If.
If you could change one thing about church what would it be?
What do you think?
Share your thoughts.
posted by preacherman @ 10:42:00 PM
preacherman
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
What do you think?
Share your thoughts.
preacherman
About Me
- Name: preacherman
- Location: Texas, United States
I was born and raised in Abilene, Tx. Graduated from Abilene High. Woodlawn Church of Christ is my home congregation, where my dad serves as an elder. I am a graduate of Lubbock Christian University. I have a wonderful loving wife and boys who are the greatest blessing and joy in my life. My favorite scripture is: 1 Timothy 4:12 "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young but set an example to the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." GBS
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90 Comments:
Me.
;)
Other than my first answer...As a lay person, I also wish more pastors had the support they needed. This is what I'd change about my church-going experience. And, no, I'm not sucking up.
I think a lot of people today struggle to know how to relate to pastors...maybe it's just my experience at my particular church situation. I don't know. Are pastors superstars? Should we congregants be leeches and suck all the life out of them? Can they be trusted? Are they perfect? And should they be allowed to have any private life?
tw
i would put the word "the" in front of it
or
start calling it "the body of Christ"
Commitment.
(This will probably prove out to be one of your best posts, Kinney. Thanks for making us think.)
Our seminole filtering question would be....."where do we see Jesus working in the world and how can we join Him?" Versus, how can we attract people, are our "goods and services" good enough to close the back door, will this offend our members, how do the numbers look, but they give a lot.......
One thing...there are several things I would like to see change. I guess the major thing would be shifting the focus from the church and focusing more on Jesus. And secondly I would like to see us stop placing standards on people that are just to impossible for them to live by (you know the man made stuff), and start loving others as Christ did. And thirdly I would love to see people taking care of each other, by using the tithes to help those in need as they did in Acts.
Just a few, but you did ask. :)
Well Kinney, this is tough especially if we are restricted to just one change. After thinking, I have decided on symbolism. Let me give you an example of a change in symbolism that changed in our church just recently. When we took the "Lord's Supper" before, the little red velvet collection pouches were placed on the table with the bread and wine,and the prayer for giving was led from the front. One day that changed (without notice as far as I can remember). No more red money pouches on the "Lord's table" the prayer and the collection start at the back now. As best I can find out why, the change indicates our giving to him, not him asking of us. Go figure, I am not sure when we will have to remove our shoes. (holy ground, you know)
morning Kinney,
i agree with anon here! it would have to be me!
Yeah, your first poster got it right. First and foremost, we have to change. Constant repentance, constant turning to the Lord.
Apart from that, the whole gospel needs to be preached more often and more vigorously. Y'know, the gospel that includes suffering, taking up our own crosses, etc. Too often I hear about "health and wealth" or "name it and claim it" gospels and I'm left wondering just what St. Stephen, the first martyr, "named and claimed"... probably the same thing the Apostles did: joy "that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name." (Acts 5:41)
Since others have covered a lot of other ground that is very good and much needed, if I only get one, here's mine.
Shift from a elder-maintenance leadership culture to a equipping-pastor leadership culture. Our churches are small corporations run by boards of directors, with a hired CEO to do everything from lead meetings to clean coffee pots. What if our leaders saw their sole function as training and mobilizing ministry servants for the purpose of enabling the church to do what it is supposed to do: that is, reach lost people and disciple them.
My $0.02.
"What if our leaders saw their sole function as training and mobilizing ministry servants"
I guess the important thing here is to remember that many of the 'ministry servants'--as well as the 'leaders' are exhausted, weary from the loads they are carrying and the service they are doing. They need to be trained to set down their loads at the foot of the cross, and supported in the work that they do.
In more and more churches, thankfully, all Christians are encouraged to follow Christ through their service to others. But when they do, they need to find church a place of rest and refreshment, a place of safety and support. Too often, it is those who are laying down their lives for others who are told "do more, you are not doing enough."
tw
If I were going to change one thing about church it would be the about af time we spend in th Lord's Supper. I don't think we spend enough time focusing on the Lord's supper. I wish we would spend a the majority of our time focuus on the death, burrial and ressuration.
see people instead of place.
Since I am a preacher...preach for only ten to fifteen minutes.
actually another thought about this came to me.
if i could change one thing about the church it would be that we could all go to heaven and be able to worship God without all this worldly nonsense.
I agree. Me!
Much love,
Dee
I'll "3rd or 4th" the "me" comment.
To all those who humbly said me, I ask what has been holding you back?
I think you were being semi tounge-and-cheek, laymond, but I'll gladly reply nonetheless.
-Change takes time and is sometimes painful. I don't want to wait for God's timing, and stretch myself in new and scary directions (and wonder if I'll even make it to the other side)...I'd just like to snap my fingers and fix myself!
