"Multiple Doorways" Theory

I've been thinking about philosophy of ministry a lot lately - I'm seeking a church to serve at vocationally, after all! In the process of answering questions and working through issues, it seems like I regularly end up making the "multiple doorways" speech. Some of you have heard this before (Jered!), but if not I hope you'll find the concept encouraging. As always, I welcome your criticism too.

First, a little history.

There was a time in America when a significant part of the unchurched population would simply wake up some Sunday morning and think, "I need to go to church today". The reasons varied - young children, nostalgia, conviction, family ties, etc... - but the end result was the same. The primary way that local churches welcomed strangers, then, was by making their facilities and people as hospitable as possible...

As a result, churches began posting signs pointing to the restrooms and the nursery. They put out lighted signs in the front lawn of the building to advise people of times of service. They made sure their phone number was in the local phone book anywhere possible. They listed in the local paper's "church section". They trained "greeters" to meet people politely and to hand them a "bulletin" informing these visitors about the nature of the church, the day's activities, etc... They often even tried to make the decor of the building appealing and comfortable.

All of this happened predicated upon a cultural understanding that people would just randomly decide to visit local churches out of the blue. [Please don't remind me here that it was the LORD's prompting - I understand that, but please allow that cultural factors have a role, too.] And they did, often in large numbers.

This "success" prompted strong "visitation" ministries. Sometimes people would randomly stroll through neighborhoods and knock on doors, inviting folk to their church services. Other times people would make sure to visit every visitor to their church services - returning the courtesy, if you will. And all of this worked very well.

Now mind you, there's nothing inherently Biblical about what I've just described, nor is there anything unBiblical about it either. It's just a method that fit a cultural context, all for His glory. If you doubt me, think for a moment about (for example) Martin Luther - do you think he did any of this? Or go back to Ignatius, perhaps - do you suspect he led a vibrant "visitation" ministry? Really, not even the pages of the New Testament indicate anything quite like this set up. But that doesn't make it wrong, bad, or otherwise - it's just a culturally appropriate method to come along side of God's work in a given community. Good stuff, frankly.

But ... (you knew there was one coming, right?) does this same cultural context exist today? In large part, the answer is a resounding "No!". In some areas of the country, and especially in certain demographics, the same cultural context exists and therefore the same methods may well still work, too. But by and large, that cultural context is now gone.

Don't believe me? Tell me, then, what's the first thing you think when two well-dress total strangers knock on your front door? If you're an average American, you either think a) Jehovah's Witnesses, or b) Mormons. Perhaps you think political pollsters or sales people, but regardless you most likely don't think happy thoughts!

Or how about this question: How many unchurched, random visitors have you had at your church meetings in the last six months? Not Christians looking for a new church. Not unchurched people who were invited or are attending because of some special event. People that just woke up and thought, "I need to go to church today" and happened to chose yours. Again, if yours is a normal American church, the answer is "very few".

So what's a church to do? Doom and gloom prevails, right? Wrong.

To put it simply, we need multiple doorways into the life of the church. Where once there was one primary doorway (the front door), there must now be multiple (metaphorical) "doorways" for people to contact, inspect, observe, and (hopefully) become a part of the life of the local church.

Some examples first, then a little theory. If your local community is into a given sport, you should find a way of cooperating - softball team, golf outings, signs for the local football team, whatever. Or how about a MOPS group (Mothers Of Pre Schoolers)? What about music - do you have talented folk in your midst that could play the local scene? Recycling is a great option - maybe use your facilities as a drop off for CFLs. The list goes on and on ...

But I must make an important point about theory and practice here:

I am not suggesting we do these things simply as a method!

I am suggesting that we find whatever passions the LORD has set in our hearts and pursue those with a holy fire. If the LORD gave a certain group of people in a given local church a passion about the environment, we need to encourage them to act upon that passion in the name of Christ. Not in a pushy, holier-than-thou way, but in a way that acknowledges the very Creator of these passions.

So let's run with the environmental example. Say 10 people in your church are passionate about protecting the LORD's creation. We must find a way of allowing them to pursue that passion as a group for the express purpose of His glory. If they want to help clean up highway litter, we encourage them to do so and perhaps find the phone number to call to make it happen. If they want to volunteer at the local recycling center, we stir them on to do that. Ideally, we encourage them to think of themselves as a team, a family, a group committed to these passions. We teach them to soak their problems in prayer, we admonish them toward becoming better disciples even as we watch them do this (in part) by pursuing their passions.

And this glorifies God.

But it does even more. It will almost inevitably attract others. Some not-yet Christians will share this passion and the LORD will use that to bring them into the life of the church. Others will quietly observe this demonstration of divine passion and pass it along to still others. The end result will be that divine encounters will happen, people will come to know the LORD, and He will be even more glorified!

Sure, there will be mockers. Sure, there are inherent risks. But the alternative is unacceptable - continuing to use methods that no longer fit the cultural context will (and has already, frankly) only move us backwards in the task of coming alongside God's work in our communities.

We talk all the time about changing the methods but not the message. This is how I see that taking place. But it's not just a method - it's an honest attempt to live out the passions that the LORD has hard-wired into each of us. In today's increasingly postmodern world, this level of authenticity is perhaps the only culturally acceptable way of proceeding anyway.

...

I'd really love for anyone that can to share how your local church might be living these principles. This is (yet another) opportunity for our resident lurkers to come out and be an active part of the conversation. I'll pick on a few of you by name, to see if we can start a healthy conversation: Jered, Dan, Nick, Ryan - can you hear me?

Hatushili