Can we make this simpler?

When I was growing up the church's way of thinking was to provide as many activities as possible so the members wouldn't get involved in worldly activities. When I was very young, they even went so far as to schedule a two week revival each year during the fair. Although we don't go to that extreme these days, churches still seem to be graded on how many "safe" activities they provide for their members. Committed followers of Christ are graded on how many times they attend services, functions, and activities on a weekly basis. We try to come up with alternatives to significant events and celebrations under the assumption that our members will not be able to withstand the temptations of the world if we let them go to purely "secular" events.

As a result, we tie up the time of our most committed members (meaning those most likely to share their faith with others) by asking them to work relentlessly on events that are safe for Christian consumption. In doing so, we deny them opportunities to connect and build relationships with people outside the church who might be influenced for Christ if they had relationships with followers of Christ.

This might be defendable if we were seeing our average members actually living lives that differed from their neighbors but we're not. Church members are divorcing, getting into financial trouble, and living in fear of the future in numbers no different than the neighbors they are hiding from. So it appears that a strategy of monopolizing church members' time is not bearing fruit.

The local church has a responsibility to provide three things for those who are attenders and members: Opportunities for worship, discipleship, and fellowship. These are not listed in order of importance because all three are crucial for the spiritual development of the individual. A church that is lacking in any of these areas is not producing strong motivated Christians who will share their faith with others.

Corporate worship brings the local body of believers into the presence of God as a group. There is energy and excitement generated when groups of believers worship together. Through congregational singing, group prayer for needs, and the shared of experience of hearing the message, strength is formed. Those new in the faith see those who have served God for decades worship and learn from them. The more seasoned saints can see the exuberence of those who are newer in the faith and be energized by the knowledge that a new generation is picking up the torch and that the gospel work will go on. It is priceless when generations worship God together and make allowance for differences in style and preference, but are willing to come together in unity of purpose.

Typically, discipleship occurs in a different setting than the corporate worship experience. The messages delivered in the corporate worship setting are typically encouraging, corrective, evangelistic or comforting. The deliberate study of the Bible and doctrine usually occur in a separate venue, whether it is Sunday School, Sunday night, or another teaching time. But even though it is not as emotional as the worship experience, it is every bit as important. Without the systematic study of the Bible, and the subequent grounding in the doctrines of the Word, the worship experience can drift into weirdness. But with a well-educated group of believers, worship will take on a rich dimension of experience combined with knowledge and it will result in a much deeper appreciation of the things of God.

Sometimes fellowship is considered to be fluff, but in reality, fellowship is the glue that holds the local body together. In times of fellowship, believers get to know one another in ways that they will never get in other corporate settings. Most of the stories of Jesus interacting with his disciples take place around meals. It is in those settings that people establish relationships that last a lifetime and cause individuals to give the benefit of the doubt when differences of preference arise. Just as discipleship is necessary for powerful worship, it is necessary for healthy fellowship. Without intentional discipleship and powerful worship, fellowship can turn into the cliques and factions that destroy churches.

When any of the three parts are supplied disproportionately, you have problems. If the predominate focus is on worship, then worship rules and excess and heresy will usually be the result. In a church that focuses solely on discipleship, the joy and spontenaity of worship is lost and legalism is the normal outcome. In a church preoccupied with fellowship, our relationships with one another take precedence over our relationship with God, and we become a club instead of a church.

But let's consider the church which achieves balance and is strong in worship, discipleship, and fellowship. What then? If we are producing believers who are growing in spiritual maturity, is that enough? Isn't there more to church than that? Of course there is. We owe something further to our members. But we do not owe them an unending list of programs and events designed to protect them from the world. We owe them the opportunity to share their spiritual walk with others who do not yet believe. We have the responsibility to reach the world and tell them the Good News. Our people can't reach out to others if they are spending all their time with other Christians.

But there are several problems with this. In our culture, activity is esteemed more highly than productivity. People who stay busy are honored for doing so much for the church. People who may be spending their free time with unbelievers tend to be looked upon with suspicion. When a church begins to eliminate programs and events the members, even those who may not attend those events, feel that the church is moving backward. Churches pride themselves in having pages-long lists of ministries they provide, but in reality, the vast majority of those ministries are aimed at the comfort and care of the membership. It will take a long time to change that mindset. Foolish is the pastor who attempts an "overnight" change in direction. His direction will probably be changed out of town.

So where am I headed with this? I envision a church (I don't attend this church and you probably don't either) where there are intentional opportunities, open to all attenders, for worship, discipleship and fellowship. This could take many forms. A simple example would be Sunday School (or whatever you want to call it) for discipleship. This would be predominately age based curriculum that teaches through the Bible on a recurring basis so the students get a well rounded exposure to its truths. The Sunday morning worship service is an easy call to provide corporate worship. It contains worship through singing, worship through giving, worship through prayer, and worship through hearing the Word. The fellowship dimension can take on many appearances such as small groups or fellowhip dinners. These could even take place immediately following the Sunday morning worship service. Each believer would be challenged to take part in each of these three experiences for the good of their spiritual development.

Beyond that, the committed believer would then be challenged to undertake some form of ministry devoted to those outside the church, or as mentors to new believers. They would be encouraged to put substantial time and energy in one program or ministry area. If they wish, they could also help someone else in another area, but they would be discouraged from having a level of involvement in several programs. The goal would be for them to be effective at that they do best instead of being average at many things. The hope is that as believers grow in worship, discipleship and fellowship they will see an area where they can work effectively in ministry and do their part to fulfill the Great Commission.

I know this sounds idyllic, but isn't that the way of concepts? Probably no church will ever get that simple and focused because it is improbable that an entire congregation will ever "get it". But it is a goal. And those individuals who find their way to that ideal must be recognized and applauded. We reproduce what we celebrate.