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Though well intentioned, new members\u2019 classes often set men up to fail.<\/p>\nThough well intentioned, new members\u2019 classes often set men up to fail.<\/p>\n
New members\u2019 classes promise a church experience that\u2019s NONSTOP AWESOME.\u00a0They focus almost exclusively on the positive, while downplaying anything negative.<\/p>\n
But filling new members\u2019 heads with visions of sugarplums often leaves them feeling betrayed when church life doesn\u2019t go perfectly. Many new members cut back on their involvement, stop attending or depart for another church, simply because their congregation fails to live up to its own hype.<\/p>\n
A facilitator (salesman) addresses a room full of inquirers (prospects), trying to convince them to buy his wonderful product (church membership).<\/p>\n
He begins his talk with basic information designed to inspire confidence in what he\u2019s selling. The facilitator explains the church\u2019s origin, mission, and theology. He follows with a lengthy list of benefits the church offers: opportunities for fellowship, study and service. Even longer is the roster of programs new members can get involved in, complemented with photos of happy parishioners \u201cgiving their lives away.\u201d Some churches invite their prospects to complete \u201cgifting inventories,\u201d matching them with ministry programs that take advantage of their abilities.<\/p>\n
Once all the benefits are on the table, it\u2019s time to ask for the sale. Evangelical churches often use this time to win converts. Mainline churches usually take this opportunity to recruit volunteers.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s no sin for a church to put its best foot forward. Church membership is a good thing, and church involvement can be a great<\/em> thing.<\/p>\n But focusing solely on the benefits of church life, while downplaying its challenges is the precise opposite of the way Jesus attracted men.<\/p>\n Read the Gospels. Christ repeatedly proclaimed the difficulties of discipleship<\/a>. He actively discouraged men from joining him. He placed barriers in their path. He emphasized the struggle and pain his followers would experience.<\/p>\n A rich young ruler<\/a> asked Jesus what he must do to gain eternal life. This guy was loaded. He could easily have financed Christ\u2019s ministry out of his spare change. On top of this, he appeared to be an easy convert.<\/p>\n But instead of scooping up this man (and his money), Christ threw a barrier in front of him. \u201cIf you want to be perfect,\u00a0go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow Me.\u201d Not only did Jesus send this high-flyer away discouraged, he lost out on a potent revenue stream (much to Judas\u2019 consternation).<\/p>\n Another man came to Jesus<\/a>, pledging to follow him anywhere. Did Christ welcome him with open arms? No, he promised the man he\u2019ll be homeless the rest of his life. (Try that line at your next new members\u2019 class).<\/p>\n Another time Jesus proclaimed<\/a>, \u201cIf any man comes to me and does not\u00a0hate<\/em>\u00a0his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.\u201d<\/p>\n And in John chapter six he made a claim so offensive nearly every disciple abandoned him<\/a>. Then he turned to the twelve. Did he plead with them to stay? No, he held open the door, saying, \u201cDo you also want to leave?\u201d<\/p>\nWhat Jesus told his new members<\/h3>\n