inny or outy?…church that is
By Tim on Jan 18, 2010 in ART, CHURCH, FEATURED, MUSIC, THOUGHTS
Should a church be focused on the people inside it’s walls or the people outside it’s walls? This has become a big question with many perspectives. Here are some of my early observations. The great commission itself shows both are necessary…both need to be vibrant. We need to be continually “Going” and we need to be continually “Making.” Going most easily happens OUTSIDE the walls of the church…Making disciples most naturally happens INSIDE the walls of the church, or small group, etc…
God made humanity in a way that it’s hard to fit us in a nice, clean box. Generalities are easily broken, this issue is no exception. First, let’s blow up the idea that “Going” must take place outside the church walls. We saw one of the greatest ways a church was able to reach those around them after September 11th, 2001 was to have a building. When God shakes someone to the core they generally head to a church building, they think the people there know something about God. Additionally, Ed Stetzer’s research shows most seekers prefer a traditional looking building over a contemporary space.
Second, let’s blow up the idea that “Making” disciples has to happen inside the walls of the church. When you read about William Wilberforce, the Clapham Sect and others who powerfully changed 18th-19th century England for the sake of Christ…you hear a lot about mature Christians living as culture changing disciples, but you hear almost nothing about their church buildings.
Do I have an inny or outy? What type of church do I want to see? I’m convinced a church moves forward on its knees…unashamed of its building…unashamed of God…unashamed of Scripture…and with an equal heart loving the people inside the walls and outside the walls.
This is a great discussion Tim. One that deserves a lot of consideration.
I agree that God is working inside and outside the chruch walls.
I also think there’s a world of difference between “the church as an institution” vs “the church as a people.” In the former way of viewing church, the real danger would be to see the institution as God’s primary way, or worse, the only way that God makes Himself known.
Chruch as a people, or perhaps better stated, church as a Jesus/people movement puts the focus on Jesus and people rather than the institution. I realize that it’s possible to be in the institution without being institutionalized…probably a whole other discussion…
In the end though, I have to agree with you, it’s ultimately about loving those inside the walls and those outside them. But how we view church or how we think God views church can make a huge difference in our approach to making disciples.
Darin | Jan 19, 2010 | Reply
This is an area I still struggle with my own church. I love the pastor, staff and fellow worshipers but when they decided to make the church less “churchy” and spend $200k to do so they hit a raw nerve with me.I had a previous experience with a church that had some new staff people and suddenly within months this “new-age” group took over the church completely and it started by making the church less “churchy”.
My church went through with their changes and the only glitch was when they tried to cover up the stained glass windows and then everyone was upset.
But here’s what is so so sad. They are constantly trying to reach people outside our church and they are dropping the high school students like a bad disease. They dont know what to do with them. They would put money toward remodeling the church and not toward sending the high schoolers to student leadership programs.
I would hope that churchs would meet the needs of the people who support the church first before spending money they dont have on things they dont need.
Debbie | Feb 25, 2010 | Reply