We’re looking for a new church and I hate looking for a new church. It’s not like we’re big church hoppers – the last time we looked for a new church was 19 years ago. That’s right, we’ve been members at one church for 19 years. So, why are we looking again? I’m not really sure. Something happened in the last couple of years that makes going to our current church just feel wrong. Or more accurately, not where we are suppose to be. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not about their theology, but more about how they do church. Baptist love their programs and activities and committees. Nor is it because of a falling out with the staff; as a matter of fact there are a couple of people on staff we really love (*cough* shelly/laura *cough*).
What bothered me the most about the church was we were always doing what everyone else was doing. Willow Creek has this, so we need to have this. Saddleback is doing this, so we need to have this. We need to read more books to determine what works, not try to see what actually works in our little neck of the woods (metaphorically speaking, we are in Texas). Everyone is doing contemporary, everyone is doing video, everyone is doing PowerPoint with moving video behind the praise words, everyone has a coffee bar, everyone is doing drama, and everyone is trying to be like everyone else.
And so we are looking. And it’s getting a bit frustrating.
I’m not sure what we are looking for in a new church, but so far we haven’t found “it.” Everywhere we’ve been it’s pretty much the same – if it’s Baptist then it is either traditional or “we do contemporary” in a traditional kind of way. And the non-denominational churches, those who “don’t do church the way church has always been done,” pretty much do church like it’s always been done, just a bit more re-packaged. Its cell groups, or home groups, instead of Sunday School. And the music is all done with guitars and keyboards and bass guitar and drums and praise teams who sound pretty much alike. Some are friendly and some never speak to you. With some the music is really good but the preaching isn’t all that great; and some the preaching is good but the music has a lot to be desired. I attended one church the last couple of weeks where they do a lot of jumping around during the worship, and while that is fine for them, I’m not a jumper (remember, I’ve been a Baptist all my life). The sermons lasted 45 minutes and my attention span isn’t much more than 20. I’m sorry, what was I saying? Oh yeah, we’re looking for a new church.
If there is anything I’ve learn from church after being at one for 19 years, it’s no one should be at one church longer than 2 or 3, 5 tops. I know a lot of staff would hate me for saying that, but let me explain. By rotating members around every so often you will always be getting new perspectives, and no one gets to the point where “this is MY church, do it the way I want.” And members will always have it fresh on their minds what it feels like to be a visitor in a strange place. We all know that will never happen, but what if…
So we keep looking.
Now, let me just say how much I’m thankful to everyone who commented on my last post. I figured after 40 days everyone had gone on to something else, but you proved me wrong, and humbled. Thank you for reading and commenting.
B~
June 13, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Looking for a new church can be pretty rough. Maybe you could just do like the cartoon on Kansas Bob’s blog and find one near a good expresso joint. I agree with you, that people become too comfortable in church and expect to be able to have their way all the time.
June 13, 2007 at 2:59 pm
I know the feeling.
Maybe not the people, but perhaps pastors should rotate every 2-3 years. There should be no “working your way up” the ladder. Suburban mega church pastors should rotate to inner city churches and visa versa. Then take them to rural churches, then overseas, then back. Now that will really open some eyes.
But people have this concept of climbing the corporate ladder. Get an internship position at a highly regarded church. Then become a youth pastor to beef up your resume. Then if your successful, then big churches will be calling. Then assistant pastor. Then senior pastor at a medium sized church to further spice up your resume.
I truly believe that Jesus had church hierarchy in mind when he said the last shall be first, and the first shall be last. I believe at the banquet in heaven, Jesus will single out individuals for praise whom the vast majority of us have never heard of. Then when people approach Jesus to ask, “How about Dr. (insert your favorite highly celebrated preacher/author), Lord?” He will say, “Who?”
June 13, 2007 at 3:06 pm
Hey – come visit us. Oh that’s right – we’re a long ways away. I’ll be praying for your search.
June 13, 2007 at 7:13 pm
David, I like your idea even better – but isn’t that what the Methodists and Catholics do? Their pastors don’t really have a choice where they go and are sent at the whim of denomination management, regardless of the calling of God?
Brian and Amber – I would love to come your church. I know there are several who read you guys that would agree with me. It would be a bit of a commute.
B~
June 14, 2007 at 2:23 am
You know, Bruce that is what I was thinking today. That is one good about denominations.
Here is the ironic thing about the so-called “independent” Bible churches. So they say, they are not under the massive bureaucracy of a massive denomination, and the pastor is accountable to God, not to a human institution. Sounds really good.
Walk into one of these “independent” churches and identify yourself as an independent thinker. No, you have to submit yourself under the spiritual authority of the pastor. Only the pastor enjoys independence in a sense that he does not have to answer to the denomination mothership, but not you.
Didn’t we go through this during the Reformation? Jesus is our only mediator, the reformers declared. But now instead of papal tyranny based out of Rome, we have it in millions of places now. At least the Pope is under the scrutiny of the world, so he has to constantly watch himself. Not the case with our “independent” Bible church pastors.
On a good note, I feel like I have found a church after several years in exile. Maybe I will write about that on my blog. There is hope. I want to believe that, Bruce. Hang in there.
June 14, 2007 at 9:15 am
Thanks for being honest my friend. Nothing was taken personally. I hope that you do find what you are looking for though. There seems to be a lot of people out there who are looking for a “new way” to do church. I wonder what it would all look like if you all got together and started your own church?
