Christianity Today's Out of Ur blog recently posted part of an interview they did with Phil Vischer, the guy responsible for Larry and Bob, those CGI vegetables that became an empire. Phil talks about the way that our bigger-is-better American thinking has shaped the way do ministry in this country - and what being a poster boy for this "false gospel of impact" did to his soul.
Of course, his book got published because he's got a name and a platform. People in the evangelical world know about Veggie Tales, and may know something about the rise and fall of Phil's Big Idea company. But it isn't the autobiography of a business flameout that makes his words a prophetic warning for our evangelical subculture. It is in his insider's view of the spiritual sterilization that occurs when our cultural values are bred with the gospel.
Ironically, the man who brought us talking vegetables was brought to repentance by the Bible's discussion of fruit. He said, "...one day I was reading my Bible and I came across the verse that lists the fruit of the Spirit. It occurred to me that none of those things were present in my life. It didn’t say the fruit of the Spirit is impact, large numbers, or selling lots of videos. I realized something was not right."
* * * * * * * * *
Of course, his book got published because he's got a name and a platform. People in the evangelical world know about Veggie Tales, and may know something about the rise and fall of Phil's Big Idea company. But it isn't the autobiography of a business flameout that makes his words a prophetic warning for our evangelical subculture. It is in his insider's view of the spiritual sterilization that occurs when our cultural values are bred with the gospel.
Ironically, the man who brought us talking vegetables was brought to repentance by the Bible's discussion of fruit. He said, "...one day I was reading my Bible and I came across the verse that lists the fruit of the Spirit. It occurred to me that none of those things were present in my life. It didn’t say the fruit of the Spirit is impact, large numbers, or selling lots of videos. I realized something was not right."
* * * * * * * * *
I have been thinking recently about what a radically different experience it is entering a church through the front doors (as an unknown visitor) than it is coming in through the back door (an invited member of the staff).
You get to participate in community if you come in through the back door. You get a form to fill out and a "getting to know you" class if you come in through the front door.
4 comments:
If you come in the "back door" of staff, you actually go through hours of intense interviewing, background checks, etc. There are also different expectations. As a "front door" person, go ahead and take your time getting to know your way around and then jump into serving and community. As a "back door" person, the expectations for gift use and leadership increase pretty dramatically. There is a payoff and cost either way, isn't there?
That being said, what are your thoughts about bridging the gap between the two experiences?
Even still, the increased expectations, the hours of intense interviewing and the background checks don't seem as bad when you've got community.
As an unknown visitor, in a lot of churches, you sit by yourself or you walk out the door without being greeted by anyone. You attend for weeks without someone recognizing that you're even there.
As an invited member there is usually some recognition to who you are, some credibility given to you, an amount of uncertainty reduced. As an unknown visitor, the need for community, fellowship, and a place to belong, sadly and unfortunately aren't met in the church.
Ironically, there are even those times when an invited member of the staff is still treated in this sense as an unknown visitor. Working two years with the same church and in the same ministry and people still don't know who you are, even though you're there every Sunday, go to every youth event, teach Sunday School, even sit with their kids during the service. And still, they have no idea who you are and you've become the unknown member of the staff.
Noone should be an unknown after they've walked through the doors of the church.
Edit**
In the third paragraph, last sentence, I meant to write "sadly and unfortunately are too frequently not met in the church."
Great discussion!!!! You guys rock!
See today's (3/10) post for more on this.
Post a Comment