Introduction

If you have read the introduction to this article series, you know that in that first article we highlighted eight different paradigm shifts which churches need to consider if they are to navigate the changing times of our changing world.  Times have not been easy on churches; many will struggle; some will close.  Having touched on eight different culture shifts which churches need to consider to survive in the year 2022 and beyond, moving forward we will take time to unpack each one of the aforementioned paradigm shifts.  In this article we will address the first paradigm shift noted: churches need to shift from looking in to looking out.    

So many churches do not look out!  They are far too concerned about looking in.  Many churches are only concerned about keeping up the legacy of ministry and programs that they have always had in the church—I have heard this described as a “legacy church.”  A legacy church will do anything to keep its legacy!  Fruit does not matter; a program or church ministry can flounder and fail but legacy churches view these as inseparable from the church.  Therefore, they are often stuck in a ministry model of the past, stumbling along to keep a dead ministry going.  But here is the issue—the focus is all inward.  This inward focus affects the church at many levels.  Often Pastors put aside their emphasis on preaching and teaching the Word of God and become more like CEO’s or project managers who ensure that things are running smoothly.  Workers in the church focus on keeping ministries going and making sure there is adequate staff, supplies, and funding.  When this happens, churches can easily lose sight of their mission.  The result can be that while a church has an entire program designed for discipleship, little discipleship takes place because workers are so concerned with running the program.  Do not mistake my meaning here: programs are not wrong.  They are useful and helpful in accomplishing the mission of the church.  But the mission of the church is not to run programs; programs must not take over the mission of the church!  When programs take over, this often affects the outreach of a church.  The result is a church that looks nothing like its community and is struggling to reach people in their world, because most of the programs are designed for those who are already at the church, with little thought of those without.  The church prides itself on having programs that are run with smoothness and efficiency.  The problem here is that people outside the church do not need programs, they need Jesus!  When ministry is viewed through the lens of programs, a great chasm can develop between “church people” and “outsiders;” a “them vs. us” mentality is created.  Churches that will thrive in the future will recognize the dangers of only looking in when a whole world exists outside the doors of the church that needs to hear the message about Jesus.

Final Thoughts

As we continue in this series, we will be able to see how this paradigm shift relates to the others we will mention—they kind of run together.  Churches who recognize these dangers and take necessary measures will not be so focused on looking in that they exclude looking out.  They will view the ministry as a community with open doors, inviting outsiders to come in to experience the love of their Savior.  They will recognize that while the church as a community of believers is for the worship of God, the study of His Word, and the fellowship of believers, the mission of that community is to bring outsiders into the inner circle.  This was the example of Jesus; while He spent most of His time investing in twelve men, this was for a specific purpose.  He disclosed that purpose when He sent them out to bring outsiders in, and He spent a large part of His own ministry speaking the truth to people who had not heard the truth.  Ministries that will thrive in the coming years will have a paradigm shift from looking in to looking out, and as they look out, those who are outsiders will experience the love of Jesus Christ as displayed in the culture of the church and will themselves become insiders.

Questions to ask of your church:

 1) How do we quantify a successful program?  Is it how efficiently the program is operated?  How many people attend?  Or do we consider a ministry to be a success if it sets up church members to build meaningful, discipleship relationships? 

2) To who do most of our ministries minister?  Are they for believers, or do we have opportunities to invite outsiders to experience the inner circle?    

 3) If an unbeliever were a fly on the wall at your program, would they get a vision of Jesus?  Would they see a sacred joy in serving Him and investing in other believers, or would they see an emphasis on the structure of the program and a focus on making things go smoothly? 

 4) How do you view your ministry at your church?  Do you emphasize checking a box—fulfilling your duty and then you are done?  Or do you look outside the box of your ministry requirements for ways to intentionally invest in others? 

 5) Would an outsider feel comfortable at your church?  Do you have people who would get the contact info of a new attendee, take them out for lunch, or invite them for coffee?  Or are they just like a “notch on a belt” signifying how many warm bodies have walked through the door?