The "Real" Hard Questions

I'm currently in the process of reading two books concurrently; "Rethinking the Wineskins" and "Pagan Christianity" by Frank Viola. These books are part of a 4 volume series Viola has written to examine closer the evolution of the church and how to get back to being what God originally designed the church to be. Wineskins examines what the first church was like. Pagan Christianity looks historically at the evolution of the church and where we get our traditions. In both, Viola is arguing that we have moved away from the "new church" Jesus came to establish and that many of the changes that have occurred have been more harmful than helpful to our DNA.

On a Side Note: Frank Viola has just re-released "Pagan Christianity" co-authored by George Barna. I'm reading the original version first and plan to then scan the second version for additions or changes.

I'll write more about these books later but I got to thinking...
I've visited many church websites in the past that were doing worship series on "hard questions," questions people don't know the answer to or how to respond to those who ask them. Questions such as, "Is the Bible Infallible?" "Does prayer really work?" and "Why do bad things happen and does God really care?"

While these may be questions people have and good questions to tackle and think through, I'm not sure they are actually the "hard" or "difficult" questions. To me, they are the "safe" questions churches are willing and comfortable answering. The REALLY hard questions churches need to be asking and answering are the ones that examine what they do, why they do it and should they be doing it. They are the questions that evoke change, both on an individual level and churchwide.

Questions such as:
1. Would Jesus spend as much time and resources on church as we do?
2. If the Holy Spirit speaks to and through all believers why don't we regularly ask everyone what the Spirit is saying when we gather and let that guide us?
3. Why are most of the ministry opportunities only at church?
4. Where do we get most of our church traditions and do they support or hinder Jesus' ministry?
5. Based on Jesus' ministry and teachings what changes would He recommend we make to our personal lives and church?

Churches don't ever ask such questions because if they did it would threaten their security and stability, rooted in tradition and comfort. Sadly, this misguided and "me-centric" attitude threatens to subvert God's purposes for His people. It is at this point that the church becomes less of a spiritual entity and more of an organization or club run by people.

Why the middle man?

Easter and Christmas are always such big pushes for churches. Create some special series, develop flashy brochures, challenge church members to hand out "invite a friend postcards" and bring their friends to church so that they can hear the saving message of Christ...

And this got me thinking....

Why do churches get caught up in this "outreach trap?" So often, outreach is defined as finding new ways or opportunities for congregation members to invite their friends to church when instead it should be helping church members to directly share Christ with others. In recent years it has been creating something so interesting and exciting, (such as a special, culturally relevant worship series) that our church members will feel compelled and desire to invite their friends to church.

Which made me ask...
When did we turn the congregation member into the middle man? We challenge our church members to invite a friend to church so that the "church" can then share the message of Christ... or should I say the pastor, worship team and/or small group leader shares Christ. We (the church) try and fool ourselves into thinking we're helping the church member share but the outcome is always less sharing by the church member and more sharing by the "church."

I don't think it was in God's design for there to be this middle man.The church equips, encourages, celebrates.... the people share, share, share!

No middle man... each with its own, unique purpose that is meant to compliment each other without replacing.

And I wondered...
If we truly adopted this principle how would it change what we do and say on Sunday's when we gather? Less evangelistic messages for the few unsaved in attendance... No need for an altar call... that's done with your friend, one on one. How would our conversations during Small Group Bible Study change? We'd spend the time talking about the people we're trying to share Christ with, the frustrations of not knowing better how to do it, and the burden we have for our unaccomplished task instead of an intellectual study of scripture.

And the end result would be we would become uncomfortable with how much time we spend at church. We'd be equally uncomfortable with how little time we invest in making friends with people who don't know Christ.

The reality is the church has taken on a role that was never theirs in the first place and the congregation member has lazily relinquished it. It's time for Christ followers to reclaim our God given role of being responsible for sharing Christ. And it's time for churches to throw away traditions, programs and activities that take away that role from the Christ follower.

If we want church members to see themselves as evangelizers then we have got to stop encouraging them to invite their unsaved friends to church. The time to invite a friend is after they are saved when they need to develop a support group of fellow Christ followers who will walk with them through the journey. Such an approach will free the church to be what it was meant to be... equipping and encouraging Christ followers, instead of being all things to all people, saved or unsaved!

On A Personal Note:I realize that what I am saying is somewhat radical. Please don't misunderstand me. I am not saying I would kick out unsaved people from attending church. What I am saying is that the church should only be seen as a "back door" to reaching the lost. The "front door" which has the greatest impact are through individual Christ followers. Personally, I have become increasingly concerned with the unintentional damage the church seems to be inflicting on its members. I am only using my blog as a way to clarify my thoughts and record them so that they are not lost. As the reader, take it or leave it. It's up to you!