Loading ...The Four Emotional Reactions to Church–Church is Pointless
Often churches do not grow because those who lead them are raised with the teachings of the church. These people never went through the common cycle of the emotional reactions to the church. These emotional reactions must be dealt with or the person will become discontent and drift off into unfaithfulness. As a person progresses from a non-Christian to a faithful Christian, there are four emotional reactions that a person will have towards the church. These reactions progress from church is pointless, church is perfect, church is problematic, and church is purposeful. This article will provide the information for leaders within the congregation to spot and deal with these potential faith destroyers.
Church is Pointless
Paul states in Corinthians, “For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18NASB). The outsider looking into the church cannot understand the wisdom of God behind the community of Christ. There seems to be tremendous amount of energy expended on a “figment of man’s imagination.” Often people outside of Christ see church involvement as a social club atmosphere for people trying to create a certain perception in the community or a place for the emotionally weak who cannot handle the difficulties in life without praying or serving some imaginary god. To the outsider of Christ, the church is a waste of time, money, commitment. There are more important activities to engage in then attending and participating in than worshipping and serving the Lord. The non-Christian perceives the church to be a total pointless organization. The prevailing mindset is that one can be involved if he or she wishes, but the non-believer has better stuff to do.
Related posts:
- Four Emotional Reactions to Church-Church is Purposeful
- The Four Emotional Reactions to Church–Church is Perfect
- Four Emotional Reactions to Church-Church is Problematic
- Emotional Cut Off and Churches
- Happy Church or Sad Church
About The Author
I believe we need to know how people react to the church in the beginning of the faith journey so we can help them to progress in a healthy way.
If the church would be what Christ intended it to be — a community of people (not an institution) linked by relationships with each other, worshiping together, serving together, welcoming the stranger as one of their own, caring for each other, reminding each other of the story of hope and faith, etc… — then I believe the outsider (non-Christian) would see the reason for the church much more clearly. But when the outsider encounters pre-judgment, is treated like a means to an end (i.e., he/she is called a “contact” not a “person”), is viewed as inferior, etc… all the while that community called the local tavern accepts them as is… well, I think we understand why some see the church as pointless.
-Rex
I love being a Christian, a disciple of Jesus. I believe there is a very big purpose for the church. I pursued the vocation of full-time ministry because I want to see the lost, the broken-hearted, and the hurting find hope, salvation, and peace in Christ. I pursued the vocation of full-time ministry in the local church because I believe it is in the local church where people will find Christ and I wanted to help the local church be that sort of place.
I love being a Christian, a disciple of Jesus. I love being a minister who gets to help others find God. But sometimes being a minister in the local church sucks. Some of the most arrogant and manipulative people are your fellow Christians who blind-side you with some of the most passive-aggressive and mean treatment. Why?
Praying for what to do next,
Anonymous Preacher
Friend, as for me, I have kind of accepted this behavior as part of ministry. At one time, it seriously hurt me and caused me to question my desire to be a minister. Today, it is just part of the job. And sometimes it is being in a unhealthy church. There are tons of churches that are super healthy and loving, but there are some that have the name but not the love.
For the best published work on what non-Christians really think about church and why it really matters please read “unChristian” by David Kinnamon and George Barna.
Dear Anony, as I was thinking about your post, I was thinking about the church. Everyone who has been in ministry has been mistreated at some point. This might not be totally true, but they have only been in ministry for a year perhaps. Mistreatment is part of the job. But I see this as a opportunity for love, God did not give us a perfect church because we needed to learn love, forgiveness, and patience, so to help us he created the church to help us grow in these virtues.
Anony, You said, “praying for what to do next.” Allow me to help you a bit. begin with the words you use to describe your local ministry. You used the word, “s_ _ ks.” If I had to use that word to describe my ministry I would get out of ministry. Think about what that words means. Think about what that word entails. It is vulgar and wrapped in a homosexual context. It is a word that ministers (or any Christian) should not use. Now, you may think I am being aggressive and hitting you on the blind-side but I am not. Neither is this a “in your face rebuke.” Ministry at its best becomes difficult. I certainly believe the Lord warned us of this. Clean your language up and you might see another side of local church ministry. As to the church being pointless, until one reads and believes the gospel message it will be pointless. When Christ enters ones heart and blossoms salvation into the living soul church will become “The Point” Jesus is the Savior of the body/church. The saved have a point in life, “Live For Jesus In the Body/Church.
