Introduction--Rethinking the Church

[Chris]

I found several things in the introduction section very
interesting. Not the least of which was the declining number of those
attending church in America. White noted the Southern Baptist lists
numbers of 20 million, while only about 8 million were actually inside
the church on any given week. Isn’t it the same in most churches? We
have large membership rolls yet there is a vast difference between
those on our rolls and those sitting in our seats. Within our
denomination (Church of God – Cleveland) our membership rolls have
increased, yet the number of those actually attending Sunday Morning
worship has decreased in many church/areas. The health of our church
can never be based on our membership rolls. What good is the fact that
membership is 20 million, as in the case of the Southern Baptist, or
over 10,000, as in the case of Illinois COG, if only 40% attend? On
page 20 White records that British demographer David Barrett says that
in America, each week about 53,000 people leave the church, never to
return again. White goes on to say that in 1991, 24% of America was
unchurched, but in 2002 that number had risen to 34% (p.21). We must
be willing to ask the question, “Why are so many leaving out our
doors, not to return. Why is it that the number of those calling
themselves ‘unchurched’ increases so drastically?”
The survey White conducted was quite interesting. Of the reasons
that people gave for not wanting to attend church, did you notice that
a rejection of God was number 8? Two things got my attention in this
list. Most of the reasons for not wanting to come had to do with form
and style, not theology. It was not that they are rejecting God, but
they do not want to go somewhere to see, hear, and participate in
something that had not changed in 50 years.
The second thing that stood out to me was reason number 2, which
dealt with the fact that churches had too many problems. Division
within the church body is a major problem within the body of Christ.
Sometimes it is over weighty matters such as theology (Heb. 6:1), but
most of the time it is on nonessentials (color of carpet, style of
music, etc.). The only litmus test that Christ gave for the true
church was that they would know that we are His disciples by the way
we love one another (John 13:35).
The illustration of the Swiss watch makers is a stark reminder of
how quickly things can change within a society. In the span of 12
years (1968-1980) the Swiss went from 65% of the watch market to less
than 10%. Furthermore, how ironic it is that they invented the very
technological improvement that put them out of business. The invention
of the quartz movement took the Swiss off the map and placed Seiko on
the map because they could not stop looking at what had worked in the
past and failed to see the possibilities of the future. The lesson is
simple, what worked in the past may not work in the future.
Before someone rejects what I am writing, understand that I know we
need God’s direction, that His Word CAN NOT be compromised and that
His church will thrive. The question is, “are we going to be part of
that?” The principles will never change but the methods must. We must
learn a lesson from Jesus. He would talk to different people
differently. As He was walking down the road, He would see a farmer
and would bend down and get a piece of wheat and teach a lesson. Later
on as He walked, He would come upon some businessman and would reach
into His pocket and take out some coins and teach. The people today
are different than they were in 1970 and the way we reach them is
different, as well. The strength of the church is tied to our
willingness and ability to adapt to the unique conditions we find
ourselves in. As we face a postmodern world-view, may we be like the
men of Issachar who understood the times and knew what Israel should
do (1 Chronicles 12:32).
What do you think? How are we doing with reaching the people God
has placed around us? What else stood out in the introduction?

[Steven Lacy]

I tend to agree with you in that the survey conducted by White was eye
opening. I would have liked to known how large of a sample he used for
the survey, but it was nonetheless revealing at the very least.

[Db]

     James Emery White lays out several pertinent questions and factual data that we as the church, must contend with in this post-modern age in which we live.  What first piqued my interest can be found on the first page of the introduction (pg. 17); I thought that the quote that was made about "a single weekday edition of "The New York Times" includes more information than the average person in the seventeenth-century England encountered over the course of his or her lifetime. The implications of such rapid change have had an impact not only on our lives but on our institutions.  This poses the question in my mind; if this increase of knowledge has had such tremendous impact on our day to day lives, how do we adapt to make a stronger impact and reach those with the message of the cross of Christ around us without compromise in our communities?

     Change of any kind is difficult to implement.  I think that we often find ourselves saying "YES" to change, but when the proverbial rubber hits the road it is a completely different response.  In the section beginning on page 21, "Listening to the Unchurched", I found all of these points valuable in evaluating the "why".  But as Leith Anderson quotes on page 18, "the church is literally "dying for change," and it is taking its toll."; I wonder what if we were to take these reasons why the "unchurched" don't attend church and apply it in-house to ourselves?  I honestly can say that through my Christian walk I have experienced all of these points at some point.  No value in attending, too many problems within ("a typical church is made up of people who are inflexible, hypocritical, judmental, and just plain mean (pg.22), don't have time, simply not interested ("sociologist Wade Clark Roof, over half of all Americans have come to believe "that churches... have lost the real spiritual part of religion."), ask for money too frequently, boring services, no relevance for the way I live, and lastly I do not believe in God or I am unsure that He exists.  I think that how James White sums up these points is very well stated, "Their problem is not with Christian theology; it is with how we do church." (pg.24)  You see I think that we have to ask ourselves what is holding us back first and resolve that before we can ever impact our world for Christ.  While this may be hard to swallow 1 Peter 4:17 says "For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?"

     This has spurred me onward to think about how we, as the church; are able to break out of our silos of sanctification and turn our world upside down just as the disciples did at the beginning of the first century?  For I know that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever according to Hebrews 13:8.  And if that same spirit that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in us, just as it did in the apostles; we have to ask the question "what is holding us back?"  And be honest enough to face the answer and allow God to work through us!  Now is the time...

