Have you ever stopped and asked yourself that question? It’s one that most of us don’t ask enough. The question itself isn’t particularly profound; it’s quite simple, really. But if you take the time to explore the answer, it can really change things.
I started thinking about this because of a story I read about a house church in Gilbert, AZ which recently received a violation because codes in that city prohibit religious gatherings of any size (including Bible studies) from meeting in a home. The funny thing is that just about any other group can meet in homes with no problem. But that’s not why I am writing this post.
The interesting thing to me about this story is that the violation came as the result of a sign that a code compliance officer saw on the side of the road advertising the church’s meeting times.
A house church…with a sign advertising their service.
The house church is fighting back and their legal representation is challenging the city on the basis of the law being unconstitutional, which has actually put them on the map…a fact that I’m sure will prove beneficial to them in the long run since, in a house church, it’s typically hard for people to know you exist.
But why did they have a sign in the first place?
For some reading this, that may actually sound like a ridiculous question. Why wouldn’t a church have a sign? Every good church has a sign and some of the best churches even have billboards, commercials, newspaper advertisements and Jonas Brothers concerts.
All of that, we tell ourselves, is just another way that we can engage culture and get people to come to our church so they can hear the Gospel message.
But let’s stop and ask: why are we doing this?
I could easily paint any church with a sign as lazy: instead of reaching out to their community, they’re just trying to attract people to come in. But I honestly don’t think that’s the case. I think most churches are sincere in their desire to see people repent of their sins and make Jesus Lord of their life.
But good intentions don’t make up for poor decision-making.
By the way, poor decisions are not always stupid decisions. Stupid decisions are easy to spot because, well, they’re stupid. Poor decisions can be more subtle. Poor decisions make the cut and actually cause things to happen because, on some level, they seem like really good ideas. They appeal to a certain niche or address a certain problem in a way that makes sense.
What makes a decision poor, though, is a lack of perspective. It actually does make sense to have a church sign…until you realize that you’re playing the world’s games, competing in a market where your church sign message stands among millions of other messages, and so fails to stand out.
If it takes a church sign for your community to know there is a church in the area, something is wrong.
You’ve probably heard by now that churches really need to ask this question: “If our church were to disappear tomorrow, would our community notice?”
That is all to say – ditch the signs, folks. If people in your community don’t realize there is a church wherever you are meeting, signs are the least of your worries. And it’s not just signs, either. It’s all that stuff I mentioned earlier; it’s anything that falls under the marketing category.
As long as you have the sign, you have an excuse not to be a light to your community. But when all that stuff is put away, the people in your church have to shine.
People are the only hope you have for your community to learn about your church.
Participate: Choose something that you do regularly and ask the question: why am I doing this?
Engage: What other questions could you ask that will help you determine whether you should continue doing something?
Own: Take this question to your church, small group, or even family and see what it is that God might be leading you to do.
Hmm, interesting…
By: stephy on March 18, 2010
at 9:18 AM
Heh…interesting comment!
I’d love to hear more about what you’re thinking, stephy!
By: Ken Eastburn on March 18, 2010
at 9:24 AM
I agree that worldly methods and marketing should not be part of the church, but I have to ask: What category does this blog come under?
By: akaGaGa on March 18, 2010
at 4:37 PM
Hey akaGaGa,
I’m not sure I understand your question. Are you asking if this blog is under the marketing category? I think so, but before I answer, I want to make sure.
By: Ken Eastburn on March 18, 2010
at 6:00 PM
It actually does make sense to have a church sign…until you realize that you’re playing the world’s games, competing in a market where your church sign message stands among millions of other messages, and so fails to stand out.
This insight has caught my attention. It’s gone into me and I resonate with it, but still not fully clear why I resonate with it.
Keora (Hello in Maori)! My name is Simon. I’m from Whakatane, New Zealand and should be asleep but was working on a powerpoint slide for youth group when I stumbled over this website. Wow what a challenge to ‘leave your building’. This brings up hidden ties I have to traditional church, this is surely terain my mind has not explored before.
By: Simon on March 19, 2010
at 5:51 AM
Thanks for commenting, Simon! It is a great thing to know that what we’re doing here resonates with you and I hope that you’ll stick around and interact.
By: Ken Eastburn on March 19, 2010
at 6:43 AM
The early church displayed an ichthus. Were they wrong to advertise in this way?
I’m not sure hanging a sign is any different than posting or tweeting in today’s culture. The purpose is to be noticed by those with whom we might engage a discussion.
By: John Ramsey on March 19, 2010
at 10:26 AM
Aloha John,
Wanted to jump in here just to say that I was under the impression that the ichthus displayed among the early church was more as a means of identifying one another…those who were already part of the Body of Christ, rather than an attempt to attract unbelievers. Perhaps I am mistaken in my assumption. Have you a different understanding?
Cheryl
By: Cheryl Kaster on March 20, 2010
at 12:52 AM
It’s all about relevancy. Take a small town anywhere…or a Southern town regardless of the size…everyone knows where every denomination of church is located. Why? Because in a small town, community is king. And in the South, sorry to sound stereotypical, but church-life is more integrated than other parts of the U.S.
In both cases, the issue is relevancy. If a church is relevant to a community, people know where it’s located. If a church is relevant to members, they’ll share what’s happening in their lives because of the fellowship and spread the word.
However, in a world that’s becoming more “introverted” and “politically correct,” there’s not a great deal of sharing – so it seems – about what’s going on in our lives…often because we’re too distracted by the World’s offerings.
The challenge for us is to keep loving our neighbors.
By: Rick Garner on March 19, 2010
at 11:10 AM
After having listened to Michael Frost and what he says about church the idea of a sign to attract people makes sense….in an attractional church.
“The traditional church is quite happy to catalyze and organize around the experience of worship. Therefore the Sunday morning service becomes the centerpiece of its life together. What we are saying is that the catalyzing and organizing principle ought not to be the worship service but mission. Have you ever noticed that when traditional people plant a church they do not really plant a church but a church service and then call others to attend it.”
He then gives his reason for this, which is too long to print here. Entrenched in the belly of church people is the idea that God’s plan was for us to create a divinized church service of some kind to attend. We strongly disagree with that idea. So if your goal is to have people attend a church service then by all means come up with the best slogan in town convincing others how your church service is better than all the rest. But if you are missional go eat with them….at their house……
By: Frank Doiron on March 21, 2010
at 7:52 AM
Frank,
Thanks so much for the comment and you’re exactly right. I love that delineation between mission and the worship experience.
By: Ken Eastburn on March 22, 2010
at 6:56 AM
I was going to put this next quote by Victor Choudrie on the last post but forgot:
Systems and structures are set up to accomplish a specific purpose. If the primary purpose of a church is worship, then a special worship building, a special day for worship such as Sunday, professionals especially trained to lead worship,
financial structures (tithing) to maintain the system, and finally a church government to
administer. None of these is to be found in the NT!
By: Frank Doiron on March 21, 2010
at 7:57 AM