Lack of community within the Western church

[Tek7 (Legacy)]

I'm currently working on a rough draft of a paper on the perceived lack of community within the Western church. The paper will cite my experiences searching for a "home church" and explore issues such as marketing the church, isolationism, and the effect of American "consumer" mentality on the modern church.

We've discussed "marketing" the church in a previous thread and I really enjoyed the input from other forum members. I'd like to get further input, especially from pastors and others involved in local church ministry, on the subject of community.

To what extent is the Western church disconnected from society? Are some churches focused on externals (larger buildings, more comfortable facilities) to the exclusion of reaching out to individuals? Is there a "Us v. Them" mentality that puts undue strain on interpersonal relationships?

These are difficult and complex questions, so I would like to hear from as many people as are willing to write about their experiences, good and bad, in local churches.

 

[Arkanjel]

Are you looking for replies in this forum, or like a more formal setting by having something e-mailed to you?

 

[Tek7 (Legacy)]

Are you looking for replies in this forum, or like a more formal setting by having something e-mailed to you?

I'd like to get some discussion going on this topic in the forums.

I've finished the first typed draft of the essay, but I'm still curious about what other forum members think about this topic.

 

[cc.slim]

Sry for the delay I sat down like three times to reply but you ask tough questions and I pray my input might help some. I have went around the block a few times been involved in a few churches and my wife also worked in a extremely large church in carrollton tx(heights baptist) And I noticed a few things some good and some bad. I seen way to much tradition(for instance church of christ and the piano ordeal) and not enough focus. Entertainment seems to be in the for front and church growth are in most aspects what is sought. But somehow I can't help thinking that it is still within the body..Kinda like a vehicle for another body within,one that does have focus and the desire to reach out. I guess maybe one could say a extremity.Now I know there are some who dis those who don't attend church all the time but those that don't but yet still reach out with the word are in most excellent company!!!(that locust eat'n guy for one) We know its within our body not within walls! So as for disconnected I really don't see a true isolation just many many parts doing different things. Tradition(in a church) is a killer of souls I say because that puts limits on Gods abilities only because we may look like God but inside we have Jesus who has set us free and has open the door to different gifts. Would be funny(not) to all have the same gift.Now as for us vs them its more of a us vs sin because as a follower of christ there is a focus and a desire to mirror(thx pw) bend when needed, armor up when we face sin and shine like the son!!!! Now the world is changing extremely fast and the world is close to being reached and all we can do is keep reachin and preachin. I pray there is something in my ramblin that might help you in your goal.ps. I was once told by deacons to fight in the parking lot yep i tell ya a young man who dis'd a sunday school teacher and instead I loaded him in my car and drove off and talked and talked. Hehehe a rebel I was. I pray he found Jesus!

 

[Berean Todd]

Well, as a pastor myself, every church I've ever been in has been very aware of and focussed on developing that community type feeling, the personal connection with and between it's members. In my opinion the problem of the lack of such a feeling is not a fault of the church.

Western society in general has become disconnected. We busy our lives with dozens of things, we build huge fences around our homes, and avoid too much contact with our neighbors. We work longer hours, come home and close ourselves into our "castle", and try and recover. We plug into computers, cable tv, and all manner of other brain-numbing entertainment and ignore the world around us.

Many American church goers find it much easier to tithe 10% of their money to the church than to tithe any real time to it. Although we all have a very real need for being connected to other people, society is seemingly discouraging or at least moving away from really forming those relationships.

Just my opinion though ...

 

[wishanem]

I've found, personally, that the poorer and smaller a church is the tighter knit it tends to be.
However, my current church is pretty big (200-300 most weeks) and the sense of community within the group is very very strong. I think if your members are there for community you'll have more of it, but the current structure of the church discourages it. The communal lunch we have afterward every week and way things like smaller groups, group prayer, and communion (also every week) are handled might have something to do with Hot Metal's success.

 

[Genesis1315]

My problem with the church falls mainly with the way fellow believers are treated. After not attending a traditional church for 15 years, I did not know where to go to get involved. I did not know what committees are good for which things, how does Sunday School work, is there a ladies' / men's ministry. It has taken quite a bit of digging to find out about these things. Please understand, that I do enjoy my church. I love the Sunday service and the messages that are preached on Sundays are always relevant and Biblically based. There is one woman in my church who (probably without knowing it) has shown the love of Christ in so many ways.

It seems like the church (overall) has transformed into a business. Not necessarily a money-focused business, but with the focus on small groups, group prayer, teams, etc, that the church has gotten very compartamentalized (if that is a word). Walls are build around this group and that team, which are hard to break through.

Gen