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The Other Side of the Tracts
There's a growing trend among Christian churches these days to have regular smaller meetings of church members outside of the church. I've heard them called community groups, small groups, family groups and growth groups. This is an opportunity for church members to learn from one another as they study and to inspire friendships to be formed by church members, thus drawing "the church" closer together as one body. Kind of sad that this can't be actually done AT church, but what are you gonna do?
Of the previously mentioned list, I have joined a "Growth Group". Our first meeting was last week and at this meeting amidst the awkward small talk that I love so much, we were given a Covenant to sign stating 1) our dedication to the readings and 2) that we would commit to regular attendance. I have no problem with this. I do however have a problem with the other three addendums to the covenant which said we would
3) Serve 5 Sundays at church as part of the welcoming group, beverage service and other spots
4) Go evangelize and hand out tracts and church information on the street
5) Invite friends to church.
It's funny - all the info I was handed at church trying to inspire me to join a growth group promised I would meet fellow Christians, engage in bible study and grow closer to God. I get to our first meeting and also find out I will be free labor for the church. I have a serious issue with the fact they waited until I was at the end of the first meeting and then asked me to sign MY NAME to something that I can only see as a guilt trip. Tell me how I'm not supposed to feel like an awful person if I choose not to sign this document in the presence of a church leader. I was promised a meaningful experience learning about God - instead I'm asked to also be a PR rep for a church I'm not even a member of.
And then there's the gospel tracts. Oh how I despise gospel tracts. I think tracts only add to an already devastated image of Christians as bible beaters. I believe in relational Christianity first and foremost. That means spreading the word of God through actually living life and investing in others. Actions speaking louder than words. Let me explain it this way: Jesus did not walk up to total strangers and ask them, "Have you found me?" He met them, helped them or got to know them on a personal level (gaining their trust) and THEN revealed himself as the Son of God. Once he did that, the people saw him and believed and then CAME TO HIM for what he had to offer. I will readily share my faith with anyone who has questions and wants it, but who am I to tell a person they should believe something else? Who am I to approach a total stranger uninvited and tell them they should believe like me? I'm not Jesus and I believe He is the only person who has ever had that kind of authority.
And further more, on top of the tracts I'm handing out information about the church itself. Now I'm spreading the word of God AND the church I am not a member of.
I couldn't make it to our second meeting last night because I had to work. I have a previous engagement that will keep me from going next week. I don't know if I'll go to the third because I will have already missed so much and I'm still a little iffy about their motives. I would not be near as concerned or upset if they had told me up front about all the little extras required.
I'd love a little feedback guys. Am I being petty or selfish? Does my argument have any merit? Does anyone agree with me?
Much Love,
J
Of the previously mentioned list, I have joined a "Growth Group". Our first meeting was last week and at this meeting amidst the awkward small talk that I love so much, we were given a Covenant to sign stating 1) our dedication to the readings and 2) that we would commit to regular attendance. I have no problem with this. I do however have a problem with the other three addendums to the covenant which said we would
3) Serve 5 Sundays at church as part of the welcoming group, beverage service and other spots
4) Go evangelize and hand out tracts and church information on the street
5) Invite friends to church.
It's funny - all the info I was handed at church trying to inspire me to join a growth group promised I would meet fellow Christians, engage in bible study and grow closer to God. I get to our first meeting and also find out I will be free labor for the church. I have a serious issue with the fact they waited until I was at the end of the first meeting and then asked me to sign MY NAME to something that I can only see as a guilt trip. Tell me how I'm not supposed to feel like an awful person if I choose not to sign this document in the presence of a church leader. I was promised a meaningful experience learning about God - instead I'm asked to also be a PR rep for a church I'm not even a member of.
And then there's the gospel tracts. Oh how I despise gospel tracts. I think tracts only add to an already devastated image of Christians as bible beaters. I believe in relational Christianity first and foremost. That means spreading the word of God through actually living life and investing in others. Actions speaking louder than words. Let me explain it this way: Jesus did not walk up to total strangers and ask them, "Have you found me?" He met them, helped them or got to know them on a personal level (gaining their trust) and THEN revealed himself as the Son of God. Once he did that, the people saw him and believed and then CAME TO HIM for what he had to offer. I will readily share my faith with anyone who has questions and wants it, but who am I to tell a person they should believe something else? Who am I to approach a total stranger uninvited and tell them they should believe like me? I'm not Jesus and I believe He is the only person who has ever had that kind of authority.
And further more, on top of the tracts I'm handing out information about the church itself. Now I'm spreading the word of God AND the church I am not a member of.
I couldn't make it to our second meeting last night because I had to work. I have a previous engagement that will keep me from going next week. I don't know if I'll go to the third because I will have already missed so much and I'm still a little iffy about their motives. I would not be near as concerned or upset if they had told me up front about all the little extras required.
I'd love a little feedback guys. Am I being petty or selfish? Does my argument have any merit? Does anyone agree with me?
Much Love,
J
(Anonymous)
Church Contract
An honest Christian church does not NEED to use those techniques. That church is sick - get out now!
-Pop
Anyway, I know you know this already, but I agree 100% with your comments. I'm not too fond of this church that you're going to...from personal experience, mostly.
Therefore, I was not surprised that they labeled the form that you had to sign a "covenant" (as a play on an archaic but no less highly important and should not be taken as less than completely binding not to be disrespected word/idea). To me, that should've made you turn away forever right then. I raised my eyebrow in my generally "qua?" way when I read that. Some things, even phrases, should not be made cute and "churchy", in my opinion.
As for tracts...I think that tracts were relevant back when the printing press was the cutting edge in technology. The idea of a tract was formed because there was a need for getting succinct and relevant information out to as many people as possible as quickly as possible. Tracts have since become as obsolete as DOS.
You have a very insightful opinion about being volunteered labor. I've not ever heard church service put that way, but it does seem like that's how it going. I'll not suffer you a theological diatribe over the errant ways of mankind behind the four walls of a church whose foundations are said to justify their actions...but suffice it to say that no one's perfect, and sometimes we just have to realize that church leaders are often businessmen with their marketing friends who have nothing to better to do.
Ok, I'm done now.
(p.s. I love reading your blogs!)
(Anonymous)
from TexanNewYorker http://texannewyorker.wordpress.com
I also fall right in line with you on the subject of tracts, for so many reasons. Though they have been effective (I would argue minimally), I feel that the effectiveness is all God and not the material. Most (if not all) tracts are either bad art, bad writing, or both. They're propaganda. Then there's the intent . . . I think I'll talk about them on my own blog where I can say everything I need to say without clogging your comment box. Suffice to say I don't like them and I won't hand them out (nor should you be coerced into doing so!).
And yes, it does sound like the church is roping you in for free labor. Most churches do that on a VOLUNTEER basis.
Good: "Hey, can anyone help out serving bagels next week?"
"Sure, I can!"
Not so good: "All those in the Queens Growth Group will be required to serve bagels next week. Report to Pastor John 15 minutes prior to the service."
That's all I'll say for now. I don't know if this church is sick, per se, but they're certainly making me apprehensive.
Your Thoughts
In regards I am probably the only person that has committed. That actually has a pill of tracks that Student Venture uses in my room, Car, and Bag. But It is something that I personally hardly ever use. Because I can affectively share Gods Great Word with out using it. However I am personally not found of handing them out to just randomly people with church flier. IF some one gave that to me I wouldn't even read it. I would personally agree to not wanting to do that. How ever I would say that doing something different and unusual might be a new exerpince. But I still wouldn't agree fully with the signing that covanint at that point of time with out having time to think about it and praying about it.