Any healthy church must have some level of inward focus. Those in the church should be discipled. Hurting members need genuine concern and ministry. Healthy fellowship among the members is a good sign for a congregation.
But churches can lose their outward focus and become preoccupied with the perceived needs and desires of the members. The dollars spent and the time expended can quickly become focused on the demands of those inside the congregation. When that takes place the church has become inwardly obsessed. It is no longer a Great Commission congregation.
In my research of churches and consultation with churches, I have kept a checklist of potential signs that a church might be moving toward inward obsession. No church is perfect; indeed most churches will demonstrate one or two of these signs for a season. But the real danger takes place when a church begins to manifest three or more of these warning signs for an extended period of months and even years.
- Worship wars. One or more factions in the church want the music just the way they like it. Any deviation is met with anger and demands for change. The order of service must remain constant. Certain instrumentation is required while others are prohibited.
- Prolonged minutia meetings. The church spends an inordinate amount of time in different meetings. Most of the meetings deal with the most inconsequential items, while the Great Commission and Great Commandment are rarely the topics of discussion.
- Facility focus. The church facilities develop iconic status. One of the highest priorities in the church is the protection and preservation of rooms, furniture, and other visible parts of the church’s buildings and grounds.
- Program driven. Every church has programs even if they don’t admit it. When we start doing a ministry a certain way, it takes on programmatic status. The problem is not with programs. The problem develops when the program becomes an end instead of a means to greater ministry.
- Inwardly focused budget. A disproportionate share of the budget is used to meet the needs and comforts of the members instead of reaching beyond the walls of the church.
- Inordinate demands for pastoral care. All church members deserve care and concern, especially in times of need and crisis. Problems develop, however, when church members have unreasonable expectations for even minor matters. Some members expect the pastoral staff to visit them regularly merely because they have membership status.
- Attitudes of entitlement. This issue could be a catch-all for many of the points named here. The overarching attitude is one of demanding and having a sense of deserving special treatment.
- Greater concern about change than the gospel. Almost any noticeable changes in the church evoke the ire of many; but those same passions are not evident about participating in the work of the gospel to change lives.
- Anger and hostility. Members are consistently angry. They regularly express hostility toward the church staff and other members.
- Evangelistic apathy. Very few members share their faith on a regular basis. More are concerned about their own needs rather than the greatest eternal needs of the world and community in which they live.
My list is not exhaustive. You may have some items you could add. Have you ever been a part of an inwardly obsessed church? What signs were evident that led you to know the church was inwardly obsessed? Do you affirm some of the items on my list?
Posted on May 2, 2012
With nearly 40 years of ministry experience, Thom Rainer has spent a lifetime committed to the growth and health of local churches across North America.
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72 Comments
Very accurate list! well articulated!
Could I have your permission to send this post to my association? I am a Director of Missions in Southwest Louisiana.
Tim Patrick
I have found that issue-driven churches (strongly pro or anti homosexual; political agendas; ordination standards) tend to be very inward focused.
As always, you have stated with precision the matter at hand facing many churches today. I am encountering at least five or six of these currently, and am working through them with a church that says they “want to change.” The sad reality is that when the work of changing lands on their front doorstep, they all too often abandon their efforts. Thanks for telling it like it is and reassuring the rest of us that we haven’t lost our minds!
Great observation. The list is close to the ones in “Comeback Churches” a book am reading again. Thank you for all the insight. May the Spirit of God help such churches that are struggling with various trivial matters to experience a new reformation and to be gospel-centered rather than sentinels of traditions that do not serve the proclamation of the gospel.
Aussie –
I encourage you to review some of Thom’s previous posts. Many of them really do address these issues head on. Best to you.
An insightful list.
I do get tired of reading critiques of the church and hope at some point to see 10 articles on suggestions to turn these attitudes around. Obviously just banging on them from the pulpit won’t effect change.
Thanks Robert. Blessings to you as well.
Good job in identifying the problems. It’s too bad that some churches prefer to die rather than change. Undoubtedly you have been there. I’ve been there too. I am so glad that God has given me a new and differen’t calling.
God Bless you and Yours,
Robert
Brandon –
Right on target!
Anthony –
It is a mindset issue. Over time, a program can lose its original purpose. Clarity is lost. The program exists for itself instead of its original purpose. We must ruthlessly evaluate all our ministries and programs to see if they need a revival or a burial.
I had literally just wish a blog post about this. Timely inspiration. Though I do wish I had seen this first, I could have quoted you!
I think this list captures this idea perfectly. Refusal to be relational would make my list as well. It may be implied in many of these, but I think an inwardly obsessed church will foster many superficial relationships because it inevitably leads to thinking only about the self.