Last month, a synodical representative met with the members of our church to discuss the difficult situation in which we find ourselves [money trouble]. Pastor X advised that we need to serve more cookies and donuts, have more potlucks, invite people to dinner in our homes, and call people by their first name repeatedly. That will show friendliness and people will flock to our church. More people would mean more offerings. Our money problems will be solved. When attendance at Bible class was suggested as a possible beginning to dealing with our problems, that solution was not embraced.
To be fair to Pastor X, follow-up conversations indicated that he didn't fully realize that that was pretty much all he said during the meeting, and that he actually does think there's more to be said. (You know how sometimes you think things but they don't actually make it all the way out your mouth?) Also, in the intervening weeks, he's come to realize that the situation is a little more complex than he suspected on the night he first met with the congregation.
One of the guys at church has taken to heart the advice about friendliness. So he has planned a Friendship Sunday. Coffee and donuts will pre-empt the second half of Sunday School that day. Today I read in Luther (page 384 of Day By Day We Magnify Thee) this quote:
The Word and doctrine will create Christian unity or fellowship. Where they reign all else will follow. Where they are not no concord will ever abide. Therefore do not talk to me about love and friendship, if that means breaking with the Word, or the faith -- for the Gospel does not say love brings eternal life, God's grace, and all heavenly treasures, but the Word.
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You might also find the quotes from Von Schenk I recently posted of some interest on this topic.
ReplyDeleteCoffee and donuts are good... but have you considered steak and wine? Or maybe a Jazz band and some booze! Man, hire me as a consultant- I'll get people driving a hundred miles away to come to church!
ReplyDeleteWe may have to change services to Friday night though.
;)
Somehow Jeff must've missed the part about church being a wee bit short o' money. Steak and wine and jazz band indeed! (Maybe we could play the CD of the Western Civ Blues Band with the coffee and donuts? Bring Pr Wiest's harmonica-ized blessing upon the donuts?)
ReplyDeleteOkay, Pr Weedon, I'd been reading the von Schenk posts, but I wasn't real clear on why you made the comment here. But then I went and looked at your blog. When you say "the quotes from von Schenk I recently posted," you mean really recently. Like within the last hour. And wow -oh-WOW, yes! That's almost exactly the same point Luther was making! Wow!
I think that the hardest thing for us to realize is that whole communities go through times where the Word is not well received which effects the budget as well as attendance.
ReplyDeleteThis has nothing to do with the faithfulness of the Pastor or those in the congregation, rather this has everything to do with the sin of man.
We see these things go on all the time. The culture fluctuates, man turns away from God to protect his sins. Israel was chastised again and again for those times where she turn her head away. Yet God's Word never died due to these times of drought.
So in effect, no gimmicks will bring in the people or the money. It is God's Word being faithful preached and taught in time of plenty and in times of drought that is needed.
These times of drought are humbling. They show us where our faith really is ... is it in the numbers of those who attend and their money? Or is it in God who will always provide day and night, during times of plenty and times of few, during times of peace and times of persecution etc.
All we can do is to teach the congregation that this is a time to put your trust in God the most and wait to see what blessings will come out of it. Times like these are what a dear friend of mine call, "Class time". "Class is in session" she says, and it is time that we turn our heads towards Christ and give Him our trust knowing that He will provide for this congregation and this community.
For it is when the church begins to show signs of suffering, do we realize how much pain and suffering our community really is in. They are protecting their sins, they are hiding their faces from God, they are acting like Adam and Eve after eating the forbidden fruit ... hiding themselves for they were naked.
So stay firm, be strong and bold in the Word and Sacrament. Tell the community that you are there for them to proclaim the Gospel message of love and forgiveness, for the law is what is burdening them and keeping them from showing themselves.
Find ways to tell the community that during rain or storm, Christ is there to give them peace.