Paid to Evaluate

I just read material connected with Christianity Today that indicated nonbelievers are being paid to attend worship and give feedback at some Churches..

One critic indicated that the Church calls people to an aesthetic life and then does not actually live that life. It squanders money, perhaps partly on paying nonbelievers to come to worship and give feedback.

If the Church actually took a look, it would notice that its people already meet nonbelievers. It might actually be free, at no cost, to ask some of these nonbelievers what they have to say about the Church. Even if nonbelievers’ views are distorted, we would find out what myths scare people away.

We might actually find out that nonbelievers don't come to Church because it is boring, the clergy are too self righteous and aloof, the Church insulates itself from the world, it really doesn't engage the world, it isolates itself from the world, it is seen as hypocritical and other criticism.

We might indeed learn that nonbelievers find our stories to incredible to believe, our practices of worship irrelevant, and any efforts we do make in helping others futile at best, and manipulative at worst.

I learned these associating with atheists, agnostics and people of other faiths. It didn't cost a cent.

My assertions here is that it appears not only that is money waisted on finding out how nonbelievers view the Church. We actually fail to recognize that our fellow believers engage the world of nonbelievers all the time.

It also strikes me as yet another effort to get people to come to Church instead of affirming our responsibility to go to the world around us.

I mean we are already in the world, we need to start affirming in more confident ways that we rub shoulders with nonbelievers. I see a Christ who sent his disciples into the world, not to get people to come to Church, but to meet the world. I see a Christ who calls believers to sit at table with sinners.

How in the world did we get to a point where we think getting people to Church is a mark of a successful Church?

A mark of the successful Church is engaging the world where it is whether or not nonbelievers catch on or not.