January 23, 2010 Comments

‘When You Want Church to be Church We’ll Still be Here – (offering) Traditional Services’ – What is ‘traditional’ anyhow?

By joshrhone in General

I was driving to the hospital to visit someone the other day when I came across a church sporting a sign that read, ‘When you want church to be church, we’ll still be here – traditional services.’

It was a sign that was so unbelievable that I had to actually circle back for a second look (and, of course, a picture). as I was gazing upon this sign and the message that it bore, I found myself asking two questions: 1) does such a sign really encourage people to give this church a try? and, 2) what constitutes a ‘traditional service’ anyhow?

The answer to the first question would be well-nigh impossible to answer without talking to the pastor or someone who attends this church, but my sneaking suspicion is that it is not a messag that encourages passersby to say, ‘let’s give this church a try’.

The far more interesting question for me is what is meant by the term ‘traditional’. Are we talking about 80’s traditional with sappy choruses and readings from the NIV? Are we talking 60’s and 70’s traditional with Gaither songs and Bible readings from the KJV? Will the services make use of the Book of Common Prayer? Will the pastor wear clerical robes? Are services going to be conducted in Latin? Or are we going with early church ‘traditional’ which largely resembled synagogue worship?

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January 22, 2010 Comments

KABOOM: “social proof,” church growth, and you (part 1)

By joshrhone in General, Leadership

Why do some churches experience exponential growth, while some remained  stagnant?

Why are the voices of the leaders of large or growing churches seemingly valued more than those of small churches that can’t seem to grow no matter what they try?

Undoubtedly, there are a number of answers to questions such as these.  For example, one cannot discount the importance of a fresh wind of anointing by the Holy Spirit.  Let’s face it, if God shows up in a noticeable way each week in services and if lives are being changed- people want to go to churches such as these and other leaders want to hear about how the Holy Spirit might visit with their churches in this fashion.  This, in part, explains why some churches grow and why the voices of the leaders of growing churches are the ones that we most often hear.

Another reason for why some churches grow and others do not is location.  If a church is located in an area in which the majority of residents are “churched” and if there are no new residents moving into the area, for one church to grow it would require a mass exodus from the other churches in town.  Having grown up in a small town and having pastored in such environments, I’ve learned that while there are instances of churches that grow by welcome the disenfranchised members of other churches this is not a common occurrence in many small towns due to the fact that people are fiercely loyal to the church in which they have been raised since they were young.

One of the greatest factors for why many churches, especially those in small towns, do not grow is what social theorist refer to as “social proof.”  As James Surowieki reminds us,

“Social proof”… is the tendency to assume that if lots of people are doing something or believe something, there must be a good reason why. [1]

What constitutes “lots of people”?  I’m not really sure.  I think that cultural context and the subject that we are talking about make “lots of people” a relative term.  For example, many people are eagerly anticipating the first episode of the final season of LOST.  For ABC and the writers and creators of LOST “lots of people” does not mean a couple hundred of viewers.  Lots of people equates to lots of viewers when millions of people have tuned in to validate this show as must-see-TV.

If we applied that logic the local benevolent drive for food and clothes around Christmas and we were to say that the drive has not been successful until millions of people have pitched in to help- we would probably never achieve our goal.  Instead, “lots of people” in such an instance might be a few thousand people stopping by to make donations in a metropolitan area or a few hundred in a small community.

“Lots of people” to some degree is a relative term.  Yet, whether one lives in a city, a town, or a rural community the power of “social proof” still holds sway.  Why will a church that averages twelve eventually end up closing its doors- because as people drive past on a Sunday morning, only to see a couple of cars in the parking lot, they assume that there is a good reason why there are only a few cars in said parking lot.  So they continue on their way, driving five miles down the road to attend the church that has at least twice the number of cars in its parking lot as the one that they just passed.

Surowieki goes on to suggest that as,

…the crowd becomes more influential as it becomes bigger: every additional person is proof that something important is happening. [2]

We might say that as the crowd becomes bigger both excitement and momentum grow.  This helps to explain why movements experience what Malcolm Gladwell refers to as “tipping points.”  As the crowd grows, excitement and momentum often grow in proportional fashion, which leads to increased credibility and even a desire by others to be a part of whatever might be happening.

How large does the crowd have to be for this to happen?

Can a crowd exert the same amount of influence even if they remain smaller?

Is a large crowd truly indicative of the importance of what is happening?

How does cultural context change the dynamics of crowd size as it relates to such things?

These are some questions that I have which we will hopefully delve into further in later posts.


[1] Surowieki, James, The Wisdom of Crowds (New York: Anchor Books, 2005), p. 43.

[2] Ibid.

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January 15, 2010 Comments

Haiti: How You Can Help

By joshrhone in General, Life/Society/Culture, Mt. Union Wesleyan Church

I know that the emails have been coming frequently and often over the last few days and I know that the ways in which you have been encouraged to help are many.  This can lead a person to feel overwhelmed and possibly even paralyzed, because they don’t know how to respond.

With that in mind, I’d like to just offer a few quick suggestions as well as an invitation.

