When I encourage churches to focus on offering belonging (that is psychological belonging or feelings or experiences of belonging) for seekers, wanderers and adventurers before believing, I am not trying to the minimize gospel, just the opposite. I want us to offer the gospel with our lives before our lips. I want local churches to express the difference and witness of a genuine Christian Community before they call someone to believe what we believe and join with us.
I am also not saying that we should pander to those who are unwilling to become genuine disciples of Jesus. Indeed, the key to attracting and keeping genuine seekers, hurting wanderers and the most idealistic adventurers is for each church to be a community of genuine committed followers of Jesus whose life reflects the transforming difference the Spirit makes.
One of my friends is a Christian therapist who always has a very full practice. She also charges about $150 an hour and doesn’t take insurance. Now, she is a fine therapist who interweaves exceptional professional care with a strong Christian commitment. When I asked her once how she communicates to people the cost and commitment necessary for successful therapy, she responded “At the end of the first session.” She explained, “If people ask me what I charge I tell them two things: One, come see me and lets get to know each other. Two, I charge $150 an hour and don’t take insurance. I know that is expensive, so let’s talk about it before you decide. Then when they are in the first session I really focus on them. I get right to work. I want them to experience what I am offering them before they pay for it. Usually by the end of the session, they have experienced enough to know that this is worth the cost and commitment. If not, I am only out one hour.”
This is what I mean about the church focusing on belonging before believing. Letting those who are so hungry for genuine, life-transforming community experience it in our midst before we call them to commit.
A couple more posts to finish this up with some excerpts about a spirituality of fellowship and following and then I will start a new series on what I believe is a genuinely neglected but absolutely necessary element to Christian community, hospitality and witness: Civil Discourse: Why talking nicely to each other is a very Christian thing.
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