Growth Engines

I'm wondering about church growth engines. Having been burned out in the past by buying into the "cause" of church growth, I am skeptical and suspicious of things (i.e., events) that are designed to bring more people into a church. I really wonder about the reasons for doing such a thing - is the core, true, heartfelt desire to reach as many people as possible with the gospel? Or, is the real agenda to "build" an entity, an organization into a mega-one - sort of like building a business? And why would the desire BE to be a mega entity? More pay for staff? Get bigger and better buildings with more fancy stuff? Feed egos? Be "known?"

I know its very cynical of me, but I can't help it. I've seen it, experienced it and burned out because of buying into a growth agenda. I've been wondering if it is possible to be part of a church and follow only the agenda God has for ME, and not that of others. I've been feeling something all too familiar lately, and that is, I feel like I'm being given a "sales pitch." Maybe I'm feeling this way because of my prior experience, but I get this sinking feeling every time I hear this "pitch." It feels exactly like when the Kirby guy comes to my door and keeps pushing me to let them come show me their vacuum cleaner, under the guise of "cleaning my carpets for free." I didn't invite the Kirby guy, didn't think of the idea of buying a new carpet cleaner, but someone shows up to get me to buy one.

I am not trying to be critical of church. And, I honestly don't want to be an agent of negativity in order to hurt any ministry. I am just feeling some stuff, and I wonder if there is any truth to it, or if I am still very sensitive to my previous experiences. I vowed to myself a long time ago, that I would no longer be the sheep that follows stupidly, like sheep often do, without thinking for myself. That I would not get caught up in the agendas of others - instead seeking only God's agenda for ME. If that does in fact, include following my leader's agenda, then I will do it if God asks me to. But, I am so much more reluctant to jump in nowadays. I wonder if it is wisdom or past wounding that I'm operating from. Maybe a little bit of both.

Comments

Elle J said…
God stretches us in so many ways, asks of us to do things that may not be all about "you", sacrifices. No specific opinion about what you are feeling, just supporting to embrace growth of yourself in any direction God leads you. :)
June 21, 2009 at 2:26 PM
Chelle said…
Just keep seeking and trusting in God's call for you. it may not look like everyone else's, and that is wonderful! :)
June 21, 2009 at 5:51 PM
Anonymous said…
Jodi, you know how I feel about this so I won't go into it. I think you ARE operating from both wisdom and wounding. The wounding can result in wisdom.

God has been doing some healing in me. I'm trying to cooperate with Him in this area. I've gotten to the point where I am singing again and even auditioned to play bass guitar for the worship team. I'm looking at my ministry on the worship team as a result of a relationship with God instead of in the past it BEING my walk. (Does that make sense?) Basically I'm looking at it totally different than I did in the past.

My wife on the other hand is still very far from any involvement in the church and even farther from having a friend there. This is seriously the last time for her to be hurt, in her mind. I can't say that I blame her. She went through some abuse when on the mission field as a young girl and has been burned by friends at churches and the last straw for her was me being terminated from the worship pastor ministry for the reason..."I was not able to take the worship department to the next level." That's one of the many problems with the church you're talking about that is trying to fill the seats, get large, be known, and so forth. For the sake of that, pastors think they have every right to fire someone that isn't doing things exactly like they want them to to help them reach that mega church goal that they've set.

I may have mentioned this before but google John McCarthur and Gary Gilley for some material on market driven and fad driven churches.

Tom Becker
June 21, 2009 at 10:29 PM
Jodi said…
All great things to think about, my friends....I will ponder them. I especially like "wounding can result in wisdom." That's good stuff. I'm praying for you and your family, Tom. Church wounding can cut so deeply - I can relate to how your wife feels. I like your perspective on playing on the worship team again. I think its really healthy. Speaking of healthy, I recently heard of a book entited: "Emotionally Healthy Spirituality." Might be worth checking out, huh?
June 22, 2009 at 5:52 PM
Anonymous said…
Thanks Jodi, I think I will check out the book. I recently got done reading "Crazy Love" by (I can't think of his first name) Chan.
My son is also reading it and his senior high group is going over it on Wed. nights. It's one of those books that changes how you do christianity.

Still praying for Joe. He is on my regular prayer list. It's not easy to get on that list either. You either have to be my friend or have a darn good reason to need prayer. Ha!

Later Jodi
PS I think it's Francis Chan.

Tom Becker
June 23, 2009 at 5:46 AM
Jodi said…
Sweet, Tom! Thanks for praying for my husband! We're both bummed about his job change - trying to trust God that He's got something brewing. I'm praying for you and your family, too. Thanks for the book idea...I think I actually might have time to start a new book since I'm not studying like a crazy person...
June 24, 2009 at 9:53 PM
Anonymous said…
Thanks Jodi. I thought I would answer you on your blog about the Rick Warren question. I'm of the opinion that he basically has singlehandedly (along with help from Bill Hybels, Ed Young, Andy Stanley and the guy from the Crystal Cathedral and others) opened the door for thousands of churches across the country to allow the world into the church. This is what you're seeing with the growth engine, be big, known, and all that. Church is becoming simply entertainment to get butts in the seats. That whole purpose driven, market driven or fad driven movement or whatever you want to call it is from him and a few others. And now we see him being accepted in political circles. We need to be real careful when religous people are looked upon favorably by the world. The bible says "the world will hate us because it hated him." "Friendship with the world is enmity toward God." Off hand I don't know the references but those are both from scripture. There are maybe a few exceptions like Billy Graham and James Dobson but realistically when you're accepted and looked upon favorably by people of the world, you've probably made some compromises along the way. But when you say the name Jesus and what he stands for....look out, people will kill because of His name.

Tom Becker
June 25, 2009 at 7:17 AM
Jodi said…
Interesting thoughts...thanks for sharing them...stuff to think about...
June 25, 2009 at 8:03 PM
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