But you make a good point. We often jump to the humble-sounding and trite, rather than the honest, and often we are willing to say we'd like change--within both ourselves and our church communities--but we aren't willing to make the efforts to bring about that change.
Jesus once asked a blind beggar "what do you want?" "I want to be healed," came his reply. Sometimes it's as if He is asking us "Do you WANT to be healed?" and waiting for us to truly want what He has to offer. What do we want for our selves? What do we want for the Church?
There I go again, talking too much about something that only vaguely relates to the original post. Aren't I lucky I'm commenting anonymous this time? =)
tw
One thing I would change about the church? myself and Laymond.
If I could change one thing it would just change just those who come to church to warm a bench.
I think we all can do something for God specailly when we get older.
I would change the songs we sing.
benchwarmer; I am glad to hear someone cares enough to want to change someone, other than self.
this is why I said , what i said before,
I have always said going to church,as in the place that you go on sundays, but as i have been told and learn is that Church is the people that come together to praise God and to learn about him,
so PM ask if you could change one thing about the church what would be,
don't it said that your need to take the board out of your eye before you take the speack out of someone's own eye.
that is my thinking , and if it is wrong , someone will say so!
have a great weekend Kinney
Laymond - I am changing myself. And hopefully in doing so others will see the example and the effort and the change and be so inspired as well.
As Paul said, he's not perfect yet, but he is striving to be so.
I'd like the church to be friendlier and more welcoming. I'd like it to seem less like a club, open only to a select few.
Okay...how's about this? If I could change one thing about the church, it would be my additude--I'd want to be less self-centered!
j/k
Enjoying the discussion, Preacherman,
Blessings to you all,
tw
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It's bothered me this past year (07) that I've spent so much energy in changing self, I haven't been as available to reach out to those God has given me...but I think certain times of growth are like that.
Laymond's point is interesting...what about stronger church communities. It's hard to find a group of people who are really interested in supporting one another in serving the Kingdom and walking to Heaven together.
Prayer, too. Prayer does amazing things. What if Christians in America sought God together in a new, focused, passionate way.
Unity in the Body of Christ.
Just a few more thoughts. 'Cause I've only commented, like, a million times so far on this thread.
tw
TheWalk
A new pa system and more momey towards work towards misson work.
I would change the music to contemporary.
.Love, Love Love and more Love
I believe that change if it is good change will change a turn a cahnge an make a church health, alive, vital. Change is essental. So I would so change is essential. SO the change that I would make is change in recieve the it with an open heart and open mind.
If I could change one thing about church, it would be that everyone could go fully expecting to encounter Jesus there and everyone could depart with Him as their guest.
We must pray.
pray hard.
Fast.
Listen.
Pray so more.
Listen.
Fasst even mmore.
search the search with a clear conseve.
About ever big every big discission we make regarding the church. We must it his charch. So much take care of his church as if it is His.
preacherman, in all respect and love...i just want to comment with a smile that i think that you have so many friends here...you post some interesting questions and get some wonderful comments. you have a charming personality. you are also very uplifting and supportive when i see your comments on other people's blogs.
keep up the good work, brother!
That's a good question.
I wish we were just known as Christians and not as this or that denomination or group.
Though I guess I don't mind at all the variety and different groups. Just that we would underscore in every way possible that we indeed are one in the Lord.
Nothing.. but I am okay if He wants to change something :)
I am also contemplating using mor contemporary worship in service I think I will draw more people to worship. I feel our generation feel conected to that kind on worship.
I wish our super bowl party had more big screens.
The one thing I would chang is that the 3 screens would be bigger and louder during during the super bowl bowl party!
Go Patriots!
I wish we could have a woman preacher!
Yes I am a church a church. No I have not had any thing to drink yet for the super bowl party. I just don't think it is right for me not to be alllowed to be sit and not preach. I think it dumb!
Caren
Why can't you Church of Chister's drink and have fun like all the rest of us Christians? We are going to have blast to night watching the super bowl?
I would chang the elders.
The thing I would change is all the old people in the church.
I second Humpty Dumpty's comment.
Kinney what a great post for us all I have to say is: It would be me. me. me. and me. Yep me.
I like what be benjie said. You go benjie!!!
John
I think laymond knows what he is talking about....You go boy!!!!!
I am going to go watch the super bowl. GO PATRIOTS!!!!!
I wish one thing I could change thing about church is where we met. I mean I wish we could meet in a coffee house or a home.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Bogger repperted to me that it was a long name. I am a sing working dad. I wish there were more offered for more for my daughter and myself. I love her more than anything in the world. I just wish the church could be a place could be place for divorced fathers. An encouragement for dad to be the best they can be during the week. I wish my daughter could find a place to belong and feel intemidedated. I believe that church should be that place. We need to understand that church isn't the church our mom's and dad's grew up with, it is changing. They need to understand that as well. I pray ever morning and night for her to find friends, good Christian friends she can have to share with, play with, belong, love, grow up with and that place being the church.
