When They Will Not Come
Monday, August 04, 2008
A lot of my interaction with students, pastors and church planters is over the issues of post-Christendom and the revolutionary change required of us who seek to engage those outside Christ with the gospel. It truly is stunning to recognize how things have changed in this country over the last fifty years. Over and over again I hear the stories of churches and the lament "all we're doing is shuffling discontented believers from one form of church to another." Or I hear "another mega church has moved into the area and emptied out three traditional local churches." It's post Christendom and we're competing for customers.
For those who refuse to enter this ugly frey, we are left to plant churches and think about the Christian life in a different way. There simply are not a ready made group of people out there ready to join your church-plant in just a few months of your beginning (hallelujah). Salvations don't just fall out of trees (read here for my case on this) and disciples take several years to grow. There are no simple techniques or boot camps. I'm ok with this. For indeed church planting now has to be life on life - sustainable over many years.
This is the situation of "when they will not come." It is church planting, church pastoring and church life as it is after the "attractional" nature of the church has disappeared. Now all we have left is "us."
Church in post-Christendom therefore is nothing less than a chosen way of life. It is choosing a way of being together. This way of being together encompasses how we worship, how we share and eat food, how we pool together resourses to help the poor, how we get together and hear Scriptures read and teach our children how to listen for God in that. Forgiveness, patience, care, speaking truth in love, is part of this way of being together. In this way of living, career and making money is more about taking care of one another and giving glory to God than personal aspiration. And God inhabits this way of being so that miracles, blessings, sustaining times in life and death become a part of everyday life. Mission becomes our rhythym.
When those outside of Christ will not come to our church services no matter how professional they might be, when they will not come to our special out reach events, when they will not come for Sunday school for their kids, or movie night or whatever other crazy fanagled way we dream up to get people into our church, then we must somehow rethink the orientation of just about everything we do in church. This would include worship, community and fellowship, discipleship, preaching (part of worship), children's ministries, leadership, evangelism, justice and of course church-planting. From time to time then, on this blog, I'm going to post on all these subjects from the point of view of "when they will not come." It's a well worn subject I know. Yet I'd like to reflect on the ever expanding stories, theological perceptions and practical reflections I am gaining from walking through this process at Life on the Vine and in discussion with many other people. If you like- sign up for this blogs RSS feed. And I'll tag any post in this series by starting out with the words "When They Will Not Come." Hope you'll be joining with me on this discussion!
Posted by David Fitch | 8:29 PM
COMMENTS:
David,
I don't think there is a problem with this subject being “well worn”. I have been struggling through a similar question. I have been watching the church trying desperately to get people into their (way of) life rather than asking how do we get into their (the unchurched) lives.
The issue I am facing at the moment is developing the initial support group. We had a young couple that we were working with but they are moving away for continuing education.
I look forward to reading these posts.
11:38 AM
David
I agree with the previous comment, I don’t think the topic is “well worn.”
I work with an association of Baptist churches and I am constantly amazed and troubled that no one in our existing churches seem to notice that “they are not coming.” Moreover, since there are still a few who are “coming” from other churches then we keep doing the same old “attractional” crap and mission never becomes our rhythm.
I look forward to future posts on this important theme.
1:42 PM
can't wait to hear more and discuss! keep it up!
2:03 PM
many thanks for the words ... DF
6:50 PM
David,
I've recently found your blog, and it has quickly become one of my favorites. This article, in particular, has hit home with me. I am one of those members that has actually been running away from the traditional church-moving from one to another, only to do the same thing over again. Recently, I have found a church home that has a focus on being Missional. And while this concept (Missional)is somewhat new to my vocabulary and upbringing in traditional Southern Baptist style, it has renewed my faith in a powerful way. There is joy unspeakable in the focus on becoming relational. We have formed bonds that reach far beyond the church walls. I now have an enlarged vision of the community around me. I see much more than I ever did before, and I am thankful that by God's grace, He still leads those who are willing to follow.