June 15, 2007 at 12:31 am
We are all looking for people going in our direction. Some groups plod headlong into certain religious “activities” and are always looking for prospective members. Did your church growing up ever have a “high attendance sunday?” Mine did. Why on earth would you devote just one day to that? I was always bewildered.
Let’s see in Burleson there are plenty of church options. Just fill out this survey and we’ll place you in the appropriate church. Some people approach religious affiliation with the same candor as shopping in the mall.
The Sporty Church
The Too Many Kids Church
The Leftish Slackers Church
The Jean Skirts and Braids Church
The Scary with Way Too Many Banners in the Sanctuary Church
The Don’t Get Me Started On The Crazy Guy In The Pulpit With a Short Tie and a Large Belly Church
Catholics
See, we have a church for all your religious needs. Make sure you grab some kool-aid on your way out.
June 15, 2007 at 11:47 am
hmmmm…. be nice to us poor pastors who are “forced” (constrained? as one translation translates Paul in Corinthians) to serve the church in one of the 300,000 congregations here in the USA alone. We may be placed by the denomination or called through a congregational process. We don’t have the best musicians or vocalists. The songs we select or our volunteer musicians select are too old fashioned, to contemporary, to repetitive, or too boring. We have to watch people come and go who don’t find the congregation we serve to be the ideal church because the people were too friendly, to cold, too homogeneous, too diverse (and all that by visitors on the same day!). We graciously accept the commentary on our attempts to give voice to the gospel as the same sermon elicits such comments as it was too long, too short, too shallow, over peoples heads, not practical enough, too much psychobabble, not relevant enough.
LOL… I’m just kidding… a little… may the Lord lead you to that place in his body where you can server with passion and grace.
June 15, 2007 at 7:12 pm
Hmmmm…let me know if you find one within driving distance that you like. We’re going to a church in Keller that is video, coffee, contemporary…all okay, just a tad large. My hubby likes it and gets something from it. It’s all the same to me, I go because he wants to. Lots of folks from my former church go there, so it’s nice to see them. The people are very nice…and I like them; they are real people. I just don’t get much out of the service. Don’t know why yet…
June 16, 2007 at 10:50 pm
19 years in one church – wow. It takes a bit to find a new church. I have found that a few times I have known right away and other times it has taken a month or so. As it is with almost everything in life – patience is the key
Blessings on the journey Bruce!
June 17, 2007 at 6:32 pm
The problem with your dichotomy is that it limits the majesty of God. You seem to have painted a scenario that says, 1) Pastors can go where they are called, or 2) Pastors can go where a hierarchy sends them. That dichotomy assumes that God through the person of the Holy Spirit doesn’t use a hierarchy to do his will — and why not?
June 17, 2007 at 6:43 pm
Somehow I have gotten more from taking my mother to her church than I have from going to my own. The sermon is no more than ten minutes long, but it is always packed with material I really reflect on. The songs are not as lively, but there is far less singing about “Us” instead of singing about God. There is something to the stillness and solemnity that makes me stand in awe of God.
When I go to my church I feel as though I am going to a meeting. When I go to her church I feel as though I am going to a formal recognition of a very important person. It is a nice contrast to my personal prayer time which can be informal and somewhat lax at times.
No one is more surprised by this turn of events than me.
June 18, 2007 at 10:25 pm
You know, I think you are doing whats right Bruce. SO many times people leave the church saying “Im just not being fed”. Im not reading that you are saying that at all. Besides, its not about YOU being fed… is it? I mean, is church really all about you?
But when the whisper of the Holy Spirit begins speaking to you and telling you its time to move to a different place of service, thats a good thing. It may just feel like its the current church and the way they do church thats prompting the move. But most likely, its simply the Holy Spirit makeing you feel uncomfortable and calling you to a new place of service.
About moving pastors every 2 or 3 years… I disagree. I mean thats what the Methodist church did for the longest time. Baptist churches as well. Even though it isn’t the Convention that moves the pastors, I think last I read the average Baptist pastorate is like 5 years or so. But what we have discovered is, when a pastor comes in with new innovative ideas, the local body never buys into it. WHY? Well, because they know he’s only gonna be there a couple years. So why change everything upside down and get all uncomfortable when this guy is not gonna hang around to work through it all.
June 18, 2007 at 10:27 pm
ok… hopefully that comment didnt post multiple times… something was just not working right on my end…
June 20, 2007 at 12:39 am
I’m with Brian. Been in the United Methodist Church since I was a teenager. The itinerant system doesn’t work. Yes, most pastors rotate every few years, but it IS always about moving up the ladder. If the Bishop wants somebody to get more money and stature, they bump dozens of pastors around in order to make it happen. No matter what kind of chaos it causes the local churches. It’s all abouth the money trail. Furthermore, some pastors, with wealthy churches, get to stay in the same place for many years- even decades.
June 24, 2007 at 11:29 pm
its amazing how many people are in this same boat….and yet nothing different happens. Who needs to make it happen? Us? But how. I thought I found my church home, but I haven’t been in months…my problem, not theirs. But as usual the people I did become friends with there never really noticed that I disappeared.
July 11, 2007 at 7:28 pm
You sound exactly where I was a few years ago. Kept going to different churches, they were all the same, just packaged differently. Till I discovered church where they had the power of the Holy Spirit and sought the presence of God. *that* blew things out of the water and turned everything upside down.
Never looked back.