Does your church pressure people to participate?

[Shy Christian]

I belong to a small-medium sized church that has about 100 attendees a week. A few years ago the pastor talked about expanding to accommodate new people he HOPED would come. The expansion never did take place. Fast forward to this year. I don't know why, but they have lost a number of key members recently. There was a write-up about this in the bulletin Sunday, and in his sermon the pastor was almost yelling, saying the church is going to die if we don't give more and get more people to come. He said he's ready to confront people he knows "should do more". I felt like he was talking to me because I'm not actively involved in groups, nor do I want to be. I attend regularly, donate money, and bring bags of food and clothing for the poor when they ask for it. I won't know what to say if I'm put on the spot, but I won't like it. When new people come to church, most don't put anything in the offering plate for months. At least I do that. I want to be forced to participate against my will.

[WayneB]

May I be honest?

It sounds like your pastor is panicking.

I know what you speak of. My pastor likes to impose guilt to get people to run to the alter after he finishes his sermon. I don't appreciate that approach but it is his one of few shortcomings. He is afterall just a man like the rest of us. Otherwise, he is a loving wonderful man of God who would do most anything to help another person within and outside the church. His teaching is usually right.

My advice? Challenge your pastor to seek God's will. Prayer is the key! Jim Cymbala of the Brooklyn Tabernacle speaks of growing his church from 15 members to thousands with numerous satelite churches through PRAYER, not guilt.

We must seek God's help through repentance and prayer.

[Shy Christian]

Well, when they were talking about expanding the building, or moving into a bigger building, he was talking about letting it be God's will....basically that we should take on the debt because God would provide the money somehow.

You used the right word: guilt. I don't like being made to feel guilty because I'm "only a pew warmer" (a term he has used).

[botticelli]

Well, when they were talking about expanding the building, or moving into a bigger building, he was talking about letting it be God's will....basically that we should take on the debt because God would provide the money somehow.

You used the right word: guilt. I don't like being made to feel guilty because I'm "only a pew warmer" (a term he has used).

He used the wrong logic. it sould've been if God wanted to church to expand You would obtain the money.

I would personally leave if someone tried to get me to do something by guilt.

my life is too short to be messed with like that.

I look at it as the church is ALL the beleivers. you are doing something right now you are learning.

I veiw Chatting on Worthy board as a Church activity.

That my opinion (take it for what it's worth)

[worshipisalifestyle]

I agree the pastor sound like he is paniking

To me buying a church building and hoping the members would come sounds good but what will happen if they buy a new building and they don't get the memebers they hoped for. In my opinon I believe the church should pray and fast and ask God if his will but also for him to direct people to the church and to supply the money as well

I have a same size church as you do and my Pastor doesn't guilt anyone he ask people is God laying it on your heart to be saved ,rededicate,join the church ,etc But to me he doesn't guilt trip anyone in doing it.

[apothanein kerdos]

I belong to a small-medium sized church that has about 100 attendees a week. A few years ago the pastor talked about expanding to accommodate new people he HOPED would come. The expansion never did take place. Fast forward to this year. I don't know why, but they have lost a number of key members recently. There was a write-up about this in the bulletin Sunday, and in his sermon the pastor was almost yelling, saying the church is going to die if we don't give more and get more people to come. He said he's ready to confront people he knows "should do more". I felt like he was talking to me because I'm not actively involved in groups, nor do I want to be. I attend regularly, donate money, and bring bags of food and clothing for the poor when they ask for it. I won't know what to say if I'm put on the spot, but I won't like it. When new people come to church, most don't put anything in the offering plate for months. At least I do that. I want to be forced to participate against my will.

Why doesn't he focus on quality over quantity?

[Shy Christian]

The pastor wanted a church big enough to hold all the people he envisioned coming....I think what might have started that was, at one time, there was a rash of new kids coming on Sunday. I'd estimate about a dozen 11-14 year olds. They would sit there during the service fooling around. They didn't put anything in the offering plate, but talked, laughed, passed notes, and played with "toys". Sometimes a couple of them would fall asleep (at least it got quieter!). There were no parents with them; the youth director brought them. No one would say anything for fear or offending anybody. The pastor just seemed glad that they were "there". I remember thinking...."You want to build a new church for THEM?" Well, they stopped coming a couple years ago. It bothers me that the pastor isn't satisfied enough that I'M there, but wants more and more new people.

Edited October 5, 2006 by Shy Christian

[Nevin]

I belong to a small-medium sized church that has about 100 attendees a week. A few years ago the pastor talked about expanding to accommodate new people he HOPED would come. The expansion never did take place. Fast forward to this year. I don't know why, but they have lost a number of key members recently. There was a write-up about this in the bulletin Sunday, and in his sermon the pastor was almost yelling, saying the church is going to die if we don't give more and get more people to come. He said he's ready to confront people he knows "should do more". I felt like he was talking to me because I'm not actively involved in groups, nor do I want to be. I attend regularly, donate money, and bring bags of food and clothing for the poor when they ask for it. I won't know what to say if I'm put on the spot, but I won't like it. When new people come to church, most don't put anything in the offering plate for months. At least I do that. I want to be forced to participate against my will.

This is a sensitive case - the shepherd do not make the sheep - as your pastor is the shepherd of the flock it is his and the congregations duty to go out and preach the word - look the great commission does not only apply to pastors but the congregation also so it is up to us also to bring people to church. Now as to the church numbers dwindling you now the same thing happened to TD Jakes church when he initially started , now the same can not be said of your church because the reasons could differ but the church is the body of Christ and imagine what would happen if you were missing an arm or a leg - (in other words what would you do if members of your church stopped coming to church would you go to counsel them or leave it to the pastor) - Now coming to your other point about the pastor making you feel guilty there are two ways to look at this - when the Holy Spirit convicts someone doing either wrong or not doing enough it is up to us to correct our inadequacies. But on the other hand if you have a pastor that is making people feel "gulity" by his own flesh and not the prompting of the Holy Spirit in him then that is wrong. Pastors do not have an easy job - you see the issue is that they have been appointed by God and have a difficult mandate to fulfill. Pray to the Holy Spirit for Discernment - if it is not of God reject it because a good idea may not be a God idea

[Candi770]

Only the Holy Spirit can prepare people to be laborers in any area, if your not prepared-you're no use. I don't think it is wise to use people that are not called into those positions and whose fruit is not evident. Maybe your church is having financial trouble and you guys should be concerned. I would keep it in prayer and ask the Lord directs to give-then do it. Don't worry or be in condemnation over it. But if you hear God tell you to give or participate then you need to listen to Him.

Your pastor should be looking toward God and praying accordingly-His resources are from Him anyway.

Pray for Him and the Church.

[Shy Christian]

The church IS having financial problems....I don't know how serious it is, but they are "short". Still, they have an evangelism committee that wants to keep giving things away. This summer some members stood at an intersection in the church's middle class neighborhood and passed out several hundred cans of soda to people at traffic lights. For the past few years, on Christmas Eve, they've asked people to meet at the church at 5:00 p.m. They purchased dozens of dozens of donuts, and drive around (often in a blizzard) passing out donuts to people in stores "who have to work". I'm sure those people aren't starving for donuts. They've probably either had an early Christmas Eve dinner, will have one when they get off, or, at the very least, their employee has provided cookies, pizza, etc. In any case, I don't think those are good uses of the church's money. They could have helped out an organization or the poor that really need it.

Edited October 5, 2006 by Shy Christian