Does our organization help or hinder?
My people work and live perfectly happily outside of church! In fact, they are not interested in church. I should modify that somewhat: They are not interested in church the way they know “our” church (global church). But they have very good reasons.
Over the next several articles, I’d like to share what I’m hearing and what ramifications I believe it may have for the way we go about creating a new church community that’s quite different.
They choose not to go to church because of . . .
. . . The way we organize . . .
They call us “organized religion,” meaning they are suspicious of how our organized part can actually put distance between a real Jesus and people with tough situations. They equate “organized religion” with less than personal interactions and see “organized religion” acting more like a business structure than as a walk with Christ. They are quick to pick up on the tension between how people want to be loved and how they are treated in sometimes unloving ways by a bigger “organization.”
The one hypocrisy meter they all seem to value is this:
* Did someone get hurt?
* Is our way of organizing keeping us from being responsive, and especially quickly responsive, in “doing the right thing” for that person?
I’ve discovered that people outside of church are sometimes better at discerning what actions of an organization are more loving like Jesus than the church is sometimes able to grasp hold of as a group. (Just my opinion folks. Sorry if that makes anyone upset.)
That’s not an indictment of church. But it does invite some tough questions and heavy consideration of change.
In light of this, I’m looking for a way to ask my newly forming community these kinds of questions:
- What is it about “organized religion” that we should avoid as a new church community?
- How can we grapple with complex issues and complex opinions on those issues, and still remain loving 100% of the time like Christ?
- How can we create something together immediately responsive, or almost immediately responsive, to needs?
- What would worship look like that is not “organized” but does lead people to a deep connection with Christ?
- What would church look like that is not “organized” in a bad way? What guideposts should be heeded?
Maybe you have better formed questions to ask? Please share with us!
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