Love Jesus, Hate Church

I finished the book. It had a LOT a agreed with and could relate to, but also a few things that disturbed me. The problem is that the book provides no solid answers except to suggest that the alieviation of church problems begins with self. In other words: "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me."

This is not to say it's not worth the read. It certainly is! If not for anything else to know that we're not alone in the boat.

Refer to my last blog entry for ordering information. You probably can't get the book at your book store since it is "self published."

The Church and the Arts

Just reading "The Gospel Accroding to Peanuts" by Robert L. Short.

You may know that Charles M. Shultz (creator of Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the other Peanuts gang) was a believer (same with B.C.'s Johnny Hart). He said:

"...if you do not say anything in a cartoon, you might as well not draw it at all. Humor which does not say anything is worthless humor. So I contend that a cartoonist must be given a cahnce to do his own preaching."

The book has a section on the church and the arts. It begins:

"'How shall we sing the Lord's song in a foreign land?' (Ps.137:4) is a question the Church, always finding itself in but not of the world, urgently needs to consider today..."

The discussion centers on communication to culture through culture. Short continues:

"Art has a way of getting around man's intellectual and emotional predjudices. This is because art always speaks indirectly--wheather in being the vehical for delivering a new answer, or in causing a new kind of question to be asked..."

He contends that art is a reflection into which we peer seeing ourselves. As such art is a great communicator of truth and the human condition; opening windows into the soul and exposing want and need--especially the need for Christ.

The aurgument is somewhat scholarly and lofty for ideolgies expressed through cartoon illustrations. erhaps Shultz was deeper than we have imagined, but, through his art, we "got it." Case in point. The section, if not the whole book is worth a skim.

LOVE JESUS, HATE CHURCH?

From the book "Love Jesus, Hate Church":

"During the past 10 years, approximately 50 million Christians left the church. In fact, the percentage of American adults who attend religious services has dropped from 49% to less than 32%. And more recent studies have shown that the problem of the decline in church attendance is actually getting much worse. In addition, a recent USA Today/Gallop poll reported that almost half of all Americans appear to be alienated from any form of organized religion. If the current trend continues, most Americans will not call themselves religious in just a few years.

"Of the roughly 140 million Americans who do make their way to church on any given weekend, an amazing 74% are not engaged in their church at all.Moreover, a study from the Barna Institute concluded that by the end of the next decade, up to 40% of all church-attending Christians will be worshipping God, serving others, studying the Bible, etc., outside of a congregational church setting. Clearly, the data indicates that church isn’t working."

Why? I'll let you know more as I read the book. In the meantime visit the website www.lovejesushatechurch.com for more info and three sample chapters.

POP goes the CULTURE

Here's another book that looks promising. I read the excerpt from COLLIDE magazine and was impressed. The book was released in early April and was not yet available for purchase at my local Christian bookstore.

Here are a couple brief points from the book as they appeared in COLLIDE (a magazine that I highly recommend):

"Every church makes a choice in hpw to respond to pop culture, and the choice it makes determines how much of an impact it will have on its community."

Author Tim Stevens goes on to point out the five choices that are possible. I will list them here without his commentary. To find out more visit http://www.colidemagazine.com/ or http://www.popgoesthechurch.com/

Here are our choices:

• Condemn the Culture
• Seperate from the Culture
• Embrace the Culture
• Ignore the Culture
• Leverage the Culture

"[Jesus] would read our books, go to our movies, watch our TV shows, look at our magazines, and surf the Internet so that He could better understand our culture."

Bumper Sticker Culture

I just finsihed reading an excellent book titled Lord Save Us from Your Followers by Dan Merchant. I found the book both convicting and moving. Maybe that wasn't so much the book as it was the Holy Spirit. None-the-less Merchant "speaks the truth in love" and presents important ideas about grace, love, communication and cultural engagement that should be considered by all who call themself Christian.

Here is just one passage from the book:

"A bumber sticker is, quite possibly, the weakest, most strident form of communication possible

--because of its one-way nature. In this information age, communication styles are more influential than ever. I've identified four primary ways that have (seemingly) become accepted ways we communicate our ideas, both through the media and in person.

