Starting a new church is hard! It's tough to compete against churches with large budgets, good facilities, lots of staff, programs, established reputations, plenty of resources and oodles of options. Here we sit with no facilities, an ultra lean budget, a volunteer staff, no programs, no reputation, extremely limited resources and options, well, not much. It's a real temptation to use any and all gimmicks to just get people's attention and try to lure people in. It'd be easy to become a carnival, where I fill the role as a barker. "Ladies and Gentlemen, step right up and experience the greatest show on earth. You'll see.... You'll experience...."
Unfortunately, many churches have already succumbed to that mentality. I've witnessed youth ministries and children's ministries resort to this to attract kids and teens and parents and make sure their constituents all have a good time.
I confess it bothers me when I see churches/ministries giving away TVs, ipods, bikes, Xboxes, PS3's, Wii's, just to get kids to come to an event. It bothers me when I see churches put on a show each Lord's Day to entertain their audience. It bothers me when I hear preachers and teachers say, "Come to Jesus and all your troubles will be over." It bothers me when I hear preachers and teachers say, "Jesus wants you to be rich, just trust God for that house or boat or car or plane." It bothers me when I hear preachers and teachers offer excuses for sinful behavior, i.e. "You're made that way.", "It's a demon in you.", "You're really not that bad.", etc.
Paul's approach? Simply present the message of God's grace and His Good News. What I've found in starting a new church that's focused on extending ourselves to the disenfranchised, disconnected, dechurched and never churched is that the message of the Gospel transforms lives. The Word of God truly makes a difference in people's lives when read, studied, and applied. Programs don't change lives, God does. Buildings don't change lives, the Bible does. Money doesn't change lives, Jesus does. Shows don't change lives, genuine caring and ministry by God's people do.
God, help me and our leaders not to resort to gimmickry or worldly marketing methods in our new church. Help me/us to lift up Jesus. Help me/us to hold out the Word of Life. Help me/us to genuinely share grace and mercy and caring to people I/we encounter. Lord, I don't want to have a "compete" mentality. Let your light shine through me. Help me simply point people to you. I want to assist those who've been blinded to your Good News and glory.
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