By TheChurch.Digital: Check your tech brains at the door for this conversation. We’re wrapping up 2020 not talking about anything tech as much as a core component of what a church multiplying movement actually looks like.

Enter No Place Left, a Global Organic Church movement that is making a difference in the world, one disciple-maker at a time. Through their intentional (yet organic) approach NPL has a vision of being the church outside of physical buildings, equipping people to become disciple-makers. Learn more about the vision, strategy, and method to create disciple-makers who create churches until there’s no place left.

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ON THE SHOW

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Guest: No Place Left

Host: Jeff Reed
THECHURCH.DIGITAL
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APPLICATION

• What is stopping today’s churches from multiplying? Are the things stopping multiplication based on biblical standards?
• What could a church multiplication movement look like today?
• What role can you play?

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Love you all! Praying for your Churches and your Ministry Online.

Jeff Reed
THECHURCH.DIGITAL

Home > Blog > Is Your Church a Country Club?, Part 2

Is Your Church a Country Club?, Part 2

By Josh Laxton

In my previous post I began outlining four identifiers that your church might be more like a country club than a church. Once again, I’m not knocking country club memberships. If you are a member of one, I give you permission to sing along with Travis Tritt—loud and proud—“I’m a member of a country club….” [If you are a country music fan, maybe you just got that song stuck in your head for the remainder of the day. You’re welcome!]

The reason for my posts is that I fear many American believers view the church as a country club. Or at the very least, they practically behave as if the church was indeed a country club. Regardless, viewing the church or behaving as if the church is a country club distorts both the identity and the mission of the church.

Knowing the characteristics of a country club can help protect the church from becoming or being viewed as such. Here are the remaining four identifiers that your church might be more of a country club that members pay for than the church that Jesus died for.

1. Your church might be a country club if your members worry about public disruption.

One of the benefits of being a member of a country club is that you don’t typically have to worry about the public infringing upon your property. In other words, the members of the club can enjoy the exclusivity of the club’s amenities. They don’t have to vie for tee times, tables in the dining room, the pool, or the tennis courts. In short, they can enjoy their club with minimal crowd or public disruption.

For many churches, and church members, they don’t like crowds—they don’t like newer people coming in and disrupting the way things are. They want their same parking spot for both their car and their rear. In addition, church members may fear more newer people means more newer things. In other words, if the public comes in, they may shape the church house into something they aren’t comfortable with.

I know what many church members say. They say, “We want to grow and reach new people.” What they really mean, however, is, “We want to grow and reach new people as long as it’s convenient and agreeable for us.” In other words, they are fine as long as the newer people don’t rock the boat or disrupt what they have going on. It’s incumbent to keep in mind, Jesus didn’t die for His people to protect their exclusivity, but for His people to proclaim and demonstrate the inclusivity of the gospel—that Jesus is for all mankind. 

2. Your church might be a country club if you view other churches (“clubs”) as competition.

The last thing you want if you are a club owner—or a club member at that—is people leaving and going down the street to the newer, bigger, and fancier club. In fact, if a club starts losing lots of members to the club down the street, they begin to see them as their big bad competitor. As a result, there tends to be a sour taste towards the “other” club. In addition, there tends to be reactive measures taken by the “losing’ club. Instead of having their own identity and crafting the club accordingly, they copycat the club down the street—thinking such measures will plug the leak.

Churches should be different. Churches aren’t in competition with one another but are partners in the Great Commission. I believe the reason why many churches and church members see each other as competitors is because for the last thirty years or so, there’s been a lot of swapping going on. Something happens at one church, and people leave to go down the street to the other. Or, another church sprouts up with a “better” band, preacher, children’s ministry, and environment, and people from the “older” church leave to attend the newer. Such a cycle is built upon consumerism which drives competition. 

Church leaders must learn to be secure in who God has called them to be and what He has called them to do. While every church has the same call and task—or the same message and mission—the way they go about enacting them should have flexibility. In other words, church shouldn’t come in a one-size fits all mold. As J.D. Greear expresses, “We are to marry the mission [and the message], and date the method.” Every church must seek the face of God to determine how they are to flesh out their call and task there in their locale. Keep in mind, it may not look like the church down the street. And that’s OK.

Don’t misunderstand what I’m saying. I’m not suggesting there’s nothing to learn from one another. I think there is plenty we can glean from the various models and styles of church. However, the minute we see another church as a competitor and not as family is the minute we Americanize the church’s mission—to be better than the church right down the street.

