Interesting blog from Seth Godin about how Zoroastrians are fading away. His opening statement is..."How to build a religion (and then watch it fade)."
This caught my eye as he goes on to list several elements of what it takes to build a religion that will spread. He is not thinking specifically of the church, but he does bring up some interesting issues that will create some healthy dialogue.
He writes...
"If you want to build a religion that spreads, here are some things to build into it:
- Bias for evangelism
- Sharp distinction between insiders and outsiders
- Presumption that insiders are 'right' or 'blessed' or 'advantaged'
- Proscription against intermarriage without conversion
- Forbid one gender to work outside the home
- Central hierarchy that maintains the faith and settles disputes
- Offer significant (very) long-term benefits to believers
Very few organizations have the ability to deliver on all of these opportunities, but in the secular world, many brands do most of them. This works for Harley-Davidson (and certainly the Hells Angels). It works for the latest teenage trends. It works for some politicians. It even works for some computer operating systems and languages."
Let's apply this to the church and Christianity. And fix yourself a cup of coffee...I sense a long post coming...
"Bias for evangelism" - I am all for a healthy church having multiple purposes - but if evangelism is not #1 on the list, the church will stagnate, become ingrown, and die. The last church I was at talked great words about evangelism and reaching people - but they frowned on new people, frowned on changing methods to be more welcoming and relevant to the unchurched. Their words were "let's reach out and grow". Their actions were "us four and no more" and their attendance is now defined by that statement. We must make evangelism the #1 priority. The issues of maturing in Christ, serving, small groups, getting "fed" (whatever THAT means), worship, fellowship - are all good but they are all matters of convenience to make our lives better and richer as followers of Christ. My level of spiritual maturity, level of worship, participation in a small group, etc. - will not affect my or any other Christian's eternal destination. Evangelism is the key issue that WILL change and affect a person's eternal destiny.
"Sharp distinction between insiders and outsiders" - Not in a "we are better than you" distinction, but we must make it clear the difference between being "in Christ" and not "in Christ". We must be clear in our teaching that there are people who are "dead in their sins" and there are people who are "alive in Christ". And there is no gray area. You are either in or out. You are either a follower of Christ or not. And you have to choose to go from "death" to "life" by choosing Christ and Christ alone. It is not automatic. It is not assumed. It is not progressive. Everybody is not "saved" or "a child of God." We are not all headed for the same place regardless of what we believe. Those who choose Christ are "in" and have God living inside them. Those who have not chosen Christ are "out" and do not have God living inside them. Too many churches refuse to teach this because they do not want to offend people. But in the process of unclear teaching we are fading the church away from really changing lives.
"Presumption that insiders are 'right' or 'blessed' or 'advantaged'" - We DO have an advantage. It is called the abundant and full life of John 10:10. My life is better off now that I am a follower of Christ. My marriage is better. My finances are better. My relationships are better. I am not a superior person but my life has an advantage of someone's life who is not following Christ. I have no guilt. I have hope. I am not living to please anybody but Christ. Think of how we would raise the attraction factor of Christianity if we talked more about the advantages - what God has and is doing for us.
"Proscription against intermarriage without conversion" - I have lost count of the number of people who have left the church and stagnated in their faith because they let their hormones, emotions, and/or sex drive make the choice for dating and marriage rather than wise decision making based on Scripture. Here's the bottom line...Christian dating a non-Christian and/or Christian marrying a non-Christian is a sure-fire way to suck the joy, happiness, energy, and life out of your faith, relationships, and future. And it will make the vibrancy of the church into a faded gray. Why is this such a big deal? If you are asking that question, you haven't been reading and thinking about what I have already written in this blog.
"Forbid one gender to work outside the home" - Hmmm, this is one that will create some interesting dialogue. But I will not argue. Yes, I think my wife should work so I can just stay home. Seriously though...why do both spouses work outside the home? (My home included.) Could one reason be because we have become so materialistic in our standard of living that we cannot live with just one income? When there are young children at home - there may be great wisdom in biting the standard of living bullet and reducing some of your life comforts so one of you can stay home. If it takes selling a car or both cars and driving one rusty, ozone killing, noise ordinance breaking jalopy for a few years - your home, family, and church will be healthier because of it. Bottom line is I am not sure about the "forbid" word, but wisdom may say it is smart at some times.
"Central hierarchy that maintains the faith and settles disputes" - Yup. God gave us systems of order for the home and the church and the government. And we pay the price when we do not honor that order or submit to its wisdom. In the church it is not a "hierarchy" in terms of abusive dictatorship (same is true in the home and government). But there must be one person (under Christ) who leads. Vision comes from and starts with one person. It is expanded and brought life with the congregation - but when it comes to leading and directing and protecting and maintaining and motivating - the church needs to leave this to those who make it their life. Those men and women who have the experience, the training, the networking of other pastors and churches. Those who can focus on the church 24/7 and not make it a part-time deal for a few hours a week when they are not thinking about their 50 hr a week job. Accountability? You bet. No lead or sr pastor should be without accountability. But healthy churches are churches where there is one leader/pastor who is not a puppet or hired gun run by some board who can only give a few hours (at best) to thinking strategy, goals, assessing what is working and what isn't working. In fact, it is my experience that if a group of people only have a few hours a week to think about church - the tendency is to think about what isn't working not what is and that creates problems - always thinking about what isn't working.
"Offer significant (very) long-term benefits to believers" - This one is easy and probably no debate here. Believers have eternity to live and worship Christ. And THAT is one major "significant (very) long-term benefit".
