What Do We Need in a Church?
by Dan Burrell
I recently read an article by a local religion reporter who noted that "the most heartfelt e-mails [he] receives come from folks searching for a faith home." I would note that he writes for a paper located in a city with some seven hundred houses of worship. Several quotes from that article and comments I've heard or read over the years triggered some thoughts for me on what people "want" from a church.
As a pastor, I am intrigued by the kinds of questions people ask me when considering joining our church. Let me give you a sample:
"What programs do you have for children?"
"Are you part of a denominational association?"
"What style of music do you use in your services?"
"How long is your typical sermon?"
"What sort of fellowship groups do you provide?"
The local religion reporter's article had some interesting comments as well:
One lady said: "We do not want a church that is about 'absolutes' and being 'saved,' nor are we looking for a charismatic or fundamentalist church. We would like a Christian church that offers contemporary services, social gatherings and family programming."
One e-mailer cited in the article suggested that "Someone put out a church guide listing everything anyone would ever want to know about a congregation, from music to ministries to dress code." The e-mailer said that if she's had such a guide on a recent Sunday morning, "I wouldn't have sat in a church parking lot noting that the congregation wasn't carrying in their Bibles - a wasted Sunday for me and a waste of time for them contacting me. . . ."
Many pastors experience additional feedback relating to the temperature of the auditorium, the convenience of parking, the volume of the music, and the rapidity with which hospital visits are made. But all of it seems to miss the key points. What is most important?
Not one of these individuals asked what I would consider to be a vital question: What does this church use for its standard of truth? What is the basis for its faith? Does the pastor preach from Scripture or his own opinions? Will I be spiritually fed at this church? Does this church have an area in which I could be a blessing or encouragement?
I pose this question: Do we really go to church for activities and events, convenience and comfort, to have our egos stroked and our desires met? Do we never consider that the church might need us? What part should each of us play in the health, growth, and ministry of the church?
What if people found a church and joined it with an attitude that says, "Not every sermon must be for me, not every song must be 'my style,' not every activity has to be one that I would join." What if instead they asked, "Where can I serve?" "Whom can I assist?" "Where could my spiritual gifts be best put to use?"
Churches ought to be more like families than amusement parks. Everyone should join in for the good of the family, with each member realizing that it can't always be "about them." Some churches are struggling, and an infusion of committed, positive people who are more interested in giving than in taking could spark them to a reformation. Some churches have a dearth of teachers or musicians. The addition of someone with a talent in those areas could be a blessing to the church and the pastor. So not everyone is carrying their Bible to church? How about setting the example? How about using your influence to encourage the pastor to deliver messages that challenge the people to not only bring but use their Bibles.
The world has enough self-centered critics. No church is perfect, just like no family is perfect. Maybe it's time we quit asking, "What's in it for us?" and start asking, "What can I do to serve?" A church shouldn't be about attire, convenient service schedules, worship styles, or personal preferences. It should be about being a called-out community of believers who are committed to using their God-given gifts for His glory and our good.
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