Survey Says: If I Could Change One Thing About My Church?

Jun

Survey Says: If I Could Change One Thing About My Church?

Posted on June 3rd, 2011 in Church Life, Faith by Fred McKinnon

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We’re in this series called “Survey Says” where we’re asking and answering some interesting questions. The last post was about the top blogs you read. (jump over and answer it if you haven’t already!)

Today’s question is a lot riskier. Some of you may need to answer anonymously. Just put “nobody@nobody.com” as your email address if you feel that’s necessary.

Whether you are on staff or not … if you could change ONE THING about the way your church operates (be it in service, leadership, doctrine, philosophy of ministry, etc) … what would it be?

This isn’t meant to be a church-bashing party … but all of us have probably thought to ourselves “if I were the one who made the final decision, I would have us do this ____________________”.

And thinking those thoughts is not necessarily bad, friends – especially if they are done with respect. Sometimes, that’s where a vision is born.

So … go for it. And like I said earlier, if you feel the need to comment anonymously, that’s quite OK.

Anonymous

Easy: That we’d have a bigger budget. I’m on staff, so my perspective is a bit different than the rest of the world. But there are so many neat things we (staff & leadership & congregation) want to do but just flat out can’t afford it. cattle on a thousand hills and all that yeah yeah…. We need more cows!

http://www.fredmckinnon.com fmckinnon

I’m usually very discouraged when I see church budget needs, compared to the % of church members who tithe. If even 40-50% of church members truly tithed to the local church, the church wouldn’t have so many budget issues. If a very high % of church members tithed, I think the church would do some amazing things – I’m talking free medical clinics, free food shelters, etc … really make an impact.

Nobody

Regarding tithes, from Deuteronomy 14:22-29New International Version (NIV)

22 Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields
produce each year. 23 Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of
your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a
dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God
always. 24 But
if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the LORD your
God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the LORD will choose
to put his Name is so far away), 25 then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go
to the place the LORD your God will choose. 26 Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other
fermented drink, or anything
you wish. Then you
and your household shall eat there in the presence of the LORD your God and
rejoice. 27 And do not neglect the Levites living in your
towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own. 28 At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, 29
so that the Levites (who
have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the
fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be
satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your
hands.

John Wetzler

I think a focus on the alter call is the offering that is being made, ultimately. I am most certainly not questioning my leader who I am submitted to with joy and honor. My personal vision for an ideal meeting where the Word is shared through a messenger for God is primarily for the benefit of the Church and its in the world where souls are won through the Church and I get that. But I look at the alter call as a sort of adoption ceremony performed by people who have authority as priests who understand the Word of God and the necessity that someone needs to make their profession of faith publicly, before witnesses. I see the public spectacle of our confession that we are a reprobate sinner the first step in our redemption and the more people who are in fact believers who are witnesses to this Court proceeding which is on the record before not only men and women, but the whole host of heaven is the best way to get the body of Christ praying for and serving a new infant in the community who is in need of spiritual fathers and mothers in the Church. For real believers who witness a public confession before the local congregation, it serves as a way to first of all mark the new believers order of adoption into the family and it is a stone of remembrance but also it breaks down any enmity which the church may have had with that formerly unrepentant sinner who now pleads for mercy and is expecting to get it due to his trust in Christ which for a long time will be revealed through the spiritual milk of the Church until they are able to trust Christ despite the weaknesses of the yet still fallible Church. I think the emphasis on the public alter call has become de-emphasized due to the negative accounts of those who no doubt felt the fear of conviction during a sermon and may have been afraid to make this confession for one reason or another publicly. Love and patience is needed from the evangelist as well as the body in attendance when the Holy Spirit is working on someone and this may make us late for lunch at our favorite restaurant, but I think as a body we ought not to let people who felt almost persuaded who chose not to get the greatest benefit of the practical benefits of the Church receiving them through their testimony with the most number of believers as possible ought to be emphasized not to make people feel uncomfortable or to manipulate them by groupthink, but to be a tender mercy of God in establishing a foundation for a family attitude towards this new believer from that moment forward.

http://www.fredmckinnon.com fmckinnon

John
First …thanks for jumping in! Second … you will have to excuse me … but I am a bit unclear from your post … are you FOR or AGAINST altar calls?

Connected by DROID on Verizon Wireless

—–Original message—–

http://www.russhutto.com Russ Hutto

Myself.

http://www.fredmckinnon.com fmckinnon

me too bro!

Tracie

I try to be honest and transparent, but I have taken some time to think upon this before posting. With all respect, I feel loved where I go to church. So that keeps me coming back. AND I love the worship of course I think if I was able to change one thing it would be singles having just as much importance as married or those with families. I feel like being a single for a long time I have come to realize that I have more set before me than just finding a man and getting married. I want that very much, but that is not my only call in my life. And I know the church is family based, but since you asked I think that is my answer

http://www.fredmckinnon.com fmckinnon

Tracie,

I think I can say, from one “on the inside” that this need is often discussed, and they are trying to figure out the best way to incorporate the singles, and continue to minister to them.

Scott Harrison

We’re leading and moving this way, but as far as our adult worship needs, is to start thinking toward the purpose of “the day”. In other words, what exactly is this day bringing us to do, think, change or respond to. It’s a part of us beginning to think like a church that is moving forward, rather than staying where we are (in the 1990′s, a hodge-podge service of many things that have no focus and direction towards the purpose of the day). I’m a worship pastor who is passionate about making each service serve the message of the day. We’ve got to get better at it.

http://www.fredmckinnon.com fmckinnon

Scott,
Amen – sounds like a great plan … would love to stay in the loop on how that looks and what you do to make it happen w/ your team.

http://twitter.com/scottwharrison Scott Harrison

I definitely will. Perhaps I’ll see you in October at The Refuge.

http://www.fredmckinnon.com fmckinnon

Scott. Thanks … That would be awesome to see you if y’all can make it. Hope all is well.

Sent from my iPad

Chris Fluitt

I’d like to see the passion of the church realized on Monday thru Saturday and not just Sunday. If we lived our Sunday worship passion and energy for God throughout the entire week our city would BLOW UP for Jesus.

also… a golden microphone for the worship leader.

FredMcKinnon.Com

Survey Says: If I Could Change One Thing About My Church?

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