Bigger and better at church? It’s the holiday season and big churches with big budgets are putting on big productions.
Whatever it takes
Many churches have adopted the ‘whatever it takes’ mentality to get people to come to church. The philosophy is, ‘as long as it’s not sinful, it’s useful’. And I can see the positives in this approach.
Hundreds and even thousands of people come to the church building for special, spectacular events. They see high quality shows and afterwards they’re given the Gospel Message. Some raise their hands or walk the aisle and make a commitment to live for Jesus.
The idea is: “If one person is ‘saved’ it’s worth it.” and I can’t argue with that.
I initially saw this as a waste of money. “You can reach the lost without a big production and these productions are a sell-out, a capitulation to the world.”
The Body of Christ
My thoughts changed when I recalled this selection from the Bible:
11…One Body with Many Members
14For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts,e yet one body.
21The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
27Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
Selections from 1 Corinthians 12
This passage encourages each person to find their gifting and not envy other people’s gifts. It can also be applied to groups of christians…a church.
All churches are not supposed to be the same.
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Let’s assume that big budget productions are an effective way to reach unsaved people at Christmas time. If this is true, does that mean that other churches with smaller budgets won’t be able to reach the lost? NO!
The push toward bigger, higher budget programs is happening across America. I blogged about the effect of high budget programs on high school marching bands. Sports programs are becoming more and more expensive as well. My high school has a professional turfed field and jumbo screen for a school that graduates around 300 kids a year.
It’s easy to get drawn into a ‘big budget’ mentality? If you’re church that can make it happen without losing your Christ focus, go for it!
But, beware of the inherit dangers of trying to make each year bigger and better.
What is your strength
This will sound harsh, but if your church doesn’t have the vocal, acting and dancing talent to put on a great show, don’t do it. You don’t want to put on a poor quality, awkward show.
Your strength may lie in the quality of your pastor’s teaching.
You might speak to people who want a more formal and traditional service. Some may be drawn to your peaceful, meditative service.
Just don’t become so peaceful that you fall asleep.
What’s the message?
Your church can not and should not try to be all things to all people. The verse that I quoted above is pretty clear. Different people receive different gifts and it stands to reason that different groups of people (churches) have different gifts as well.
Stop thinking that your church is doing things the ‘right’ way.
You might have a small traditional church with classical/hymn book music. Don’t accuse the big budget mega-church of having an un-christian Christmas show. (Obviously use wisdom here. You will be able to see blatantly obvious and sinful productions.)
Conversely, you may be that big mega-church with drummers flying around on stage.
If your church is able to do this, don’t make fun of the little church across town with the traditional service. You have your gift and they have theirs.
A final thought from the Bible:
11 So we always pray for you. Our God has chosen you to be his own people. We pray that he will help you, so that you continue to please him. We also pray that God will work powerfully in you. Then you will be able to do every good thing that you want to do. You will do the things that you want to do because you trust God. 12As a result, people will praise our Lord Jesus because of how you live…