Is it the way we do church that needs to die?

Is it the way we are doing church that needs to die?

As I'm reading Seth Godin's book Tribes and he's lamenting the end of the music industry as it was, I wonder if we are witnessing the end of the way the church used to be.

Church seemed to be built around the idea that

• People would rely on church for their social lives and entertainment do they wouldn't stop coming
• Because we all believed the same thing (Jesus died and was resurrected for our sins then we would find ourselves bonded
• People looked to church and pastors for their Answers and not Google
• Even as our lives and society changed we don't need to change how we do church

Church is no longer the focal point of our social lives

So many churches seem to be stuck in the 50’s and 60’s. There are so many options these days for social stimulation and entertainment that people don't rely on the church for their social lives

Growing up there was always something going on at church and we went because that was our social outlet.

As I grew up I became interested in other things and church events didn't seem as fun anymore. Churches seem stuck on the idea that people still see their congregations as the center of their world and don't understand their congregants don't need to rely on church for social events anymore

Experiences, not beliefs, are what bind people together

One of the biggest misconceptions with chief is that beliefs will bind people together. Beliefs don't bind  people together. Experiences do. However if the experiences are shallow and superficial, then so are the bonds. People with common experiences are able to bond because they can empathize with each other.  If we aren't even given the opportunity to share experiences then how deep will the bonds be?

We now have Google

Some of the more legalistic denominations were able to mislead followers because there wasn't a lot of information readily available. If you wanted to know the truth, then you would have to go find books and such. Now with Google, people who want more information can research with their fingertips and find out information right away.  We don’t need to look to the pastors for the answers.

Unwilling to Change

I really don't understand why most churches don't change their schedules to reflect today's society. People don't work 9-5 and that's it. People work longer hours and it can be tough to attend a mid week bible study in the evenings. I've participated in online bible studies which were great. Why don't more churches have this option or at least offer classes on the weekends? Why instead of a sermon don't  we have classes where we can learn together and there can be an open discussion if need be

Maybe it's time to rethink how we do church. I don't think top heavy organizations are the answer where boards and pastors control everything.

It seems as if churches are willfully failing to read the writing on the wall or maybe they're afraid to. It's easy to recognize the church that is existing Solely on legacy and what it used to be.  They're the ones that never change ANYTHING

They won't change the worship team even if more talented people show up. They will still have the same programs even if it's no longer productive because that's the way it's always been. They don’t like newcomers to do anything but the grunt work. They just won't change anything and then wonder why they are going down the tubes. There's nothing new and innovative. It's what always was and that Becomes boring and stagnant.

 

 

As Seth Godin says in tribes:

People show up because they have to, not because they want to. Desire is defeated fear, and the status quo calcified, leading to three long slow death of the stalled organization

Supporting a church out of obligation and duty is a waste of time and very sad to watch.  People just show up on Sundays or whenever because they are afraid of burning in Hell, they don’t want to disappoint family members, too afraid to start over.

However an unwillingness to change will leave you with these people and they aren’t fired up or motivated.  They are simply waiting for the church to die with them in it.