Last
week I asked for your opinion on why we can have such highly rated churches
while at the same time the church in American is in decline if not in free fall
or collapse. I can’t find any measure of
the church, as a whole, that indicates the church in American is doing well
both in terms of numerical growth and in discipleship.
So,
back to the question: Why are we Christians in the church in America
experiencing high levels of satisfaction with our churches while at the same
time our churches are for the most part static or in decline?
As
I read over the numerous answers I received (thank you by the way) a couple of
general themes kept recurring. If you
would like to read the answers they are posted at http://beyondharan.blogspot.com/2019/09/here-is-what-you-said.html. The two very general themes are that we are
selfish in our expectation of what the church should be and do and that
develops from a failure to die to self. Also,
we have become addicted to the consumer culture and have translated it into our
expectation of the church. If we don’t
like the experience at Outback we will go to Ruth Chris. If the wings at Beef O’Brady’s don’t please
us we will watch the game at Buffalo Wild Wings. If the music at First Tall Steeple Church is
too stuffy we will go to Mega-Wonder Church by the interstate.
When
my son was about 5 years old a little girl at church had a crush on him. As much as a 4 year old can have a
crush. We had been visiting the family
and as we were saying our goodbyes the little girl ran up to my son, started
dancing, shaking both arms and chanting, “Do you like me? Do you like me?” The embarrassment of my son was hysterical to
watch. And it was cute coming from a 4
year old girl. But it feels like the
church stands in front of the carnal world dancing and pleading, “Do you like
me? Do you like me?” Christianity has
become one more consumer product that is to be marketed and presented as we
plead with carnal people to please like us.
But
lest I confess the sins of others I must also confess my own sins. As a minister I have a tendency to expect the
church to provide me with affirmation, love, support, a good salary, benefits
and a retirement plan. I have wanted to
work a grueling 29-hour week, use recycled or stolen sermons, and not be
bothered with the demands of dysfunctional people that want me to visit
them. I have wanted to be treated like a
professional, work like a toddler, and put out like an amateur. I have fought these tendencies and in most of
my ministry I have done a good job of doing so, but when I do I whine like a
spoiled 13 year old in private and subtly play the martyr in public. I think I am not the only one.
I
am not saying all preachers are lazy nor am I justifying the evil behavior of
clergy killers in the church. I am
saying that as ministers we can identify the problems in our churches, but are
less apt to see them in the mirror. The
church is a mess in
America
and we in leadership are part of the problem.
We are also the beginning of the solution. One responder said, “We need a Third Great
Awakening.” That will only happen if we
speak the truth and call our people to die to self. If we speak the truth we may find our churches
dismiss us. We may lose good paying jobs
and retirement options might be taken from us.
We may find that we reenter the work force not as professionals but as
laborers drawing pay that doesn’t afford the niceties we are accustomed
to. If we find that price too high then
we are part of the problem, we are not ready to die to self. We will go our way, “…grieving; for he (we)
was one who owned much property.”
What
is wrong with the American Church? Join
me and let’s all say it together, “I am.”
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