Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Organic (Part 1)


Today I am beginning a short series (on this blog) called Organic.  It’s about emphasizing the organic nature of Christianity as opposed to the institutional approaches we tend to use.  

I wrote about this subject briefly one year ago in a blog entitled:  Lately On My Mind.  Here’s a quote from that blog:

We are going to speak a new language and adopt a new way of thinking about how individuals and groups get connected to a church family and thrive.  This much I know:  We cannot program relationships – we must provide environments where spontaneous community can emerge.  The goal is not to manufacture community, nor to build programs.  The hope is to have nurturing environments where thriving relationships emerge naturally and in healthy ways.

That’s my hope.  That’s my goal.  I want to see PCC become more organic in nature, more New Testament in practice, less dependent on programs, and more willing to let the Lord build the church.  After all, He promised He would (Matthew 16:18).

Generally speaking, churches are event-driven or program-driven.  We plan an event, get people to sign up, and ask them to show up at a specific time.  Then, when they don’t show up to our event, we assume they are either unspiritual or uncommitted.

Here’s what I know about people:  They are willing to make commitments.  They do it all the time.  They are committed to their families, to God, and to their place of employment.  Just because they don’t sign up for the new program at church or the new class we offer doesn’t mean they are carnal or immature.  It most likely means they have other things to do; things that might actually be more important than the church’s bloated calendar.

Let’s be honest here.  Most people are already very busy with good things going on in their lives, such as work and family responsibilities.  Consequently they have a limited about of time they can donate towards church related activities.  As a rule of thumb, most people will participate in only one or two time slots a week (with Sunday morning being one of those options).  This doesn’t mean they are nonspiritual, don’t love Jesus, or don’t love the church.  It just means they are living their lives, investing in their families, going to work, and contributing to society.

Always remember, your family is your first ministry.  Don't get so busy at church that you cheat on your family. 

No comments: