consumers' have it backwards.  WHERE IS PRAYER?  It is not about US finding a church that fits US.  We should not be consumers here.  If God is Sovereign Lord in our lives, God should be directing us to the church He wants us to attend.  He does this with His purpose for our lives in mind.  We should be praying about where He wants us to go and be obedient to that calling.  We should not attend a church because our parents do (if we're over 18), or because our friends do, or because it is where we accepted Christ, or because it is the only church we've ever attended.  We should attend a church because it is where God has called us for this season.  The season may last a lifetime, or less than that.  There is no sin in changing churches when we are on our knees before our King and are led to go elsewhere because God wants to teach us something else under another Shepherd.  The Shepherd doesn't own the sheep.  God does, and He calls the sheep as He wills.  Though loyalty is a great thing, it is secondary to calling.  Who and what are you being loyal to?  Don't be so loyal that you sacrifice the care and feeding of your soul.  You won't be as useful to God as quickly if He has to heal the damage caused by you being in the wrong place. 

Blessings on this cold, windy Wednesday.