Being Relevant or Sensitive?

I have said for a long time that so-called seeker sensitive churches don't really work (at least in the greater Seattle area). They can draw crowds and look credible, but don't build believers. They sometimes have the sizzle of entertainment, but rarely have the steak of substance. Now Bill Hybels, founder and pastor of Willow Creek Community Church the most famous and successful of those churches, is agreeing with me -- at least as it relates to spiritual growth.

Here's his quote in response to an intense study that Willow Creek Community Church did to see how they were doing in the area of life and change and growth:

"We made a mistake. What we should have done when people crossed the line of faith and become Christians, we should have started telling people and teaching people that they have to take responsibility to become “self feeders.’ We should have gotten people, taught people, how to read their Bible between services, how to do the spiritual practices much more aggressively on their own."

Reveal: Where Are You? by Greg Hawkins and Cally Parkinson is the book that shares the results of the study. Probably must reading for leaders looking to have more impact. You can also check out a few more stories about the study at:

http://www.christianexaminer.com/Articles/Articles%20Jan08/Art_Jan08_oped1.html
http://www.christiancentury.org/article.lasso?id=4266
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695241341,00.html

The whole thing is pretty interesting, just because it challenges the assumptions that many have had about seeker oriented churches and their "Field of Dreams" strategy (if you build it they will come). In my opinion, the real challenge is in how we as followers of Christ can be a relevant resource to those who are seeking to perhaps be more intentional in their spiritual journey, not necessarily just being "sensitive" or entertaining. But relevancy takes relational time and energy that most of us don't want to invest. It also takes the kind of honesty about our own faith -- including the fact that we are all on a journey and fail often -- that we shy away from.