• Myopia--our communication conveys our point of view exlusively. While our facts may be acurate, we lack context and, ultimately, understanding by ignoring information that doesn't put forward our agenda.


• Hyperbole--our communication again conveys our point of view, but e exagerate the facts and distort the available information to create an intellecually dishonest and, possibly, more persuasive case for our agenda.


• Hysteria--our communication conveys our point of view in an emotional and aggressive manner based primarily on our feelings, what we want to be true, and our blind desire to be right and see our agenda come to fruition.


• Truth--our communication conveys as balanced a review of the facts as possible, including the weaknesses of our position and the strengths of the other's. The goal of communication is the illumination of reality, and, in this case, our agenda considers the well-being of all people, not just those who agree with us..."

In a nutshell, the book advocates active listening and sincere grace as the forum for bringing people closer to Christ. I highly recommend this read.

When Dreams Die; Who Will Be There for You?

I went to a funeral yesterday. It was for a gal I've known since she was a middleschooler. She died at 21 in a freak accident. She left behind her husband of two years. He is a pastor. They had just accepted a new position. I don't understand things and I'm not going to pretend that I do.

Anyway, the thing that struck me at the funeral was this idea of community. There were over 1,000 people at this one. People came from W.Virginia., Kentucky, Indiana, Hawaii--all over to be with the family. And I thought: This is community.

I'm still thinking this through, but, you know, I wonder: Who's in our circle? Who's got our back? Who's gonna hold us up when life tries to knock us down? Do we have such a community?

Lord, thank you for the church!

Real Christians of Genius

I didn't make this video, but thought it very applicable to the subject matter. The truth of the fun and humorous video is that we don't often communicate well.

How one women got involved in church

In my interview with Mona Zochert she shares how she got involved in church through the invitation of her sister to a women's retreat.

Rodney Joslen on Community

Rodney Joslen is a founding member of the Living Hope Longview campus. He serves nearly every Sunday in some capacity and is on the leadership team. But Rod's effectiveness comes not from the time he gives but from the heart he gives. In the slide show we see Rod in action and hear him share about what community means to him.

Common Ground: Church in a Bar

From Pastor John Bishop's Blog:

Treasa and Rick Conn, who with the help of Danny Joe and the rest of our teams, are starting a church in a bar. Specifically Dodge City Saloon (I know, we live in the west). Over the course of the weekend and during the last several days, there has been nothing but incredible momentum, buzz and support over what ONLY GOD might do. I feel like we're stretching and risking like Paul did, who wrote most of the New Testament. Paul was a legalist, a Pharisee, went to the best schools, from the tribe of Benjamin, he knew more than most in his day, and was respected by most everyone in his day. Yet when God broke his heart, his faith became break-through and he saw EVERYTHING differently. Look at the words he told the church at Corinth:

1 Corinthians 9:22-23 says, "...Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings."

I love that! I try to find common ground with everyone, and do everything so that I might bring them to Christ. The thoughts are pretty radical. When we broke the news about Dodge City, with over 5,000 people in all of our campuses, I thought that people would be frustrated, and I assumed people wouldn't understand, but it was just the opposite. We didn't hear any negative comments. Only positive, only encouragement, only support for Rick and Treasa, and in the end, ONLY GOD will be glorified. Thanks to the owner of Dodge City Saloon who is not only helping finance the campus, but is allowing us to use the facility every Sunday morning for no charge. Did you get that? Every Sunday morning for no charge.

I hope that we continue to find common ground and do whatever it takes to reach someone for Jesus Christ. When the day is over, the bar is simply a building. I'm glad to be a part of a church that always does whatever it takes to reach the next one person for Christ.

Common Union Man

This week I had the privilege of "stalking" Rod Joslin through a day at church. What I mean to say is that I got to follow him around and observe his interaction with people. I've known Rod for more than a year and so I knew he was a good candidate for my study in community.

