10 Ways to get a New Visitor to your church to NEVER Come Back

[Kabowd]

A person can obsess about what will drive a person out of the church, but as we are already seeing, what may be offensive to one may not be to someone else. I have had the same thing occur that Smallcald has with regard to having to wait in the entrance way while announcements or a prayer was being given and wasn't offended in the least. I personally like dress codes, and while I like variety in the song selections, wouldn't be bothered by singing only slow hymns. We are all differen't. What appeals to one person doesn't appeal to all. That is why there are so many differen't types of churches.

The number one thing that will keep me from attending any church is to see a sign out front with the words "Casual dress, contemporary worship." At the same time, if I ever saw one that said "Formal dress, traditional worship," I would likely check them out.

You didn't even need to write that, I knew just what you'd say, Butero! Externals shouldn't play a part in welcoming people to the House of God, nor should it interfere in your attending a house of worship...it's the excellence therein that should be what draws you.

My main point in writing that was to say that when it comes to church and turn ons and turn offs, they are differen't for differen't people. What may attract one person to a place will be a turn off to others. What will offend one person will be a welcome change to somebody else. You have stated your opinion of how you think things should be, but that is all it is, your opinion. While it may be shared by others, there are some that would dissagree.

I agree. Which is why I posted what I did above. We shouldn't cater to people's preferences, that's merely feeding what Moreland calls "the empty self". You end up with a congregation of people who are selfish, wanting what they "prefer". Might as well call alot of modern churches Burger King, they're filled with people who just want church their way.

[ray]

It's Top 10 Tuesday ...

Here are 7 of my Top 10 "Ways to get a New Visitor to your church to NEVER come back."

1. Tell them that they are in your pew. How dare they ... it is your pew!

2. Tell them there is a dress code, that they need a tie, need to wear pants, need to take off their cap or need to dress up more.

3. Let them hear you gripe about everything from the sermon, to the song leader, to the song selection.

4. Don't ask them if there is any thing they need or if there is anything you can pray about for them.

5. Have the preacher not be prepared.

6. Sing only old slow songs and do it with no life, feeling, heart or meaning. You know like, "Tis so sweet to rust in Jesus."

7. Have the preacher preach about why everyone else is going to hell. And have him name names if he can.

Swing by and catch the rest of the list on my blog today ...

Blessings,

Trey

PS - Did I miss any?

So, Trey is this a reflection of your church?

[MorningGlory]

I need more space!!

There's plenty of space here, IamyoursLord. Are you planning something big???

[exrockstar]

6. Sing only old slow songs and do it with no life, feeling, heart or meaning. You know like, "Tis so sweet to rust in Jesus."today ...

Blessings,

Trey

PS - Did I miss any?

if I walked into a church and they their singing had a priority I wouldn't come back.

New or old this is the last worry on my agenda. It is first (or top 10) for some.

[kat8585]

6. Sing only old slow songs and do it with no life, feeling, heart or meaning. You know like, "Tis so sweet to rust in Jesus."today ...

Blessings,

Trey

PS - Did I miss any?

if I walked into a church and they their singing had a priority I wouldn't come back.

New or old this is the last worry on my agenda. It is first (or top 10) for some.

Singing is a big priority for me, both hymns and more contemporary songs. If a church didn't have singing, I wouldn't go back.

[exrockstar]

6. Sing only old slow songs and do it with no life, feeling, heart or meaning. You know like, "Tis so sweet to rust in Jesus."today ...

Blessings,

Trey

PS - Did I miss any?

if I walked into a church and they their singing had a priority I wouldn't come back.

New or old this is the last worry on my agenda. It is first (or top 10) for some.

Singing is a big priority for me, both hymns and more contemporary songs. If a church didn't have singing, I wouldn't go back.

ooooo k. lol

[Floatingaxe]

Amen! Worship with music is very important--why? Because it is soooooo important to God! He wants us to worship Him with everything we've got, and with excellence! We are a people of excellence worshiping an excellent God!

[Artemus Prime]

Agreed, music is an extremely powerful tool...that would be part of the reason why the Psalms are in Scripture! Blessings, A.P.

[exrockstar]

i guess you guys will be singing together without me then.

Edited March 22, 2007 by exrockstar

[JustinM]

I believe dress code should be done in a way that respects Christ. But, not so strict that people lose the meaning of being there. Personally, I was raised a southern baptist and taught to dress semi-formally and women to dress conservatively. But, the dress code shouldn't be the focus of the service, usually people should be able to look around the sanctuary and determine what the trend is. I'm no longer southern baptist, but am Church of Christ. (the good one)

But, this is how I think you can drive off worshippers:

Spend the majority of the sermon talking about prosperity and wealth.

Or focus more on worldly issues than Christian.

Hipocrisy is probably the most offensive to new people. But, who knows it's all subjective anyway, right?