Would They Care?

August 6, 2009 in Uncategorized with 13 Comments

Last year, in a conversation with a friend, he posed a series of questions that have haunted me ever since. I have posed them myself to others in various situations to get feedback. Unfortunately, the looks on the faces of hearers say it all.

I don’t know who first raised these questions, so I can’t give them credit, but I am glad that they are being thrown out there and are making people think. These two questions are important because they get to the heart of where churches stand in their communities.

For some of us, sticking our heads in the sand is no longer an option. The church is the body of Christ in the world. Heaven’s reign should guide and govern every single member of this body, as they seek to bring the offering of Christ to those who need him. God is reconciling the world to himself (2 Cor. 5:18-19). He’s bringing heaven to earth (Matt. 6:10), hope for the helpless (Eph. 4:4), and rest for the weary (Matt. 11:28-30). I’ve heard it said, “The church doesn’t have an outreach program; it is an outreach program.” This is true and the NT testifiies to it.

So I pose the two questions to you for your consideration. Think about them, and if you don’t like the answers, then do something about it.

If your church closed its doors after this Sunday, and never opened them again, would your community notice? Moreover, would the community even care?

  • Josh Maldonado

    The answers are directly tied into what the local church’s attitude would be if a individual member stopped attending services. Would the church notice? Would the church care? Which would have a more effective “outreach program” in the community? The individual or the church? The church and the individual should ,could, and need to do more. Then , EVERYONE will notice!

  • http://theobloggers.com/members/douglasryoung/ douglasryoung.net

    Josh,

    There is definitely a link as you point out, but the church is seemingly functioning like there might not be anything wrong or dysfunctional about its reputation in the community. What the community we serve thinks about us will be very telling. Of course, if we can’t keep our own, that will be equally as telling.

  • Heather Brown

    Where I came from, the church was huge. There was an incredible amount of outreach. They had children’s, adult’s, single’s, college student’s, widow/widower’s, single parent’s ministries in addition to prison ministries, community programs and more. If that church shut it’s doors, would the community notice? Absolutely. The question there was, if I left the congregation, would anyone have noticed? Sadly, no. Even if your congregation makes an impact on the community, the real question is, “what impact have you made?”

  • Kevin Cauley

    The question presupposes an incorrect standard of right and wrong. If the community sets the standard for what is worthy of care and love, then I suppose that the question would be relevant. However, if God sets the standard for what is worthy of care and love, then it matters not what the community thinks. A community may very well decide to care and love things that ought not to be cared and loved. Also, a community may decide not to care and love things for which they ought to have care and love. You say that such is not possible? Just consider the history of the world. There have been times when communities/nations have completely rejected loving and caring for the right things, choosing rather to love and care for the wrong things. Humanity can never serve as the standard for what ought to be loved and cared for. Therefore, unless there is a standard of behavior upon which your community is acting or judging beyond their own personal whims, this question is irrelevant in relationship to the work of the church.

  • http://theobloggers.com/members/douglasryoung/ douglasryoung.net

    Kevin,

    I definitely didn’t suggest, nor do I believe the questions suggest, the community sets any standard. My concern is whether or not a community perceives the church to amount to much as a community presence.

  • http://theobloggers.com/members/douglasryoung/ douglasryoung.net

    Heather…I think you and Josh are saying similar things. I cannot argue with what you’ve offered. I’d like to because its you, and I know you want me to, but I can’t! LOL

  • Theda Landry

    If a difference making church closed its doors and the community was not using Godly standards then it would make a difference. The very ones that the church should be making the most difference with is the very ones that would like for the doors to be closed so they would no longer be reminded of Godly standards. The tricky part is that we are to be using love when making the difference. There is no law against love. The church should be mindful of the members but all serving God should really stay focused with their eyes on God. If so, you will be a working member of the body that is so tightly connected that when you hurt the body hurts, when you are in need the body needs. No part of my body needs attention without me knowing it and the only way I can do what I’m called to do is if all of my parts are working correctly.

  • Sandra W.

