Chuck Bridges Blog

Have you ever used the word “Unchurched?” If so, was it used in reference to someone who is not involved in a church? (I am using “church” as a reference to a group of Christ-Followers who meet together for worship, prayer, fellowship, Spiritual growth, etc.) Would you be surprised if I said that what we need in our churches are “church people” with an “unchurched” perspective? Let me explain!

Recently my friend and international Evangelist Clayton King wrote an article on his blog about how we have several generations of people who have been involved in churches with the mindset that the church is there for the services it provides for them. You definitely need to click the link and read the article on his blog called: “The Plague: Power and Church Splits.” As Clayton points out, for years people have attended churches more with the attitude and outlook of what it has to offer them instead of what they can offer in service to the vision and ministry of that group.

How can I be so bold and say this with authority? Because I am one of those who has operated from this mindset. I am a product of the “organized church.” Because of that, when I surrendered to God’s “Call” on my life to serve His church in a full-time capacity, I took this same “philosophy” into a leadership position. Do you know how difficult it is to try and PLEASE church people? (And I am not referring to “church” people in a derogatory manner/I am one of us!)

It occurs to me how destructive this philosophy is to the Great Commission (i.e. Jesus’ call for us to “Engage” people with His ‘Good News’) because much of our planning is influenced by how the people in our churches (i.e. the “Saved” people) will respond to it. If we are not sure about the response, we may shy away from doing what we really feel like God is leading us to do. If we do not change this mode of operating the church as we know it will continue to drift further into the realm of irrelevant activity among this culture.

Having said all that, let me tell you about something that I believe has the potential to stir the hearts of “churched” people and lead us to a transformed concept of what it means to be a part of God’s Church. The whole month of June we are participating in a series called “One Prayer!” We will join with over 900 churches across the U.S. and in many other countries in an effort to bring UNITY in the Body of Christ. Churches are divided by our differences and are many times competitive with and critical of each other. What we have to realize is that Jesus wants His Church to be ONE! (John 17:22-23)

We are excited about participating in this Series and can’t wait to see HOW God responds to this incredible effort to UNIFY His Body! Come with genuine anticipation (that’s true FAITH) that God is going to SHOW UP and SHOW OUT! I expect great things to happen and that’s why I am coming. (I know you thought I was coming because I’m the Pastor) Pray for UNITY and for God’s Power to be evident in this series.