As I write this I am sitting in an Instagram-perfect coffee shop. It’s hip. Sweet tattoos are everywhere. The bike rack is propping up a few vintage cruiser bikes, and the parking lot is full of nice cars. I drove past four or five “regular” coffee shops to rent a seat here for $5 that happened to come with a free latte. We are constantly chasing experiences where we are willing to trade good money for good feelings.
This same thing is happening in our search for the “right” church. Sometimes Pinterest has more influence on our search for a church than Scripture does. We want it to be hip, desired and forward-thinking. Every generation is guilty of this, but none is more guilty of this than mine, the Millennials. While we are susceptible to this in nearly any facet of church life.
I see four areas quickly becoming idols in our search for the designer church.
Does it have the right community? We are drawn to groups of people like us, or like the hipper and more intelligent version of us. We are in danger of looking for a church community built exactly for us where there is no need for us to change. We are in equal danger of looking for a church community that represents an image of progress, change, growth and hipness.
Is it in the right part of town? Churches in the hot part of town are becoming more alluring. We are willing to drive a bit longer if the church meets downtown, next to the university or in the arts district. This locational awareness often enters the church planting process. As a part of town becomes a cultural hotspot it also becomes the X on the map for church planting. What about the part of town that is in dire need of a Gospel-centered church, but isn’t so sexy?
Does it provide the right experience? We are drawn to good experiences. There is nothing wrong with that, but we must look deeper than a once a week experience a church can offer. The weekend gathering is an important thing, but it isn’t the only thing.
Does it have the right aesthetics? We are experiencing the rebirth of design largely due to sites like Pinterest. Everyone is a designer. Crafts aren’t just for kids or creative moms anymore. Our standard of graphic design and aesthetic bliss has risen to an unreasonable level. We want the worship space, lobby, cafe and kids areas to match our sky high expectation.
Paul shares his concern for the Galatians. “Now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world…?” Galatians 4:9 We are all in danger of turning to weak and worthless things that will rust and chip with time. Many churches are “happening” today but will not stand the test of time.
Local churches represent the family and Kingdom of God. When we focus on the above areas we miss the things that deeply matter. Here are questions to ask yourself in your search for a church.
Would I die for the mission? The mission of a church is what you should chase after and effort toward. Make sure you know what you’ll be signing up for. This is what the church will celebrate and aim at. This is what budgets will be spent on and saints will be equipped to accomplish.
Do I agree with the theology? A church’s theology comes out in everyday actions and crucial leadership decisions. Don’t glaze over what a church believes at the core, because it looks nice around the edges. Over time theology always rises to the surface, even if you don’t see it today.
Is their leadership structure healthy? When buying a home you want to look past the paint job to make sure the foundation and structure of the home are strong. Structure matters more than we think. Investigate how the church is governed and how ministry decisions are made.
There are exciting new possibilities for churches today, but there are also alluring pitfalls. As younger generations have different values than our grandparents did, we are in great danger of throwing out the baby with the bath water. Be careful that your search for the right church doesn’t lead you to the wrong things.