changes at church

[fluppet]

I'm not sure if i'm posting in the right place, but here goes ...

I've become aware of some changes at the church I attend - it has about 350 people.

1. its become more 'businessy' - people are wearing different coloured t-shirts and taking on more formal roles with a trained 'ministry team' to go to for prayer, a 'welcome team' to especially keep track of newcomers, a team for car parking and setting up, a team of children's workers - also we have a programme photocopied in colour now

2. We now have a prophet who has outlined a prophetic vision for the church for this year and who will be taking part in a day's prophetic conference with another prophet where people are invited to attend for a fee

3. Rather than a group of elders or leaders sharing teaching and pastoral duties, we now have two full-time paid elders who take on almost all of the preaching and do not seem to have so much time for pastoral work - that mainly happens by the voluntary group leaders at weekly meetings

4. a lot of people have left the church to go to various places (many mature Christians seem to have left) and a lot of new people have joined - in particular a large number came from another local church - so the church hasn't grown much overall

5. Some courses have taken place or are due to take place - a prophetic school, a foundations course, a leadership course, a healing and deliverance course

6. the church previously had a 40 day fast (with people fasting as they felt led i.e. partially or fully) to pray and seek the Lord about getting a permanent building (we currently rent) with a time of giving financially afterwards

I've been aware of some of the changes as mentioned, but to be honest i think a lot has gone over my head - partly because I was preoccupied with a personal issue.

Just from what I have shared, I would be grateful for any insight if possible into what is happening or advice on how a church ought to function in a biblical and healthy way and what my responsibilities are in this.

 

[tturt]

Well, it sounds like there are some foundational purposes are being planned and implemented (all except #4). Seems they're interested in finding out what Yahweh has planned for the church (#6). Both of those especially the last one is good.

Change is never easy for us. Our church has been going through some changes over the last couple of years. Some modifications I've liked while there were others I didn't - and it will be that way in the future. But I've come to these conclusions - According to Scripture, pastors (just using this title) will be held accountable for their actions so they don't have to please me. I'm not the pastor nor would I ever want to be. My purpose in attending church is to worship Yahweh. I support the church in various ways as I see needs or I'm asks. If someone else would like to do the things I do, I would be glad for them to do them. So if someone else is doing those things, I still need to pray for the pastor, family, and staff, the people who attend, and any prayer requests; extend a welcoming hand to guests; and support those in attendance - and those who haven't come for a while just to tell them they're missed (unless someone else is doing that). When I'm asks, I try to accomplish those things in the way the pastor and leadership would like - which isn't always easy. Let me just say - it's always better that the foundational things are done. It's like going into a classroom at the beginning of a semester, unless the instructor explains what the course is about, what the goals are, behavior expectations, etc. the students would not have a solid base from which to work for the remaining time in that class. blessings to you.

 

[branchofthevine]

Shouldn't mature Christians be a sign of something not being right?

I find it (I must be honest above being polite here) disgusting that there are "so-called" (by which I mean I don't know if they are or not, may God be their judge and not me) prophets who take part in a conference where people pay to attend. That gives off a giant red warning light to me.

These changes just seem to gives off warning lights in my head. I am reminded of Galatians 3:3 which says
"3 How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?"

 

[Goinheix]

Just from what I have shared, I would be grateful for any insight if possible into what is happening or advice on how a church ought to function in a biblical and healthy way and what my responsibilities are in this.

Moder human institutions using the name of church have take the shape of the world. Having lost the guide of the Holy Spirit and his power, now seak the technoques of the world to organize an enterprice, and to sell the Gospel.

 

[Goinheix]

The most positive change that the church has to do is to stop teaching the false doctrine of the christian tithe.

 

[Meowzltov]

I'm glad I'm not going to your church. It sounds extremely immature. The fact that your mature believers are leaving should be a big flashing red light for you.

 

[PaladinValer]

4 year old thread.

It is always a very good idea to note the dates on all posts.

 

[pdudgeon]

I'm not sure if i'm posting in the right place, but here goes ...

I've become aware of some changes at the church I attend - it has about 350 people.

