More Caught than Taught

I have always believed that Christian faith is more caught than taught.  That the community of believers are supposed to be a witness through our lips and our lives of the truth of faith and that that winsome witness is contagious to those who come in contact with us. 

For the better part of a week now, I have been blogging on the dual conviction that all believers not be part of a local church and that local churches need to do a better job of welcoming struggling believers.  I have supported the idea that the first priority of a church is to offer welcome and hospitality.  But, I have also said, belonging is the first, not final priority.  Belonging alone is not enough.  As we seek to be faithful to Jesus Christ, we cannot be building bridges of friendship that we are afraid to cross with the demands and calling of discipleship.

We need to make sure that people “catch” our faith. 

Hospitality is so important in the ministry of Jesus that he welcomes and eats with sinner, tax collectors, and “known women of ill repute.” (It just felt kind of fun to write that phrase for some reason.)  When we see the extraordinary lengths to which Jesus welcomed the outcast, it is easy to think that the gospel is nothing more than a word of welcome. 

This is often the mistake that my more liberal friends make.  In the name of hospitality, we abandon beliefs and convictions.  We welcome anyone in the name of Christ, even into leadership for the cause of Christ, even if their beliefs and lifestyles betray the word of Christ.  We tell people to come as they are and then insist that they can stay as they were. 

We also saw, this, ironically enough, in the early seeker church movement.  We wanted people to be so comfortable, to feel so welcome, that we got rid of churchy things like crosses and vestments and even prayers of confession and such.  Again seekers were told that they didn’t have to do anything that made them uncomfortable, with the great temptation that we do nothing but affirm each persons’ complacency.  (See Rob Asghars’ posts on this topic.)

But this is not the hospitality of the New Testament, nor I believe the hospitality that is meant today by emergent churches, seeker churches and even—gasp—Presbyterian churches like mine.  To say that belonging is enough is to miss what the church is: A community of disciples of Jesus.  The Body of Christ. 

Belonging is first, but belonging is not the goal.  Belonging and believing is the goal.  Both must be present.  We must have, in the words of George Gallup’s most recent material, congregational engagement and spiritual commitment.

Gallup’s material shows that most religious people today separate these two crucial elements.  Congregational engagement and spiritual commitment do not necessarily go together.  Congregational engagement is a more “psychological” experience.  It is when someone can say, “This is my church.  I belong here.  I am myself here.  My best friends are here.  I can use my talents and resources here.” 

Spiritual commitment is when a person’s lifestyle reflects a deep commitment to a faith.  When their lips and lives say, “I believe this is true.  This faith re-orders my values and decisions.  I invest in growing in this faith daily.  I am even willing to suffer some consequences to live by my convictions.” 

I believe that true discipleship of Jesus demands both.  And that when we speak of offering belonging, we are speaking of encouraging and creating the environment for what Gallup calls is congregational engagement.  And here’s the kicker—Gallup’s data shows that while spiritual commitment does not lead to congregational engagement. The reverse is true.  IF, (big, big, “if” here) those who are deeply engaged in the congregation are spiritually committed people. 

In other words, the best way for someone to become both a belonger and a believer is by first belonging to a community of believers.  (Spiritually committed believers.) 

So, what does that mean for me as a pastor?  Tomorrow a list of “so, whats?”.  But in the meantime consider this: If faith is more caught that taught, is your congregation both “contagious” enough and “close” enough to unbelievers and wayward Christian seekers for them to “catch” anything?

Comments

[Bud]

We can clean upholstery on empty seats, or we can fill those seats with people who spill and drop crumbs. I know which I prefer!

[tim]

Good stuff Tod...Faith being "caught more than taught," reminded me of this from the opening of "Blue Like Jazz" by Donald Miller:

"I never liked Jazz music, because Jazz music doesn't resolve. But I was standing outside the Bagdad Theater in Portland one night when I saw a many playing the saxaphone.

He stood there for 15 minutes and he never opened his eyes.

After that I liked Jazz music.

Sometimes you have to watch someone love something before you can love it yourself. It's as if they are showing you the way.

I used to not like God because He didn't resolve...but that was before all this happened..."