Bad News, Good News

I came across an AP article recently about the dramatic effect the pandemic has been having on ministries across the country. Despite many members continuing to give, even without in person services, and despite the help of the federally funded PPP program, the pandemic has taken what was already a trend in declining attendance and reduced giving and accelerated it, leading many churches to think about or carry out closing their doors. 

Even churches without property have found themselves struggling, as giving has declined, and already tight budgets have gotten tighter month to month, forcing some pastors to find their income outside the church even as they continue to minister. Lifeway Research reports that even though the shift to online giving has made it easier for some members to give, and many did indeed give more in 2020, that was offset by declining attendance, and overall 27% of churches have had to cut their budgets in response to reduced giving. 

Where will the church be once the world begins to emerge from the pandemic? Certainly many will bounce back, and things will feel similar to how they were in 2019. Yet many Christians are exploring new ways of being the church, finding themselves looking for something different now that they’ve been attending virtually if at all. And I believe that rather than seeing this as a crisis, those who love the church have the chance to use this vast unsettling to begin positioning the church into a more flexible and adaptable posture. Instead of trying to grab the church and anchor it back down into its old traditions simply because we can only imagine the church the way its been for the past several hundred years, this moment is our chance to launch something, perhaps many things, new. 

And we’re going to need something new. I mentioned earlier that the article stated that the pandemic accelerated trends that were already happening. Before the pandemic, the upcoming generations showed no sign that the church in its pre-pandemic form had anything for them. For those who love the church, the current unsettling provides a critical opportunity to create new paths forward, and new models that allow the gospel to reach the next generations of disciples. 

Does Power Corrupt Or Do The Corrupt Seek Power?

Maybe it’s neither?

In Christianity Today, Russell Moore recently reviewed the book Corruptible:  Who Gets Power and How It Changes Us by Brian Klaas and I was struck by the fact that neither Klaas nor Moore explore the question of what role the structure of church itself plays in attracting toxic leadership personalities. 

Don’t get me wrong, the book sounds fascinating, and I think Moore is on the right track when he highlights Klaas’ argument that the research shows that there is a specific type of personality blend that is drawn to the power, spotlight, and attention that come with being the leader of a large organization. And I especially found intriguing Klaas’ idea that toxic personalities are the only ones really ready to not only accept the benefits of being in positions of power, but also the punishment that so often comes to those who fall from power. Along those lines, one particularly insightful and painful quote from the article that everyone who loves the church should consider:

“I am often asked why there were no white pastors in the South who stood up to slavery or to Jim Crow. While the number is appallingly small, it’s not zero. It’s simply that those who went against slavery or segregation weren’t likely to survive in ministry for very long.”

In other words, the research seems to be implying that it’s the worst kind of leader that tends to survive the crucible. 

But I can’t help but wonder: why stop at which personalities and people tend to gravitate to these types of leadership positions? Why not consider the role that the structures themselves play and whether they’re necessary? 

Why learn desert survival skills and force yourself to live there if you don’t have to? 

Cash 4 Worship

Came across a really interesting article regarding a new “VIP experience” that Hillsong music is offering for its tour. In short, Hillsong is offering an upgraded experience for ticket buyers willing to pay a premium that includes: 

• An “intimate pre-show artist experience” on stage

• A premium, early access, up front seat

• Swag

• Pre-show photo op

• Etc.

 The author of the article Tom Read was not very sympathetic of this idea, and neither am I. The author writes, “How could anyone think that this is a good idea”. I’m honestly not sure. I’m all for people being paid fairly for what they do, and I think putting together a sweet experience is a great goal to aim for, fog machines, huge screens, and state of the art lighting included. But there has to be some kind of line between that and a shameless money grab based on celebrity and access. Those two items have no place in Christian worship much less as items to be peddled to make someone somewhere more money (and take it away from believers and the other places they could have spent it). 

Read offers a great alternative: instead of selling a premium VIP experience, why not just do something for free for local worship leaders? Not everything needs to be monetized, Read writes. 

I’d go a step further: Christian leaders need to question whether an event is ever needed. Greater numbers don’t always equal greater impact, and instead often expend the energy and spirit of volunteers in ways that obscure the true cost of doing such events. The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill podcast describes this extremely vividly when it recounts how the former Mars Hill Church in Seattle held its Easter service in an NFL stadium, a breaking point for many who served there. Sure, huge events look great and make everyone feel like they’re doing something, but I’d argue that they offer little in the way of true life change (supporters point to how many people get baptized, but then how many of those who were baptized truly had their lives changed, not to mention how many just got up and came forward for the 2nd, 3rd, 10th time?).

Oh, and one more thing about selling premium access that really should raise red flags for every follower of Christ: the foundation of our faith is about a God who paid it all to make sure that anyone, anyone, could have access to the Kingdom of Heaven. There are no tiers in God’s Kingdom, there are no VIPs.

Like I said earlier, I love a great show, and getting into a stadium to worship together is a lot of fun. But when organizers start selling premium access, it’s a sure sign we are careening in the wrong direction. Maybe it’s time for a moratorium on big events? If our ministries can’t do what they do without such things, then maybe they’re built on the wrong foundation.