The pros and cons of middle class churches

Regular readers will know I am a Christian and I belong to a local church.  Naturally we always like to think we are always on the right track with all aspects of our life and our faith.  However, I sometimes question myself on this.  One day, as I looked out onto our church car park and saw a good selection of newish, upmarket cars, a chain of thought started to make its way across my mind.

There is no doubt I belong to a church where there is much affluence.  Nothing wrong with that, or is there?

God certainly allows people to prosper and we are taught how our wealth really belongs to God and we should be giving some of it back to Him.  This can take place in a number of ways such as tithing (10% is a good starting point) or perhaps giving money to other good causes.

Add to that the generous Gift Aid which the Government allows, providing we have paid tax on the gift, some churches can become very wealthy.  Now churches shouldn’t really be in the business of accumulating wealth, instead they should be using money wisely in accordance with the real purpose of the church.

Our church seems quite an affluent church and we are certainly in a moderately affluent area.  We have high levels of employment, many have good jobs and yet there are some areas of real deprivation and poverty on our doorstep.  As our church is independent, we have thankfully been able to employ a team of people to run the church and manage its activities.  Furthermore we have been able to purchase an empty building which was an old pub in the town centre.  Over time this has grown into a lovely coffee house and busy community centre.  Impressive.

Yes, it is impressive.  We have prospered.

And then I remembered….

Many years ago I remember a challenging sermon by a visiting preacher.  He asked us how we were going to go about welcoming the disadvantaged, the prostitutes, their pimps, the addicts, those who were disfunctional and so on.

Nowadays I look around and I don’t know how many people have come in as prostitutes, or addicts, or pimps have joined us.  If we, on the whole, are a prosperous group, I would argue we will tend to attract like-minded people and that is how things tend to work in our society, human nature if you like.  It is just how things often work.

So how should a church go about being truly welcoming to all sections of the community?  Is it realistic to think a single church can be relevant and attractive to everyone?  In an ideal world, it would be nice to achieve this but in practice I question if it is possible.

Then I tried to put myself in the shoes of an addict or a pimp. How would I see the church?  Is my dress smart enough?  Do I drive the right car?  But what about the image of the “intellectual church” let alone the “goodie-two-shoes” picture?  Will I be judged?  Will I be welcomed?  Will I be made to feel ashamed of who I am?  Perhaps it’s hard to know.

So if it is difficult for one single church to be all things to all people, is there a case for prosperous churches supporting other local churches who can attract a different congregation?  Perhaps the smaller, more down-to-earth churches?

Alternatively, planting a new church could be an option.  Big churches can easily afford to lose some of their congregation and the income they receive, so why not?  Well, you have to consider many, many things to make such a decision, let alone asking God for direction, guidance and using the wisdom we have been blessed with.

Or perhaps there are some other ways.  Perhaps you could refer, or “introduce” another church for folk who may not feel they are fitting in.

Maybe you could grow a church-within-a-church?  To facilitate and welcome people who may not feel they are the right shaped peg in the right hole.  Do you operate different church services with different styles and sermons presented in a way which makes sense without condemning those for their past lives?

These are all valid routes.

I don’t believe there is anything wrong with churches being prosperous.  Without that prosperity it is difficult to see how they can truly function, support overseas missionaries, grow future ministers and genuinely support the multitude of needs within the existing congregation.  Being prosperous does not then mean you are gradually becoming extravagant with high-tech opulent churches dripping with gold and marble.

However, I could argue that while there are certain advantages or blessings in being a prosperous church, there are some cons as well.  Perhaps the word “cons” isn’t the right word here; instead it is better to say obligations.

Obligations to ensure all sections of society are being reached by the Good News and they are being catered for.  That’s whether it is directly, or a church within-a-church or indirectly via other churches who appeal to those who can’t afford any kind of car and wouldn’t normally ever dream of coming into a smart looking church.

So, the pros and cons of prosperous, middle class churches.  I argue there are indeed real blessings and yet there are some obligations, some challenges and indeed some extra responsibilities which come with that prosperity.

The sermon I mentioned, that was almost 20 years ago. It is God’s timing we should look to, not always our own.