An outsider’s perspective

This last Sunday, my family and I visited a church in our area. The school year at CCA was over so we had no chapel to attend on Sundays any longer and we eanted to go to a church in the area before we moved back home.

We had heard a little bit about this church and had seen it several times. It seemed to be the “hip” for the area.

As we arrived we got a good look at the church. It was a large taupe ‘metal buliding’ with a rock-like ‘Wayne’s coating’ around the perimeter. Large metal ;illars surrounded the building which held up air conditioning units. A large sign with the church’s name written in a trendy cursive font adorned the facade. This church looked urban, industrial, and cool.

Upon entering we realized that this ‘metal’ church building was finished-off perfectly inside and resembled a newly opened Starbuck’s. Natural colored tile, industrial-yet-savy taupe carpet, mood-enhanced amber lighting, natural wood stone, and metal accents…..this place was nice!

As we entered two very old people shook our hands and said hello, but it seemed very robotic and less genuine than a typical Walmart greeting.

Once we found the children’s area, we approached the check-in counter and signed in our four-year old son with a crabby older/middle-aged lady- she reminded me of the monster behind the desk in Monster’s Inc. She robotically checked our son in, and we were allowed to go back to drop off our son, but the young women- who apparently would be his teacher- did not say a word to us and possibly not even to him.

After walking through the plethora of kids, we headed into the sanctuary where the music had already began. As we made out way through the building and into the sanctuary; no one said hello or even looked our way. THere was however an usher at the door handing out bulletins, but there was no welcome or greeting.

Unbeknownst to the ushers in the sanctuary that we had to walk around; we awkwardly looked for a seat- finally finding one in the back.

We stood along with all of the other zombies. There was a guy leading worship, but hardly anyone was singing along. It might have had something to do with the extreme quiet and muffledness of their music. The musicians were somewhat talanted, they had nice instruments, and a decent sound system, but it was clear that a few complaining old people ran the show here and insisted that the music be kept at the lowest audible level. Everything was so quiet coming from the stage that it was strange to sing along because everyone around you would have been able to hear you. Did I mention there were electric drums- ELECTRIC DRUMS??!

After a few songs and a long awkward silence, we were asked to ‘shake hands with your neighbor- because we’re all a big family’. That is horribly awkward when you’re the new person and none of the regulars say a word to you. After the meet and greet the pastor came up in an apron (because it was Ice Cream Sunday???) and gave some REALLY long and boring announcements that did not need to be given. I felt, through all of this that I was in a private family meeting, but I wasn’t a part of the family.

Then came the incredibly long introduction of the speaker- a middle aged man who they celebrated as being young- who used to attend their church and was now a pastor at a church in CA. He came up and gave a good Gospel centered message, but it was so dry with no hint of personality.

And after, the message- more really quiet music. There did happen to be an energetic groups of young adults up in the front left-hand side of the sanctuary really singing their hearts out in worship with their hands raised to the sky, but everyone else stood like zombies.

One more announcement by another pastor in an apron, then dismissal. We wondered around, picked up our son, grabbed some fliers, and hung around the fancy cafe’. About 30 minutes ater the service ended we left- and besides some CCA staffers who came with us, do you know whi talked to us? No one…

Now I know that this all sounds very critical. But to be honest there were a lot of things I liked about this church: they preached Jesus, they seemed very sincere about their mission, and the Spirit of God was felt in their midst. The church just seemd like they were trying SO hard astetically to be cool, but inwardly they were seemed very traditional and boring- nothing seemed new or exciting and the people came across as being SO dead.

My reason for writing this is me: SO I am a pastor now, what can I do to encourage people to be hospitable, authentic, outgoing, and alive? How can I encourage a culture of excitement and innovation where everything seems not only cool, but fresh, life changing, and real? What can I do to make visitors feel welcome, comfortable, and satisfied when they leave? What will make people want to come back when there are so many other churches to chose from.

One thing I didn’t mention ealier, was that on the way to the church I was terrified and nervouse to visit a new church. And I am a Christian,, think about how someone with no affiliation to Christ would feel? So what can I do to take the edge off someone visiting church for the first time???

Because I ultimately am a loser with lame ideas and I need God to breathe fire inside of me to plan and prepare for His church and His people as He sees fit- then church will not be lifeless and awkward, it will be a something to look foward to, something life-transforming.