I read church growth articles in several publications - even publications that are entirely devoted to church growth. There are many things that come across my desk claiming to be the "next best thing" to win people to Christ - oh, if I just had 40 days! Church growth companies call from time to time and offer something that will benefit my local church. (These groups are 500-1000 miles away. How do they know what the people need here?) "Everything is included for the low price of $999.99. It's guarunteed to have people beating the doors down to get into your place of worship."
Need a quick fix? Check out Church Marketing Sucks!
So here's the fodder? Lately, many churches have been accused of "selling out" all in the name of reaching people for Christ. In other words, church leaderships have bought into the secular idea of having the newest, freshest, or shiniest whatever. And when the church has the newest, freshest, or shiniest, it just makes sense to tell everyone about it. Paul said, "I have become all things to all people." But did he really mean selling out on the Gospel?
Isn't the Good News still good news? Doesn't the power of the Holy Spirit still work today? And if this is true (I believe that it is!), surely marketing the vision of a local church should still be acceptable. The question is how so?
What's a healthy balance between trusting the power of the Gospel and marketing? Any thoughts?
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8 comments:
i think that being all things to all people ment that paul went out and met face to face with people and gave of himself where they were.
you know Jesus meets people where they are, all things to all people.
paul did not change, but he introduced Christ into people's lives without the people having to change first.
he became Christ to them, he became what they needed.
that is how i see it anyway.
he went into their lives and was "like" one of them because he was there with them in their space and life.
maybe i should say that paul brought Christ to them instead of became Christ to them.
I would agree with Paul bringing Christ to those around him Nancy.
What concerns me is the way the church today (at least many of the megachurches) follow the corporate way of defining success. Because of that definition, everything else (including how we market the church) is impacted.
Blessings,
Mike
I think we sometimes make simple things hard. We must never forget that mankind is bound by sin. This "sin effect" determines the actions of people.
There are no simple answers here. The only ones I can see from the bible is to trust in the Lord, seek Him, follow His lead, and get excited about what He does.
I know I sound like a broken record here, but I think that churches who have made relationship building a priority -a vessel for participation in the Good News - have it figured out. Some of them are big, and some are small. I don't have a problem with many of the methods that churches use to bring folks into their flock, as long as the reason for them is to introduce them to the Great Shepherd of Sheep!
In today's world, we need some "out of the box" thinking to reach out. If it leads to Reconciliation - God Speed!
Hey Mike!
You said, "The only ones I can see from the bible is to trust in the Lord, seek Him, follow His lead, and get excited about what He does."
I completely agree. Our motivation for what we do can be checked quickly, if we remember such good advice.
Thanks!
Hlo Cheryl,
Some of the best songs become scratched and play the same thing over and over again. I have no problem with that, as long as it's the truth.
Relationship is essential - whether large or small - the church must be concerned about relationship.
I hear ya on the "out of the box" thinking. I just want God to define the box and not the latest fad.
Blessings!
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