    Yes, the community would notice. The members who are part of the community would care most, because that is where they worship, learn, receive encouragement. Besides, they would have to drive 14 miles 3 times weekly to worship. Small churches in small towns are vital.

    Well said the church is an outreach program. As christians we should be inviting others to come hear how to become a christian, or tell them when they will listen but won’t attend. I am thinking it is a good thing to remind congregations weekly to invite others. Sometimes we forget.

    A fleeting thought I once heard: If you entertain people into the Kingdom that is what it will take to keep them there.

    I wonder how I would have turned out if a neighbor lady had not invited me to ride along to church, VBS, and someone had not made funds available for me to attend camp, or my husband had not taught me more perfectly when I was so stubborn.

  • http://fumblingtowardseternity.wordpress.com nick gill

    There have been times when communities/nations have completely rejected loving and caring for the right things

    Not true. There have been times when those in power in communities have completely rejected loving and caring for the right things. But Doug’s question is not about whether those in power in communities would notice, but the community as a whole. Is the church prophetically challenging the evil in the community? Is the church compassionately embracing the weak, the under-privileged, the helpless? We are to be salt and light in the world. If you know your chemistry, you know that it is literally impossible for salt and light to be ignored. They ALWAYS change things. So regardless of whether your community wants to notice, if you’re being salt and light in that context, they cannot help but notice. Most communities wouldn’t notice because we keep the salt and light hidden behind our congregational walls.

    The very ones that the church should be making the most difference with is the very ones that would like for the doors to be closed so they would no longer be reminded of Godly standards.

    Is that the way we see Jesus operating? Did Jesus have the most impact on the Pharisees who wanted his mission shut down, or on “the least and the lost”? The people Jesus impacted most are the people his church should be impacting most.

    I’m more and more uncomfortable with the term outreach. It suggests that we are holding position and trying to pull people into where we are. The people of God are a pilgrim community, seeking a lasting city. We’re always on the move, on mission. We have no headquarters from which to reach out. We aren’t called to reach out, but to look around, get out of our bunkers, and turn the world upside down with self-sacrificial love and truth-telling.

    in HIS love,
    nick

  • http://spiritualsweat.blogspot.com/ Trent Tanaro

    Our Churches can either get with the message of Jesus and stop being sectarian country clubs or eventually die out within the fabric of our communities. Just a thought, good words doug and nick….God Bless!

    Trent

  • Will Smith

    Mrs. Landry is right!!
    Our standard is not the community in which our church happens to live and work. Our standard is the Word of God. Which brings us back to the original question. If we are following the Word of God, and the doors closed, would anyone notice? The answer is a resounding yes. Nick also made a good point regarding the Pharisees.

    The problem is twofold, as Mrs. Landry and Nick both astutely point out. One, we are not working together, two, we are not following Jesus’ example. When we start doing those things, in reverse order mind you, we will be noticed, but we will be too busy to care about who is noticing.

    Great question, Doug.

    Faithfully your servant,

    WS

  • Sandra W.

    How long has it been since your members have been reminded to invite a friend to come to church? Personally, I have not heard it in years. Maybe, when there is a gospel meeting. I can tell you from experience that other “churches” in the community are reminding their members and that is why you see them asking others to come and are growing.
    Inviting people in the community to ride to church and VBS with you, use the bus program, or attend camp is getting out of the bunkers. Of course, teaching people in love as the opportunity arises outside the walls of the church is another way of getting out of the bunkers.
    For those who may be reading and are wondering what it is we want to share, it is to hear, believe, repent, confess, be baptized, and live a Godly life. If you want more details, I invite you to attend all services/meetings of a church of Christ for a year. If you need recommendations for a congregation in your area, please ask.

  • claymartin

    Good questions Doug. Very thought provoking. I truly would have to answer yes and no. Yes if it the church was genuine…truly cared, it would be missed. But why would a church like that shut its doors? On the other hand, no. If it was genuine again, some would like for it to close and never miss it. I guess to some the church would be a “sweet aroma” and to others the “stench of death.”