The minute we see another church as a competitor and not as family is the minute we Americanize the church’s mission.

3. Your church might be a country club if 99.9% of your programs and events evolve around members.

Have you ever noticed the calendar of a country club? Almost every single event and program is for its membership. There might have been more, but the only event that I saw on the calendar that involved outsiders was the member-guest golf tournament. Like I said, there could have been more, I just didn’t see them. Such a practice shouldn’t be odd though. Should it? The members do pay for the club’s services and amenities. Thus, it would only stand to reason every event and program would revolve around the members.

Having every event and program revolving around members isn’t a bad thing if implemented at a country club. However, it is detrimental if implemented at a church. The church is a body or organization where the membership doesn’t exist for itself but for those who have yet to join. If churches aren’t intentional, they will find that most of what they do is geared for insiders not outsiders. But if churches will stay true to their Christ-given mission, they will develop their ministries and programs with non-members in mind. If not, they are well on their way to becoming a country club.

4. Your church might be a country club if you create an environment of becoming before belonging.

If you are going to belong to a country club, you will have to become of member of that club. It is as simple as that. Sure, some clubs offer you an opportunity to try out the golf course and the kitchen prior to joining. Nevertheless, if you are going to belong and find community at the club, you will first have to become a member. Just out of curiosity, I wonder what would happen if clubs allowed people to belong to the club before they became a member? Perhaps more people would join?

In the church there’s a small debate over the progression of people’s faith and involvement with the church. Do people believe (in Christ), then become (a member of a church), and then belong (to the community)? Do they belong, then believe, and then become? Once again, I don’t believe there is a one-size fits all for every person. However, I do believe the church must be flexible on each person’s process and progression in the faith and involvement with the church.

Having said that, I do believe churches should be very careful at creating environments that prohibit people from experiencing Christian community before they actually become a Christian. In other words, churches would do well to create safe environments for people to belong before they believe and even become. Just out of curiosity, what kind of impact do you think a church could have if they created safe places for nonmembers (people far from God) to belong as they explored faith, engaged in a Christian community, and witnessed authentic worship?

Country clubs are places that provide services people pay for, whereas the church is a body of believers providing service for the king who died for them.

In closing, there’s definitely more that could be said with regards to churches behaving more like a country club than what Jesus intended for them. The reality is, country clubs are places that provide services people pay for, whereas the church is a body of believers providing service for the king who died for them. When church leaders and church members keep this at the forefront of their mind, they will be a missional vehicle advancing the good news to a people in desperate need rather than a recreational vehicle enjoying the amenities of a religious club.

Home > Blog > Is Your Church a Country Club?, Part 1

Is Your Church a Country Club?, Part 1

By Josh Laxton

I have been involved at three country clubs in my life. The first CC was under my parents’ membership in Covington, TN. The second CC was as an employee serving as the assistant to the golf pro in Canton, GA. The third was at an affordable club I found in Louisville a few years back. Let me just say, I have an affinity for golf!

I’ve also grown up in the church and have been in vocational ministry for almost 20 years—serving as a Lead Pastor for the past 12. Let me say, with all her blemishes and imperfections (of which I am a part), I love the church!

Having been a part of both country clubs and churches—as well as studying the North American landscape—I think for many Christians it’s easy to confuse country club membership with church membership. In this two-part blog, I want to highlight eight identifiers (four in each post) that your church might be a country club.

Keep in mind, Jesus didn’t die for the church to be a country club. Jesus died and rose again for the church to be a commissioned conduit to take the good news to the ends of the earth!

With that in mind, here are four identifiers that your church might be a country club.

1. Your church might be a country club if the goal is to keep members happy.

A country club is a service provider. For many, they provide golfing, swimming, tennis, dining, and entertainment services. Thus, if their services don’t appeal and appease the members, they will soon experience a decrease in membership. As a result, if members complain about the conditions of the locker rooms, the quality of the greens, the attire of the staff, or the taste of the food, country clubs will work to rectify the problem. A club’s future and sustainability is fueled by the satisfaction of the members.

A church, on the other hand, is a mission vehicle. A church’s goal isn’t to keep members happy consuming a service, but to equip members to be sent out proclaiming and demonstrating good news. However, many churches have been turned into country clubs as they field an onslaught of complaints and suggestions. When churches are crafted into the image of consumers they distort the image of their Savior.

