Any healthy church must have some level of inward focus. Those in the church should be discipled. Hurting members need genuine concern and ministry. Healthy fellowship among the members is a good sign for a congregation.
But churches can lose their outward focus and become preoccupied with the perceived needs and desires of the members. The dollars spent and the time expended can quickly become focused on the demands of those inside the congregation. When that takes place the church has become inwardly obsessed. It is no longer a Great Commission congregation.
In my research of churches and consultation with churches, I have kept a checklist of potential signs that a church might be moving toward inward obsession. No church is perfect; indeed most churches will demonstrate one or two of these signs for a season. But the real danger takes place when a church begins to manifest three or more of these warning signs for an extended period of months and even years.
- Worship wars. One or more factions in the church want the music just the way they like it. Any deviation is met with anger and demands for change. The order of service must remain constant. Certain instrumentation is required while others are prohibited.
- Prolonged minutia meetings. The church spends an inordinate amount of time in different meetings. Most of the meetings deal with the most inconsequential items, while the Great Commission and Great Commandment are rarely the topics of discussion.
- Facility focus. The church facilities develop iconic status. One of the highest priorities in the church is the protection and preservation of rooms, furniture, and other visible parts of the church’s buildings and grounds.
- Program driven. Every church has programs even if they don’t admit it. When we start doing a ministry a certain way, it takes on programmatic status. The problem is not with programs. The problem develops when the program becomes an end instead of a means to greater ministry.
- Inwardly focused budget. A disproportionate share of the budget is used to meet the needs and comforts of the members instead of reaching beyond the walls of the church.
- Inordinate demands for pastoral care. All church members deserve care and concern, especially in times of need and crisis. Problems develop, however, when church members have unreasonable expectations for even minor matters. Some members expect the pastoral staff to visit them regularly merely because they have membership status.
- Attitudes of entitlement. This issue could be a catch-all for many of the points named here. The overarching attitude is one of demanding and having a sense of deserving special treatment.
- Greater concern about change than the gospel. Almost any noticeable changes in the church evoke the ire of many; but those same passions are not evident about participating in the work of the gospel to change lives.
- Anger and hostility. Members are consistently angry. They regularly express hostility toward the church staff and other members.
- Evangelistic apathy. Very few members share their faith on a regular basis. More are concerned about their own needs rather than the greatest eternal needs of the world and community in which they live.
My list is not exhaustive. You may have some items you could add. Have you ever been a part of an inwardly obsessed church? What signs were evident that led you to know the church was inwardly obsessed? Do you affirm some of the items on my list?
Posted on May 2, 2012
With nearly 40 years of ministry experience, Thom Rainer has spent a lifetime committed to the growth and health of local churches across North America.
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72 Comments
Was just thinking…..how do we move from program to ministry? Is it more than a mindset?
Anthony –
Feel free to use it with the proper attribution. Thanks for asking.
Matt –
Well stated.
Rick –
Thanks friend.
Tim, I remember what Simon said after one American Idol contestant sang a Christ-honoring song. He said, “That was not a good song; I just don’t get it.” We could say the same about church members who are captured in the Simon Cowell effect, they just don’t get it.
Great article Thom. Once again you nailed it.
This list rings true for me, particularly #2 and #6. In addition, I might add that a polity structured for control fosters and environment for all of these.
By control I mean that the congregation has such a distrust for leadership that it seeks to control it through the polity. Whether deacon-led, trustee-led, or congregationally controlled (not governed), a congregation becomes obsessed with itself and its structures.
I’m all for congregationalism, but it’s bad management to demand control over every decision that’s made in the church.
Malin –
Thanks so much. I’ll take sappy anytime! I am giving a lot of attention to the blog. I just expanded it to Saturday with a feature called “Pastor to Pastor” with Steve Drake. I hope you will join us then as well. And I really do appreciate the encouragement. I am so grateful for people like you who build up the body of Christ.
Thanks so much Dr. Thom. I believe that I have been the pastor of several of those churches, as well tried to minister them past the IOC mentality. Often I have found in the older congregations, where there is no desire for evangelistic outreach, the church becomes driven by a attitude of “Chaplaincy.” All they want is a chaplain to tell them that everything is OK and hold their hand while the congregation dies. Their focus of maintaining the facility is primary focus as they believe that is the salvation of the church. As if the building holds the future of the congregation?
As I work with a group of churches in Northern New York State, May I please have permission to share this with them?
Blessings in Christ. Thanks for all of your work and insight!
Dr. Rainer –
Another great article. I hope I don’t sound too sappy, but your blog is getting a lot of attention in a lot places. You are providing incredible content. I really hope that you will continue to give attention to your blog. It means a lot to us who are trying to lead and who are trying to make a contribution to His Church.
Nate –
I echo your prayer and plea.
Allen –
You are most definitely not alone. IOC is epidemic in the Western church.
Tim –
“The progression from consumer to critic is a short one to make, and inwardly obsessed churches enable/facilitate that behavior.”
An incredibly insightful observation. I’ll probably quote you in the future.
Two more suggestions for that list . . .
Dominant homogenous subculture
That is when the church is comprised primarily (if not exclusively) around the preferences and affinities of its members. The culture of the church is superficially shaped by what members have most in common from a preferential standpoint, not the gospel or their identity in Christ.
The Simon Cowell effect
That is when members in the church find their usefulness in the church to be the judge and critic of all that is taking place, from the pastors sermon to the efforts to reach the lost. The progression from consumer to critic is a short one to make, and inwardly obsessed churches enable/facilitate that behavior.
Excellent additions to an excellent article.
Thanks Dave.
Dr. Thom, You have hit the nail on the head for many older congregations! This is my biggest challange as pastor of such a church. After 9 years of pushing we are only able to get from the 50’s to the 80’s. It has taken 3+ years to figure out an acceptable way of installing a video projector and screen without taking away from the “ambiance” of our 100+ year old auditorium. The gospel is not our primary concern….not sure it even makes the “top 10”. I am sure I am not alone!
After twenty-seven years at my old church my husband and I finally left, having given those years to a wait and see . The board finally fired the one pastor that tried as best he could to bring the congregation into the 21 century. We were both active and had both served on various boards over the years. It broke our hearts to do it, but we had no choice. Every one of the eleven points above were always in play from the beginning and to the end. How many fights over broken down pieces of old furniture dedicated in the past could we continue to endure. In small towns congregations are not forgiving and they are controlled by 3rd generation families who worship their ownership more than they love God. I could have written this and the other book about the dying church. It is unfortunately my story as well as many others I am sure.
Powerful article. This is on full of truth and grace. God help us be an outward focused church and not to continue to bless the blessed.