Church Tells People to “Get Out”
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Wed, March 16, 2005
- Viewed 228
- (13) comments so far
Known to church staff by the tongue-in-cheek label "purge Sundays," the invitation "to get in or get out" is viewed as a mechanism to address "Christian tourism."
Teaching pastor Bruxy Cavey admits "purge Sundays" were his idea. "Evangelical Christians can be a trendy bunch, always looking for the good deal and where the action is," he explains. "The more we have grown as a church, the more we have attracted tourists who come to check us out and will attend for some time, but never consider The Meeting House their home church. We don't think that's healthy for them -- to be a voyeur on church life, rather than a healthy, active, committed participant in church life.
"So we started to ask them to leave."
Started in 1986, The Meeting House began to experience rapid growth in 1998. Development pastor Rich Birch told ChristianWeek last fall that thousands of new people visit the church each year. Birch said at the time that over half of the congregation of 2,000 (spread over four sites) was made up of people who had not yet committed themselves to Christ, or who had done so only within the last two years.
Since Cavey arrived in 1996, "purge Sundays" have been held once or twice a year, devoting the teaching time to challenging people to turn from being church "consumers" to being "contributors." A typical purge sermon (or mini-series of two to three sermons) walks listeners through the biblical basis of what normative Christian life in community should look like.
Then people are asked to make a choice -- to get fully committed to being integrated into normal church life -- or to find another church where they'll be able to do that.
Cavey says that just showing up on Sunday morning "is anything but integrated." Rather, being integrated at The Meeting House means being committed to a fellowship of Christians through a home church or cell group, through which individuals can practically live out and exercise the teachings they are learning on Sunday.
"We don't consider anyone attending The Meeting House if they're not attending [a] home church," Cavey says, adding, "That's our fundamental DNA. It's our non-negotiable."
But there's more. People are expected to demonstrate their commitment to being Christ-followers through volunteer service, and to the church through being a part of helping to make the church vision happen.
"We encourage them not to come back to The Meeting House if they're going to continue to be a passive observer," says Cavey.
There are exceptions, however. If someone is spiritually seeking, and as of yet uncommitted in their decision as to whether they want to follow Jesus, then they are invited to sit back, listen, ask their questions and learn.
I found this article this week at the CanadianChristianity.com website. It seems a growing church in Canada has a new way to get people committed: just tell them to leave! Read this and see what you think…Comments
if you want a Globally Recognized Avatar (the images next to your profile) get them here. Once you sign up, they will displayed on any website that supports them.
Bart on Wed, March 16, 2005
Another question. If all the people who were just taking up space in the pews left, would those that are committed and remain ask the pastor to resign because he wasn’t growing the church?
Jade on Wed, March 16, 2005
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
Geoff on Thu, March 17, 2005
This is OK as long as it is carefully presented. I remember a few years ago going to a church which was attracting many people who were unhappy with what had been happening in the previuos church. A lot of effort was put into telling people not to stay unless they were prepared to make a commitment. Problem was, we were coming from a different background and got caught in the cross-fire (at least that is what it felt like). What you say is only effective if you get the “how you say it” part right.
Rev. J. Dean McNamara on Thu, March 17, 2005
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!
Tess on Thu, March 17, 2005
I think the issue of forgiveness is sorely misunderstood, and has been incorrectly taught by the Church over the years. When I am wronged by someone and forgive him/her, that person is Not “let off the hook”. They will still be held accountable by God, as all of us will be. Rather, my forgiving someone lifts the pressure off of me; otherwise Satan will use the matter to eat away at my soul until I’m totally consumed.
Reconciliation, on the other hand, is a separate matter. This, I believe, can only come when the wrong-doer sincerely Repents; and this, many times, never happens.
Daniel Zepeda on Thu, March 17, 2005
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!
bernie dehler on Sun, March 20, 2005
From what I read, it sounds like a good thing. “You gotta pay if you wanna play.” No pain, no gain. Too many churches are bottle-feeding forever. How surprising—ask people to get serious, then they do!
...Bernie
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/247
Jeff Starkey on Mon, March 21, 2005
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.
Rev C.G.Wilson on Mon, March 21, 2005
Just two observations; 1) if they had that many people coming to church for that long and had not made a commitment to Christ, I think I’d be more concerned about what I was preaching, than if they were involved. 2) I feel that every pastor has to earn the right to speak into someone’s life, and that right doesn’t come just because of your title. But after 2-3 years, if you still haven’t earned that right, it’s time to help that person to find a church and pastor that they can submit to.
Pastor Francis Umesiri on Mon, March 21, 2005
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.
Minister Nevada Smith on Tue, April 05, 2005
It seems that the church is falling into this trance that convinces us that it is all about the “vision” of the leadership and about what the local church wants to accomplish. It seems that we are attracted to the “my way or the high way” train of thought and are no longer concerned about ministering “to” people, but are far to concerned about how we can minister
“through” people for our own glory. Jesus said in the great commission to go into all the world and “make” disciples of all men…We are not concerned about what people may be going through in their personal lives that may drain their passion about being involved in the local church or if they where hurt by another church and are a “tourist” in your church to see if they can really trust your church. There are a number of reasons why people are slow to get involved, but we are to take the approach of making sure that we motivate and encourage, that we teach and disciple, that we reachout and touch; as well as lovingly rebuke the “sin” in peoples lives and stop trying to “make” people live up to our expectations. If it is a matter of the church not being able to minister to these prople in the way that they need to grow, I wonder how many of us are willing to come along side of them and ask what is it that we are not doing that we need to do in order to help you grow? what are you looking for in a church and if we are not that church or cannot be that church then can we “help” you find that church? Here’s a number of churches I recommend that seem to be what you’re in need of in order to help you grow and be able to exercise your giftings!!!
It may very well be that people are not excited about being “involved” in our churches because our churches are not excited about being “involved” in the lives of people. We are good program-peddlers but not good people-persons or should I say poeple-pastors!!!
voyeur on Fri, August 29, 2008
Nice voyeur
josh sklar on Mon, October 06, 2008
Hey FOlks,
A question that pops to my mind from many of you who are commenting is simply this, “Have you been there?” JADE demonstrated a wonderful wisdom by saying that she would like to hear how it was handled. I can assure you that it is handled with:
love
patience
and a strong desire to see people connected to a growing and healthy church, whether it is the Meeting House or somewhere else. How many of those who are hammering on their methods would encourage people to leave their church (thus reducing their numbers) so that there is more room for always welcome unbelievers and that those who are leaving get connected in some meaningful way for them…?
Just for thought…
Personally, this might be a sign of the Apocalypse as I have actually agreed with Bernie…lol
love ya buddy
Page 1 of 1 pages
Post a Comment