Choosing your Church
Sunday, February 18, 2007
My latest column in the UM Reporter is on the "Country Club Commitment" that so many of us make to our churches.
Choosing the church you attend is one of the hallmarks of American Christianity. Since competition among Protestant denominations has been going on since the founding of the country (a feature of national life supported by the lack of an established religion), the denominational smorgasbord that we have now is the natural result of a 230-year old process.
Here's the bad news: It might also be the single biggest factor working against your ability to become a real disciple of Jesus Christ.
Why?
Because in our culture, the number and variety of churches resembles the number and variety of fast-food restaurants or department stores. And since we live in a world that teaches us that we deserve to choose, and choose again, until we find the "product" that suits us best, we tend to treat the church the same way we treat any other consumer choice.
This has a lot to do with American culture. It has nothing to do with discipleship. And if we cannot be real disciples of Jesus, then we cannot come to know God. And if we do not come to know God, then we will never have a place in God's kingdom.
So have you ever thought that the issue of "church choice" could have a bearing on your salvation? It very well may.
posted by Andrew C. Thompson at 6:15 PM
7 Comments:
We are six weeks away from moving into a new building and with that comes a new worship schedule. I've had a couple of people tell me, "I've talked to a lot of people about this and some people will go elsewhere if you take away their service time."
I've held my tongue, but the thought that jumps into my head is that if you are willing to leave the church over a matter of service times (personal preference) then either you haven't been paying attention or we haven't talked enough of the death of self.
I know what I preach so I'm pretty sure the former is the case.
We just held a dinner after church at my field-ed placement for people who have been visiting but haven't yet joined the church. One person commented that this was exactly like what he used to do in corporate sales at Sears. Obviously, this greatly troubled me, but in a sense, he's right. Even more troubling is that many people do not understand that there is actually much important doctrinal difference between denominations, so they simply move along to whomever is "nicest," has the most charismatic pastor, or has the best music/youth programs.
When it comes to church choosing, based on the possibility of my salvation being at stake, a good rule of thumb to remember would be; choose one with a Pastor who cares more about my life than my feelings.
I think the lack of attention to doctrinal distinctions between church traditions arises directly out of the sense that there is literally nothing at stake. When the truth claims of doctrine are disregarded, then that allows for all kinds of other bases for making church choices - including such seemingly ridiculous factors as worship time, buffet of programs, size of family life center, etc.
Perhaps it would help to focus parents' attention if they thought about it in this way: The salvation of their children might well depend on the kind of formation they receive during their childhood years in church. If they approached their own discipleship and commitment to church on those factors, they might think a little more critically about life in the ecclesia.
Yes, and I think it is equally important that one not be encouraged to join a church until they honestly, and knowingly, make a commitment to the beliefs, expectations, and standards of conduct that church will place on them. Regrettably, a person interested in commitment to the UMC may find that they were mislead when making that commitment, thinking the church and its ministers really did have a unity of faith. What seems to be evident on paper so frequently turns out to be the opposite as practiced and promoted by pastors sworn to uphold the teachings of the Church. The denomination that tolerates such lawlessness deserves fair weather congregants.
. . but unfortunately it illustrates how commonly local units of the Christian Church exist in our communities as if they were exclusive clubs of chosen people, closing themselves off from the Spirit’s call to heroic action on the frontline of the battle between the redeeming Christ and the world. The time may not be far distant when the laos, the chosen people of God, will have to eliminate from its membership all “club members,” whether ordained or unordained, in order that it may be free to get on with the task given to it by its Lord. People who think of the Church as their possession are enemies of the Church and its mission in the world. The relation is not one of proprietorship, but one in which the members regard themselves as expendable, possessed by the Spirit, and, therefore, members of his Body who would do what he would do in this generation.
Ruel L. Howe, The Miracle of Dialogue, p. 132
This is my first time to log on and leave a remark regarding something I have read. This article spoke to the problem that the church I work at has. Spiritual commitment! Not just saying the words or changing membership so that you can have a place to socialize, drop the kids off, or trying and keep up with the Jones'. Wow wouldn't it be amazing if when a person joined the church that they intended to grow spiritually and do as Jesus has asked us to do, "Go and Make Disciples."
I just wanted to let you know that this was a great article and it will be reprinted to run in the church's newletter for all the members to read. I will probably catch some flack about this, but hopefully it will open the eyes of the people so that they will see that be a Christian is more than just a title. It is a way of life, the new life Christ gave us.
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