False Expectations Kill Churches

Or at least they cause deep pain.

[Note: You can always tell when my life is more hectic than usual in that I don’t have time to write a blog post. My last one was written August 8. All is well because Jesus reigns and yet the damage caused by false expectations takes a little time. I write to refuel. Lately I’ve just taken naps.]

I was asked last Sunday, after worshipping with a congregation, if I would choose to return to worship again with that congregation if I had been “a regular visitor” and not someone from the Presbytery staff. It was clear that she wanted me to say “no.” This is a church with a tiny choir and a Commissioned Pastor as their leader (i.e. an elder who has taken seminary coursework but doesn’t have a Master of Divinity.) She wanted me to say “no” – I believe – because she wanted my judgement on their church to be all about the worship hour.

I said I would indeed visit again for these reasons: 1) according to the announcements and bulletin, they are making a difference in their community feeding the hungry, gathering for spiritual nurture, partnering with other congregations. 2) The people were very friendly and welcoming. 3) Although it is a small church, there is diversity in ages and I was especially impressed that the liturgist was a 20-something leader.

If I expect church to be all about perfectly choreographed worship and television-worthy preaching and you expect church to be about making disciples through education and service, and serving the community, we are going to be at odds with each other. This is especially difficult for smaller congregations with less capacity to fulfill almost everybody’s expectations.

My #1 favorite topic concerning Church World is about shifting the culture from a 20th Century Culture to a 21st Century Culture in the name of Jesus Christ. Congregations that continue to expect a 20th Century Church in 2024 are in trouble. We are in a different place now as God’s people and this is a good thing.

At the risk of repeating myself over and over again:

• Congregations more intent on serving themselves within the walls of their church building than serving their neighbors are dying. Matthew 22:39
• Congregations focussed on the ABCs as their building blocks of “success” (Attendance, Building, Cash) instead of building blocks based on the NOPs (Neighbors, Organization, Partners) are dying. Acts 2:43-47
• Congregations that expect their Seminary Trained Pastor to be the sole provider of pastoral care, education, worship leadership, administration, and vision are dying. Ephesians 4: 11, 12
• Congregations unwilling to welcome all people – especially “the least of these” – authentically into their fold are dying. Matthew 25: 40,45
• Congregations that believe that their church will grow if only they had the right logo, street sign or young pastor are dying.

When a church reaches the point of bitter division, the shame and blame are relentless. It’s always somebody’s fault.

Actually this is what success looks like:

the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them

“Success” is about spiritual maturity and authentic relationships and genuine hospitality, especially to the poor. This – I believe – is what God expects of the church. To expect less leads to death. (Sorry, not sorry if this sounds harsh. It’s been a long two weeks.)