Church Shopping 101: A Guide for Consumer Christians

I stumbled across the following post today.  As is often the case, I was looking for something else and found this.  And, frankly, I wasn't inclined to read it...as I wasn't looking for it.  But it's good.  It gets at the church's loosening of expectations the increase in programs and activities in the hopes of getting people through their doors.  I did read it.  And, I've fallen into these traps as well...and if I've not fallen into them, I've been jealous of the churches who have been able to do them.  This, once again, has made me ponder the level of commitment we ask of our members and friends.  Really, it's made me ponder the level of commitment I ask of myself.  And, as pastor, if I'm only asking "Christianity Lite" from myself, how can I expect any more from parishioners? 

The post is from "Wrecked.org:  Social Action for Spiritual Misfits" and it was written by Tim Chermak of Calvin College in February of 2010.   I think I'm going to have to go back to that site.   I find it challenging.  They'll be more posts from that site later.  Good stuff.

CHURCH SHOPPING 101:  A GUIDE FOR CONSUMER CHRISITIANS
For the ecclesiastically challenged out there, this guide's for you. If you're fed up with the color of the carpet, boring sermons, generic donuts, or the terrible lead guitar player at your current church, maybe it's time to consider looking for another house of worship.

Today's church market is more competitive than ever, and this translates into low levels of commitment for you, the consumer.

Smithian free-market economics has created a dream situation for church shoppers -- decreased demand in religious seekers has current churches scrambling to keep their doors open, which leads to great deals for consumers.

The oversaturation of the religious market that occurred in the last few decades has proven deadly for pastors, and many churches that rode the rising tide of the prosperity gospel movement have found themselves struggling to stay afloat as that tide receded. An overabundance of supply coupled with a massive decrease in demand has created an inevitable perfect storm for church shoppers -- purchasing power is greater now than ever before.

While still far behind our neighbors across the Pond, the American church has seen a steady decline in market share in the last few years. Other Sunday activities, mainly sleep, have cut into weekend time slots traditionally reserved for church. To combat this, churches have diversified their product line into an impressive array of low-commitment appetizers, such as online sermon podcasts and short-term small groups.

Many churches now feature happy hours designed for "seekers," which feature programming designed for especially frugal religious shoppers. These free-trial experiences have translated into frequent return customers --a good sign for pastors who find themselves in a struggling religious marketplace.

Sick of overwhelming commitments and stressful sacrifices? Today's houses of worship offer many experiences and solutions... with no down payments! While our parents were expected to attend church programming at least twice a week to retain their membership status, today's churches require little or no risk on your part. If you don't like what you see, nobody is making you stay.

Tired on Sunday mornings? Try the evening service. Sick of smelly old people and their outdated hymns? Try the young adult Saturday evening service. Weirded out by the candles and tight jeans? Join an "online community," a church experience specifically designed for those of us who prefer cyber-interaction to the real thing.

Whatever your style or preference, today's ekklesia has a solution just for you!
It's easier now than it has ever been to get plugged in at a local church -- in most cases, you don't even need to leave the comfort of your bed, assuming you have a laptop with wireless internet capabilities. Still scared off by unrealistic expectations and spiritual conviction? No worries, today's sermons are diet versions of the traditional two-hour discourse of our parents' age, and rarely (if ever) intimidate us into making lifestyle changes we aren't ready for.
There has never been a better time to invest in a local congregation. What are you waiting for?

Posted via email from The Prodigal Blog