Are We Married to Our Methods?
Not long ago we visited a church that was hosting a special event. Would you allow me allow me to share a few things that impressed me about that visit?
As we entered the building we were met at the door by two, friendly members of the church who welcomed us to the event. Walking up to a staffed information table, I reached into a small, tin bucket that was full of individually-wrapped LifeSaver mints.
“Mind if I grab a couple?” I asked one of the persons behind the counter.
Smiling, the attendant replied, “No, help yourself. We are glad you are here!”
We were in a massive foyer, and there were flatscreens and banners in abundance, all announcing and promoting a few key events and programs of the church. One announced a daily Bible reading program. Interestingly, the program began in September and ran through May, rather than the customary January through December timeframe.
In their reading program, church members were encouraged to view and listen to a brief, daily video on the reading for the day. The announcement stated that one could find the videos on the church’s app.
Another flatscreen promoted Alpha, which I determined must have been the church’s front door for new members and those who might be interested in learning more about the church. The announcement encouraged searchers to register for the class and bring their questions.
The church had divided their auditorium into sections. Becky and I didn’t belong there, but we sat in the twenty-something section. I could not help but be impressed with the number of young adults who were sitting around us!
LifeSaver mints at an information desk, flatscreens announcing a new Bible reading plan and a class for searchers, a church app, and a plan to encourage people to sit with their peer group. I know these are not new ideas for some, but for me, they were.
We might question whether or not ideas like these have value.
But, I don’t want you to miss my reason for listing them. It was not the ideas themselves that impressed me, but the attempt to utilize new ways of getting the message out, attracting others, and doing church.
It made me wonder: How willing are we to try new methods in order to reach others for Jesus?
Is it possible that we have married our methods? That the way we do church has become more important than why we do church?
We always need to get back to the why. Then, we can begin to dream again about how we might reach people in a world that is constantly changing, a world that may be very different from the one that many of us once knew.
When we decide that we really are in the disciple-making business—and I do believe that we need to recommit ourselves to this very mission, the same mission Jesus gave his disciples in the Great Commission—what may be required of us is a robust willingness to consider new methods and strategies.
After all, we want to be married to our mission, not our methods.
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