You'll learn more about Rod and why he is the epitome of the common-union man in my next blog. I'll present you with a picture show of my "findings" that I'm sure you will enjoy. It is important to note that this really isn't about Rod, but about God in Rod. You'll see and hear what I mean next time.

Another Video

Here's an example of another video that can be used in worship. The background and interview clips were purchased seperately and I did the re-edit. These types of video can help with connection.

A Former Pastor of Community Speaks

The Church was designed, in part, to function for koinia (fellowship); does it serve this function well or is it lacking?

It is lacking and does not serve this function well, IMHO. The church is too spread out geographically and folks have too many commitments to too many places and activities for true koinonia to take place.

How does effective communication aid the function and process of koinia?

Effective communication is essential to authentic relationships, which are at the core of koininia.

What has been your experience in the Church: Does it communicate well (both within and without)?

I know of no church that truly communicates effectively. Some do better than others. They are organizations that are protecting and withholding information as it suite their interests. Information is seen as power, and those who "communicate" hold that power. Withholding information is another form of power. They do not require people to talk face to face with those who are needing to communicate. They allow "dead" mechanisms to do this. This is not effective communication, in my book, but rather an abuse of power.

How might communication improve in the Church?

Communication can only improve in a church as they are dedicated to speaking the truth in love face to face with everyone. As long as communication is used as a form of power and control, there isn't much improving allowed.

How does communication relate to and/or effect community?

Communication makes or breaks community. It binds or frees community. It gives voice or silences community. It depends on who holds or gives away the power and control. I have lots of opinions about this...

Networks and Communities

I'm reading a facinating article from the book The Future Does Not Compute. Here are some of the comments from the chapter titled Networks and Communities:

"It is not surprising that in a culture widely cited for its loss of community, the word 'community' itself should come in for heavy use."

Does the Internet represent "a return to the fundamental dynamics of human existence: communication and community" as Michael Strangeglove writes in The Internet Business Journal?

We talk about online community [MySpace, FaceBook, etc.] all the time (especially where I 'live'). For 'natives' of the digital-cyber age (NetGen) this may be 'real,' for those of us more 'immigrant' it's a hard concept to grasp. I realize and see validity in the cyber community, but I doubt that we, as human beings, can get all of our relational needs met through a distant electric (computer or telephone based) social group. How do you really recieve a hug, handshake or kiss online? Is there more to emotional affirmation? Is not touch (physical sensation) necessary to the well being of the psyche?

Just food for thought.

Back to the article to close (for now): "There is no doubt that physical networks will dramatically affect the form of our communities. But if we fail to distinguish radically between such networks and the personal sources of community, then the only sure thing is that we will continue to degrade what community remains."

Interview with a person who has long served in the Church

The Church was designed, in part, to function for koinia (fellowship); does it serve this function well or is it lacking?

Generally, the way the American church is set up, I don't think it functions that well at fellowship. Small home groups do somewhat better. But if you get into a larger church with busy American lifestyles, most people stay somewhat superficial. I've never been able to see fellowship as a chili feed after carolling around the neighborhood every Christmas, for instance. Or an ice cream party after the church business meeting. People just chat. Chatting doesn't fit my definition of fellowship.

How does effective communication aid the function and process of koinia?

What is meant by "effective communication"?

What connects and has results.

Generally, people (Americans) don't share their hearts and lives in a deep meaningful way unless they feel safe. And safety is usually built over time and consistency and a small enough group setting. If people take time, yes, effective communication can happen.

What has been your experience in the Church: Does it communicate well (both within and without)?

I was in a small church for years that communicated well on some levels within, but was never very good at communicating without. At least, not communicating in a way that made large numbers of people feel like they were part of it. To this day, as dearly as I love many of the people, they have their own "in" language and culture and have no real idea how very exclusive that makes them appear to others. I know how to speak their language, but after being out of the church for years it kind of makes me gag.

Now I'm involved in a larger mainline church where the pastor struggles constantly with trying to find out how we can effectively impact our world for Jesus. But, to be honest, most of us are extremely busy with jobs and family responsibilities, and after doing our best to live as consistent Christians in those settings, there isn't a lot of energy left over for communicating with each other or for communicating to the community from the setting of the church. And people are so hungry to connect that they'll chatter through a few of the worship songs before getting around to joining the worship.

