Insights into the Un-Churched

Insights into the Un-Churched:
I am reading a book called, “Surprising Insights from the Un-Churched”. Below I will give some myths that Christians should know about the Un-Churched. The research is compelling. The reality is that somewhere between 80 to 90 percent of churchless Americans will never enter our churches. We have tried to make church touchy feely and seeker sensitive yet we are finding more and more people out of church than inside. This is alarming. How have we missed it?
The research in this book is compelling because it is research on the formerly un-churched. These are people who have no church background, but have made a commitment to faith in the year. Every other study on the un-churched is with those who have not become believers and who may never become believers. This study is worth noting because it is of people who have actually moved from un-churched to churched. Below are some myths the church has about the un-churched.
It is imperative that I discuss a few issues before I address these myths.
1. Understand that I do not apologize for using the word church. Jesus says, “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it”. Church is a term that more Christians have a problem with than do the un-churched. I am tired of reading books that tell me that I cannot use certain terms because it confuses people. If the word church confuses people it is understandable. If you draw your definition from the looks of its followers then it might not be something you want to be a part of. It is time we as the church starting acting like the church. Enough said…
2. I think there must be a balance in your church of being sensitive to unbelievers and teaching truth with passion, power, correction, rebuke, etc… I admit this is a hard balance to figure out. I am certain however that you must call sin, sin. You preach the Gospel. It will offend. I am memorizing the ”sermon on the mount” and at times it seems that Jesus goes out of his way to offend. Sin is unacceptable to God and the church should stop making light of it. 2 Tim. 3:16-7 says, “All scripture is God breathed and useful in teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” What does it say scripture is useful for? Enough said…
Four Myths about the Un-churched that really stuck out to me: (There were nine total)
1. Myth # 1: The Un-Churched are Turned Off by Denominational Names.
· The researched showed that 81% of the formerly un-churched that were interviewed said that the name had no impact on the coming to that church. Some admitted that the name was a positive influence on them coming to church because they knew what to expect.
· When asked directly most all of those interviewed thought it strange that anyone would consider that to be an issue.
2. Myth # 2: The Un-Church Never Attend Church.
· Out of almost 400 interviewed only 100% had visited a church at least once the year before becoming a believer. That is amazing. That means that the un-church are interested in church or have something within them that makes them think it is ok to go to church. The book says, “In 1999, 12% of atheist and agnostics attended an Easter service. That is over 1 million people”.

Myth # 3: The Un-Churched cannot be reached by Direct Personal Evangelism

· 65% of those interviewed were led to a relationship with Jesus by someone else. The research showed that seeker sensitive services are not bringing people to Jesus at near the rate as one-on-one personal evangelism. Most of those interviewed received a visit from someone in the church.
· This is crucial. Many churches don’t visit people because they are afraid that people may not want a stranger coming to their house. Good excuse. Isn’t it good that our opinions don’t matter when they are wrong, because the research is clear? Visitations work and are extremely effective. We have bought the lie that personal visits to people don’t work.
Myth # 4: Do not Teach Deep and Complex Biblical Truth that may confuse the un-churched.
· “One important lesson we learned from the formerly un-churched is that we should never dilute biblical teaching for the sake for the un-churched. Jennifer, a Minnesota resident, expressed similar sentiments: ‘I have watched CNBC [a business cable network] for years, since I follow my investments closely. ‘She said. ‘I remember the first time I watched the program. They used language that contained some strange phrases…Sometimes they explained them and other times I had to go to the dictionary or the internet to learn, but I enjoyed the learning experience…I want meaty teaching. I can handle it”
· The research also showed that 91% of the un-churched said doctrine was important.
· In a later chapter on preaching I think Thom Rainer got it right when he explained that it was important to teach deep truth and application. Not one or the other. Good teachers of God’s Word can get you to the context and then apply it to your life.

Just think about it...

Are you living in the "ing"

Why is it when we first began following Jesus we were willing to give up anything and everything for Him? We had zeal, passion, reckless abandon, etc… However, something happened… Life, reality hit, difficulty crept into your life, you became busy. Your relationship with God went from passionate to complacent, radical to mundane. Now you follow Jesus because you know you are suppose to, but other than that you question if it is for real. The things of God seem distant and the scriptures that used to come alive have fallen on your own deaf ears. If you pray or when you scratch up the nerve to pray it seems like the words are empty and disappear into space as soon as they leave your mouth. (Analog: almost as fast as those dreams you once had). Those convictions that used to drive you to repentance have long since silenced. You feel like your faith is running on a treadmill. It doesn’t matter how mush or little you try, you are still running in place. It is wearing you out. Growth has stopped, maybe even retracted. You here the amazing God stories of others and instead of being excited you become cynical. Your pride begins to accuse them of Pride. You cannot imagine someone who really follows Jesus wholeheartedly and who regularly sees God move because it has been so long since you have experienced that reality in your own life. You here of churches growing and all you can think is “they must be compromising on the truth”, “they must not be teaching the true Gospel”. Instead of praising God for revival, your cynicism brings derision to the body of Christ.
You keep asking yourself the question, “What do they have that I don’t?” Great question!!! That is the right question. I know what you are thinking, “I am more gifted”, “better equipped”, “smarter”, “friendlier”, “more handsome”, “a better teacher”, etc… Why am I not experiencing that kind of success and joy any longer? The answer is simply that they have not forgotten who their first love is…Jesus. I know what you are thinking, “How dare you question me on who my first love is? I am a pastor, a leader, an elder, a volunteer, and I have paid my dues. I went to Bible College, even seminary for crying out loud. I memorized scripture, I prayed, I led people to Christ. How dare you question me? My Christian resume would rival the disciples in the first century.” Woe to you. Has your past merit become the credentials for your credibility as a sold out follower of Jesus. See our problem is the “ed”. I learned, I think in the second grade, that in order to make a statement past tense you would add and “ed” to the end. The problem is that you “prayed”, “memorized”, “led”, etc… Your resume recalls your past zeal, your past passion, your past love. It is indeed very impressive, but what about your present? I used to be an excellent baseball player. I would have been a great asset to any team, but I have not played the game in 10 years. I am certain that I could not hit a fastball. I would be valuable to a team only if I was keeping score. My baseball resume in good. I have a state championship ring, made many all tournament teams, was recruited heavily, was on a team that was fourth in the world when I was 15-16 years old, and got the coaches award for my High School team. It is impressive. The reality is that I have been out of the game so long that I am of no benefit to any team now. Does this correspond to your spiritual life? Does your spiritual resume describe your past or your present? Has it been so long since you have been in the game that you have forgotten what it was like to taste victory? Are you still talking about what you did at your last church 5 years ago? Has it been weeks, months, even years since you have had an encounter with Jesus? Has your faith become an apathetic ritualistic routine? Your calloused heart is no longer moved by anything. You question whether you even know Jesus or if you should even serve in ministry any longer. In an attempt to mask the turmoil you hide in the foxholes of your past, praising yourself for the “ed” deeds so that you can muster up enough sanity to continue to sell the façade.
Unfortunately, no one is buying it, not your wife, your kids, your congregation, your friends, not a one of them. You welcome new relationships, because they are more easily fooled. You have spent years sculpting your masterpiece, and on the outside it is breathtaking. It is nothing more than a mirage. The termites of cynicism, pride, and selfishness are eating you from the inside out. You wish time would stand still because it is only a matter of time before even they see the real you. The problem is not if others see the real you. The problem is do YOU see the real you. Have you been so good at fooling others that you have even fooled yourself? (Story of Bowl clean on outside, but not inside). “Oh God, how have I let myself get here?” “How do I get out of this prison?” Why have we made it complicated? Why is it that when we crash we fool ourselves into thinking that there is some complicated formula that I must figure out in order to be rescued from the pit of despair. Is it a conference, a retreat, a sabbatical, counseling, a mentor, a job change or maybe even a combination of these things? Lean not on your understanding. The answer is simply Jesus. It is finding Joy, peace, love, and identity in Jesus. Understand that you bear the image of the almighty God. You must claim the promise that “greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.” Start living in the present and not the past. Destroy the “ed” mentality and adopt the “ing” mentality. Instead of “I Prayed”, “I led”, “I memorized”, it should be I am “praying”, “memorizing”, “leading”, “growing”, “believing”, “desiring”, “studying”, “loving”, etc… It is not about what I have done. It is about what I am doing. It is not about who I was. It is about who I am becoming. Just think about it...

God's Perspective is Bigger

I think it is critical to always be a student. I am convinced that you can learn a ton about life by just listening to those around you and allowing God to speak to you in teachable moments. I was eating lunch at a local high school recently when a student at my table began to complain that the food did not meet his standards. He refused to eat his chicken fajita. I must admit that I was a bit perplexed because I just destroyed my fajita and I thought it was dang good and I gladly scarfed his down when he offered it. I thought about telling him how he has it good because the cafeteria food when I was a teenager was far worse. I refrained however, because I remembered how I hated when adults would say ridiculous things like: “I used to walk to school 5 miles…in ten feet of snow…with no shoes because my parents could not afford them.” I have two words for those in the past dwellers “SHUT UP”. Anyways…another student chimed in and began to explain how she was so upset that her mom did not give her an extra dollar to buy ice cream. These students were obviously suffering, well at least in their minds. Then it hit me. My perspective is so jacked. Is this suffering or is there perspective on life shallow? I mean 800 million people will lay their heads down for bed tonight without a single bite of food for the day. People that would probably do anything just short of killing someone for a high school cafeteria chicken fajita. We are so spoiled that the things we consider suffering are a joke. Forgive us God for our complaining. We must understand that God has the greatest perspective. Our perspective is based on our knowledge, upbringing, and experiences. Who has experienced everything? Who has limitless knowledge of everything? The answer is clearly no one. We are finite. We have not experienced everything, we don’t understand everything, and our perspective is very limited. God is infinite. God is Omniscient. God is not limited. How often do we blame God or complain about something going on in our life? God sees the big picture. He works all things together for good. It reminds me of how a parent does not let a small child cross the street without holding hands. The parent wants to protect the small child. Obviously the parent’s perspective is greater than the child. They are older; more experienced and have more knowledge. They know if the child wanders into the road oblivious to the danger of oncoming cars, it could easily lead to disaster. The gap between God’s understanding and a parent far exceed the gap between a parent and the child. Just something to think about…