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Is Your Church a Salad Bar or a Main Entrée?

Orginally published on Monday, June 30, 2008 at 7:01 AM
by Todd Rhoades

A recent article in USA Today says that religion in the United States is now a "salad bar" where people "heap on upbeat beliefs they like and often leave the veggies -- like strict doctrines -- behind."

For example, 92 percent of the Americans surveyed said they believe in God, and 58 percent say they pray every day. And while 74 percent of people believe there is a heaven, just 59 percent believe there is a hell. And 70 percent of those polled said that they believe "many religions can lead to eternal life."

Those are some pretty startling statistics.

As pastors and church leaders, great is the burden on us to spiritually advise, teach, and admonish those under our care. The Bible speaks specifically about how we’ll be judged on our faithfulness in doing so.

How would the people your church answer this survey:

1. Do you believe in God?
2. Do you pray every day?
3. Do you believe in heaven?
4. Do you believe in hell?
5. Do you believe a person can get to heaven outside of Christ?

I would hope that each of our churches would do much better than this national survey implies they would.

Take a few minutes to think about the implications of this for your church, and those you to whom you minister. Are you being clear in what you teach? And are the people under your care growing in their understand of what it means to be a believer?

So, is your church a salad bar, or more of a source of nourishing protein?

You can read the whole article here at USA Today...


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  There are 9 Comments:

  • Posted by Camey
    Monday, June 30, 2008 at 7:26 AM

    I used the salad bar analogy back a few years ago when we were at a different church. The individuals were mad that I would even come close to comparing such things. (these were women who loved salad suppers but not salad bars. more issues there perhaps?) wink

    It’s definitely worth looking at and evaluating. We did a leadership survey a couple of years ago now and talk about some surprising results. If the leadership is confused on what they believe - why should they expect those they lead not to be as well?

    As a Bible study teacher - I make it clear at the beginning of each of the new studies - “If you’re coming just to check this class off your list ... then this class is not for you.” I believe in challenging - not just encouraging… there is a difference. A few of my students are now starting to venture out and teach also. More than that even - they are helping others see God in their daily lives. I’ll take that.

  • Posted by Peter Hamm
    Monday, June 30, 2008 at 9:37 AM

    As with other recent surveys, there’s another side to this one, and it’s all in how you interpret the data. We have discovered that at any given time roughly a third of our congregation may be still exploring Christianity. I do NOT expect them to dive into the whole entree yet. Another significant group is still learning and growing, leaving maybe a little under half who are actually committed Christ-followers. So I’d expect the same numbers in my church, but that doesn’t mean my church is teaching this.

    Also, there are a lot of legalistic churches which have “beliefs” that go too far (imho) beyond the list of “essentials”. (I don’t want to have a debate about what those are.)

    Suffice to say that there are plenty of churches where I’d perhaps be seen as a Salad Bar Christian, and I am nothing of the kind.

  • Posted by
    Monday, June 30, 2008 at 10:35 AM

    I think our core would line up pretty solid on those questions but many people we reach would still be in process.

    For example, one gal we have gave her heart to Christ about 13 months ago.  She came once a month, slipped in and slipped out.  I gave her contact to another woman in our church and asked her to connect to make sure she was invited to a bible study and understood her commitment to Christ. 

    She began to attend Bible study, but was still not convinced Jesus was the only way, just the best way.  After trying Buddha, Mormonism, JW and a fw other things, she really wanted to see if Jesus had answers these other things did not. 

    She now believes Jesus is the only way, the bible is true and accurate and God’s word, She now attends every week, is in a small group and is serving.

    If you interviewed her early in her process we would have come out looking like a salad bar church, but if you interviewed her ow we would come out looking like a Main Entree. 

    Jesus followers did not believe him fully at first, the just found him to be the best.  As Peter stated… Where else would we go?  you have words of life.

  • Posted by Paul
    Monday, June 30, 2008 at 11:12 AM

    My church is in the same boat as Peter’s.  We have a lot of people who are still exploring Christianity and many others that are new believers that don’t understand all even the core theology of Christianity yet.

    The thing I take away from the survey is that we have a lot of educating to do in our churches.  It used to be that most people in church had grown up learning core doctrines of Christianity.  Now most people come from a background with no training in Christian theology.

    The second thing I take away from the survey is that we can’t assume that leaders in the church believe the entire church doctrine.  We need to ask people who will be teaching and leading specific questions about the Christian faith - do you believe in heaven?  hell?  that Satan exists?  that Jesus is the only way to be reconciled to God?  That it’s by grace alone we are saved?