I never thought of the word “sucks” as vulgar nor as in a homosexual context. It simply was a strong word to describe the feeling when you discover that some one is angry with you but instead of discussing that problem, they set out to completely smere your character. It was the word used to describe how I feel since I have found out that one person thinks I should not be in this congregation and has just enough clout to possibly influence the congregation toward that goal. It was the word used to describe how I feel when someone totally ignores the time I have spent in preparing and delivering sermons, reading the Bible with non-Christians (that has resulted in one recent baptism), and the time spent building relationships with the members of the church, just to instead find nitpicking stuff to suggest that I am not a good mnister.
I am sorry if the word was offensive to some. That was not my intent. I know that ministry is difficult at times and at times, some will mistreat the minister. I accept that and that is why my faith is not shaken but is even stronger. I was just trying to verbalize the strong feelings I have at the moment for something that was done to me which I did not deserve.
“It is vulgar and wrapped in a homosexual context.”
Where is your proof that the word “sucks” is wrapped in a homosexual context? I checked Websters and there is no mention of “sucks” having anything do to with being homosexual. I have yelled the “Ref Sucks” at hockey games many times and never once was I thinking I was implying that he was homosexual. Sounds like a very hateful made up comment in my opinion.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suck
Maybe we are from different worlds. Maybe when I was young and foolish and used that word to describe an extremely vulgar act that is definitely wrapped within the homosexual life. Maybe what was vulgar is no longer vulgar. Maybe you never used that word to mean what it means to me. Anytime I hear or read that word I think it is slang for a homosexual act. Like the word that many use “freaking”. I think of slang for another word. Look at websters again and think how many use the word and the act as sinful (with the mouth).
If you yell the ref s_ Ks maybe you ought to get on your knees and ask God to forgive you. Or maybe you don’t need to go to sporting games if you can’t act like a Christian. Hateful absolutely not. Made up, not in the world I live in. If you have never used that word or never thought of that like I have then praise God for you. As a teen (before I was saved) we used it daily as vulgar acts.
Anony, it is a word that should not be used by Christians especially preachers. I say again, I was not hitting you from a blind-side nor was I in you face rebuking you. Too often in blogs preachers use this word. I realize that as a teen I was corrupt especially my mouth. I know that I can be wrong here but that is how that word was used in my youth and I have trouble with it today as an everyday word. Just like the word freaking I can’t see that its usage is good.
Brent, I appreciate your opinion but that is all it is… your opinion. It sounds like your opinion is as big as your mouth at a hockey game:-)
those that know me well know I to like too rage the refs and umps especially umps. but I am careful how and what I say. I am a Christian and everyone knows that I am a preacher.
Anony, you need to have thicker skin and thinner tongue. Bring on the rain!
Sonny,
First, I understand where you are coming from and apologize for using the word.
Secondly, you don’t know me or what has taken place, so you are in no position to tell me I need to have thicker skin.
I agree completely. I don’t know you and sorry for prying into your business. No apology needed to me I was just saying that this word should not be used as we use it. As ministers, preachers, paid employees of the church it gets really hard. Been there and done that. Our brethren who are the most wonderful people on the earth can become a nightmare. God bless and may He surround you with a spirit of peace.
Matthew (the blogger) wrote: “There are tons of churches that are super healthy and loving, but there are some that have the name but not the love.”
Having the name without the love is the same as not having the name. If we cannot live up to the name, then we are not worthy to wear it. A church of Christ is only such if it is living as the body of Christ… otherwise it is acting as an imposter.
A simple overview of 1 Corinthians 13 tells the tale… the name means nothing without the love.
As our language and it’s associated slang de-evolves, it makes me wonder if anyone actually knows the root of many of our common (double entendre intended) expressions anymore. It is possible that I have said things that offended others because I don’t know the original meaning of the word/expression.
Back to the topic, where do we come off calling ourselves a church of/for Christ if we cannot love as He did? Makes me think of John telling a brood of vipers that they had no business calling themselves children of Abraham. We have got to say it as it is, and when churches have lost the love, they have lost the Lover… our Savior, the man of God.
Jesus loved and instructs us to love one another as he has loved us… without love we are nothing.
Jimbo