I really think that if our current church just shut its doors, some missionaries around the world would notice the drop in support and grieve. But I don't think in [my city] would notice. And this is a church that does try.

How might communication improve in the Church?

I think communication improves best in the church when there are committed small group settings ... led by a gifted leader who doesn't rely on videos and study questions. Those have been the church settings where I've opened my heart the best. And to this day the people in the small church where we spent 16 years know me better than anyone at my current church over the last seven years.

How does communication relate to and/or effect community?

True community is built and supported by effective communcation. But it's not just going to happen because of a quick book study (like our church did with a month-long book study on Bill Hybels' book Just Walk Across the Room.) True communication takes lots of time and practice. Hype and gimmick and programs don't cut it.

Interview with a Pastor of a Mega Church

The Church was designed, in part, to function for koinia(fellowship); does it serve this function well or is it lacking?

Yes and no, The church was established by God to extend hope to theWorld through a relationship with our creator. We live to glorify God bygoing into the world to seek and save the lost. The church I serve in ismaking a difference. Our focus should be on creating opportunities forfellowship with Jesus, our koinia with each other is just a buy productof our mission.

How does effective communication aid the function and process of koinia?

Coming together to fellowship does create better Koinia and theenvironment fosters better communication. There are several aspects andtypes of communication all have to be effective, timing, polish,demographics, presentation, etc.

What has been your experience in the Church: Does it communicate well (both within and without)?

Are we talking about my church or (The Church)?

The Church.

Bulletins are becoming lessand less effective. Video Adds seem to get better response, I do notthink the announcement loop thing is working well, often the people whoneed to hear the most tend to get to church late and get zero exposure.Currently Phone contact is becoming less and less effective.

Most oftenyou never reach a live person and leaving messages are often not evenheard. Several time a week I hear people call leave a message only to hear back later that "no one ever called me" So in effect we tie up pastors and staff making calls that we get no results from.

The expectation is that the church needs to call at the perfect time andmake live contact. There are as many different schedules as there are people. Seems like everyone wants to believe that they are the only ones that are after something from their pastor. With a church of 5000 people and approximately 15 pastors, That's about 333 potential calls, emails,visits per week or some times two or three times per week. There simply needs to be a better way.

How might communication improve in the Church?

Increase the staff size. Educate people to keep trying, not expectingthat they are so important that the pastor or his staff will put theother 332 people on hold while they get communicated to. They need to believe that their pastor really wants to connect, rather than take thepossition that we don't want to connect.

How does communication relate to and/or effect community?

The better we connect the more people feel loved and then when they feel like a part of the community they invest more and attend more events.This all translates to getting the word of God out into the world. Getting more people to understand how deep, how wide, and how full the love of God is for them.

Interview with a Small Church Pastor

The Church was designed, in part, to function for koinia (fellowship); does it serve this function well or is it lacking?

I think the church at large is lacking in the koinia department. I think this is due to people being “too busy,” and churches being too big. This is not to say that big churches are an inherently bad thing, its just that most attenders of big churches do not avail themselves of the opportunity to be involved in a more intimate, “small group” setting. This could be either because of a lack of motivation, understanding, opportunity, or even a lack of priority placed in it, either by the church or the attender.

At the church I pastor Koinia happens quite often and naturally. It is a smaller church, and we live life in common. Much of what is displayed as genuine fellowship in Acts 2-5 is evident in the church I pastor. We meet each others material needs sacrificially and voluntarily. We do life together, sharing meals and such. It is actually part of our purpose statement to foster a family like atmosphere, believing that this is why they have favor with everyone in Acts 2.

How does effective communication aid the function and process of koinia?

I would say effective communication is every bit as critical for koinia as it is for any other relationship. It promotes intimacy. It keeps people from feeling left out. If there are no needs being communicated, how can the body meet those needs?

