Shift number 2 is similar to the first one but a bit more specific-Program development to People Development. In my opinion, this may be the most important of the three. For a long time now the church has thought in this paradigm-"Get the largest amount of people we can to be involved with the most programs possible." Here is where this thought process breaks down...it doesn't work. A slew of research in the last few years is proving this is the case. Just because you are more involved than another member, does not mean...one, you are going to grow spiritually, and two, that you will develop relationships that facilitate said growth. Again, I'm not saying great things aren't happening or being accomplished in our programs and that people aren't growing spiritually. But I could almost bet the people that ARE growing spiritually or have deeper relationships are not doing it because of our programs. I also know, the people that ARE involved are BUSIER than the non-involved member. Most of the time church programs are focused on people inside the building organizing as a group and doing something. But you must remember this is outside of the set 3 hours a week we meet anyways. "Bible classes" are included in programs because, in most cases, a good bible class is based on how much information we can impart. The goal and intention is not spiritual growth. We might think it is, but don't most classes boil down to someone flexing their spiritual muscles for the rest of us? The church is in the business of developing spiritual nerds, not disciples.
Now, I don't want criticize without giving a solution. Here's how the scorecard changes.
-Less time "Bible classing" and more time mentoring.
-Less time using "spiritual" gifts we aren't sure we have, to spending time really finding out what those gifts are.
-Less time studying the word, and more time doing it...in the community, not in our building.
-Less time separating the family (youth group, adult bible classes, etc) and more time spent intentionally teaching the family to be a family.
Yes, this all seems so nebulous and intangible, but that in a nutshell is much of Christianity-intangible. Faith, love, trust, humility...you get the point. It is shocking to think we have kept score using everything tangible we can-attendance, involvement, money in the collection plate, all good things, but when they become the point, we have missed the point. Let's change people's hearts intentionally and stop hoping that a well put together Sunday morning will do it for them.
Amen!
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