August 11, 2006
Revolving Door
At one time a priority for our leaders was trying to keep ‘the sheep in the fold’. For instance during a year we might gain 85 in memberships, but loose 75. As new staff was hired one of the questions asked of them was, “Can you help us keep people from going out the back door?” Rather than continue to work on the revolving door issue, our elders have now taken a new position. “We believe that over the years there have been many ways tried, some worked and some didn’t. We have had people over the years come and go (for what ever reason that may be), we’ve had new people visit who found their place in the body elsewhere because we weren’t contemporary enough, and there were some who thought we were too contemporary. Some may or may not like the sermons. Some may or may not like the childcare arrangements…You get the point.” Actually, I think we are missing the point, as well as the happiness and rejoicing that comes with recovering lost sheep. (Matt 18:10-14; Lk 15:1-7).
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Gail;
----I think that all churches which are experiencing the revolving doors are not in need of recovering the lost sheep as much as recovering what has been lost in the sheep. Paul spoke of the elders who handled the affairs of the church well (I Tim 5:17) being worthy of a double honor. I think most of our churches have becoome confused about what the affairs of the church are.
----We were once so obsessed with our church assets and image that we have overreacted to the point that we are now so obsessed in keeping the unchurched in the pews that we have become obsessed again with church assets and image. But the church building, the money, the ministers' salaries, mission programs, music programs, youth programs, etc., etc., etc., etc., etc. are not the affairs of the church. The affairs of the church are the godly ways and character traits that come with the new life. They are the compassion for one another, the understanding of one another, the ability to see the needs of one another, the charitable drive to meet those needs, the patience, the kindness, the perseverance, the sympathies, the honor, the respect, the submission, etc., etc., etc., etc., etc. Out of these character traits, like a plant from soil, grow the church programs, its assets, and its image.
----But the church that treats the plant growing from the soil of the heart as the "affair of the church" soon has only a plastic plant potted in pumice to show for its efforts. Its doors will revolve. But the wise church sees that its affairs are the soil of the heart in which the plant grows. It does not have to worry about pumice, nor plastic, nor revolving doors. Its efforts keep the soil healthy, which keeps the plant real, which swings the doors less. Then what was lost in the sheep is recovered, and the lost sheep, who would not become pumice, will return.
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