I recently was at a department store, and on my way out I received a survey form to fill out over the internet. There were the usual questions about how satisfied I was with my visit.
Churches are now doing the same thing. In a time of declining membership and attendance, some churches are reaching out to the “consumers of religion” to meet their “felt needs.” Such thinking might give rise to a survey like this:
On a scale of 1-10, with ten being best, please rate your experience at our church.
1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 Friendly People
1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 A Sense of Community
1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 Entertaining
1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 Upbeat Message
1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 Many Activities for All Ages
1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 Comfortable Auditorium
The key to such a survey is that it focuses on what people want or think they need. Certainly we hope that a Christian church will exhibit many of these characteristics. But such an attitude can cause trouble, too, because without God guiding us through His word, we don’t know what we need. Paul warns Timothy in the strongest terms,
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:1-5)
In the light of Scripture, what kinds of things should we look for to evaluate our visit to God’s house? (Not forgetting the love, friendliness, and acceptance already talked about) Here are some suggestions to think about:
1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 The Bible Is Taken Seriously
1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 Sinfulness Is Treated as a Reality
1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 I Go Home Knowing I am Forgiven
1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 The Focus is on God
1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 The Sermon Is Relevant to Me
1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 God’s Word, Not Man’s Opinion
Sadly, these things are less and less common in American churches today – and less and less sought after. How important it is that we continue faithful in ministering to sinners such as ourselves, who would be lost without Christ, but with Christ and His word receive forgiveness and life everlasting.