2. Your church might be a country club if the leaders are seen more like a board of directors.

Many country clubs have a group of people called the board of directors that oversee the activities and effectiveness of the organization. In short, the board is mostly comprised of business people that are mainly concerned with two things: membership happiness and the club’s bottom line. Thus, board of directors are inclined to measure a club’s success based upon the bottom line of bodies and budgets.

In the New Testament, church leaders were never referred to of as a board of directors, but as apostles, pastors (elders), evangelists, shepherds, and teachers (Ephesians 4:11). And these leaders were to equip the members for the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:12). Did you catch that? Those who belong to the church are to do work! Gospel work! I don’t know about your club, but I never experienced my club calling for a work day for members to tidy up the property. Members pay others to do the work so that they can enjoy the benefits of the club.

Church leaders aren’t a board of directors but a body of developers.

Beware, churches that are primarily built on a country club mentality will experience a bottom-line effect when they have leaders that call members to work—getting their hands dirty—for the sake of God’s glory and others’ good.

3. Your church might be a country club if people with affluence carry all the influence.

For many, membership to a country club carries a connotation of status and wealth. Our culture is conditioned to treat those of status and wealth differently than those without the position or the deep pockets. I’ve witnessed first-hand how the owner of a multi-million-dollar company received preferential treatment compared to the retiree who drove a UPS truck. It’s not that the retiree was treated poorly, he just didn’t carry the weight the million-dollar business man did.

I’ve also witnessed first-hand in the church world how status and wealth can get one a prominent place of influence in the church. Never mind the person of affluence swims in a theological, missional, and spiritual kiddie-pool. Yet, because of the influence his affluence provides him, he is able to bend the ears of the board of directors (leaders), which ultimately gives direction to the bent of the church.

Affluence should not be a factor for giving one influence in the church. People that should be given a voice and weight are those who exhibit an authentic and deep abiding love for Jesus and His mission.

Success in business doesn’t mean maturity in mission.

4. Your church might be a country club if the membership is homogeneous.

There’s seldom diversity in club members. Most members are cut from the same piece of cloth. They live in the same area, go to the same schools, dress the same way, vote for the same political party, etc. In short, most country clubs are set up for homogeneity.

The church, however, was birthed for diversity. With the mission to create a people from all peoples, Jesus envisioned a diverse church—a third race as some have expressed. Therefore, churches should be about engaging, reaching, and cultivating the diversity represented in the community around them. Therefore, churches should experience racial, cultural, socioeconomic, political, and to some extent denominational diversity. In doing so, the church demonstrates the in-breaking reign of God to unite a people from all peoples through the blood of the Lamb!

In closing, I’m for both country clubs and churches. Given my affinity for golf, I understand the benefits and environments of country clubs. Given my love for Jesus and having studied His affection and mission for the church, I understand who the church is and what the church is to do. But the two entities are entirely different! A church isn’t a country club, and a country club isn’t a church.

Home > Blog > The Pivot in Our Mission

The Pivot in Our Mission

By Ed Stetzer

Things have changed. For years, I have been saying that scarcity leads to clarity and we are feeling that in varying degrees since COVID-19 has changed our world. Scarcity can be painful, but it can also bring us to places we couldn’t imagine. In relation to our mission, now is a moment unlike any other. New opportunities are opening up before us and, church, let’s pursue them together. In this 3-part series I am sharing what pivoting looks like in relation to evangelism.

At his inaugural address in 1933, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt spoke to a nation rocked by the Great Depression. He took the opportunity to turn the dire times into a more noble response.

He said in part, “So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.“

Roosevelt saw the opportunity to take a difficult circumstances and pivot toward the future. This perspective is helpful for the church as well.

You and I have not lived through a time like this in our lives. We can all agree we aren’t going to miss terms like “self-quarantine,” “social distancing,” and “shelter at home” once this finally passes.

But as we creep slowly forward, we dare not miss this opportunity to turn “retreat into advance.”

If you are a church leader, no doubt you were thinking at the start of the year about how to help your church be more effective in the work of the gospel in your community. You likely had conversations with staff and other leaders about how to minister to the marginalized in your community as well. Maybe you were focusing especially on the coming Easter season as key to your plans when everything changed.

A renewed vision

It’s easy to see the pandemic as a great interruption to be endured and forgotten instead of the great opportunity to pivot toward a renewed vision for ministry. We can learn much in this case from the life of Jesus.

