Missional Metrics VI
Number of Christians that I ask or persuade NOT to go on mission with us.
I actually think this may be the most important metric on the list as well as the most controversial. I already have several emails and comments from folks about why this one would be included. After all, they say, are we not called to accept people where they are at? Are we not supposed to love people despite their idiosyncrocies? We aren't supposed to be judgmental or condemning...how could we ever turn people away or ask them to NOT be a part of our community?
And of course we are to do all these things and more, so let me more clear about what I mean here. I believe our God is on a mission to redeem the world. I believe our God wants to save and recover that which was lost in Adam's fall from grace. And I believe God is active, alive, and moving in our world, in our communities, in our neighborhoods, even walking up and down our streets calling to us, longing for us to join him in this mission. Each of us has a unique role to play. Each of us has been given unique gifts and skills and passions that God wants to use accomplish his mission. This uniqueness is not just limited to individuals...it is also present when such individuals gather together in community. Every church, every faith community, every group of Christians who have covenanted to be together in some kind of fellowship has a unique blend of gifts and talents that God wants to use to further his kingdom. Each community therefore has a specific role to play in God's plan of world-wide redemption and it is critically important that we help people discern whether our community is the right community for them. Are they open? Do we sense they have the heart for this work even if they can't articulate the vision for themselves? Do they at least understand what we are trying to do and do they share the same core values? Basically, we have to constantly ask the question, "Is this the place God has prepared for them so they can join him on his mission?"
There is no such thing as a "one-size fits all" church. There are lots of different options out there and we must be more careful and more discerning when people approach us wanting to join. In the old paradigm, you accepted everyone because the most important metric was butts in the seats and we gave little thought to that particular person's motives, their passions, their gifts, and whether or not they would be a good fit. As long as they came, as long as they gave, as long as they served here and there; it was all good. To that I say, "NOT GOOD ENOUGH!"
Now I fully recognize that this is easier said than done. It is also far easier when you are starting a new community from scratch as I am doing in Sun Prairie. It is far more difficult and painful in an existing congregation (believe me, I know from experience!) and so each of us has to wrestle with this in the particular mission field where God has planted us. For me, it means meeting with people who have expressed an interest in being a part of this new church plant and discerning from our conversation where their heart is. Why do they feel God is calling them to be a part of this new church? What Scriptures, what prayers, what life experiences have led them to this point? What has their experience been like with churches in the past? Was it painful or fulfilling? How do they define church? What are the non-negotiables when it comes to church? (i.e. is a building required, certain programs, etc.) As they answer these questions and others, you can very quickly get a sense of where a person is at spiritually and emotionally and then can help steer them either towards this new community or away from it as the case may be.
Let me give you an example. I had a conversation with a person a week or so ago. They had expressed interest to the folks who were laying the groundwork for this new church. But as I spoke with this person, I realized very quickly that they probably won't be a good fit for us. This person spoke at length in bitter and caustic tones about their frustrations with their current church, how it doesn't meet their needs, how they don't fit in, how no one reaches out to them, etc. I asked them what they had done to reach out to others, to get involved, etc. and their response was, "No one has ever asked us." Clearly, this person's view of the church is that it exists to meet their needs. Well, that is most definitely NOT the vision for this new community. So, out of faithfulness and love, I began to steer them away. Not because they are a bad person. Not because I don't want to deal with their pain. Not because I don't care about the situation they are in. I did it precisely BECAUSE I care about all those things and realize that there is no way they would feel comfortable in the kind of community we are trying to create. They need a different kind of community, one that will reach out to them, care for them, love on them, and help them heal. And there is validity to that kind of ministry. It's just not the kind of ministry we believe we are called to engage in.
I began this (long!) post by saying I believe this metric to be one of the most important. The reason I believe this is because of how vital it is to cling to the vision God has given you for his church. Whatever mission field God has called you into, you must be relentless and dogged in your pursuit of it. Don't get distracted! Don't pursue rabbit trails! Everything you do must be measured, not by how popular it is with the people, but how it fulfills the mandate God has given you as a community. We are not here to meet people's needs and doing so only perpetuates the kind of consumer-mentality that is so deadly to spiritual growth.