1. its become more 'businessy' - people are wearing different coloured t-shirts and taking on more formal roles with a trained 'ministry team' to go to for prayer, a 'welcome team' to especially keep track of newcomers, a team for car parking and setting up, a team of children's workers - also we have a programme photocopied in colour now

the different colored T-shirts serve 3 different functions:
1. they identify members of that team and help to promote team bonding.
2. T-shirts make team members easier to spot if someone has a question.
3. T- shirts promote the good security purposes of the church to keep the members of the congregation and their children safe from intruders who shouldn't be there.

as for the teams, they are in place to see that everything is handled correctly, everything that is needed is in place, that car safety is observed, and to make new people feel at home. All of these are good things and they help a church to run smoothly.
You would probably be surprised to learn how many different people it takes to put on one worship service/Sunday school session each week.
A good estimate would be 1/4 of the attending congregation. Yes, that's a lot of opportunities to serve others!

2. We now have a prophet who has outlined a prophetic vision for the church for this year and who will be taking part in a day's prophetic conference with another prophet where people are invited to attend for a fee.

and without a vision the people perish--or stay in the same rut.
It's good for a congregation to have a yearly 'check-up' with God to see where they are at, and where God wants them to be.

3. Rather than a group of elders or leaders sharing teaching and pastoral duties, we now have two full-time paid elders who take on almost all of the preaching and do not seem to have so much time for pastoral work - that mainly happens by the voluntary group leaders at weekly meetings.

And that's a good thing, because it gets more people intimately involved in the spiritual life and growth of the church. Also whatever problems that come up can be handled in a timely, effective manner on a one-on-one basis and with good follow-up.
Remember, any person can only be in one place at a time. But if you have 10 people available to share the duties that were previously handled by 3 or 4, everyone will get more attention when they need it.

Not only that, but it's also a very wise use of the personal resources that are available, so that no one person gets burned out from serving beyond their physical or spiritual abilities, and also so that their own families don't suffer from neglect.

4. a lot of people have left the church to go to various places (many mature Christians seem to have left) and a lot of new people have joined - in particular a large number came from another local church - so the church hasn't grown much overall.

Give it time. any new program takes time to develop.

5. Some courses have taken place or are due to take place - a prophetic school, a foundations course, a leadership course, a healing and deliverance course.

and these are good. All Christians need to grow and develop spiritually in the Lord, and these targeted courses should help very much.

6. the church previously had a 40 day fast (with people fasting as they felt led i.e. partially or fully) to pray and seek the Lord about getting a permanent building (we currently rent) with a time of giving financially afterwards.

Before any church takes a major step it is wise indeed for the leaders to seek the counsel of the Lord. That's biblical to look at what is planned and count the cost beforehand, because there is ALWAYS a cost.
And if churches charge ahead without thinking, they can wind up owing a debit that they hadn't planned on.

I've been aware of some of the changes as mentioned, but to be honest i think a lot has gone over my head - partly because I was preoccupied with a personal issue.

Just from what I have shared, I would be grateful for any insight if possible into what is happening or advice on how a church ought to function in a biblical and healthy way and what my responsibilities are in this.

These all sound like good ways to function in this world we are in now. Fifty years ago they might all not have been needed, (people could usually park their own rigs just fine, and everybody knew everyone personally.)
but today we have more knowledge, better communication, lots more books, and a whole host of new knowledge to keep up with. It takes time and care and discernment to sort all of that out from what the world is telling us.

It sounds like your church is trying to do it's best, and is being diligent to study and to show itself approved before the Lord.

 

[pdudgeon]

4 year old thread.

It is always a very good idea to note the dates on all posts.

Yes, the date is old, but the problems mentioned are timeless.

 

[peterlindner]

In between the old testament and the new testament…What does it say?

 

[JCFantasy23]

Shouldn't mature Christians be a sign of something not being right?

I find it (I must be honest above being polite here) disgusting that there are "so-called" (by which I mean I don't know if they are or not, may God be their judge and not me) prophets who take part in a conference where people pay to attend. That gives off a giant red warning light to me.

These changes just seem to gives off warning lights in my head. I am reminded of Galatians 3:3 which says
"3 How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?"

It's too out there for me as well.