    We live in a pluralistic and relativistic culture where not only is the “salad bar” mentality prevelant, but many people don’t even think twice about believing two things that are inherently contradictory.

    As a result, I don’t fault people for coming into their relationship with God with those mindsets, but we as a church need to be diligent to address them in the discipleship process.

  • Posted by Derek
    Monday, June 30, 2008 at 11:36 AM

    I have found that expository preaching has been a huge benefit for our church. It has forced me to deal with doctrinal truthes that I may have missed if I had only preached topical messages. Expository preaching has been good for both the hardcore disciple and the non believer exploring the claims of the faith.

  • Posted by Derek
    Monday, June 30, 2008 at 12:07 PM

    ...so to answer the original question. I hope we are serving up nourishing protein. Mark Dever and some pastor friends have got me turned on to expository preaching/teaching. Dever says that when we as pastors preach verse by verse, it allows both the teacher and congregation learn together. Typically, if all we preach are topical messages...we are only teaching what we know, or what we like to preach. That was the case with me.

    I know expository preaching is not for everyone, but I believe it has helped our congregation.

    Derek

  • Posted by Phil DiLernia
    Monday, June 30, 2008 at 12:28 PM

    I must be honest and say that after two years of reading posts from many right here on MMI the results of that survey don’t surprise me one iota.  We have had discussions and disagreements right here that have been sort of eye-opening.  Like Peter said this is not the time or place to haggle those out.

    Once particular observation though and I really believe that you guyz/galz are missing a HUGE point.  Your assumptions that this type of thinking is referring to new believers only is not only misleading but it’s false.  I’m shocked at how people in their 70’s, 60’s, and 50’s have been brought up to think about faith.  The salad bar mentality started their and have just, by it’s very nature, been handed down to society as a whole.

    For instance:  What is the percentage of long time believers who give 10% of their earnings to God’s work?  That is against the teaching of scripture (Hebrews and 1 Corinthians.) Salad Bar.

    What is the % of long time believers who really believe that only hymns sung from the hymn book and accompanied by an organ is legitmate worship music? That is against scripture - Psalm 150.) Salad Bar.

    What is the % of long time believers who really believe that wearing suits/dresses is the only appropriate way of coming to church on Sundays but that it’s OK to wear whatever you want to church the rest of the week?  That is against scripture - James 2.) Salad Bar.

    What is the % of long time believers (both black and white) that are prejudiced against other races?  That is against the entiretey of scripture.  Salad Bar.

    What is the % of long time believers who really rather minister to people of similar socio-economic statuses as themselves?  Need I say that this is against scripture?  Again Salad Bar.

    We have picked and chosed which parts of following Christ we wanted to follow for so long that we needn’t be putting the blame or onus on the new believers.  And it has been evident in many of our dialogs here.  Shame on us.

    God’s peace to you all.

    And hello Camey!  I hope things are going well for you guys!

  • Posted by
    Monday, June 30, 2008 at 2:24 PM

    While I am not a minister at a church, the questions posed are and should be quite sobbering to anyone attending a churchas far as their everday walk with Christ:

    1. Do you believe in God?  Yes
    2. Do you pray every day?  I try to
    3. Do you believe in heaven?  Yes
    4. Do you believe in hell?  Yes
    5. Do you believe a person can get to heaven outside of Christ?  No!!!, for Christ said “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except by me” “ many will come to me on that day and say Lord Lord did we not do many miracles in your name or did we not heal many sick and feed the por and hungry.  And I will tell themsurely I don’t know you, you workers of iniquity.” There is a way that seems right unto man, but that way leads to destruction.  I always question whether or not I am within the bounds of doing what is right in Christs’ eyes. In some ways, I’m way out of bounds with Christ and I know that it is through Him that I can over come these issues and no other way, and especially not by my own power.  Many churches today are drifting away from the very core principles that Christ taught us to follow, as Paul explained to Timothy would happen in the last days.  Wake up brothers and sisters, these are the last days, and we need all the help that only Christ can provide to endure and stand strong to the end, to be spiritually sensitive and alert to finish the race that God put in front of us.  May God richly bless each and every one of you in your fight for the prize.....Eternal Life.  Amen

  • Posted by Camey
    Monday, June 30, 2008 at 4:29 PM

    Hey Phil....

    2 years? Wow! that means you’ve been there that long too right? give or take? I can remember when you were saying, “As the new pastor....” Hopefully these days are far better!  Still praying as always…

    As for us… we have known the depths of real pain and the heights of His joy. And we are blessed beyond measure to know His love, grace, mercy and etc.... and to be of service however we can join in His work.

    My time at MMI is close to be up… God bless you brother!

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