Those Were The Days

A lifetime ago, there was a show called “All in the Family,” and each episode began with two people at a piano singing a song that longed for a bygone era. Sometimes, the church sounds a bit like this. We long for a bygone era when clergy were held in high esteem, attending church was assumed, and the church had influence. Those were the days!

• One of the church’s most profound challenges is that, apart from a massive culture shift, the good old days are gone. In his book Religion for Realists, Samuel Perry reminds us that current social structures make us more secular (although not necessarily less spiritual, cf. Tara Burton’s Strange Rites). As we become more secular, we feel less desire and need for the church.

In Chapter 4 of Religion for Realists, Perry explains why many people today find the secular way more appealing than the Christian story. Apart from religion, we now have secular solutions for the practical problems we face in life. We have pundits and news personalities to speak into the issues of the day. We have a robust government safety net that means we do not have to rely on the church’s generosity. And all of this comes without the constraints or requirements of the church.

• How do we step into this challenging reality? Below are some ideas that highlight the beauty of how God designed the church to uniquely function:

Four Ideas That Highlight the church in today’s society

1. Create a robust community

• No matter what safety net the state creates, it does not come with friendships and relationships. According to research, the number one thing people are looking for in a church is warm and friendly encounters, so make it a high priority to build that into the life of your congregation.

2. Create a caring community

• Far too often, life is tough, and we need someone to walk with us in the hard times. Create a community known for walking with people through difficulties.

3. Create a shalom-filled community

• People long to be part of something bigger than themselves. Create a community working toward God’s shalom, and call people to the joy and risk of that work.

4. Create a story-telling community

• We love stories and telling stories. Create a community where the stories of the kingdom are shared and celebrated. Create a community where, as my pastor says, “your name is known, your story is heard, and your questions are honored.”

We live in a new time that calls for a new imagination to draw people to the gospel and community. How is your church facing and working on this new reality? What ideas can you share with us?