Any healthy church must have some
level of inward focus. Those in the church should be discipled. Hurting members
need genuine concern and ministry. Healthy fellowship among the members is a
good sign for a congregation.
But churches can lose their
outward focus and become preoccupied with the perceived needs and desires of
the members. The dollars spent and the time expended can quickly become focused
on the demands of those inside the congregation. When that takes place the
church has become inwardly obsessed. It is no longer a Great Commission
congregation.
In my research of churches and
consultation with churches, I have kept a checklist of potential signs that a
church might be moving toward inward obsession. No church is perfect; indeed
most churches will demonstrate one or two of these signs for a season. But the
real danger takes place when a church begins to manifest three or more of these
warning signs for an extended period of months and even years.
1. Worship
wars. One or more
factions in the church want the music just the way they like it. Any deviation
is met with anger and demands for change. The order of service must remain
constant. Certain instrumentation is required while others are prohibited.
2. Prolonged
minutia meetings. The church spends an inordinate amount of time in different
meetings. Most of the meetings deal with the most inconsequential items, while
the Great Commission and Great Commandment are rarely the topics of discussion.
3. Facility
focus. The church
facilities develop iconic status. One of the highest priorities in the church
is the protection and preservation of rooms, furniture, and other visible parts
of the church's buildings and grounds.
4.
Program-driven. Every
church has programs even if they don't admit it. When we start doing a ministry
a certain way, it takes on programmatic status. The problem is not with
programs. The problem develops when the program becomes an end instead of a
means to greater ministry.
5. Inwardly
focused budget. A
disproportionate share of the budget is used to meet the needs and comforts of
the members instead of reaching beyond the walls of the church.
6.
Inordinate demands for pastoral care. All church members deserve care and concern,
especially in times of need and crisis. Problems develop, however, when church
members have unreasonable expectations for even minor matters. Some members
expect the pastoral staff to visit them regularly merely because they have
membership status.
7. Attitudes
of entitlement. This issue
could be a catch-all for many of the points named here. The overarching
attitude is one of demanding and having a sense of deserving special treatment.
8. Greater
concern about change than the gospel. Almost any noticeable changes in the church
evoke the ire of many; but those same passions are not evident about
participating in the work of the gospel to change lives.
9. Anger and
hostility. Members are
consistently angry. They regularly express hostility toward the church staff and
other members.
10.
Evangelistic apathy. Very few members share their faith on a regular basis. More are
concerned about their own needs rather than the greatest eternal needs of the
world and community in which they live.
My list is not exhaustive. You may
have some items you could add. Have you ever been a part of an inwardly
obsessed church? What signs were evident that led you to know the church was
inwardly obsessed? Do you affirm some of the items on my list?
THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….
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FOR LEADER TRAINING: Transform: Changing Lives Through Teaching
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FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: Family: leading the
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FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: The Law of Love
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