Darryl's Blog
Something is wrong
My latest column at Christian Week:
It was a proud moment. The church had just welcomed eighty-three new members. The pastor began his sermon. "This is great, isn't it?" he began. "But before we get too giddy about new members, let me ask you a question: Why should we bring eighty-three new people into something that isn't working?"
The pastor, Bill Hull, describes this as the first time he had unmasked himself in thirty years of ministry. "Something his wrong," he said. "All the formulas, strategic planning, mission statements, and visionary sermons are not making disciples." In his book, Choose the Life, Hull comments, "We were stuck in the same rut in which so many churches find themselves - religious activity without transformation."
Almost everyone agrees
As I listen to people, I get the sense that almost everyone agrees something is wrong in the church. I recently sat in a room full of pastors of churches, and you could sense the despair in the room, even among those in churches that appear to be successful. In another meeting, a Canadian denominational president observed that the denomination had "islands of health in a sea of dysfunction," and nobody reacted with shock.
Then there is the pastor who silently prayed as he began his sermon, "I'll take it from here God. If you wouldn't mind, I'd like for you not to be involved in this one. I'd like to see what happens when I do this by myself." Nobody noticed a difference in his preaching.
Facing a shifting culture
To be sure, churches are facing challenges as they encounter a shifting culture. Canadian church attendance has dropped from 67% in 1946 to 20% today. The church is thriving in Africa, Asia, and Latin America just as it declines in North America.
But perhaps the problem is not just out there. Perhaps we are, at least in part, the problem.
I recently received a call from a new friend who has been through a tragically difficult year. A year ago, she had no time for God. She has suffered so much since then that she is now desperate for him. One day she called me and said, "I need to know if this Christianity thing is real, or if it is just a game that Christians play on Sunday. I don't have time for anything but the real thing."
In other words, she doesn't have time for "religious activity without transformation."
She's not alone. In The New Faithful, Colleen Carroll argues that attempts by churches to appeal to young adults by diluting the message or softening demands seem to backfire. Young adults are not repulsed by demands; instead, they clamor for community but are repulsed by its counterfeits.
High commitment needed
Authentic Christian communities that pass the "sniff test" of young believers are not always easy on adults. They are sacrificial, incarnational, intimate, evangelical, and demand high commitment. "Faith communities with those characteristics," she writes, "rarely want for members or momentum."
The real challenge, then, is not a quick methodological fix or fad, nor is it perfection, which is an impossible goal. The real challenge is for churches to be authentic Christian communities that pass the sniff test of those who won't buy our marketing slogans. Perhaps the real challenge is the re-conversion of the church.
Dallas Willard, author of numerous books on discipleship, argues that there is only one solution to the crisis facing the church. It is to make "spiritual formation in Christlikeness the exclusive primary goal of the local congregation."
It is to move beyond all the discussions on architecture, styles of music, and structures, and focus all of our energy on bringing "all those in attendance to understand clearly what it means to be a disciple of Jesus and to be solidly committed to discipleship in their whole life."
This goal, he writes, would have to be approached gently and patiently with existing groups where "people have not understood this to be part of their membership commitment."
Willard is right. As Ray Stedman wrote years ago, "God's first concern is not what the church does, it is what the church is." A post-Christian world, skeptical young adults, and God himself will not settle for anything less.
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Good article, Darryl. Reminds me of Martoia's workshop on the "Leadership Leak" at Catalyst a few years back. Many churches are "leaking" something, and it isn't pleasant.
Brian
PS My in-laws are faithful readers who enjoy your articles. Takes a lot to get on their "A" list!
Nice post. I linked to it. :)
Maybe this is just me and maybe this isn't the place...
There is something strikingly different about this column Darryl. Something as a writer, a believer I see, I know, but don't have the words for. I'll try.
This isn't just a column, It's something happening inside of you, not-detached. A God-thing, something Holy happening, born out of...I don't know.
Wow.
Good job, Darryl. And you're right - almost everyone agrees. That's probably one of the more hopeful facts.
"I need to know if this Christianity thing is real, or if it is just a game that Christians play on Sunday. I don't have time for anything but the real thing."
So sad that so many people on the outside (myself included) see that what happens on Sunday is a game "Christians" play. From those who see church as a social club, to those who see church membership as a way to get more customers for their businesses, (kind of like a Better Business Bureau membership with only optional "fees" i.e tithing.)
I find it remarkable that those cultures where-in conversion to Christianity can literally mean the forfeiture of one's life, - most notably certain parts of Africa and Asia, - still enjoy huge numbers of converts, and church growth North America and the rest of The Western World can only dream about.
I agree. "Faith communities with those characteristics, (sacrificial, incarnational, intimate, evangelical, and demanding high commitment,) rarely want for members or momentum."
Add Loving and Sense of Community to those characteristics and I will be there next time the doors open!
Darryl,
Now that my time in organized church is over I've come to so conclusions. Church works for those people it works for. They tend to equate Christianity with the way they've done church and they're not going to change.
In the end I left church because it seemed that it wasn't worth the effort. My in-laws are mad at me because our children don't go to church. Many of my old friends don't talk to me anymore. (Too busy in church to have time for friends outside of the organization).
But none of it compares to the horrible feeling I got on a Sunday morning sitting in a church service. I'll take the knocks from my in-laws, and I'll survive the loss of a few friends because it's not fair to ask them to do the changing. The fact is that I changed. Over time I fundamentally changed my view on many issues they hold dear.
I guess my overall question for you is where do we go from here?
Rob
Wow, I agree with Bene D and that probably won't happen too often. Good stuff Darryl
The church needs to turn back to God. We need the fear of the Lord back as opposed to the fear of man. We got to get right with God in our living. We got to deal with our sin, we got to repent and seek His forgiveness. We got to stop living a compromised life. We got to get sold out for God. We got to be holy for He is holy. We got to pursue righteousness. We do all that and God will show up. He will honour us as we honour Him. He will draw near to us as we draw near to Him. Then He will begin to move among us and begin to transform first us, then those around us. He will give us hearts for the lost. He will create in us a passion to reach out to those who do not know Him, who are separated from Him.
Let's go, let's do it and watch Him work. Its awesome!!!
We can all say "It all begins with me"
I'm encouraged Darryl, thanks
Good stuff.
Question, you mention D. Willard's thoughts on the matter, can you e-mail me where you got that. Was it from an article or one of his books. I'm particularly interested if it was one of his books.
Thanks and good job.
Hey Ed,
The Willard quote is in Renovation of the Heart near the end. More of the quote here:
http://www.dashhouse.com/darryl/2006/10/dallas_willard_dont_make_outre.htm
Wow -- good conversation and buzz on a great article.
How many of you responders live in the Toronto area?
For those who are disillusioned with the institutional church, and have hearts to seek God--whatever the cost--and enough grace and patience to see past all our own preferences (or at least hold them a little looser while we seek for His) we should get together for coffee and discussion, and PRAYER!
Anyone interested?