The Todd Blog

The majority of churches choose not to change. They would rather die. Tragically, in most churches, the pain of change is greater than the pain of ineffectiveness.” – Thom S. Rainer and Eric Geiger, authors of “Simple Church”

Overstatement or frightening, frustrating reality?

I know what I think. I assume most of you know what I think.

But what do you think?

I’m a simple-minded chap. I like pretending like I’m a deep thinker when I’m in group discussion, but my day-to-day life hardly reflects that false reality. Most of the time I appreciate the simplest and quickest answer to questions that trouble me.

Unfortunately, a majority of the world isn’t like me. Most people are unsatisfied with the quick and easy answer—and rightly so. Knowing this, it amazes me how Christians can claim to have the truth to some of life’s biggest questions and then recite tired, old, shallow answers.

The big questions are quite legitimate. However, the answers I’ve received to some of those questions over the course of my life—while simple—don’t even satisfy me!

Here’s two examples and the problems I have with the rote answer:
Q: Why do bad things happen to good people?
A: Because it’s all a part of God’s plan.
Problem: What kind of god would allow his/her followers to suffer terrible calamities, particularly when you claim that your god is all-powerful? How could this “good” god have a plan that involves innocent children dying?

Q: How could a loving and all-powerful God create a place of eternal torment for those who choose not to commit their lives to him?
A: It’s not for us to know. Our job is to obey. There’s nothing we can do about it anyway, just follow God.
Problem: God created the system! He chose to create a place of fire and wailing and gnashing teeth. While he may not send people there (thanks to their free will), He didn’t have to make a place where people suffered for eternity.

So, what answer would you give to those (and other, if you’d like) big questions? How can we start equipping our churches to tackle these big questions in relevant and helpful ways?

Too busy for a whole hour and a half of worship? Here’s your solution.

Some things I don’t like about this site:

1. They’re promoting 30-minute worship.
2. They use “r” instead of “are.”
3. They link to a f.a.q. page that doesn’t actually have any questions—frequently asked or otherwise.
4. The sermon is longer than the worship!
5. They left the hyphen out of “30-minute.”
6. The circle-graphic thing at the top right of the page cuts off some of the copy.

Some things I do like about this site:

1. The grungy look.
2. The VW beetle at the bottom of the page.

Am I turning into a watchdog site?

(h/t: Larry)

Continuing our seeker-sensitive discussion (kind of):

What does it mean to “get fed” by a church? Have you used this language before? What did you mean? From what does this idea stem? Is it time to leave a church if you’re no longer being fed? How do you know you’re not being fed?

Feed me your thoughts.

I’ve been a bad blogger. I’m sorry. Aside from being sick and busy, I haven’t really had much inspiration or motivation. Now that I’m not blocked by Harding’s web filter, I don’t know what to blog about…I don’t want to say anything too inflammatory so as to face censorship again.

So, to keep things safe, I’d like to facilitate a discussion about “Seeker-Sensitive” churches.

What does that phrase mean to you? What are your experiences with “seeker-sensitive” worship services? Do you think it’s an effective model?

Let your voice be heard!