I’m absolutely tired of hearing the “when churches open back up” phrase from Christian leaders.
I want to yell at the top of my lungs, “the church never closed!”
The gates of hell will not prevail against the church, but the coronavirus can shut it down?
Churches ought to be thinking about how to bless their neighbors and care for those who are vulnerable, not keeping the 501c3 profitable. It’s disturbing when you hear church leaders talk about the church in a sort of defeated tone that they just can’t wait to get the show back on again.
God’s people who are made in the image of the creator should be coming up with new ideas, starting new things, and seeing new churches form all over the place. If God is a creator and we are made in his image we should be the most creative people. We should not be stuck in old forms, unwilling to pioneer, innovate, and create.
CRAFT BEER CHURCH
Centralized churches could be compared to Big Market Breweries. They advertise on billboards, and they mass produce a huge product. It’s about quantity. The canning line is enormous. The fermentation tanks are gargantuan. Big market breweries have some faithful defenders. They will always love their mass-produced beer they’ve consumed for decades. They love it, it’s familiar, it’s predictable.
Along came a generation of people who love craft beer. Many of them are no longer interested in the big market breweries. What’s a brewmaster to do?
We need people coming up with new recipes and concoctions creatively innovating and pioneering a craft brew world. Small batch, custom-designed, and with a personal touch to it. The decentralized craft beer churches are able to do curbside pickup, deliver to your home, even brew a beer with your name on it. These churches have a personal touch, everyone’s gifts are critical to the effectiveness of the group, and the microchurches are small enough to go everywhere. Best of all, as soon as they grow a little bit, they just start more craft churches. They multiply like bunnies.
SPEED BOAT CHURCHES
Centralized churches are like cruise ships. They can fit lots of people, but they go slow and they can’t turn very well. Don’t get me wrong, I like the cruise ship buffet, I enjoy the entertainers, the cocktails are great, and the hot tubs are fantastic. But They’re terrible during a pandemic. It’s hard to get to know people well, and chances are you won’t get a chance to drive the thing!
Decentralized microchurches are like speed boats. Speed boats can move quickly, go in smaller spaces, and turn easily. And during a pandemic turning quickly and making fast adjustments are a must! Speed boats are able to do things that a cruise ship can’t do.
Maybe the church was never meant to be a cruise ship.
Many of us met on cruise ships. We were trained on cruise ships, and we enjoy cruise ships, but we are now navigating lakes instead of oceans, and we must think creatively again. Don’t fall in love with your forms. Look at the scriptures, look at your people, look at your communities, and imagine church all over again. It’s time for a fresh wind of the Spirit to inspire those creative juices in you.