What has been your experience in the Church: Does it communicate well (both within and without)?

I think for the most part the church communicates well. Most churches are mechanized enough to be able to offer communication methods such as phone tree, bulletin, newsletter, and some churches enter the technical age of communication with such things as email, web site, forums, blogging, etc. This is only the method of communication, however. One must also consider the content being communicated. I think this is where the church needs to improve.

The effectiveness of the content is at least as important as the method. For true communication to occur the message must be received and comprehended as intended by the initiator of the communication. I think the church assumes the message is getting out there, but is it being understood properly? Do we have a way of confirming that?

I am mainly an emailer. I find it to be most convenient. I mean, gosh, I already spend several hours on the phone anyway, it is nice to be able to sit down to the computer and get message out to as many people as have email addresses. I must remember, though, that there are certain people in our body that either don’t have email, or prefer to have a “real” conversation with someone. I could email them, but that would not be effective. We try to communicate things using as many different methods as possible.

How might communication improve in the Church?

Oh, I think I already started answering that! I think the church needs to focus on the effectiveness of the content, and develop better ways of confirming the message is received as intended.

How does communication relate to and/or effect community?

I believe that community equals fellowship.

Digging a Little Deeper

Before I move on and explore Comm-unity, Comm-unication and Comm-union further, we need to look a bit more at our word "culture." We've looked at the term in light of making yogurt. Here are some other definitions:

1. the cultivation (tilling up) of soil



2. a growth of bacteria intentionally or specially made



3. improvement by study or training, especially of mind, manners and taste (refinement)



4. the ideas, skills, arts, tools and way of life of a certain people in a certain time (civilization; see anthropology)



5. the arts (to be cultured one observes the arts)
   

These are ALL ways in which the Church can be more cultured. "What?" you say, "We're to plant gardens?" It wouldn't hurt if it would feed the hungry, however you probably know it's a metaphor.

It was Jesus that first gave this metaphor in the parable of the seeds. The Great Awakening evangelist Charles Finney spoke also of “breaking up the follow ground” using cultivation as a metaphor for stirring up the human heart. Whether an individual’s heart or the organism of an entire church, God as the farmer, can so turn the dirt that growth and a bountiful harvest result. This, I believe, is the primary reason for existence of the church—growth and harvest.

A healthy church does a lot of soil cultivation. A church that works the earth will have a harvest. And a church cannot grow unless the fields are worked. Put plainly I mean to say that the church will endeavor to fulfill the Great Commission that we all can regurgitate, but often fail to prioritize.

“You go into all the world and preach the good news to all people, baptizing them and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” ~Matthew 28

So, who goes? You go.
Where? Part of the world? All the world.
Do what?
Preach, baptize, teach.
To whom? Some people? All people.
Teach what? To
do what Jesus commanded.

Pretty simple, huh? Well, simple to break down anyway. Maybe a little harder to put into practice, but that's where we need to start.



Next time I'll be adding some thoughts from interviews I've conducted with pastors and take a look at what THEY say about the church and communication.

A New Thing?

Behold! I Am Doing a New Thing

In the book of Isaiah God says, “Behold, I am doing a new thing; can you not perceive it?”

There’s a lot of talk in church circles today about being “culturally relevant.” It’s a buzz phrase with little or no meaning because it means different things to each person. Many, however, think that the church can become relevant by slapping a screen on the wall and everyone will just get it. Not true at all.

In his book morph! pastor Ron Martoia states, “Electronic technology is a very visible and interesting change going on around us, but other cultural, attitudinal, and spiritual shifts are no less real and just as critical.” His book illustrates many of the ways a church can be relevant, but simply being "hip," technologically or otherwise, is not enough. Just doing something becuase everyone else is doing it is stupid. The church must be intentional. There must be a method to our madness--a good, solid mission in mind will drive our methodology. Anything less is a waste of time, money, and man-power.

I think this all begins with two questions: "Are we efectively communicating the message we wish to communicate?" and "How can we better communicate?" There are several layers to which these questions will apply. Communication must be effective both inside and outside the church. I'll address these ideas and issues over time, but for now just think about them on your own. Let me know your thoughts.