I am a single mother. I have never beeen married. My "job" has always been life. I want to find the "right" man who I can share the rest of my life. I wish the church would be my hope and shelter in the future. God please answer my prayer.
Ann.
This comment has been removed by the author.
The one think I would change is that they should change is care more about divorced people.
Yes, treat divorced people like real people instead of outsiders or second class christians.
Steven
If I could change one thing about church it would be bigger screens in the church building so we can see the super bowl on. GO Patriot!!!!
Great post Kinney! If I could change one thing about church we wouldn't have super bowl parties at church. :-) I HATE FOOTBALL
I would chang instrumnetal music. I think it is so stupid that we don't have any iinstruments. I would put instruments in every church and make it manditor for people to use them.
Rick
We don't need a Church that changes with the world; we need a Church that changes the world. ~ G. K. Chesterton
Exellent point Japhy. Thank you so much for you wonderful comment. It means so much brother.
20 Something we actully had our Bible class in a coffe hour in Lubbock at Day Break.
Jason-Campbell,
I want to thank you so much for sharing your expereince with us all. I appreciate it so very much . It mean alot.
Benjie,
Contentment is something we all need.
Nancy,
I love it when the Church is called the "body of Christ"
or
my favorite
"Family of God."
Jel. Great post Jel and so well put. ME. I know I need it!
Me. me. me. me. me. me. me. me. me. me. me. and as Laymond so well puts it: her and him and that one and that one and that one and that one don't forget that one oh yeah and that one too. I love you brother.
Arlene,
I am so thankful for the wonderful grace of God. I want to thank you so much for you comment. So well put.
Wise one,
I wish we spent more time on the Lords table. I think it should be the primary focus of worship.
Darin,
Excellent comment.
I wish we would see people instead of place. Meet people instead of be so in a rush to get out of the door. Reationship.
Being a preacher myself...I wish the preacher only preached for ten or fifteen minutes max. Great point emerging preacher!
Laymond I agree with you too that we need less benchwarmers in church. I think more people need to get up off the bench and start doing more for Lord, Amen?!
I'm late to the party, but one thing I would change is all the division and denominations. I think followers of Jesus are becoming more unified, which is exciting. If we all joined hands to serve as Jesus did we could really have a stronger impact.
Yay, Giants!!! Ooops - I'm being divisive here. :)
BIG FOOTBALL FAN, I love your comment, I don't believe a more heartfelt one has been presented :)
Awesome blog!
I don't think your blog has great graphics but great topics. I will definately be back. Amy- I am a HUGE GIANTS FAN!
Amy,
I want to let you know that you are never to late no matter how many comments or what is going on this blog to leave a comment; your comments, thoughts and ideas are always welcome at this blog.
I want all my blog friends to check out Amy's blog.
Amy's blog is great! Amy is a free thinker with lots of great ideas about God, faith, religion, family, and countless other topics. She is a woman who knows what she is talking about. Or thinks she does! :-)
Another thought...I'm sorry...Interuption....My son...just interupted me. Guess what I bought him at Starbucks at all places. Magnetic checkers. It is so much fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Guess who won the first game? Guess????????????????????????
I Did!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Starbucks $10 of course I had to have a Venti Carmel Breve Latte w/extra shot of expresso. It taste sooooooooo yummy.
So again Amy your welcome to my blog anytime day or night. Love your opinions.
All my readers check out her blog. You won't be disappointed.
Laymond I am a huge football fan and soccer fan too.
Japhy,
I love the quote!!!!!
Arlene Kassleman also has a wonderful that highly recommend. I would love for all my reader to give it a look see.
If I could change just one thing about church it would have to be the length of the worship. I mean, it is just long enough to begin to commune with God and then suddenly its all over. I would personally love to linger longer in God's presence. Maybe that way some needed transformation just might take place after all. Could it be that we are sacrificing what is most needful for scriptural exposition? I personally don't think that the sermon needs to be the central focus of a service every Sunday. Why can't we just focus on Jesus for a while? I think of the story of Mary and Martha and wonder if we are so busy with doing ministry and getting the sermon presented, that we have lost sight of the one thing that is better - lingering at the feet of Jesus. Thanks for listening to my two cents, preacherman. Great post to get the brain synapses firing today. Blessings.
Make it Christ's again, and take it out of the hands of men?
I'd like to see all churches being led by the Holy Spirit...then the changes made would truly being in alignment with the will of our Father instead of being based upon the tradions of our denomintaional structures.
Amanda,
That sounds great.
Thanks for stopping by.
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