TK Chapter 10::Another Angle

"When we say "attractional approach," we're talking about the attempt to draw to church, people with whom we have no relationship.  Through program, presentation or preaching, we hope that people will "come to us."  The challenge of this approach has nothing to do with our main Sunday service.  We don't think it's wrong to have a big church service or do corporate worship and teaching well.  What we critique is the pathway that we create for people's entrance into church and the subsequent pathway for discipleship."  (p93-94)

I often come off as critical of the local church - for some of you that is an understatement.  For many people, I come off as hating Sunday mornings, but that is not the case.  Halter actually paints my picture rather well in the statement above.  I really like a good corporate gathering, but what I have a problem with is the reduction of the Sunday experience to our primary means of introducing people to Christ, the life of a Christ-follower and the community of Christ-followers.  

"Although the attractional approach will continue to be influential with people who have some context for church, we must accept that the growing post-everything culture must be wooed through a more incarnational process." (p95)

What if we were to plant a non-religious, "non-Christian" into your faith community, would he/she feel welcomed?  Would they feel like they belong?  Would they understand our language?  Would they be able to relax?  Would their behavior offend you?  If you conclude that a person of this nature would be uncomfortable in your faith community, you are probably not living an incarnational life, but relying on the attractional model to reach the people around you.  When we settle into the attractional model, we think "I need to invite [name] to church."  When we are living incarnationally, our first question might be "I need to play golf with [name]."  "I need to invite [name] over Friday night."  Maybe, "Would [name] want to come over for beer & brats and the football game?"

I am seeking to live more often in the incarnational mindset.  I want to find Zaccheus in the tree, Matthew in the tax booth, the woman at the well, the over-cusser at the office, the poker-playing-party animal across the street and the promiscuous husband on the golf-course.  I want a faith community where they would be welcome and free to "test drive" the life of a Christ-follower.  Can I find some partners in this journey?  If you are further down the road than me, can I follow?  If you are not as far down the road, you are welcome to follow.