How can churches compete?

[Hestha]

In a market economy, how can churches ever compete? What happens if one church offers goods and services that outcompetes a rival church and then monopolizes the resources in one region so that other churches would have a hard time in the spiritual market? What happens if there is a lot of supply of churches but little demand due to people who become "unchurched"? If you are a church building, then where would you locate yourself and avoid being overrun by the other competitive churches in the neighborhood? Would it be better to encourage congregants to attend the church on a local parish than crossing boundaries to get to a "foreign" parish? What is the advantage of having so many different churches so close to each other in one neighborhood than one church in a huge district?

 

[parsley]

In a market economy, how can churches ever compete?

Eek!
I understand what you're asking, but the thought really turns my stomach. This commercial strategy has swept into contemporary churches, and has pushed out the heart and soul of the church.

All your questions are valid and informed. But people leave and join churches for very personal reasons. Their kids need a different type of Sunday school, a church provides opportunities for musicians to play, too many clashes make someone weary, a strange doctrine taking hold causes people to mistrust the delivery of truth... shifts happen continually. And unpredictably.

An interesting angle on that though -- during New Testament times, churches were based on location instead of doctrines. People attended whatever they could walk to.

 

[Hestha]

Eek!
I understand what you're asking, but the thought really turns my stomach. This commercial strategy has swept into contemporary churches, and has pushed out the heart and soul of the church.

All your questions are valid and informed. But people leave and join churches for very personal reasons. Their kids need a different type of Sunday school, a church provides opportunities for musicians to play, too many clashes make someone weary, a strange doctrine taking hold causes people to mistrust the delivery of truth... shifts happen continually. And unpredictably.

An interesting angle on that though -- during New Testament times, churches were based on location instead of doctrines. People attended whatever they could walk to.

Roman Catholic churches are known to encourage people to attend the Roman Catholic church in the vicinity. Perhaps, the upside of the Roman Catholic church is that it is so organized and centralized.

 

[Luvtosew]

I was born RC and one for over 50 years, not practicing at present. I never ever thought of going to another church and never did.

I am astounded in my studies the last several years how many different denominations there are, but if one reads history there have always from day 1 been many different types of Christians. There are even different RC denominations.

the ones that do well are the Joyce Myers and Joseph Prince types, Joel Olsten, that preach on the love and forgiveness of God. Some of these preacher are millionaires. Then you have your small one and its a tax write off of course.

I have never understood church hoppers, I always thought one stayed where they were born, of course for years I thought everyone was RC.

OH the money people make off of God. I will not be joining another church or go to another one.

 

[parsley]

Perhaps, the upside of the Roman Catholic church is that it is so organized and centralized.

Good point -- they map out the need. I'm sure other denominations do that too, but maybe not in collaboration.

Some of these preacher are millionaires.

Some of them started from very humble beginnings, and intent to please God. But look at what monetization and good planning led toward!

The successful ones knew they could not do it on their own, and gathered others to support them in their ideas -- hired staff, formed boards, and eventually spun off into books and tapes. Then people ask for more books, tapes, and speaking engagements, and one feeds another. Publicity breeds fame.

A certain artist became famous by promoting himself well, and schmoozing. The other artists in that town grumbled and compared their careers to his -- they worked so hard, and continually struggled... while his name was thrown around the wealthy circles.

His name was thrown around because he implemented a strategy to throw it around. His work was not unusually better, he just chose a different approach. And the died-in-the-wool purists viewed his commercialization with disdain, and chose not to take his path to success.

It changed the nature of how art was seen.

People did not want to sell out, or pretend to like wealthy collectors, or produce what other people dictated they should produce. They wanted art to retain its power as a voice, a statement about truth in the world. They wanted their art to be appreciated for its statements, craftsmanship or aesthetics -- not for how much an investor could profit from resale.

Christianity can go through those same comparisons. There are people who glean success and profit from it, and those intent on keeping truth pure.

 

[Luvtosew]

Eek!
I understand what you're asking, but the thought really turns my stomach. This commercial strategy has swept into contemporary churches, and has pushed out the heart and soul of the church.

All your questions are valid and informed. But people leave and join churches for very personal reasons. Their kids need a different type of Sunday school, a church provides opportunities for musicians to play, too many clashes make someone weary, a strange doctrine taking hold causes people to mistrust the delivery of truth... shifts happen continually. And unpredictably.

An interesting angle on that though -- during New Testament times, churches were based on location instead of doctrines. People attended whatever they could walk to.

So true, all a church needs to do is preach the 10 commandments, and Love your neighbor and do no harm. Everything else sees like such a waste. Churches were set up to take care of eachother as well, care for their fellow man. All these doctrines and rules is crazy, but see they set them up to make money also, the fear of hell, purgatory made the rCC lots of money. I get upset thinking about it all as well. The holy church I belonged to turned out not to be so holy.

 

[FreeinChrist]

MOD HAT

Folks, the ONLY non-Christian allowed to post in threads in this particular forum.

This thread is closed for clean up.

 

[DarylFawcett]

MOD HAT ON!!!

Thread cleanup done in relation to responding to deleted posts for the reason that only the OP and Christians can post in this thread.

Thread has also now been re-opened.

MOD HAT OFF!!!

 

[ViaCrucis]

How can churches compete?

Simple. They shouldn't.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[fdsfndls]

when people are led by men primarily, rather then the holy spirit - strategies are going to work. -

people have brought up Joyce Meyer and Joseph Prince but what about the Pope?

What sells?



(God will always be a tool, unless people do the right thing.)

 

[parsley]

Pope trumps Joe, queen is beneficial unless she has a spade, anyone can take the kitty.
Loners are risky unless you're confident that you have what you need; don't encourage partners to stay home unless there's a solid reason.

 

[food4thought]

Truth should never be compromised for the sake of popularity, but it often is due to the capitalist concepts that have invaded the church.

There is room for many different churches to be in the same area though... some people respond to ritual and tradition, some respond to energy and variety. Some people like traditional hymns, some people like contemporary worship. Some people like a large congregation, others feel more comfortable in a smaller church. All of this variety, and more, can be accomplished without distorting the gospel message.

One of my pastors once told me that it is faithfulness to the message of the Bible that God is seeking, not large numbers. A church with 12 disciples who are fully engaged in following Jesus in truth and love is more pleasing to God than a church of 10,000 members who are not fully engaged in following the Lord in truth and love.

------------------------------EDIT-----------------------------

The reality is that the church of 12 fully engaged disciples will not remain a church of 12 for long, and a church of 10,000 lukewarm members is not likely to remain large for very long. Most healthy churches are made up of a group of core disciples who are actively engaged in helping others grow into mature, fully engaged disciples.