Creative Tension: Repelling the Monster
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Thu, June 30, 2005
- Viewed 98
- (18) comments so far
1. Excellence vs. Expense
One common belief is that creativity means spending more money. But that's a fallacy. In today's technology-crazed world, it's tempting to keep buying the hottest equipment. But does that purchase serve a higher purpose, helping reach people more effectively, or is it just a cool toy for your team to play with? You don't have to buy high-end gear to be cutting edge. Yes, you may have to spend some money for technology. But you can be creative without being a large, wealthy church....Technology is either a tool or a tail. It has incredible potential as a tool to communicate aspects of God's Kingdom. But it also has the disastrous potential to be the tail that wags the dog. A dog that quickly turns into a pit bull!2. Spontaneity vs. Structure
Seeking creative excellence can lead to one of two extremes.On one end is the keep-it-real crowd that tries so hard to be spontaneous, unstructured, and free-flowing that it can segue into laziness. Under the umbrella of "authenticity," it's easy to forget that hard work and strategic planning are important to creative communication....On the other end of the spectrum, some people are tempted to over-script every area of the service. They are so regimented and production-crazed that they don't allow for any freedom. They're so structured that even the audience's applause is timed into the service script!
Herein lies the tension. In order to connect with people, we've got to find the sweet spot that incorporates passion, personality, and performance. Plan what you want to say, how you are going to say it, and where you want to lead your audience. But then be flexible enough to make changes if it's not working.
3. Consistency vs. Change
Criticism inevitably surfaces in the presence of creativity. Don't let it discourage you. If you cower from criticism, you will never have a church marked by creativity. Sometimes that criticism comes from unexpected sources...One of the realities of leading with creativity is that some will not like the innovations. It's especially hard when those innovations don't suit the founders or charter members, or those who came to Christ a few years earlier...The constant question of people who attend a creatively focused church should be, "What are they going to do next?"Creativity produces tension. Don't let these tensions deter you from creatively communicating the word of God. A great commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission demands great creativity.
You can read the entire article here. What do you think? Do you struggle with these three areas of tension?
If you’re a part of a growing and innovative church, there’s no doubt that you’ll soon find yourself with more tension and stress than you care to deal with. Things like finding enough room for people to sit; creativity addressing quality issues; or keeping track of all the children and keeping them safe. Growth and striving to do the best you can often brings tension…
Comments
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Ricky on Thu, June 30, 2005
Quote:
“If you’re a part of a growing and innovative church, there’s no doubt that you’ll soon find yourself with more tension and stress than you care to deal with.”
Instead of wasting hours and resources being “innovative,” which is an open door for all kinds of gimmicks and schemes, why not just refuse to grow to the point where you invite the pressures the article speaks about?
What I’m saying is this: instead of thinking you have to do it all, why not multiply into another area when you reach a certain attendance?
It’s this hoarding mentality that is so prevalent in the American church that leads to stress and burnout, thinking that you’re the only one who “has it” and that you have to keep it up. Sorry, but I have no compassion for people like that because they bring it upon themselves.
Give it away, completely, to others and encourage them to do the same. This is kingdom thinking. All else is empire-building.
Todd Rhoades on Thu, June 30, 2005
Thanks, Ricky, for your positive advice, as always. Sometimes I wonder… why do you continue to read here? This is the type of thing we discuss here: innovation, growth, and how to deal with the tensions that these bring; and believe it or not, it is helpful to many people who are, as you put it, into “empire building” (some prefer the word “kingdom building”.)
I’m just not sure why you keep coming back and reading these topics that you know you won’t agree with. Is it just to be a wet blanket?
Todd
Ricky on Thu, June 30, 2005
“I’m just not sure why you keep coming back and reading these topics that you know you won’t agree with. Is it just to be a wet blanket?”
There’s much one can as to the benefit of a wet blanket, especially when you’re in a fire!
I would rather see myself as one who tosses cold water onto those of us (myself included) who need to wake up before it’s too late.
Believe it or not, Todd, but I really have a burning passion for the Body of Christ and the direction it goes. I see danger ahead for the American Church, and just want to warn people of it.
Besides, where is the advice that I gave above not good advice?
Todd Rhoades on Thu, June 30, 2005
I know you do, Ricky, but I think your firehose is pointed at the wrong contingent. That’s where you and I (and most of the others here) differ.
I view the people here as people who are earnesting trying to build the kingdom by introducing people to Christ however they can.
You view them as egomainiacs who are using gimmicks and schemes to further their own hoarding mentality to continue their empire-building. (most all of these words/phrases you used above).
We see them as two entirely different groups of people. You are passionate. And so are they.
So continue your work, passionately, where God can use you. And let other servants who are dealing with these issues, find help and encouragement here.
This forum (blog) prefers to look at them as kingdom workers trying their best to fulfill the call of God on their lives.
It’s just a different way of seeing the same people.
I guess, since I’m the blog moderator, if I see a fire, I’ll call the fire department.
Todd
BeHim on Thu, June 30, 2005
[comment deleted by moderator]
BeHim on Thu, June 30, 2005
[comment deleted by moderator]
Rich Viel on Thu, June 30, 2005
Ricky,
As a pastor of a small but growing congregation we look forward to the time when we reach the maturity level and size where we can multiply into other areas through church planting. Our target is no larger than 4-500, so I agree with you on this. However, with nearly 20 years ministry experience in churches ranging is size from under 100 to nearly 1000, I can testify to the fact that the tensions mentioned in the article have nothing to do with size. They exist in all sizes of churches where the leaders are working hard to effectively reach their communities for Christ. And yes, being “innovative,” can be “an open door for all kinds of gimmicks and schemes.” But it can also be a Spirit led movement through which many will come to know Christ as Savior. It takes prayer, wisdom and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit to discern the difference. But please don’t discount something as wrong simply because it is new or innovative. And yes, I do find articles like the one above to be thought provoking and they often help me clarify my own position, even when I don’t agree with everything.
