Do you view the Hospital Church as a church or a country club? The question may seem strange – maybe even absurd - but there is an important distinction between the two. A country club is a place where people pay a membership fee in exchange for opportunities such as swimming, golf, tennis, meeting space, etc. Some clubs are exclusive and are often an excellent place to network with likeminded people. Some people treat their church the same way. They view church as a place where they expect to attend a worship service, to socialize with likeminded people, to give their money, and expect certain benefits in exchange. If they need help, the church should help. If they need space for a wedding or shower, the church should provide. These people think the church exists to meet their needs. I’m not saying that the church shouldn’t help its members with their needs, but there is a distinction that must be made in our understanding of church.
In Acts 2, the church was meeting each other’s needs. This is one critical distinction between a church and a country club. In a country club, the people belong to a country club, which is a separate institution. In a church, the people are the church. In Acts 2, it was not a separate entity caring for the needs of the people. It was the people who sold their property and gave it to each other, according to their needs.
Another important distinction between a church and a country club is that tithe and offerings are drastically different than a membership fee. We do not give our tithe and offering, we return our tithe and offering. We recognize that all our money comes from God, and we give it back to Him expecting nothing in return. Tithe also does not directly support the local church, but instead supports the larger organization.
In Andy’s sermons the last few weeks, he has challenged us to become engaged and take ownership in our church. It is the difference between going to church and being the church. He has also challenged us to find a place where we can serve expecting nothing in return. We do this because we recognize that we are the church. We do not serve because we think service is a membership requirement or a tit-for-tat exchange. If we are focused on the short-term reward for our service, we sacrifice the far greater eternal reward (Matthew 6). Our service is not done for ourselves or even for the local church, but rather for Jesus; the One who has given us far more than we can ever possibly repay.
Chad Hess
Very interesting. I think it will take a long time to change the "ownership" of FHC. Right now I would say the biggest challenge is not for the members to take up ownership, but for the leaders to give it to them. Are you all willing to let the members have the ownership with all the rights and privileges? FHC is made up of a lot of really good and capable people, will you trust them? Andy can preach about the members taking ownership till he is blue in the face, but it is totally meaningless until he demonstrates to them that he is willing to let them own the church.
ReplyDeleteRight now I would have to say FHC is a social club more than it is a church. You have the administration and then you have the members. It is a mind set that has taken a number of years to grow, so it will take a while to change. It has grown out of the desire to attract people away from their entertainments. As long as the church feels compelled to entertain those attending will continue to look for that entertainment. I suggest that you select a group of members to form a committee (I know Andy hates committees). Charge them with coming up with a church plan. Do not put people on the committee that are close to the church leaders. Do not put high profile people on the committee. They need to be people that believe and understand the beliefs of the Seventh Day Adventist church. Then follow their plan. The whole church will see that you are letting them take ownership. It won't be easy, good luck.
FHC is not a social or country club. It is a church that is very dear to me and my family. I was not going to church and had lost my interest in it due do bitter experiences in another church, but FHC and Pastor Andy have helped me redirect my life and he does not even know about it. FHC is the church that practices authenticity. Although I maybe a simple person, or maybe talent-handicapped, I feel I can serve my God through FHC. I'm willing to go the second mile.
ReplyDeleteI am also very excited to see so many young people attending our church- a testimony of the how the Holy Spirit works in our church.