Thank you for this stimulating article. I definitely look forward to more.
S.D
3:08 AM
Hi, first let me say that as a church planter, I have seen this same problem.
FYI, I came to your site because of our shared interest in being a Friend of Missional. I am glad to make your acquaintance and visit your blog. God bless!
6:10 PM
As some one about to enter seminary, this article strikes home. I have spent the last 13-14 years doing youth ministry for a large para-church organization and for two "mega" churches. In the process I have learned one important thing... small community is the mode of life-change not big entertainment "Christian Style".
I look forward to planting/pastoring a small community some day that lives out the Acts 2 vision. Thanks for your post and I look forward to reading more.
4:56 AM
DF,
I have one question for you. This is not a challenge, but it is an honest question trying to understand.
I went to Life on the Vine's website and noticed something. The church talks about incorporating ancient practices, but then the church only participates in the Lord's Supper once a month... even though the ancient church did it every time they met together (which was pretty much everyday). I don't even understand why my church only does it once a month and it is a battle I have continually "fought" so I was wondering why your church, which seeks to embrace ancient traditions, only does it once a month also.
Thanks for taking this question in the spirit in which it was asked.
5:24 AM
modern ancient ...
just to let you know ... (and I guess we need to change some things on the website) ... we meet once a month for an hour long celebration around the Table (a truly transformational time). This happens first Sunday ... then we go into service of the Word. Some might disagree with me, but this represents a truly pre-post Constantianian communal practice. On the other three Sundays of the month ... we enter into the Table in our "regular" 10:15 a.m. service. We find in the First Sunday Service we can accomplish true Eucharist community in ways we can't in the other service. One way feeds into the others. yet we can't do First Sunday every Sunday for reasons too long to detail. There's a history behind how this all happened...Maybe over a cup of coffee someday?..
So we have Lord's Table every Sunday! Just not in same way. Blessings ... thanks for the clarifying question.
7:45 AM
This seems to be the major issue outside of church today. There are so many reasons not to come.
And within churches we find that what we have to offer isn't what they are looking for. There are plenty of things to be committed to outside: church can't compete with the communities of baseball, soccer and sports or the wonder of celebrating yourself. Why do we need to go to church? It seems that most obvious answer is if it fits into either of those plans... but then who is being worshiped?
Our church has truly become the place that people don't have to come to (I even tell my family they don't have to come if they don't feel called). Yet in this place people who want to be there are truly seeking answers each Sunday.
This past Sunday I didn't preach. I simply asked the question, "what does God want to happen next in your life?" We had an amazing discussion. People wandered in late and stayed about an hour late. The least churched of the group had the most to say. The one or two "churched people" were silent or said statements that sounded much like they've always said and done nothing about. It was fun to watch the "churched" be the most uncomfortable with such a huge God shaped question. And now we will see what God will make happen now.
I fear for the people who don't want to ponder this question. They seem so closed off to the work of the Spirit. I fear for the people who like to fit people into categories (myself included) because we see so afraid to let God make "new creations" in our church. I fear for the new believers who may soon realize that boredom is the norm.
My determination is to do all I can to let the Holy Spirit work and not get into the game of timetables and discipleship programs. I also don't want to limit the kinds of places and the manners in which God can work... They don't need to come to my church. I pray that "When they will not come" that God will work anyway.
9:15 PM
David,
Thanks for the response. I agree that an actual meal more accurately represents pre-Constantinian Christianity. We see evidence of people having assignments of what to bring for others to eat. Almost like communion was a potluck culminating in the breaking of bread and the drinking of wine (eucharist). I think it's awesome that you guys emulate that practice. I also think it's great that there is the participation every Sunday with communion. I just might take you up on that cup of coffee. You are outside Chicago right? One of my wife's best friends manages the Starbucks that does the highest volume in the city (I think it's on Michigan Ave.). Next time I'm up there, I might drop you a line as I'd love to pick your brain sometime.
10:47 PM
This post has been removed by the author.
