I would like to hear the sermon and how the Pastor comes across before I would say I am totally for that idea.  I agree that many Christians come to the same church for years and never become part of the church family.  These people come only to get and never to give.  God has called us to serve Him not just Believe in Him.
There are far too many inactive Christians, and if this is what it takes to get the people to wake up then I am for it.  Something about encourageing people to not come to your church, sounds fishy however, and harsh.  This does reflect what Christ said, “Then Jesus said to his disciples, If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Matthew 16:24
A life in Christ is about sacrifice and if we only sit and listen in the pew on Sunday Morning there is not much sacrifice going on.  If they can’t find a place to participate in the ministry of the church they should find a church where they can.
With all Respect

I wish that I had that problem… I’m looking for ways to get people to COME IN!  My current church has dwindled from 1100 in 1960’s to 40 when I arrived in Oct 2003.  We’re hovering around mid 50’s so far, but have the constant problem of having church leaders and regulars missing weeks at a time, for no apparent reason whatsoever.  Seems to me to be a lack of Christian commitment or a shallow spiritual walk.  I’m ready to pull the rest of my hair out (and I don’t have much left).  HELP!

As I read this article I felt grieved in that we would tell someone for whom Christ died to leave the church. There are some biblical principles where the church is to confront an unrepentant believer, and are to ask them to leave, but only after the refusal of correction. The problem that I see in the method that the “Meeting House” is using is that they themselves have stated that over half of the congregation of 2,000 was made up of people who had not yet committed themselves to Christ, or who had done so only within the last two years.  By telling theses people to get out or conform to church leadership expectations places a time limit on the Spirit of God to germinate the word that has been sown into their hearts. (our focus should be on what we are Preaching in that they are not changing) This is a great evil in that it also allows for abuse of authority, in that if you don’t conform to my way of thinking and doing things in the church you are told to “GET OUT!” Shame on you!  This is the type of control that has led the church of God into secularism. They develop goals and visions for their personal kingdoms and have programs that require people to give of their time and keep them busy, but the fruit of their efforts in the programs they administer produce no lasting fruit. Saints with different gifts are not allowed to participate because the “man made vision of the church has no place for them” and if they don’t conform to our image we tell them to “GET OUT! In my opinion this is WRONG!

I’ve done basically the same thing once per year over the last two years. The first time it was in response to some “core” people who were pretty rotten.

If they could not get on board, quit sniping and back-stabbing that they should leave. The second time was last fall and it dealt with two groups (some of the same rotten core): those who could not or would not put themselves under the authority of the leadership--the elders of the church. And those who thought that the church was there to serve their needs.

In both cases it was not done in an angry or vindictive way. Rather, If...then. If you cannot stop this activity then you need to find another church; if you cannot put yourself under the authority of the eldership, you need to find another church; if you are here thinking that the purpose of this church is to serve your needs, then you need to find another church.

Unfortunately nobody has left yet. And the church has grown to nearly 600 in worship attendance. It’s probably time for another round.

I appreciate the Meeting House’ take on it. Participate rather than spectate. It’s not healthy for them or the church. There are plenty of churches that would be happy for them to sit on the sidelines rather than to get in the game.

There comes a time in the life of a church community where the pastor may lovingly encourage spectators to become participants. Done with an attitude of love and humility, that is also the best time to suggest they find alternative church community if they are not growing in the current one; especially if the pastor himself is sure that he/she has attempted virtually all that he could possibly do to help them.

Nice voyeur