And of course we are to do all these things and more, so let me more clear about what I mean here. I believe our God is on a mission to redeem the world. I believe our God wants to save and recover that which was lost in Adam's fall from grace. And I believe God is active, alive, and moving in our world, in our communities, in our neighborhoods, even walking up and down our streets calling to us, longing for us to join him in this mission. Each of us has a unique role to play. Each of us has been given unique gifts and skills and passions that God wants to use accomplish his mission. This uniqueness is not just limited to individuals...it is also present when such individuals gather together in community. Every church, every faith community, every group of Christians who have covenanted to be together in some kind of fellowship has a unique blend of gifts and talents that God wants to use to further his kingdom. Each community therefore has a specific role to play in God's plan of world-wide redemption and it is critically important that we help people discern whether our community is the right community for them. Are they open? Do we sense they have the heart for this work even if they can't articulate the vision for themselves? Do they at least understand what we are trying to do and do they share the same core values? Basically, we have to constantly ask the question, "Is this the place God has prepared for them so they can join him on his mission?"
There is no such thing as a "one-size fits all" church. There are lots of different options out there and we must be more careful and more discerning when people approach us wanting to join. In the old paradigm, you accepted everyone because the most important metric was butts in the seats and we gave little thought to that particular person's motives, their passions, their gifts, and whether or not they would be a good fit. As long as they came, as long as they gave, as long as they served here and there; it was all good. To that I say, "NOT GOOD ENOUGH!"
Now I fully recognize that this is easier said than done. It is also far easier when you are starting a new community from scratch as I am doing in Sun Prairie. It is far more difficult and painful in an existing congregation (believe me, I know from experience!) and so each of us has to wrestle with this in the particular mission field where God has planted us. For me, it means meeting with people who have expressed an interest in being a part of this new church plant and discerning from our conversation where their heart is. Why do they feel God is calling them to be a part of this new church? What Scriptures, what prayers, what life experiences have led them to this point? What has their experience been like with churches in the past? Was it painful or fulfilling? How do they define church? What are the non-negotiables when it comes to church? (i.e. is a building required, certain programs, etc.) As they answer these questions and others, you can very quickly get a sense of where a person is at spiritually and emotionally and then can help steer them either towards this new community or away from it as the case may be.
Let me give you an example. I had a conversation with a person a week or so ago. They had expressed interest to the folks who were laying the groundwork for this new church. But as I spoke with this person, I realized very quickly that they probably won't be a good fit for us. This person spoke at length in bitter and caustic tones about their frustrations with their current church, how it doesn't meet their needs, how they don't fit in, how no one reaches out to them, etc. I asked them what they had done to reach out to others, to get involved, etc. and their response was, "No one has ever asked us." Clearly, this person's view of the church is that it exists to meet their needs. Well, that is most definitely NOT the vision for this new community. So, out of faithfulness and love, I began to steer them away. Not because they are a bad person. Not because I don't want to deal with their pain. Not because I don't care about the situation they are in. I did it precisely BECAUSE I care about all those things and realize that there is no way they would feel comfortable in the kind of community we are trying to create. They need a different kind of community, one that will reach out to them, care for them, love on them, and help them heal. And there is validity to that kind of ministry. It's just not the kind of ministry we believe we are called to engage in.
I began this (long!) post by saying I believe this metric to be one of the most important. The reason I believe this is because of how vital it is to cling to the vision God has given you for his church. Whatever mission field God has called you into, you must be relentless and dogged in your pursuit of it. Don't get distracted! Don't pursue rabbit trails! Everything you do must be measured, not by how popular it is with the people, but how it fulfills the mandate God has given you as a community. We are not here to meet people's needs and doing so only perpetuates the kind of consumer-mentality that is so deadly to spiritual growth.
Comments