Bacterial Growth

Living Hope Church in Brush Prairie, Wash. is one of the top ten fastest growing churches in the U.S. and the fastest growing in the Pacific Northwest. Why is it growing? What is it doing right? In what areas could it improve? How does it differ from those churches that seem to have stagnated? What works; what doesn't?

The answers may surprise you, but it all has to do with culture.

What is Culture?

Culture. The word can mean a variety of things. When thinking in terms of yogurt the word refers to “a growth of bacteria intentionally or specially made.” It can also refer to the cultivation or tilling up of soil; an improvement by study or training, especially of mind, manners and taste (i.e., refinement); the ideas, skills, arts, tools and way of life of a certain people in a certain time (a civilization); and/or the arts or the appreciation thereof.

Well, look at each of these in light of what we can glean from them—what meaning they have for how we do church—but in the end our model will be that which refers to yogurt.

But, What is an Active Culture?

An active culture is one that lives; it continues to reproduce.

The process of making yogurt has been around for eons. Some believe that the patriarch Abraham discovered the tasty dairy product. Essentially yogurt is quite easy to come by; leave milk out to collect bacteria and veolia--yogurt. Safe and consistently good yogurt, however, is an intentional science. Exactly which bacteria and how it grows is controlled and monitored. Then, when the product is at perfection, it is refrigerated (to stop bacteria growth) and shipped to be sold and enjoyed.

Commercially sold yogurt is a concoction of milk, sweetner (sugar and/or corn syrup), thickening agents (such as gaur gum, gelatin, etc.), coloring, flavors, pectin, maybe some fruit, a few vitamins and a bacterial starter. This starter (or culture) is made up of two lab-grown (cultured) bacterium: Acidophilus and Bifidum.

Acidophilus and Bifidum are the little “bugs” that turn milk into yogurt. The microscopic critters are very active in the process if the conditions are right.

According to my wife, who makes yogurt at home, the milk is heated to 180 degrees (but not boiled) then cooled to about 90-100 degrees. This is when you add the live culture (a “starter” from another batch of live yogurt). The culture spreads in the milk like yeast spreads in bread dough. The milk must be kept at this temperature for the bacteria to work its magic. Too hot the bacteria is killed. Too cold and it goes dormant.

Its Alive! Its Alive!

“It’s alive, it’s alive!” Dr. Fredrick von Frankenstein was ecstatic. He’d reanimated dead tissue—created life from death. It had been his life’s work; he’d been obsessed. He’d been working days on end, up nights, laboring on the point of exhaustion when all at once: a break through. Results. Success!

I was excited the first time I saw the church come alive. More next time.

More Description of the project

This blog will explore some of the various forms of the evangelical Christian “church” in the United States. While not exhaustive, a wide variety of models will be analyzed—from small to large, from house church to big box, from traditional to contemporary, from orthodox to emergent. Some will be examples of success (and success will be biblically defined) and a few will represent quite the opposite. One thing will be made clear: One size (one model) does not fit all.

I come to this project with no particular bias or malice in my heart. I’ve been around the block a few times and have served the church for over twenty-five years. I have seen (and been the recipient of) the good, the bad and the ugly, but I still love the Church. Truth be told, you cannot really love the bridegroom (Jesus) without loving His bride (the church).

I personally feel at home and in the presence of our Lord in any genuine body of believers. I’d like us all to quit judging what are the “right” and/or “wrong” ways to “do” church. I believe strongly that there are “different strokes for different folks.” And, as long as God’s word is the guide, where, when or how the church meets, who attends, or what style of worship ensues, I think that God is glorified and smiling.

YOGURT

Q: “What’s the difference between yogurt and the church?”
A: “The yogurt has an active culture.”

So goes the joke that is no joke. Too often true, this germane jab has become the impetus for this blog; not to bemoan an inactive or dead state of the church, but to encourage and CULTIVATE an active and living ethos that affects (and infects) the surrounding culture by creating better COMMON UNION through Community, Communication and Communion.