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The Church From the World’s Window
Posted by Brian Thornton on December 17, 2007
What does the world see of the church, the visible church? What is the extent of your church’s witness, visibility, and influence in the public’s eye? I have heard it said that we (as believers) gather together on Sundays to get equipped/energized so that we can then go out into the world to be a witness for Christ. And I agree with that. But, so often, once we depart from being together with our brothers and sisters within the confines of the four walls of the church building, we become soloists. Granted, when we go to work we are by ourselves, and unless we live next door to some of our fellow church members, we are also on our own when it comes to what our neighbors see of our church. In other words, the world doesn’t really see the church together, in public, interacting with one another.
I recall singing a hymn when I was younger called, They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love, but how will they know this by our love if they never see us together in public?
The Lord Jesus Christ said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another“, but how will all people know this if the only place you express love for your brothers and sisters is inside the walls of your church?
I fear that the visible church is only visible on Sundays and Wednesdays, and even then it is not the church which is visible, but rather just the gathering of cars in a parking lot!
Now, I don’t claim to have the perfect answer, or any grand words of wisdom or a deep, profound insight into how the visible church can actually become more visible to the world, but I do have one small suggestion:
- Do more things in public with your church body so that the world will see you together with one another.
How many church parties, Sunday School socials, and care group gatherings do we have each year? And how many of those are done in the privacy of someone’s home, completely shut off from the world, compared with those done in a public setting? How many Bible study groups do we have going on? And how many of those are done within the walls of the church, compared with those done in public? How many church-wide events do we have each year, and how many of those are done on church grounds compared to out in the world?
I am not saying every single thing we do should be done within the view of the world, but perhaps we could give the world a taste of our love for one another if we conduct at least some of our activities out in a public setting.
If your Sunday School class has regular get-togethers, schedule some of them at the local Chili’s or Golden Coral. Let the world see you having fun together and enjoying each others’ company.
If you have small Bible study groups which meet during the week at church or in homes, plan to have one or two of them a month at the local Starbuck’s or Atlanta Bread Company. Let the world see you opening the Word of God together and praying for one another.
If you have annual church-wide gatherings, schedule at least one of them a year in public. Have a church picnic at a public park or facility that can hold a larger group of people. Let the world see that your church loves being together.
They will know we are Christians by our love, but only if they actually see us together, loving one another in the world. They will not know anything about that love if we continue to stay holed up in the comfort of our buildings and homes.
jtr hart said
Great post. One comment I have is on the subject of which particular events should and should not be held in public. It seems our times of real fellowship, where we seek to spend time with each other studying God’s word should be reserved for quiet places where we can really focus. I would think events that we should hold in public would be more service oriented. Things like clothing drives or food collections; activities where those outside of the church can see us interact with each other as we serve them. Our church has an event where about 200 middle/high school kids go out and rake yards to raise money. After raking we take all the kids and go shopping at the grocery store to buy groceries for families in need. Between raking yards in neighborhoods, shopping in the grocery store, and delivering food to families a lot of people outside of the church are able to witness our love and ask us about it.
Brian Thornton said
Hi jtr,
Thanks for commenting. I understand what you are saying about being able to concentrate when doing a Bible study, and I can agree with that. When I mentioned Bible study groups above, I was thinking more of groups like the one at our church where a few men get together each week and recite Scripture memory to one another and discuss the passages being recited. We used to meet at a local Atlanta Bread Company, and people would come over to us from time to time to see what we were doing.
I guess I am just trying to think of some ways to get the church out of its buildings and into the world more…not necessarily to do things for other people (though there certainly is nothing wrong with that), but to just be seen together out in the world.
I think of Jesus’ words that all people will know we are His disciples if we love one another, but then I wonder how people will even see that love if we do everything behind closed doors.
Thanks again for the input.
poststop said
I often half jokingly tell some of my friends that we (our church) should go buy ten houses on a street, knock down the fences, and begin eating, singing, discipling and worshiping together. Knowing us by our love in my opinion must mean more than community service, I think it means living before our neighbors. This wasn’t as much of a problem before modernity but perhaps it is time to reevaluate our culture or as Philip Rieff puts it our anti-culture and begin moving in a different direction.
Brian Thornton said
Knowing us by our love in my opinion must mean more than community service, I think it means living before our neighbors.
Amen!
My good friend and Sunday School teacher brought this subject up in class a couple of weeks ago. He said, “What would it do for our witness to the world if we all lived next door to each other, and those around us could see us together, fellowshipping with one another, serving one another, and truly loving one another.”
With the way everyone is so spread out these days, I don’t see how it would become a reality, but I sure think it would be a powerful witness to the world around us if we could do it.
Thanks for the input.
junkyardboyz said
it does seem that the conduct of the church can certainly be reevaluated continuously.
in that regard is it proper for the church to post armed guards during their worship service?
thanks,
peter
Brian Thornton said
I’m going to assume by your comments that this is being done at a church somewhere, but I don’t see how that relates to our topic on this post.
junkyardboyz said
greetings,
the article begins with:
“What does the world see of the church, the visible church?”
the event to which i refer did occur just a few days ago at New Life Church, Colorado and resulted in 2 sisters shot dead and numerous wounded.
that a greater number of worshipers were not killed was due to the intervention of an armed plainclothes security guard who shot and killed the gunman.
again this was far different than a police officer worshiping in plain clothes since it is the policy of this church to have plain clothes armed security as part of their ongoing policy.
a real life question to entertain:
is this what God would have us present to the world?
thanks,
peter
Brian Thornton said
That’s another topic for another post. This article is about the church leaving the comfort of its buildings and doing things together out in the world.
Brian Thornton said
The following quote is not exactly what I had in mind when I talked about the world seeing the church loving one another:
A high school student who lives in Louisiana, Jamie Lynn Spears [16 years old and, yes, Britney Spears' little sister] reportedly met the father, Casey Aldridge, the son of a Tennessee papermill worker, at church.
Unfortunately, though, the only time the world really hears or sees anything of the church is when there is either a scandal, or some controversy with the world (or within the church among Christians) and a representative of the church comes out of hiding to put forth a position to the world.
lewsta said
Buying a row of houses in one neighbourhood is NOT a good idea. Perhaps buying several homes scattered about a neighbourhood would be better. I’ve seen the former pattern, and those from the church become inturned, relating to one another to the near-exclusion of their neighbours. But, scattered about (say, the same ten homes well scattered in a development of fifty or a hundred) would introduce a very different dynamic. THEN the others would quickly see the church in action, how they relate not only to one another but to those round about them. Be prepared for many of the families to move to a different area and begin anew, once the first is thoroughly saturated with the gospel.
In regards meeting in parks, coffeehouses, and the like..my own church has been doing this for years. Birthday parties and anniversary celebrations are often taken to a local park where games, a ridiculous excess of great food, people of all ages having a wonderful time together becomes a powerful magnet for anyone else in the park…who is heartily welcomed into the group on whatever level they (strangers) are willing to come. Not “church event” as such, thus not intimidating or quickly relegated to the category of “wierd people, stay away”.
We used to meet in a bakery/coffeehouse setting weekly for a men’s study group…same things would happen. Any “interruptions” from those passing by were welcomed. We simply reasoned God had sent them to us, and responded accordingly. The open setting and didactic interactive teaching style rendered inclusion of “outsiders” easy. Quite effective.
GUNNY HARTMAN said
It’s so simple yet so brilliantly profound.
I like it … a lot and I think we’re gonna heed your one suggestion.