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How do you make changes in the church to reach lost people with out leaving out other segments of the church?
The question was hanging over the table.
We were sitting in a fast food place that offered free wi-fi and free refills. I come here alot. The workers generally are smiling and friendly. They never once bothered us during our 90 minute conversation. Every time I leave, they say thanks for coming and invite me back.
They completely exist to serve me.
They make me feel like that anyway. And they seem to be having a good time while they are doing it.
I once asked a barrista why they had that job.
“Because I like it.”
Well…that’s profound, isn’t it?
The whole time I’m thinking this – the question is just hanging out there.
Then I started thinking – shouldn’t the church be like that? I mean this company does all of this because they want to make money. We exist to serve others so that they may meet Jesus. I don’t want to be a bother, I want to be a friend. I exist to serve God and His command was to love (serve) others…especially those people who aren’t like me. I’m there serving because I like it.
At this point, I interrupt my friend and tell him all those thoughts.
He just looks at me. I’m not sure if it was in astonishment or disgust. I’m guessing astonishment because he didn’t get up and leave.
“Here’s what else I think – I think those of us who are leaders and have grown up in church need to grow up. The church doesn’t exist to meet our needs or service our children and youth. It exists to tell God’s story so that all people can taste and see that the Lord is good. We – leaders and believers – exist to serve Him and the Bride…not the other way around.”
If we could make that mental paradigm shift…….man……it would be a completely different church world, wouldn’t it?
[tags]church culture, serve, leadership, paradigm shift[/tags]
10 responses so far ↓
1 Paul // May 10, 2006 at 6:43 am
I’m liking your thoughts here. Follow up question, “How can the leaders of the church inspire/motivate/kick people into serving and liking it (more than a yearly mission trip) like this?”
2 Gene // May 10, 2006 at 9:44 am
You are asking and answering the question EVERY church must ask and answer…too bad most of them are too busy balancing budgets and filling volunteer charts for when the club members show up to even consider the question…keep on, it dangerous but I be in no other adventure.
3 Paul // May 10, 2006 at 9:47 am
Sad but true. Thanks for the reminder.
4 Mimi // May 10, 2006 at 10:19 am
I had someone say to me one time, “We should live each day as if we are on a mission trip.” Don’t we tend to trust God more for each moment and expect Him to use us. And we are looking around for people that He is putting in our path. And we are awed by it.
5 Mike R // May 10, 2006 at 10:41 am
This reminds me of a song called Mission.
6 kris // May 10, 2006 at 11:02 am
word up …
7 Wayne // May 10, 2006 at 10:08 pm
It’s got to be more that just a MENTAL paradigm shift…I can agree with a lot of paradigms mentally, but acting on the paradigm is a whole other story.
8 Big Tom // May 11, 2006 at 6:05 am
Have I ever given you a copy of “Raving Fans”? It is a book about customer service. On one hand, the church should be the ultimate “Customer Service” organization. On the other hand, we should all be trying to serve others. I think that is what discipleship is all about. Work out your salvation(or spiritual maturity) with fear and trembling – Philipians 2:12
9 likeafire.net » Blog Archive » Death to Dissent // May 11, 2006 at 7:55 am
[...] I read this great article over at Creating Passionate Users and it really got me thinking about consumerism and the church. I was already thinking about this from a blog of the Gman’s. What would it have been like if Jesus catered to the masses? We just can’t change our message because it isn’t tailored to each persons desires. On the other hand, we can’t let the idea of theology and correct thinking be an excuse to blow off meeting people where they are. So there is the delimma of church leadership. [...]
10 Grant // May 12, 2006 at 1:27 pm
I think you’re right wayne…but that is exactly where the floor starts crumbling in.
new wine + old wineskin = disaster.
Raving fans – love it…great read.
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