diehard03 said:
Quote:
I actually think that's one of the bigger flaws in the modern churches. What you believe becomes less important as having butts in the seats. What the Church believes, or at least what they put on their website, is usually so generic that it seems anyone could go there. It's really going to be in the details though, where we find out what the church is really about.
eh, the modern church is a reaction (and probably an overreaction) to something and I think this is a good example of a self-inflicted wound. The "what the church believes" part is intentionally vague because they have a heart for the person who feels they are so far gone from God that they won't ever consider coming to a church. The churches that are literally all about butts in seats are few and far between.
I am all for finding a pastor (and a church) that progresses you in your faith and seeks to grow/challenge you...but I also think that we come in with this laundry list of things that a church must do to have you and anything less is "watered down". We do this, all the while being unwilling to step into the ministry arena and be the thing that we demand others provide for us.
I think this attitude is a bigger flaw in the modern church. (I am not accusing you of doing that. I am use "we" corporately)
I completely agree. Modern life has created a cultural distinction where you 'do life' 6 days a week and 'do church' sunday mornings and wednesday evenings. Its easy to look at your church as an investment that needs to provide more services, instead of stepping up and volunteering. This distinction wasn't nearly as drastic during Jesus's time and further back.
For example, our church is currently lacking any men's only programming or vision. Its a lament thats being shared during bible studies, and the common response is to ask the church to throw something together instead of volunteer to lead an initiative to do it ourselves. There's a whole other political ball of wax to being the leader of such a movement though. Most men who see the problem, and see the political hurdles and just sink back into their daily routine and don't bother.
If anyone wants to start another thread about leading programming at a church, I'd be all ears.
