I am part
of many social media groups, on everything from restoring old engines to groups
where pastors can have a dialog about things with other pastors. One
interaction from the latter group caught my attention this past weekend. A
pastor of an urban church was upset that the county had scheduled a marathon
for Sunday morning, for which the route went by the church, impacting the
ability of folks to get to worship. They were forced to reschedule worship for
Sunday evening.
Helpful
pastors from all over chimed in – they saw this as an opportunity for ministry
– perhaps providing a water station for runners, or praying for them as they
passed. Others saw it as a way to minister ‘outside the box’ or practice some
evangelism. It’s a sad habit of pastors – we’re often in ‘fix’ mode when we
should be in listening or considering mode.
Well, this
pastor would have none of these fixes. He did not want to affirm the decision
to run the marathon on a Sunday morning, a time once reserved for churches, even
while others continued to affirm an opportunity in the marathon. I marveled at
the sense of entitlement – somewhat taken aback at the idea that there were still
mainline pastors who believed we had some special hold on Sunday mornings.
And the
church held their Sunday worship service in the evening. It was lightly
attended. But during the marathon? When thousands lined the streets? The church
sat cold, empty, silent, and dark. Yes, rather like a tomb.
There was a time in our culture when Blue Laws
and the like reserved Sunday morning for churches. Such laws and social
conventions prohibited people from doing much of anything else.
I’m hoping
you’ve noticed; that time has passed. Now, you can choose to tilt at these
windmills, or you can choose to acknowledge that our culture has changed. We
must change church culture as well if we want to be relevant for rest of the 21st
century. But it will be about this basic choice: You can be outraged and try to
re-establish long dead entitlements, or you can learn how to offer extravagant hospitality
and a wide welcome to your whole community. Do you see it? Instead of using
laws and social conventions to force people in, we will have to be relevant,
noticed, and be a place people are transformed.
It goes
without saying, but I guess I will say it anyway, that if that church actually
served that neighborhood, getting to church wouldn’t have been an issue anyway.
You’ve
probably heard this from me before but here it is:
All
of the energy your congregation consumes trying to recapture your past is
energy stolen from your future.
Be attuned
to the ways your congregation attempts to hold onto the past. If you are using
a lot of energy, is it energy you will need for tomorrow’s ministry? Help the church break free from habits that no
longer serve your mission well (even if it feels like it serves you well).
Learn to
let go, and:
·
Pray.
·
And
Listen.
·
And
Hear what great things are in store for you.
Along with the
Center for Progressive Renewal, I believe our best days are ahead - if you’re
willing to risk – to be uprooted – to be open to the guiding of the Holy
Spirit. Church must always be in transition. It always has. And that’s OK.
Because we know our Rock and Redeemer guides us and grounds us.
Peace,
Jim