When you read the Gospels, you see that so much of his earthly ministry was based on responding to the opportunities that presented themselves to him: encountering fishermen as he walked alongside the Sea of Galilee (Matt. 4:18-22); a lame man dropped through the roof (Mark 2:1-12); a despised tax collector named Zacchaeus who came to hear him (Luke 19:1-10); an outcast Samaritan woman (John 4). The four Gospels are full of these.

The more you read these accounts, the more you see how Jesus was more available to the broken and marginalized because he wasn’t so busy checking off his to-do list for the day. He had margin to minister.

Reset your why

This season can reset how we think about ministry at several levels. First, it allows us to help our churches see the why behind all we do. Too often, we give attention to what to do and how to do it, without giving attention to the why. But when we lose the why, the what and the how can fill our schedules to the point we can lose sight of the why.

Why has God placed your church in your community at this time in history?

Why has he provided you the specific leadership, gifts in your congregation, and circumstances in which you minister?

This is a good time to return to the why. Famous NFL legend Vince Lombardi gathered the Green Bay packers after a rare loss in which they were heavily favored. “Gentlemen,” he began practice, “This is a football.” Lombardi then took the team back to why they sacrificed together, why they went each week to play.

In many ways, COVID-19 has given the church a setback. We “lost” Easter as we normally enjoy it. But it would be far more tragic if in our haste to return to what we see as normal we don’t take time to reconsider our mission.

Return to the mission

Many churches state their why with some form of emphasis on the Great Commandment and Great Commission church. If this is how you state your why, you can start there to see what and how you can move forward, learning from the pandemic in the process.

How do we effect change in a time of great upheaval? We do so in one of three ways:

1. Some things need to be maintained. We want to continue those things both timely and historic that are central to being God’s church. Renewal of corporate worship, for instance.

2. Some things need to be jettisoned. What are things you were involved with that either aren’t central to your mission or detract from it? This is a good time to move away from these.

3. Some things need to be adapted. Pretty much every church turned to online meetings via zoom, streaming services, and so on. What role will those play moving forward? Will zoom continue to be an option when you meet together in groups, allowing those who are out of town or home with a sick child to participate? No doubt you will continue to stream services for the vulnerable at least until the pandemic has ended, but what role will streaming or videoconferencing play?

Learn from the church

This is a good time to ask questions. Put together a simple email questionnaire to send to your church asking them things like: What is the greatest need they’ve observed they or the church family can help with? You may get input, for instance, from church members on what they’ve been doing to connect with or serve their neighbors. You may develop a group of people who begin walking regularly in their neighborhoods to have a greater gospel impact there.

Another question: What holes are in your community that your church can help fill? Many churches have filled in for Meals on Wheels or similar services; others have stepped in to help with school lunches.

You may also want to poll your church on their own personal walk: What has the stay-at-home or whatever restrictions you faced done to help your devotional life? Have you seen this as a reminder to slow down and take more time to pray? How might that translate into your personal life moving forward?

You may find ways to enhance your discipleship ministry through tools like zoom moving forward in response to identified needs.

Finally, corroborating with fellow church leaders in your area can help you identify needs you may not have seen or allow churches to come together to serve in ways you may not be able to alone.

This is a time for gospel advance, not retreat; for renewed vision and ministry, not a return to the status quo. May the coming days be our best in service to our King.

Home > Blog > The Church’s Role in Political Engagement

June 22, 2020

The Church’s Role in Political Engagement

By New Churches Team

What Is Appropriate Engagement for a Church Pastor?

“It’s impossible to do faithful urban ministry and not have some engagement with politics,” explains Watson Jones III, senior pastor of Compassion Baptist Church in Chicago. Politics can open doors and close doors. Primarily because when you really need to get things done, sometimes you have to be able to get through to the people who make decisions. And this does not just mean financial decisions. Jones explains that through politicians they were able to open doors for more COVID testing among other things. As pastors, you are trying to do the best you can to care for your people. How can you adequately do that if you don’t have good relationships with politicians in your area?

How Can Majority Culture Engage and Be Allies?

Be aware that you are shaping the biblical understanding of life for your congregation. You need to put forward a godly understanding for how your people should interact with others. Jones encourages his people to support legislation that is fair and equitable for all. Leaders are supposed to represent us all, so we have an obligation to point that out to our representatives.

Show up. Support people you trust. There will be some discomfort. Understand that. You may not agree with everyone, but be an ally. Use the pulpit to cast a very biblical, gospel-oriented picture of justice in this world.

What Is Helpful?

There was a time when it came to race relations it was always discussed in terms of racial reconciliation.

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