Church Aisle at Wal-Mart

So I had this weird idea.

What if Wal-Mart had a Church Aisle?

Think about it.

Wal-Mart focuses on products that are cheap to make and easy to sell, and easy to sell in mass quantities. So what kind of Churches would Wal-Mart sell?

Would they sell Mega Churches with stadium seating? Maybe Denominational Churches with stain glass windows? Or maybe "Gatherings" with a "Speaker" who gives a "Talk" and then leads a "Conversation." And if you asked one of the workers in a blue vest, you know the blue vest that says, "How can I help you?," if they would be able to tell you which churches work best and which churches are no longer culturally relevant, so don't waste your money.

I wonder if the Chinese CPM would be on the shelf? It would definitely be the cheapest, but it would have to have a warning label of some kind like, "this church may cause death by martyr."

If you were buying a church in Wal-Mart, what are things that you would look for? Different preaching style, better worship band, more church events, less church events?

My wife and I are still looking for a church after living in California for over six months now. And I can see myself comparing churches like I might if they were sold on a shelf at Wal-Mart. Though I don't exactly see church as a product to be sold, the fact is that many Americans do, in fact, many churches see church as a product to be sold. And despite the American Church's marketing efforts, many people are losing interest.

I'm afraid I might be one of those Americans, I'm losing interest in Church.

Don't get me wrong, I love to strategize and dream what a church might look like pulling it's resources together and boldly engaging culture and individuals with the gospel of Jesus for His glory. It's just sometimes I wish finding that kind of church was as easy as driving to a Wal-Mart.

Imagine this, two friends are walking up and down the church aisle at Wal-Mart and the first begins to notice there are other people shopping for a church too. The second is intensely focused on finding the right church; he has several in his hands and he is reading the description of each very carefully. The first however, instead of looking and comparing between the different churches he begins to ask some of the other shoppers what they are looking for and why. He discovers that some are christians, and some are not. He talks with one lady who had a wonderful church experience and shares how she became a believer, meanwhile the second friend sets down the Chinese CPM and replaces it with the "Rick Warren Bobble Head." The first develops another conversation with a gay couple who had a really bad church experience, but were still hoping there might be a church that would welcome them; he gets an opportunity to share his love for Jesus. The second person walks away with a cool young church where the pastor wears blue jeans and the drummer wears a v-neck t-shirt with skinny jeans.

In this story I want more than anything to be the first person, engaging others in conversation and sharing my faith, the missionary. But I know that I act more like the second person going from church to church making comparisons, a shopper.

Who are you the missionary or the shopper?

Church Shopping

I have lived in California now for six months. My family and I have visited several different churches hoping to find a new "home" church where we can get involved and build relationships with fellow believers.

I hate church shopping.

I sit service after service critiquing everything about the service and compare it to the last church we visited. I have grown very little in the Lord this way and grown more frustrated with the American Church.

I was really hoping to find a church where we can just be passive members and allow the church to minister to us for a while.

This has completely unmotivated me to be a missionary to this culture.

I see now the importance of a local body of believers to encourage me and keep me accountable. My problem is I honestly don't like any of the churches I've visited, but I don't think I can stand to continue to shop for a church.

Maybe I'm asking too much from the churches here. Or maybe I'm waiting to hear an angelic choir break out in song when I step foot in the church where we are supposed to be. I don't know.

For now, we're going to continue to praying and continue to hope that we will find our place soon...

tam