5:43 PM
I'm a newcomer to the blog, but love the way you weave your ideas together. It's all the things I think but can't quite get into eloquent words. I'd like to add that when they don't come, perhaps being missional means it's time for us to go to them--like JC did. I've been experimenting with this on my internship in Lynnwood, WA and seen it fly and crash as we're working from a traditional church with a group of people who've caught the missional vision of what it means to share, live and encounter faith outside the walls of the church in everyday life. They've started small groups working with an in (internal group), up (worship of some kind) and out (service) dynamic as their basis. Appreciate your perspective and can't wait to read more.
1:53 PM
This is a good post and an important topic David. Thank you. A couple of thoughts:
(i) ‘... and we’re competing for customers.’ I read this as irony. I read it as comment made in heartbreak and dismay. I read it as statement of fact. I see all three as appropriate. And to add to the craziness of competitiveness between churches – not only do we compete for customers, we also commodify them - for when our churches become an end in themselves, then the church, in a sense, becomes its own customer, and the attendees what we ‘feed the machine’ with. The scarcity of these ‘commodities’ in post-Christendom leads to bidding wars. This bidding through an attractional model of church risks appealing to base selfish needs that have been justified, sanitized, glorified and nurtured as right ways to live by our narcissistic, consumerist culture – and so the risk of creating a narcissistic consumerist spirituality. A spirituality based upon the aspirations and approval of the world will be susceptible to the cares of the world – a seed planted amongst thistles. The phrase I have been using of late is to describe this is faux-Christendom, or faux-Christianity. Having the appearance, but not the substance. At what point a group or culture passes from Christendom or post-Christendom into faux-Christendom I am not certain – but diligence and examine is called for, and I am convinced that ‘competing for customers’ risks creating a culture of faux-Christendom with its attendant shallow yet seemingly right spirituality.
(ii) ‘Church in post-Christendom therefore is nothing less than a chosen way of life.’ Indeed, and in an era of concurrent post-Christendom and faux-Christendom – this chosen way of life becomes a prophetic witness not only to the world – but to the faux-Christianity that is in and of the world.
(iii) Regarding ‘...rethink the orientation of just about everything we do in church’: Simon Chan’s ‘Liturgical Theology’ at page 38: ‘Evangelicalism has a strong ontology of the person but not an ontology of the church. Without an ontology of the church, the relationship between Spirit and church cannot be understood ontologically either. The real work of the Spirit is assumed to occur only in the individual and not in the church. As a result, the transformation of individuals will have only marginal impact on the whole communal life.’
9:29 PM
yo... everyone ...thanks for all the great stuff ... I'm in Canada for the week. Internet is intermittant at best. So commnets are few, And sorry to my Canadian friends I promised to visit on this trip... it's a quick visit in haste amd we couldn't make any side trips ... but of course I'll be to Canada a few more times in next six months.
peace
2:59 PM
David, really looking forward to following your reflections on this. Interestingly I was having coffee the other day with a friend, and the topic was brought up about trying to get folks to come to his faith community. As I listened it seemed like nothing more than a fisherman in a boat trying to catch fish, trying to get them aboard using an attractive selection of lures. I threw Moses into the conversation, sending out scouts. As churches, how much do we really know about the communities that surround...demographics, issues, needs, economics, poverty...
Anyways, David I'm looking forward to reading your series.
12:44 AM
David,
Just wanted to say I'm reading your book right now. Thanks for writing it.
I am also digging through your bolg and what you have to say really resonates.
Mike
11:17 AM
I love this article, I am from the american holiness movement where we changed the great comission from "go and tell" to "come and see" (not intentionaly mind you but in practice). God forgive us. I long for the days when the term "outreach" is no longer used and evangelsim in not the title of a program. How amazing would it be if rather than out reach we simply lived out our faith. I'm an idealist I know but what if . . . . thanks for the article my church board is getting a copy. It's good for them to hear it from somone besides me.
2:59 PM
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