Spiritual Interpreters. What a GREAT idea! I wonder how to make that work in practice. Ideas?

Thanks for the historical insight. I see no reason why we shouldn’t make “interpreters” availble for every church event. A potential visitor could be linked with a regular attendee in the lobby, at the coffee bar, or on the internet.  Even better, a friend could serve in the same role, with the church providing some simple training up front. Someone needs to go for it here and tell us about their experience.

Many churches are great about having “Information Centers” or the like to help individuals get familiarized with their church. Where most churches fail miserably, imo, is recognizing that some of those same individuals have no clue as to why we even have say, Bible study classes or small groups in the first place. There are individuals who would never even think of stopping at such places inside the church because they do not realize it is for them. There might be individuals, like Gina,in this article, who not accustomed to our “church words” and “traditions” or whatever you may wish to call them. Just because someone says, “Open your Bible” does not mean that all who are sitting there even have a Bible to begin with. As in our church, Bibles are available on every row in the sanctuary. BUT, unless you know what a Bible looks like and that it is even called that in the first place, would you realize that is what a pastor or whomever is even talking about? (Okay… there are some churches who do explain this for visitors.)

As for Peter asking for ideas....... We need to stop assuming that everyone who comes into our churches are a part of the family and therefore know the lingo automatically. As people are coming into the church, look for those who truly do not seem to know what they are doing or where they are going.... they actually LOOK lost. It is OKAY to ask someone questions like, “Have you been to our church before?” or “Have you been to A church before?” I have found that people appreciate being asked more than they are offended or embarrassed. We cannot just assume. A few months ago I had a young woman sitting with me during church. She falls into this category in which I speak of. As the communion plates were passed she restled with whether or not she was to participate. Was the “food and drink” for her as well?? We had a long discussion about it afterwards. She had never seen anything like it before. She had no clue as to what was going on or what might be expected or not of her. We ended up going over every single aspect of the service from start to finish. We’re still dialoging about it to this day. She had heard the word “Bible” before but did not own one or have any clue as to what it is really for and etc. Again, we cannot assume people know these things. Not even in America.

Another woman, who comes from a different denomionational background, sat with me for several Sundays. She asked me numerous questions during each service. I ended up having her make a list of questions throughout the week and we took each one and spent time discussing them over the next couple of months. Her originally thoughts and prejudicies about the denomination we’re a part of honestly took me by surprise. Of course, she took the time to talk with me about her background as well. I learned many things about that denomination because of her. Please note in talking about this woman, “Spiritually Inexperience” applies to her because of the differences in backgrounds - not necessarily because of her own walk personally with the Lord. There is not a church that is a part of her original denomination in our area. She does not want to have to drive 45 minutes to an hour to be a part of a church. She wants to attend a church in the same community in which she and her family lives.

One of the best things that has ever happened to me, happened just a few months ago. I now teach a group who for the most part fit into the “Spiritually inexperienced” moreso than not. Yes, there’s much to be said for “holding hands of the Saints and opening His Word together”.... but.. BUT.....

If we only stay inside our “Christian friends circles” than we are not doing as the Great Commission says. Sometimes it simply means looking around our own churches, neighborhoods, and etc. It sometimes means as Dan said, “Christians would bring friends, family, and neighbors to worship services and answer questions afterwards.” Or sometimes during even.

We must stop being so comfortable and really live what we talk. It’s easy to invite someone to church who knows the “gig”..... It can change the life of someone who doesn’t. Might even change your own and give you the kick in the pants you need. And yes, my own toes were stepped on in writing this.

For those of us who are “seeker oriented” I think we also have to think about words like “offertory” and such. We have to pick language that will make sense to somebody who doesn’t know what a “bulwark never failing” is, who doesn’t understand words like “incarnation”.

Some say this is “dumbing down” the gospel. I disagree… but then again, God “dumbed down” to our level, didn’t he.

Leonard. I DESPERATLY want to hear more about your “first contact team.” That sounds like an INCREDIBLE idea! Todd, make Leonard write an article on this…

Newcomers aren’t so much ‘spiritually inexperienced’ as they are culturally inexperienced.  Experiencing a new culture (/subculture) will always be interesting and sometimes overwhelming.  But this is also true for evangelicals who visit a Catholic or Orthodox church for the first time, and it’s not necessarily a bad thing.  The vast majority of people who come to church for the first time come with a friend.  Generally speaking then, it’s that friend’s responsibility to bring the visitor up to speed.
The questions Todd asked make certain assumptions about ecclesiology which would be worth exploring (though this is perhaps not the post for it), since the questions only make sense within a ‘seeker-sensitive’ model.  For U.S.A. churches in general, I think some common precautions can address these issues quite simply by having general information in the bulletin, and by having something like an ‘information center’.
My two cents.
-Daniel-

I completely agree Daniel, that the inexperience isn’t really spiritual but rather cultural.  It would be naïve (or arrogant) to suppose that the things we do and say are somehow inherently spiritual, which is somewhat what the question or discussion implies (though I doubt the author’s real thinking). 

That said however, in a foreign culture, the natives have no responsibility to help the outsider acclimate.  If I move to the jungles of Indonesia I don’t expect the natives to feel any particular responsibility to me.  Rather, it would be my responsibility to get myself acclimated.

Isn’t it the opposite for us when newcomers come into our culture?  In fact, I think that is the principle Paul is making in 1 Cor. 14 when he is admonishing the church to be cautious in the use of tongues and prophecy gifting because unbelievers could be present and not understand.  He could be saying to us, “So if the whole church comes together and everyone ‘IS SINGING ABOUT BLOOD’, and some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?” (1 Cor. 14:23).  I think that within the church, the responsibility to facilitate acclimation to a new culture shifts from the newcomer to the native (the Christians), at least I feel that in Matt 28 Jesus places that responsibility on me.  That’s why I think spiritual (or cultural) guides makes sense.

Wendi

Here are some ideas that I have seen/heard about; the leadership takes people out on a regular basis after the gatherings, (not just church people but visitors/guests.) Equipping people to reach across the backyard fence with lemonade on a hot day, cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate on a cool day, welcome baskets to the newcomers in town, being creative in living out the gospel in the lives we have been sent to live. 
Training ‘regulars’ to seek out the strangers among us, and to be service oriented; parents with children being guided to their destination (nursery, appropriate age places etc) not just pointing then returning to our conversation, inviting them to sit with someone, maybe even us.  Directions to the restrooms, buying them a cup of coffee, not just offering to talk, being available to talk.  Umbrellas at the door that can be borrowed, with no note about returning them.  Somehow (and we are struggeling with this) we need to learn how to be gracious and thoughtful.

Alienation of the spiritual inexpereinced is the fault of those who don’t expect the inexperienced to show up on a Sunday morning.  We need to get into the habit of explaining the mundane, instead of expecting everyone in the sanctuary to know what’s going on.

Good question. I would love to hear from anyone who is trying out this sort of thing so we can learn from their experience. It’s possible that newcomers might find this idea too intrusive, or, at best, an artificial substitute for what friends in the church should be doing for them without being asked. All that being said, though, my instinct is that some newcomers would find the offer appealing if it were presented the way museums make docents available.