| Gordon McDonald has written an outstanding book | | | | church at leisure. They are here for a month and |
| entitled, Who Stole My Church. In it he attempts to | | | | then gone for two months. They come back just like |
| help the older generation understand the changes | | | | everything is normal all the while we have had to go |
| that come to the church as it has entered the 21st | | | | on with keeping the church going. The young people |
| century. He sets up a fictitious church in the | | | | don't seem to value commitment like my generation |
| Northeast with a group of older saints who cannot | | | | did. |
| figure out what is happening to their church. It's just | | | | 5. I've lost my church because no one seems to |
| not like it used to be. In an early moment of | | | | appreciate me anymore. I don't want to seem |
| exasperation one of the characters sets the stage | | | | self-centered but 20 years ago I was important here |
| for the book by stating, "All I want to know is who | | | | at the church and the pastor appreciated me. Now |
| stole my church?" | | | | it's like the church doesn't care, doesn't even know |
| Do you feel like you have some folks like that | | | | my name. |
| hanging around the church you serve? Most of these | | | | 6. I've lost my church because the younger people |
| good people have been around a long time. They | | | | dress so sloppy. I was raised that you should always |
| give well and have invested a lot of sweat equity | | | | wear your best for God. That meant wearing a suit |
| into the building you worship in currently. In some | | | | or nice dress. Now all I see are jeans with holes in |
| cases, they have taught Sunday School and worked | | | | them, shorts, flip flops and wrinkled shirts. Why can't |
| with the church's missions committee longer than you | | | | they dress up to come into the presence of the |
| have been alive. | | | | Lord? |
| However, on more than one occasion, you have | | | | 7. I've lost my church because my pastor does not |
| found yourself at odds with their positions on | | | | wear a suit. Of all people to dress for the Lord it |
| growing the church. They remember how the church | | | | should be the pastor. I've had friends tell the pastor |
| grew in the 60s, 70s and 80s and cannot seem to | | | | that if he didn't wear a tie, they would leave the |
| understand why you are choosing to do things that | | | | church and so would their tithes. I'm not sure I would |
| were not done back then. Frankly, the things you are | | | | say that, but I feel like that. What does it hurt to |
| doing and the way you are doing them are disturbing | | | | dress up on Sunday? |
| to them. | | | | 8. I've lost my church because they changed the |
| Volumes could be written on why these folks think | | | | name of it. This really bothers me that the young |
| this way. In turn, an equal amount could be written | | | | people don't seem to want the name of our |
| about the frustrations felt by younger and middle | | | | denomination in the name of the church. That says |
| aged pastors who see growth potential but find | | | | to me they are not proud of who we are. The name |
| roadblocks from some older change-resistant saints. | | | | they have picked for our church doesn't even sound |
| It is always wise for pastors to lead from positions | | | | like a church. |
| of knowledge. Understanding how these people think | | | | 9. I've lost my church because everything seems to |
| helps pastors move the church forward in reaching | | | | be about young people. I love young people but why |
| more people with the Gospel. | | | | does it seem everything is about them. What about |
| I have listed 9 reasons why some of your older | | | | us. We've given time and money to make this church |
| saints feel like they have lost their church, the one | | | | what it is. The young people haven't. Can't something |
| you are now pastoring. You may view some of | | | | be focused on us a little bit? Can't there be a little |
| these as petty. However, the smart and discerning | | | | balance? |
| pastor will take these very seriously while moving | | | | Again, many of these reasons can seem small and |
| forward with the mission of the church, to reach | | | | even strange to some pastors. Certainly they carry |
| more people with the Gospel. | | | | the sound of self-centeredness. However, before |
| 1. I've lost my church because I don't know as many | | | | you go there, just be sure to remember that |
| people any more. There are more of them and less | | | | self-centeredness can exist in all of us. This is not |
| of people my age. I'm sad that some of my friends | | | | unique to old people or young. |
| have passed away and the new ones coming in are | | | | Believe me, to many of your older saints, these |
| the age of my grandchildren. They are nice people | | | | reasons are more real than you can imagine. On one |
| but are not my generation. | | | | hand you cannot cater to the whims of people who |
| 2. I've lost my church because the music is so loud | | | | are stuck in the past and want things to be done as |
| and I don't understand it. It literally hurts my ears | | | | they were in the good old days. You must lead with |
| when I come to church. The music is blaring and I | | | | confidence that the future is ahead not behind. |
| can't understand the words. Even when I can | | | | At the same time, move forward with the mission of |
| understand them, they don't make any sense to me. | | | | the church using wisdom and understanding. Value |
| Half the time it seems like a rock concert to me. | | | | your older saints and continue to teach and train |
| 3. I've lost my church because we don't sing the | | | | them that the business of winning the lost is not |
| hymns that mean so much to me anymore. Why, for | | | | about them. Rather, it is about reaching those people |
| the life of me, we can't sing at least one hymn on | | | | who are most likely to receive Jesus as their savior. |
| Sunday morning, I'll never understand. The Bible is | | | | This sounds easy but is often very much a challenge. |
| clear on the singing of hymns. We should still sing | | | | Help older people understand they have not really |
| them regularly. | | | | lost their church. Help them understand the church |
| 4. I've lost my church because the new people aren't | | | | may look, feel and sound different but it is still their |
| committed. I remember that when I was younger if I | | | | church and it is here to continue to reach people with |
| said I would do something, my word was my bond. | | | | the same Gospel. |
| Today, younger people come in and out of the | | | | |