It Needs To Look Different

So back to the blog. I’ve been storing up some things I want to share so brace yourself over the next few days. Both of you!

Recently, I have had something brought to my attention in whole new ways. I knew this instinctively, but it’s being confirmed all over again. Many people that don’t know church vocabulary, don’t know the point of Christianity, haven’t been to church since that VBS when they were seven and grandma took them, are wondering the same thing. They would be called ‘Outsiders’, ‘Unchurched’, or ‘Seekers’; aka the people your church should try to reach out to.

Many of them are wondering, “Why so many churches?”

I live in the most ‘churched’ county in the State of GA. In other words, more churches per capita than any other. So everyone here follows the way of Jesus, right? 88% of the people in the county don’t go to church. At one point (and I think still is) the most ‘churched’ country in the world was Jamaica. So everyone there follows Jesus, right? Have you ever left the resort in Jamaica? You can get buzzed off the ‘second-hand weed’ down there. You don’t find more Christ-followers just because there are more churches.

I need to say I believe Church Planting is the best way to reach a community. In other words, adding more churches. I have tons of opinions on the issue as I’ve worn different hats on a church staff. Sounds like a contradiction, but it’s not. There are lots of reasons for Church Planting that I won’t go into today, but we need to realize something. All of the different buildings and banners, dress codes, and nuances are hard for people to wrap their minds around. All of these different styles look like competition to someone outside of ‘church-world’. We look like franchises from different companies instead of all being from the same headquarters. It seems to be confusing a lot of people in the churches too. That might mean Pastors are competing against each other, which I’m sure is not the case.

There are ways to look like we are on the same page, and still enjoy all the wonderful differences found in the Body of Christ.

We need to work harder to work together. I have seen that when churches show unity to the community that they are in, it brings down walls both inside and especially outside the church. Elected officials don’t feel like they have to tip-toe around other Pastors. Schools feel a freedom to call and make their needs known. I have begun to encounter more people who have said to me that they now attend a church that was involved in a unifying serving event. We call our attempt to show them something different, ‘Community Makeover‘(you can click on that for a little more info).

The NW Atlanta Community has literally approached us with more than 2,000 projects for CMO 2010. I seriously doubt we get them all done. In this down economy they are coming to a group of churches that have a reputation for working together, and asking for volunteer labor. Community Leaders are spoon-feeding us opportunities to engage people outside of the church. That is what happens when it looks different.

Tomorrow, I’m going to do something that I shouldn’t. I’m going to answer some critics. I’ve been getting slammed by all new people. Me getting criticized is not that big a deal. I’m nobody. I just need to share my heart on something.

Everyone Belongs,

Paul