Sunday, December 17, 2006

Friendliness...next to godliness?

here's another question that tony morgan suggests that growing churches should be asking:

#3 – Do we exceed the expectations of our first-time guests? Whether we like it or not, our guests are “consumers” before they become convinced that they should be learners, worshippers, or servants. That means that they are walking into our doors for the first time and expecting an experience that meets or exceeds what they are getting at the theater, the restaurant, or the mall.

i don't know if i completely buy into the whole "consumer" mentality of today's church shoppers, nor am i convinced that we should be catering to the consumer experience that expects to be wowed into coming back the next week. i'm curious what you think...

more importantly, tho, why do you think it is so hard for most of us to invest our lives in someone we don't know? why is it so difficult to be friendly and interested in someone who is taking time to investigate our church family or, more importantly, the claims of the one we call our leader?

honestly, it amazes me to watch how easy it is to walk right past people we don't know...to find a friend or quickly get our favorite seat in the auditorium. i'm not throwing stones here. i share the same kind of uneasiness when i am forced out of my comfort zone and into the life story of another person.

but if i truly want to be like christ, my commitment to love god and love others needs to be more than a catchy slogan on the front page of a church web page.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think sometimes we get caught up in the social activity of church...talking to the people we know and feel comfortable with...in the end it is like we came to church just to see our friends..it is a very sad reality....

I have also been on the other side of the coin too...I have searched in a new town for a new church..I have been to 6 or 7 in the past three years and have still never really found a place in any of them....and at this point...I will be honest...it really comes down to the people. Someone to say, "I hope to see you next week" and the next...

really we come to church to worship but what gets us there is the people...fellowship....

so we probably should stick our necks out once in awhile and say hello to the new people.... even if we look stupid doing it...

okay I am done rambling

The Padre said...

thanks for the personal insight. i'm wondering...does it make more of a difference to you when one of the pastors talks to you or when just a normal, friendly person says they "hope to see you next week"?