If This Is Not A Place. . .
If this is not a place where tears are understood, Then where shall I go to cry? And if this is not a place where my spirit can take wings, Then where shall I go to fly? I don't need another place for trying to impress you With just how good and virtuous I am. I don't need another place for always being on top of things; Everybody knows that it's a sham. I don't need another place for always wearing smiles, Even when it's not the way I feel. I don't need another place to mouth the same old platitudes; Everybody knows that it's not real. So if this is not a place where my questions can be asked, Then where shall I go to seek? And if this is not a place where my heart cry can be heard, Where, tell me where, shall I go to speak? So if this is not a place where tears are understood, Where shall I go, where shall I go to fly? -- Ken Medema
Not only do we have ineffective pastors, we have "churches that are more interested in self-service than service to the world. These are churches that say they want to grow but refuse to do what is necessary to evangelize. These are churches who want to simply be fed rather than feeding others in discipleship and in works of charity and service."
ReplyDeletePut these two together and we have dying churches.
Wonderful article to read!
This Methodist minister has some good ideas. It is definitely a blog worth visiting.
ReplyDeleteOne statement caught my attention.
"These are churches that see the empty pews on Sunday morning and reminisce about the people who used to sit there, instead of being motivated to do what is necessary to put new people in those empty spaces."
It does not matter how many new people they get to fill the empty pews. Unless the church changes its way, these new people will leave just like the previous people did.
In a small community, it is difficult to get new people involved because they know of the disease that drove the former attendees out.
The church needs to change it ways, make amends to the people who left totally hurt. Then these people will come back bringing new people with them.