This is a very interesting video where Malcom Gladwell (author) speaks about the process of discovery by a man studying people’s tastes in the food industry – specifically speghetti sauce. Watch the whole video – but do so in mind of the variety of ministry methods that exist from Mega Church Contemporary, Emergent Acoustic, to Hillsong Concert or Midwest Traditional. Think about different styles of preaching, different doctrines in preaching and different sizes of church.
[UPDATE: The way I said this initially caused confusion, like the different styles of church are different brands. In my head, and what I suggest is that all these styles are varieties of the same "brand" - Christ's body the Church.]
<<<Seriously – watch the video first and then keep reading>>>
As I watched this video and those things were coming to mind the light popped on that every church I’d ever been a part of always used absolutes in regards to methods, styles and processes. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been a part of conversations about how we are going to “get the 20s and 30s more interested in church.” Maybe it is because we shape church to be “right” in our own eyes. We are building church that works for the masses – but only gives them 60% satisfaction in what they are looking for.
And that satisfaction isn’t shallow – it is 60% satisfaction in how they are growing, what they are learning, how they are serving and experiencing God as a part of a faith community.
What if instead we realized the diversity of humanity and the danger of “sameness”? That no congregation wants everything the same.
Think of it another way. When you order pizzas for a big group what type of pizza do you typically land on? Pepporoni and Cheese. It is the pizza everyone can eat. But is the pizza everyone that everyone receives the most satisfaction from? NOPE!
The point? The search for and application of the mentality “one-size-fits-all” is dangerous. This isn’t just for the diversity churches in a town, but for diversity to have a place within a local church. Here are the questions it brings to my mind, and some are disruptive, and some we might know answers right away – but take a moment and think of new possibilities in how we do church understanding within a community of any size people are in a variety of clusters in regards to preference and satisfaction of experience.
Questions to ponder:
- If a church has multiple services, why are they all the same (beyond it being easier)?
- What would be the clusters of preference within your local church?
- Is it possible for a local church to be united as a body but grow through several different church expressions or experiences?
- Does unity mean sameness in the church, or is unity the celebration of diversity?
- Why couldn’t there be two (or more) preachers for the same church? (think outside the ego of leadership and pride of position)
- Can a church have a unifying mission with a diversity of worship communities? (Young Adults in Cell Groups, Families in House Churches and Seniors in Sunday School?)
- Have you ever listened for the preferences or tried to see the clusters?
- How does your staff react to members of your community suggestion different expressions of worship, discipleship or ministry beyond the “chosen path?”
I think that the growing commodities of modern life that are being ushered in by technology and the ability to scale on a global perspective create tremendous possibility to help people find Jesus, live a testimony to his glory and enjoy Him better than ever before – but I think the key is listening…
