If you have read any of the New Testament, you’ve probably read a book or two written by a guy named Paul to the churches he planted throughout Macedonia. Paul was given the task of sharing the Good News with the Gentiles. As he traveled from town to town, he would preach the gospel, teach the people how God wanted them to live, establish a church there, and appoint people to care for that church. He was a modern-day missionary and church planter.
Paul would spend as much time as needed in each town or region doing this work and then move on to the next town to do it all over again. The books in the New Testament that Paul is credited with writing are his letters back to those churches. Some of the letters are filled with praise for their efforts and growth, and other letters are filled with reminders of what the people were taught and the kick in the pants to do better.
The Church Blueprint
The letter that Paul wrote to the Colossians gave them this instruction: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16.
Paul wanted the church members to encourage one another, be transparent with one another, practice vulnerability, focus on gratitude, and worship God. Christians were to enjoy each other’s company, laugh together, and grow closer to Jesus. This was the template for the church and that template relies heavily on communication.
Over the last few months, I’ve been connecting with church leaders to discuss how my book Unravel would benefit their congregations – or I’ve been trying anyway. My efforts to connect with pastors or leaders has given me a behind the scenes look at today’s church and quite frankly, I don’t like what I am seeing. Let’s look at three ways the world has crept into the church.
Let’s start with basic communication.
Email accounts that are front and center on church websites inviting people to reach out to them for answers to questions or other information go unanswered. Calls to the main church phone number go to voicemail and messages left don’t get returned. Email sent directly to pastors or staff members never gets a reply. Text messages sent are ignored. And worse, many church websites don’t even give people a way to email or call.
Communicating with the church you attend or one you have chosen to contact should not be an impossible task. Is it any wonder that some people see churches as insincere? Or see them as a place that puts on a façade of caring? Church websites invite people to reach out if they have questions or problems and when they do, their questions or problems don’t get a response. Friends, this seems to be the norm and while you may not think this is a big deal, I beg to differ with you.
The Church Matters
The American Association of Christian Counselors has discovered through mounds of research that people suffering with depression, anxiety, marital issues, or trauma would rather go to a local church for help and counsel than go to a psychiatrist, psychologist, or some other professional.
When the church phone rings and no one picks it up, the person on the other end just got the wrong message about God and His people. When the email inquiries go unanswered, the reputation of the church and what it is supposed to represent gets damaged. Not getting back with people in a timely manner is basic human decency. As representatives of Jesus, returning calls or responding to emails should be a given.
Whether someone is calling to see what time your services start on Sunday, or they are calling because their spouse just walked out on them and they need to talk, answering the phone or responding to email is the first basic step in being the church.
Second on the list is pastoral care.
Busy is the world’s status symbol that has slinked its way into today’s church. Pastors are too busy to meet with people who need some level of counsel or just wish to speak with their pastor. It is understandable that pastors must prepare sermons each week, but they are also called to shepherd their flocks.
How would a person that walked in off the street be treated if they strolled through the doors of your church on a Tuesday? Would someone be there to greet them? If they asked for help, would the response be to make an appointment? Would this person be given the name of a counselor and sent on their way? Or would a staff member meet with this person and offer them help?
Busy
Too many pastors are getting sucked into the world’s over-use of the word busy. What is comes down to is this: if a pastor is too busy to care for his flock, then he is disconnected from his flock and his flock is wandering and unprotected. Shepherds care for their flocks, watch out for them, feed them, protect them, and go after them when they get lost. If shepherds are too busy designing the next wool coat, their sheep go astray or get eaten by predators. Busy is the devil’s word and let’s be honest – when we say we are busy, that is code for: this is not a priority for me – whatever “this” is.
Putting on a production at weekend services is not being a pastor – it’s being the star of a show. And speaking of pastors being the stars of their own weekly productions, this is becoming more and more evident on social media. Too many pastors have social media accounts that portray the selfie mindset of look at me instead of look at Jesus.
My number three is quality groups that offer real connection.
In the 1980’s the hamburger chain Wendy’s had a wildly popular TV commercial with a little old lady holding a competitor’s hamburger and asking, “where’s the beef?” She wasn’t impressed with the skimpy meat on her sandwich, and she had no problem letting the world know of her dissatisfaction. Like the little old lady, my questions to churches would be “where’s the bible study?” and “where’s the opportunity for real connection?”
There is nothing wrong with offering groups related to hobbies or book studies, but if that is all your church offers, then something is fundamentally wrong. Reading, studying, learning, and knowing God’s Word is the foundation of our Christian walk and spiritual growth. People don’t grow without consistent study of the bible and not offering bible study on a regular basis is bypassing the purpose of the church.
Related to bible study or in-depth spiritual growth study is the dummying down of content into set time frames because of the perceived attention spans of participants. The church has got to stop following the worlds time standards – meaning, it’s time to teach people that bible study and spiritual growth are on-going, never-ending activities. They don’t fit neatly into six-week, nine-week, twelve-week, or semester boxes. These activities are continuous and should be taught this way.
If the church doesn’t start pushing back on busy and setting the example of right priorities, souls will be lost.
The Christian life isn’t about checking the church box every week. Paul gave us a blueprint for what defines the church: fellowship, encouragement, bible study, worship, teaching, laughing, sharing life, really knowing people, eating together – doing life together.
My guess is that Paul would be appalled to receive reports from Timothy or Silas, his trusted proteges, on the inner workings of present-day houses of worship. And if Paul was still writing letters, he’d be putting ink to scroll and sending out some stern rebukes, bold reminders, and a whole lot of tough love.
Friends, the church’s mission is sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and bringing hope and healing to the lost and hurt. Healing –people in this world are desperate for healing but the church seems to have taken its eye off what really matters. Church services have turned into “experiences” and entertaining people has become the objective. Groups that only scratch the surface of life are the norm. And connection has been reduced to a once-a-week latte to talk about how busy we are.
Is it any wonder…
….that depression and anxiety are on the rise or that loneliness is swallowing people whole? Worse yet – God’s children are not prepared for the battles they face every day because they are spiritually starving. We complain that the world is getting darker, and Satan’s grip is getting tighter, but the church is not providing the knowledge of how the enemy works and the tactical knowledge of spiritual warfare.
Jesus defeated Satan when He died and rose from the grave. The war is over. Jesus won. But until Jesus comes back, mankind is in a spiritual battle. Satan knows he’s lost, but he is determined (meaning: single-minded, unwavering, resolute, untiring) to take as many people as possible with him to the depths of hell for eternity. Are we as Christians equally determined to take as many people as possible with us to heaven for eternity?
The church as a whole and the people that make up the church can do better – we must do better. Lives depend on us doing better. The church represents Jesus Christ. Church: Pick up your phones. Respond to emails. Be available to help. Focus on bible study. Develop a culture of vulnerability and transparency. And commit yourselves to helping people heal from their pain, emotional wounds, and trauma. Read my post: Why Unravel Should Be In Every Church.
Until next time,
^^Please like and share this post – change happens when the passion of God’s people is ignited.
P.S. Are you ready to deal with the pain of the past and grow into the disciple God created you to be? Check out my new book Unravel and get started today.
P.S.S. The song Start Right Here by Casting Crowns fits in with our discussion.