BeHim on Thu, June 30, 2005
BeHim writes:
Todd, why do you keep deleting my posts?
[comment by Todd: Because you’re in my face, BeHim… I’ve extended more grace to Ricky, you and others who bring up the same things over and over again, and take every post in the same direction; down the same road. It’s just not what this blog was meant to be; and it’s not what I will allow it to become.]
BeHim writes:
You’re rules are “No name calling” and you delete one of Ricky’s posts from earlier today for name calling (shyster or silly or something like that) and now you call Ricky, a user btw, a wet blanket and this is acceptable?
[another comment by Todd: I think I gave some pretty specific examples of the kind of language Ricky has used here and in many other posts on my blog, over and over again… and I’m just tired of it. And yes, I did call him a ‘wet blanket’ because I don’t know how else to describe it. As I’ve said, I’ve extended much grace… much freedom… must ‘airtime’ if you will to what Ricky (and you) have had to say.
There comes a point where you just have to say ‘enough’. And I feel like I’ve said ‘enough’ enough already.
Our Blogging Maturity and Etiquette 101 post starts out:
“Each blog you visit is the internet “home” of someone. You wouldn’t dare walk into a home and run your mouth at the host. It’s inappropriate to do on blogs as well. It’s just ugly and you end up looking stupid. Don’t do it. It’s immature.”
That’s what I think is continuing to happen here; and I’m done with all the ‘back and forth’ on the rules. If you can’t accept and/or abide by them (or feel that you constantly have to push them or test them); then it’s time to move on. That’s where I’m at guys. That’s as honestly, as tactfully, and as lovingly as I can put it. http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif
Todd
Is it wrong for me to suggest you should apologize and stick to your own rules?
Come on Todd. Be fair and kind!
Jim Reich on Thu, June 30, 2005
Ricky & BeHim: (Todd, I know I’m bending the rules a bit by responding “personally” - but bear with me for a moment - I’m not going negative here).
I don’t think that Todd asking Ricky if he’s try to be a wet blanket constitutes name calling. If he was going to call him something, he surely could have come up with something better than that! He merely asked Ricky if a common metaphhor could describe the effects that the majority of his posts have on the rest of the discussion - and Ricky readily admitted it.
So - instead of (apparently) setting yourselves up as judge & jury of everyone else & monopolizing a lot of space that could otherwise contain some useful discussion - why don’t you guys get your heads together & come up with a blog that coherently describes exactly what you are warning the church about and what you are doing about it that is furthering the Kingdom? You could post it as a guest blogger (helping solve Todd’s problem that he wrote about earlier) & then give the rest of us a chance to respond to your thoughts?
Just a thought…
Todd Rhoades on Thu, June 30, 2005
I’ve suggested the idea of them putting their heads together to start their own blog on numerous occasions… but there’s no interest. Even offered to help promote it… and finally even offered to pay for it; but there’s been no interest. :(
Oh well… we’ll get through this. http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif
OK… back to the ‘positive’ discussion… I liked the comment that Ed made:
“Technology is either a tool or a tail. It has incredible potential as a tool to communicate aspects of God’s Kingdom. But it also has the disastrous potential to be the tail that wags the dog. A dog that quickly turns into a pit bull!”
I’ve been in services before where technology was used ‘because it was there’. Every been to the point where you use technology just because you have it? I think that’s a danger… and can actually be a hinderance to creativity.
Todd
Jim Reich on Thu, June 30, 2005
Fortunately, we’ve never fallen into that trap where I serve, but I’ve seen it too often to say it rarely happens. Funny thing though, most people (especially seekers) can see right though that - just as they can spot a phony a mile away.
Most of the people we serve (70% unchurched or de-churched) don’t come to be entertained. They want an authentic experience with God, & that’s what we seek to give them - whether it involves technology or not on any given Sunday. And most of the time THAT involves a lot more creativity & innovation than I’ve seen in most places.
Todd Rhoades on Thu, June 30, 2005
True, Jim… and Ed gives some great examples of ‘free’ ways to be innovative at the full article over at Leadership Journal. I think many times we just don’t take the time to think through what might be not only innovative, but effective.
Jim Reich on Thu, June 30, 2005
In fact there have been any number of times where we have deliberately (and creatively) gone “low tech” and changed the whole feel & direction of a service - with just as much or maybe even more impact. Maybe it wasn’t what the people expected, but it was what they needed.
Ellen on Fri, July 01, 2005
I’ve been in a large church, very small churches and a medium size church.
In one of the smaller churches, another woman and I went to the pastor and said we wanted to start a Bible study. His answer: “Great! We’ll put it in the bulletin on Sunday!”
In the large church, I asked if we could at least have a potluck for singles (no expense to the church)...I got many answers, none of them indicated a “go for it”.
A larger church brings more opportunities for different ministries - but less freedom (it seems) for the Holy Spirit to work to bring a new ministry into being.
Being larger seems to mean more bureaucracy [without the emotional baggage: government characterized by specialization of functions (the board), adherence to fixed rules (the by-laws), and a hierarchy of authority (the system)].
Ellen on Fri, July 01, 2005
oops - hit “post” too soon…
Anyway…on points 2 and 3, when structure and constistency trump spontaneity and change every time, that will discourage innovators from stepping up - why bother?
I’m not advocating a total lack of structure or accountability - but if you give the people the opportunity to shine, they just might.
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