Identity Crisis in the Local Church

Nahum · #1 02-13-2007, 05:17 PM

I think I covered this on the old forum a few months ago, but the issue keeps presenting itself to me from a variety of sources.

In the last little while there have been several pastors tell me a story somewhat similar to this:

A new contact comes into the church through personal invitation. This person involves themselves in the social activities of the church, and some even experience the new birth. This person continues coming for a while, and then suddenly vanishes from the pew. No explanation. No calls expressing dissatisfaction. No communication at all.

Over time, the pastor, noticing their continued absence, places a call asking why this person has stopped attending services. The person tells them they do not believe the doctrine of the church.

The pastor asks for further explanation. The ex-attendee tells him that they do not agree with certain lifestyle mandates the church lives by.

The pastor - befuddled - asks "what mandates"?

The ex-attendee mentions one, or several. The pastor asks where they received this information. They reply from the UPCI website. They had clicked on to that site, and perused through the explanation of beliefs.

I only post this for discussion's sake.
Please do not bash the UPC on this thread.

My question is this: In no way am I ashamed of what we believe, but should lifestyle standards be published on a website? Is that the first thing we want people to see?

RevDWW · #2 02-13-2007, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

I think I covered this on the old forum a few months ago, but the issue keeps presenting itself to me from a variety of sources.

In the last little while there have been several pastors tell me a story somewhat similar to this:

A new contact comes into the church through personal invitation. This person involves themselves in the social activities of the church, and some even experience the new birth. This person continues coming for a while, and then suddenly vanishes from the pew. No explanation. No calls expressing dissatisfaction. No communication at all.

Over time, the pastor, noticing their continued absence, places a call asking why this person has stopped attending services. The person tells them they do not believe the doctrine of the church.

The pastor asks for further explanation. The ex-attendee tells him that they do not agree with certain lifestyle mandates the church lives by.

The pastor - befuddled - asks "what mandates"?

The ex-attendee mentions one, or several. The pastor asks where they received this information. They reply from the UPCI website. They had clicked on to that site, and perused through the explanation of beliefs.

I only post this for discussion's sake.
Please do not bash the UPC on this thread.

My question is this: In no way am I ashamed of what we believe, but should lifestyle standards be published on a website? Is that the first thing we want people to see?

Man you should have hammered that stuff home before they got away.....

In all reality I would ask the one who has left for some time to visit with them at there home or over coffee. Then I'd hammer it home to them..........

Rhoni · #3 02-13-2007, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RevDWW

Man you should have hammered that stuff home before they got away.....

In all reality I would ask the one who has left for some time to visit with them at there home or over coffee. Then I'd hammer it home to them..........

Yes, that was what they were afraid of

Rhoni · #4 02-13-2007, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhoni

Yes, that was what they were afraid of

COOPER · #5 02-13-2007, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhoni

Yes, that was what they were afraid of

Seach for truth?

RevDWW · #6 02-13-2007, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

I think I covered this on the old forum a few months ago, but the issue keeps presenting itself to me from a variety of sources.

In the last little while there have been several pastors tell me a story somewhat similar to this:

A new contact comes into the church through personal invitation. This person involves themselves in the social activities of the church, and some even experience the new birth. This person continues coming for a while, and then suddenly vanishes from the pew. No explanation. No calls expressing dissatisfaction. No communication at all.

Over time, the pastor, noticing their continued absence, places a call asking why this person has stopped attending services. The person tells them they do not believe the doctrine of the church.

The pastor asks for further explanation. The ex-attendee tells him that they do not agree with certain lifestyle mandates the church lives by.

The pastor - befuddled - asks "what mandates"?

The ex-attendee mentions one, or several. The pastor asks where they received this information. They reply from the UPCI website. They had clicked on to that site, and perused through the explanation of beliefs.

I only post this for discussion's sake.
Please do not bash the UPC on this thread.

My question is this: In no way am I ashamed of what we believe, but should lifestyle standards be published on a website? Is that the first thing we want people to see?

Seriously, they could just have easily come in contact with that one brother or sister who would have told them all the same things. You know the one. Holy Joe or Josephine that would try and force feed a new born babe in Christ steak when only milk will do.

I'd ask them if they felt anything of God preasence in service. I'd invite them back and tell them that I would not try and force them to do anything. But just come be in the presence of God with us.

I'd love them to death and then life again...........

LaVonne · #7 02-13-2007, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RevDWW

Seriously, they could just have easily come in contact with that one brother or sister who would have told them all the same things. You know the one. Holy Joe or Josephine that would try and force feed a new born babe in Christ steak when only milk will do.

I'd ask them if they felt anything of God preasence in service. I'd invite them back and tell them that I would not try and force them to do anything. But just come be in the presence of God with us.

I'd love them to death and then life again...........

Great response...so much truth to it!

It really helps if a newcomer knows that someone cares. I know that I've tried to connect with certain ones (we can't connect with everybody!) and call them once a week or more, if they are really needy. jmho

drummerboy_dave · #8 02-13-2007, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RevDWW

Seriously, they could just have easily come in contact with that one brother or sister who would have told them all the same things. You know the one. Holy Joe or Josephine that would try and force feed a new born babe in Christ steak when only milk will do.

I'd ask them if they felt anything of God preasence in service. I'd invite them back and tell them that I would not try and force them to do anything. But just come be in the presence of God with us.

I'd love them to death and then life again...........

Who honostly believes that standards are the meat of the word?

RevDWW · #9 02-13-2007, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drummerboy_dave

Who honostly believes that standards are the meat of the word?

You get the point, don't you DbD?

Carpenter · #10 02-13-2007, 06:11 PM

First of all, I would be surprised that someone would go onto the UPC website and determine that the "mandates" are too much to abide by. What on earth did they start going to church for in the first place.

I would bet that 99.9% of all people who start going to church as you characterized, go for the sense of community or spiritual hunger moreso than anything else. The mandates? That is laughable.

Usually people leave because the community has failed them in some form or fashion.

Look at Maslow's heirarchy of needs, "rules, mandates or even structure" are nowhere to be found.