[mcst...@hotmail.com]

As I read the statistical data presented by James White, one question
kept coming to mind: How did the church come to be in the condition it
is in today? How did we come to the place where the church is thought
of as being irrelevant and unnecessary to so many?
The most dynamic church in history was the first century church. The
book of Acts paints a picture of a vibrant, powerful, living
organization that grew in leaps and bounds. I believe that before we
can focus on “What do we need to change?” we need to first answer the
question, “What has changed?”
Change often takes place at a gradual pace, evolving so slowly that
the person or organization being changed is oblivious to what is
happening. Jesus told a story involving 100 sheep. The focus of that
story was on the one animal that became separated from the flock. I do
not believe that the wayward animal woke up one morning and said,
“That’s it, I’m outa here” and headed down the road. In all
probability, that lamb wandered away one step at a time, perhaps
moving from one tuft of grass to another. At some point the animal
looked over his shoulder and realized he could no longer see the flock
or the shepherd. Change had taken place …the lamb that was once part
of the flock was now separated. I said all of that to make this
point: the church has changed. The church of 2012 has only a vague
resemblance of the first century church. If we want to see the same
results that the first century church realized, we need to start the
process of “Rethinking the Church” by looking over our shoulder and
determining what has already changed.
In examining the first century church, I see a fundamental principle
that the body adhered to and refused to compromise on. They knew that
the primary mission of the church was to proclaim the Word of God.
When other functions of the body (caring for the widows) began to
divert the leaders from this primary mission, they immediately took
steps to correct the situation (the election of deacons) and insure
that the proclamation of the Word was not hindered. Every activity of
the early church revolved around the proclamation of the Word.
In my opinion, the church of 2012 has slowly but surely wandered away
from that primary mission. Some churches focus on fellowship, some on
worship, and others on various forms of ministry. Very few truly
focus on the proclamation of God’s Word. Even when God blesses a
church with a pastor who uncompromisingly preaches the Word, today’s
congregations do not absorb that word and make application of it in
their individual lives. This is evidenced by the fact that very few
believers in the church today have even a basic understanding of God’s
Word. Ask the average believer what they believe and they may be able
to regurgitate some of the doctrines of their particular
denomination. Ask them why they believe what they believe and usually
all they can do is stutter. This is further evidenced by the lack
of participation in learning opportunities such as Sunday School and
weekly Bible studies. The members of the first church hungered for
the Word, lived the Word, and spread the Word. The church of 2012 has
settled for a weekly emotional experience with little regard for the
Word. If you don’t believe this, just ask the average church member
what the preacher’s message was last Sunday.
In the early church, all other functions were secondary to the
preaching and teaching of the Word. In fact, through-out the Bible we
see a definite pattern, the Word of God always came first. The Word
of God came first and then the people worshipped. The Word of God
came first and then the people ministered. The Word of God came first
and then souls were added onto the church. The primary focus was
always on the Word of God. Now, I fully understand that worship,
ministry and evangelism are all important functions of the church.
But, unless these activities are prefaced by an encounter with the
Word, they will prove to be frustrating and unfruitful.
If the church of 2012 is ever going to be successful in reaching the
lost, we need to get the horses back in front of the cart. Our
primary focus has to be on the Word of God. Our current membership
needs to be taught not only what the Word says but also how to apply
the Word. All of our ministries, programs, and outreach efforts need
to be based squarely on the Word of God. Only the Word can penetrate
the heart of a lost individual and draw him to the Living Christ. Only
the Word can change hearts and spiritually resurrect the dead. Only
the Word has the answer to the daily problems and situations that are
common to all. Rather than looking for a new program, a different
approach, a new gimmick, or an enhanced process, the church of today
needs to examine its priorities and make sure that the proclamation of
God’s Word is in the number one spot.
The results of James White’s survey of the unchurched were presented
in eight categories. I believe that the Word is the answer to each of
these objections.
1. There is no value in attending. Most folks come to church because
they have a need. They come searching for answers. Only the Word of
God has those answers. The Word must be presented in a way which is
relevant to today. People do not care what Moses or Samuel did unless
they can relate those experiences to what they are going through
personally. When the Word is presented in a relative, simplistic
manner, the Holy Spirit can use that Word to address every need.
2. Churches have too many problems. Why is this? Because decisions are
too often based on what I think is best, or what so-and-so thinks is
best, rather than on the Word. Brotherly love, fellowship, and the
ability to agree all come from an understanding of the Word. When the
Word has prominence, the “problems” will decrease.
3. I do not have time. The author addressed this one. We all make
time for what is important to us. If an unchurched individual has a
relevant encounter with the Word, he will be willingly to reorder his
priorities.
4. I am not interested. What sparked interest in the early church? The
unchurched witnessed the life-changing power of the Word in the lives
of their friends and neighbors and desired the same for themselves.
The same is true today.
5. Churches ask for money too frequently. I truly believe that if
Christians are taught the Word, in this case the doctrine of tithing,
there would be no need for the church to beg for money. When God
leads, He provides the resources. If a church is constantly begging
for money, they need to determine if they are really following God’s
leadership or simply doing what they think is right.
6. Church services are boring. Only when the Word is neglected or
presented in an irrelevant manner or when presented at a level above
that of the hearer.
7. Churches hold no relevance for the way I live. Basically, this
is the same as # 1. The church of today has to understand “where
people live” and present the Word in a relevant manner. (without
compromise)
8. I do not believe in God. How are they going to come to believe?
Only through a clear, relevant presentation of the Word of God. “Faith
comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God”.
I did not intend to write a book, but did want to express my
thoughts.

On Feb 12, 2:56 pm, Chris <pastorch...@curtisroad.com> wrote: