Gotta get yourself connected

The title is part of a song by Stereo MC's called "Connected". I'm so sorry to those who think being connected in church is the be-all and end-all of life, but I just have to quote the lyrics. Although they have nothing to do with church at all, they fit perfectly.

If you make sure you're connected
The writing's on the wall
But if your mind's neglected
Stumble you might fall
Stumble you might fall
Hear me out
Stumble you might fall
Won't someone try
Open up your eyes
You must be blind
If you can't see
The gaping hole
Called reality

OK, now that I've had my fun.... since it seems your comments are done, here are my observations of this little video.


First of all, can I let you know that I have absolutely nothing against this particular church, I don't know them, I don't know what they do, I have heard nothing about them except what is on this video. So please don't see this as a personal attack.

There were a few things that bothered me about this. Many of them stem from Jason Zahariades' article Detoxing From Church.

I know I've quoted some of this before, but it's important to this discussion.

In the Americanized church, the organization is designed to turn life and faith into a simple prepackaged consumer product. This is what John Drane calls the “McDonaldization of the Church.”

• I need to worship. So I go to my local church, which, if it’s cutting-edge, has a worship pastor on staff that prepares an inspiring "worship experience" for me on a weekly basis. One local church I know advertises its worship services on its marquee, "We worship five times, three ways, one God." (Hello! Is it me or does that just sound wrong?)
• I also need to fellowship with my fellow Christians. So I go to my local church to attend a programmed version of community that provides a surface-level contact with people around some form of activity at my convenience. If I need more fellowship, I go to a small group, usually focused on the dynamic personality of the small group leader or on the subject matter I feel I need to better my life. But again, this is at my convenience and fairly optional if my schedule becomes too demanding.
• I need discipleship and Christian growth. So I go to my local church to attend Sunday services, Bible studies and small groups where someone opens the Bible and tells me what it says and how it should apply to my life. I also have the option of learning "practical" topics such as how to be a good spouse, parent, employee, leader, steward, etc.
  
• I need to serve. So I go to my local church and participate in a program where I use my time and skills in a fairly convenient manner to help others. For the most part, it’s fairly safe. And if I'm a volunteer, my participation is completely based on my schedule.
• I need to be engaged in mission. So I go to my local church to connect to their evangelistic ministry and their missions program. Every so often I might volunteer to hand out sodas or serve coffee in a convenient and semi-relational form of "reaching people" for Christ. I might also give money to local missionaries the church supports and maybe participate in a weekend mission trip.
• I need a children's program to educate my kids. So I go to my local church to place my children in the care of Sunday school teachers and youth pastors who will provide the spiritual and moral foundation for their Christian growth via an age-relevant program.
• I need purpose for my life. So I go to my local church, hoping to find a leader with a vision big enough to inspire me. Then I sacrifice my time, energy, and money to become involved in the leader’s vision so I can build something big for God with him. New programs. New buildings. New projects. New groups. New services. New converts. New church plants. New missions. More and more and more vision to give my life a reason to exist.
  

Now, a few things specifically jumped out at me from this video.

1. "'Cos God picked the best of the best."

That bothers me hugely. God doesn't pick the best of the best at all. He picks us, whether we are the best or the worst, and shows us grace. He doesn't try to make us the 'best of the best' either - he wants us only to show his nature while authentically being ourselves.

2. "And they help me to be a better person and they help me to rise up to the occasion."

This one is a little less direct. What is wrong with being a better person? Nothing at all. However, if we're relying solely on other church members to make us better people, that is not really the best place to be.

To quote Jason again, I also need to fellowship with my fellow Christians. So I go to my local church to attend a programmed version of community that provides a surface-level contact with people around some form of activity at my convenience. If I need more fellowship, I go to a small group, usually focused on the dynamic personality of the small group leader or on the subject matter I feel I need to better my life. But again, this is at my convenience and fairly optional if my schedule becomes too demanding.

3. The comments about hair and fashion are just a bit pointless. I'm not going to critique that because it is meant as a joke. I hope.

4. "We love our team because it's our FAMILY!"

This sounds so lovely on the surface, especially with the big smiles and the beautiful little girl. The problem I have with this is, the whole church, worldwide, is our family. It seems here that this goes back to Jason Zahariades article "I need to serve. So I go to my local church and participate in a program where I use my time and skills in a fairly convenient manner to help others. For the most part, it’s fairly safe."

When it becomes necessary to be "plugged in" to a specific group in church in order to have the feeling of family, it could easily be a sign of addiction to church. See the quote from Jason at number 2 for this one as well.

5. "Because they're committed Christians and they want to see this church grow and expand and go out into all the world."

This is where I have a major theological rift with the "come to us" seeker-sensitive mentality. Yes, it's a whole 'nother discussion and it doesn't do it justice to try to deal with it over a couple of lines, but a singular church growing and expanding just doesn't sit right with me. I believe church should be a place of maturing us to a level where we can leave. That should be the main objective, not putting up big signs and advertising and telling people to come see our latest gimmick. We have this famous singer coming, this famous speaker. These people will rip telephone books in half for Jesus. These ones will entertain you. Come, come, come. Jesus said to his disciples "Come to me - I will take your burdens, I will give you rest." But then he said "Go. Go into all the world." I think we as a western church are stuck in the "Come" mentality but very few actually do any "Going". But like I said, a few lines don't do that justice.

6. Finally the slogan "Get Yourself Connected". It implies that the only way to be "connected" in the church is to join a team. Join hospitality, join the visitors lounge, join the childrens programs, join the carpark attendants. Join, join, join. With all this joining, how is there room for one to be missional outside the church walls? By the time you factor in small groups, staff meetings, music practices, committee meetings, volunteer training, turning up early to set up services, staying late to pack up services, womens groups, mens groups, youth groups, childrens groups, young adults groups, young married groups - the whole thing is just one big bubble. Where does mission come in? How are we to go out into the world?

And most of all, what happens to those who don't "Get Connected"? What if they just don't fit in to a group? What if their outside-church-walls mission (God forbid!) comes first, and they don't have time to do both?

I have been there. That is when the idea of "family" disappears. Family should be unconditional. Family should rely on each other. Family should be there whether you join a small group or not. Getting connected doesn't need to be part of the equation, I know because I am there now. I am not in a single small group or department, other than that I help out with the kids once or twice a month because I have kids and take my fair share of the load. And yet, I am the most "connected" I have ever been. Why? I am with a bunch of Christ-followers who care nothing about the internal workings of church and making it stand out from the crowd with special programs and promotions. They care for each other, they show each other support, they listen no matter how stupid you sound, and they focus on getting each other to a place where they can realise their ministry - not inside the church but outside. Missionally. To the world, where Jesus sent us.

It's an amazing thing when you see that happen.

So there you are. Now I am steeling myself for the barrage of comments. *ducks*