It seems to me that in our current culture, which is saturated by a consumer-centered and consumer–driven perspective, we may be asking the wrong questions. Christians must avoid the subtle-but-dangerous temptation to approach church with a perspective that has been shaped by our secular culture, asking such questions as, “Does this church meet my needs?” or “Does it offer the programs that I’m looking for?” or “Does this church measure up to my list of preferences?” or “Does it have the preaching and worship style that pleases and inspires me most?” You don’t find that mindset in the Bible—you don’t see Christians in Acts shopping for the “right” church. Instead, it would be more biblically consistent to ask, “What must we (I) do in order for us to be a more biblically consistent church—to be the church that measures up to His expectations according to what He has specifically laid out in Scripture?” Indeed, I’m not finding much in Scripture that suggests God is greatly concerned about my preferences.
And by the same token, it is so dangerous for churches to cater to our consumer-centered culture, asking, “What must we do to get more people to come,” striving to attract people through a consumer-based approach. You don’t see that in Scripture, either. It seems the most consistent—and effective—strategy was to go out and boldly proclaim the Gospel, without any frills and with all of its costs and expectations, and to make disciples (take another look at Acts 14). In fact, for us to do otherwise produces self-centered, consumer Christians.
Good points. I would however take it one step further back before beginning what you outline. I would submit that the earliest Christ Followers were aware they were the church, but that they spent far less time worrying about church, being church, doing church that today’s Christians. I guess another way of saying it was that the identities of Christ Followers in the early days were far less defined by the body they were a part of (although they had a greater sense of the global one-body-ness they shared with all Christ Followers) and more so with daily following Christ’s commands and example and being Christ among unbelievers.
Keep prodding… I love it!
Been working with my 5 year old about asking the “wrong questions.” She ask, ” Why can’t I get another toy?” I tell her to ask, “Jesus, why have you blessed me with so much?”
The same could be said about the church as you mentioned. We ask, “What else could we get or do to attract more people?” when we should be asking, “Who should I be personally reaching out to to show Jesus to them?”
Tons of questions, only one answer!
Wonderful Blog.
Just graduating from seminary undergrad I find myself grappling with this issue all of the time. What IS the church supposed to look like? I think so many of our churches have lost sight of what it means to be the body of Christ. These are questions that I am still working through all the time.
Megan Lebo
“Style” wasnt in the vocabulary of the early church!