First, as you this notice by The Wesleyan Church states, all churches have been asked to hold a day of prayer and fasting.  I’d like to ask you to join with me and the members of the Mt. Union Wesleyan Church in fasting and praying for the country of Haiti, its people, and those who are providing aid and assistance on Monday, January 18th.  The concept is simple- if you do not have any medical conditions that would keep you from fasting, take Monday off from eating and instead spend the time that you would otherwise spend eating in prayer.  If you cannot skip every meal, skip one or two.

Second, on Monday evening, January 18th, I would like to invite you, your friends, and your family for a prayer vigil which will be held here at the Mt. Union Wesleyan Church.  The vigil will start at 6pm and will include a time of singing followed by a focused time of prayer for the people of Haiti, for the missionaries and relief workers who are administering assistance, and for the government as they try to determine what to do in the days that are to come.

Third, on Sunday morning and at the prayer service we will be taking up a special offering.  The offering will go in its entirety to the relief work in Haiti.  As the board of general superintendents has requested, we are encouraging each person to prayerfully consider giving what would amount to one day’s wages in addition to one’s regular tithes and offerings.  God has graciously blessed us, may we now be a blessing to those who are truly in need of blessing and encouragement!

Fourth, you and your family can put together a “health kit” which we will collect and will subsequently pass along to UMCOR for distribution in Haiti.  Each kit is to consist of:

1 hand towel (15” x 25” up to 17” x 27”)

1 wash cloth
1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized)
1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers)
1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz and up)
1 toothbrush (single brush only in original wrapper; no child-sized brushes)
1 large tube of toothpaste (4.5 or larger, expiration date must be 6 months or longer in advance of the date of shipment)
6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandagesThese items or a completed kit can be brought to church in the days and weeks ahead.

Posted via web from joshrhone’s posterous

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January 13, 2010 Comments

“Christ crucified” as a hermeneutical framework for interpreting the life and teachings of Jesus

By joshrhone in General, Theology

Although the life, teachings, and interactions of Jesus serve as the substance for the majority of the historical narrative which have become known as the synoptic gospels by-and-large they have neglected by the church.  Taking the Apostle Paul’s assertion in 1 Corinthians 1.23 as their own, the Christian faith, at least in recent years, has become fixated upon the image of “Christ crucified.”  Admittedly, the salvific work of Christ is of utmost importance and it should rightly command a great deal of our time and discussion.

However, is the cross of Christ truly the best hermeneutical framework for interpreting and understanding the life and teachings of Jesus.  For example, if Jesus is merely concerned with our eternal destinies (which He resolves at the cross for those who believe) then why does he bother to heal the broken and lame?  Why does he turn water into wine?  Why does he tell parables about parties, wayward sons, mustard seeds, leaven, etc.?

Does the cross of Christ, in other words, provide us with a hermeneutical lens which takes into account the full revelation of Jesus Christ?  Or does it as a hermeneutical lens render all that he does before the age of thirty-three as non-consequential?

In your opinion, taking into account your study of Scripture, is “Christ crucified” the best lens for understanding and interpreting the life of Jesus?  Or, is there a better hermeneutical lens?  If there is- what is it?

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January 11, 2010 Comments

Trolls and Truth: 14 Realities About Today’s Church that We Don’t Want to See

By joshrhone in Book Reviews

“The church of Jesus Christ exists to be a sign of the kingdom of God in the culture in which it exists.  It is the light and hope in a reprobate world that suggest there is an alternative worldview where giving, losing, serving, and turning our cheeks are higher values than hoarding, gaining, controlling, and avenging.  The body of christ is the visible expression of a value system that sets love and obedience above rights and freedom.” (p. 160)

Apathetic.

Hypocritical.

Judgmental.

Arrogant.

Aloof.

Out-of-touch.

These are just some of the adjectives that some have used to describe the church in the West, and particularly the church in North America.  The tragic thing is that many of the comments, which employ these and other adjectives, are made by those who are on the fringe.  They have either given up on the church and have been part of an exodus from the church.  Or they have never been a part of the church, yet critique it as if they have firsthand knowledge.

Admittedly, the church is not all that God has intended it to be.  In many instances the adjectives and criticisms are justified and true.  What is disconcerting, however, is the voices that decry the problems of the church neither offer a new way forward nor do they endeavor to help be part of a positive change as a part of the church.  Jimmy Dorrell and the folks at The Church Under the Bridge, however, are an exception.  Acknowledging the imperfections of the church has been part of a long process in which through soul-searching and the guidance of the Holy Spirit they have forged a new kind of church.  A church that makes sense to and speaks the truth of God into the lives of a wide smathering of society.  Drugs addicts and prostitutes worship next to business executives and spoiled college students.  Together they do life together.  They learn from one another.  And, not surprisingly, they and the church that embraces these folks are better for it.

Trolls and Truth is a phenomenal book from a pastor who has learned firsthand the inadequacy of the church as it currently is and has fought hard and championed the church as it ought to be.  The result is a heart-felt, beautiful, and sometimes uproariously funny set of “14 realities that today’s church doesn’t want to see.”  Dorrell’s wit and humor is able to disarm the reader to the extent that the reader will be nodding in agreement with many of the observations that he has made.  The stories help the reader to know that while this book critiques the church and proposes a new way forward that it is not a purely academic or untried series of suggestions- instead, these stories are recorded by a pastor who has experienced the pain and joy that are characteristic of the way forward.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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