I have noticed a trend in churches and Church growth material recently. There seems to be a growing theory or hypothesis that unchurched people are attracted to churches who reach out in the community, feed the poor, care for others, get involved in issues of justice, etc. I don’t disagree with this hypothesis at all and, in fact, think it is quite accurate. However, it is the result of this assessment that bothers me.
There have been a rash of churches who are getting involved in the community, helping the poor, and engaging the needs of our culture because of the belief that it will grow their church. I am not arguing that churches shouldn’t be involved in these virtuous activities but want to ask the question: “Does our motivation matter?” In other words, is it right to get involved in the community and engage the needs of others out of the motivation to the grow the church?
I am not against feeding the poor, being involved in areas of injustice or meeting the needs of the community we are called to serve (I fully support them and argue we don’t do enough), but shouldn’t we do them simply because they are good and because we are called to do them? I would argue that even if they didn’t produce an evangelistic response or if the church didn’t grow, we are still called to participate in them. This is part of what the Church is called to be and what the Church is called to do. What would happen if your church would decrease in size if it cared for the poor or issues of justice? Would it still do it with the same passion and fervency?
Does our motivation matter? I think so. If we become the Church we are called to be, people will be attracted to it, but we need to be the Church simply because we are called to be the Church that radically loves people and shows it through everything it does, regardless of the results.
I think that anytime we do something with the hope, dream or goal of bringing more people into the church, we’ve missed the boat.
It reminds me of how I heard someone say recently that “we’re in the business of getting people to heaven”. Ummm..I am?
I think you’re bang on. Our motivation does matter. And we should be doing a great deal better in the church so that we’re motivated by love for Jesus and love for others and not motivated by more numbers.
It’s as if some people are saying “it doesn’t matter how you win, just win”. I’m sorry, but if you win by cheating, you never actually won.
Hmm…maybe that was a bad analogy.
I agree that motivation is a major factor for what the church does or doesn’t do. But, does the motivation really matter at all as long as it’s getting done?
Paul mentions in Phillipians that motivation isn’t really important (in regards to preaching Christ). If my church wants to take care of the poor and homeless because it might attract more people to the church – the motivation sucks – but what does it matter, Jesus and his teaching are still being fulfilled.
As an aside – I’m finding that churches are finding it very “sexy” to do actions such as feeding the poor and service projects. My beef is that, if someway the gospel message isn’t shared within the church building or in a one-on-one conversation … or anywhere at all, these churches will become like the Salvation Army; great at service but no eternal significance. *not to downgrade what the army does b/c I support them wholeheartedly … but from experience they are becoming a government agency rather than an evangelistic ministry.
There’s a really long, interesting conversation somewhere amongst this topic.
Brad,
Great questions. I still think motivation matters a great deal in that the ends can’t justify the ends. I think God cares why we worship him, why we give, why we do the things we do, and that our heart’s desire and intent is at least as important as what we do.
I also agree that it is “sexy” or even “trendy” to care for the poor these days. It is good in that it is getting done but in this I still think the “why” matters.
I think part of our job as pastors is to help people not only wrestle with the what (we have done a good job with that one) but also to wrestle with the why? (this question is more difficult and risky).