What would you like? For me it is a simple answer. Today I'm thinking chicken. Tomorrow I may prefer beef.
For some people this becomes a cosmic question. Some won't eat red meat. Some point out that it takes less vegetation to to raise a chicken than a cow and that leaves more good food for humans. Some will just count calories and cholesterol.
Me? I just want lunch.
I think of this "chicken or beef" discussion as a metaphor for what happens in church.
Someone might come to my home discovery event but not to my Sunday services. Someone might say they accept Jesus but not the church. Someone might say they like this kind of church and not that.
The other day I got an email from a man who wanted to tune me up. I have never met him. But he was quite sure from our church website that we were off base and he wanted to supply the correct information. He asked a question. So I gave him a forthright answer by email since that was the only contact information he gave. In the essence of it I think we were in agreement. But I never heard back from him. I guess I will never know. And I haven't got my fingers crossed that I will ever see him in church. Nor do I have the inclination to figure out what he wanted.
When you are starting a church you can invest way too much time trying to satisfy the chicken eaters or the beef eaters. But you won't convert many.
Try this question as a prequalifier, "If I could show you why our "beef" is a viable option to the "chicken" you had in mind, is there any reason why you wouldn't want to give us a try or at least hear our story?" If they mumble too much in response, just move on. Be nice. Keep the door unlocked from your side. Even leave it wide open. But move on. There is someone else who is more ready. You have to find the person who is ready to show more response.
If someone is willing to come to your "beef" restaurant it doesn't mean they will also frequent your "chicken" restaurant. Don't assume they will. A person could be open to attending one kind of event but not another. It is really difficult to get carry over from one kind of event to another. They probably won't tell you why they will come to your "chicken" house and not your "beef" barn.
There is much to be said on this phenomenon. But for today get used to the idea that whatever you do, some are going to like it and some aren't. When you talk to more people, more often and in more ways you will get more response. Identify those who want what you offer. Spend much less time trying to convince people they need what they don't want.
Never try to put pants on a pig. If you do the pig will get angry and you will just get dirty. How is that for introducing a third option? Would you like chicken, beef or pork? Shall we add emu to the menu?
It will never end if you invest too much time on the road of trying to convince people and not enough time on the road of identifying the people who are ready for what it is that you offer. Don't get distracted; offer what you offer; let the people decide on their own.
Some day when the conversions dribble in you will understand why they were so resistant. For not, find those who can be found and work with them.
As for me, I still just want lunch.
For some people this becomes a cosmic question. Some won't eat red meat. Some point out that it takes less vegetation to to raise a chicken than a cow and that leaves more good food for humans. Some will just count calories and cholesterol.
Me? I just want lunch.
I think of this "chicken or beef" discussion as a metaphor for what happens in church.
Someone might come to my home discovery event but not to my Sunday services. Someone might say they accept Jesus but not the church. Someone might say they like this kind of church and not that.
The other day I got an email from a man who wanted to tune me up. I have never met him. But he was quite sure from our church website that we were off base and he wanted to supply the correct information. He asked a question. So I gave him a forthright answer by email since that was the only contact information he gave. In the essence of it I think we were in agreement. But I never heard back from him. I guess I will never know. And I haven't got my fingers crossed that I will ever see him in church. Nor do I have the inclination to figure out what he wanted.
When you are starting a church you can invest way too much time trying to satisfy the chicken eaters or the beef eaters. But you won't convert many.
Try this question as a prequalifier, "If I could show you why our "beef" is a viable option to the "chicken" you had in mind, is there any reason why you wouldn't want to give us a try or at least hear our story?" If they mumble too much in response, just move on. Be nice. Keep the door unlocked from your side. Even leave it wide open. But move on. There is someone else who is more ready. You have to find the person who is ready to show more response.
If someone is willing to come to your "beef" restaurant it doesn't mean they will also frequent your "chicken" restaurant. Don't assume they will. A person could be open to attending one kind of event but not another. It is really difficult to get carry over from one kind of event to another. They probably won't tell you why they will come to your "chicken" house and not your "beef" barn.
There is much to be said on this phenomenon. But for today get used to the idea that whatever you do, some are going to like it and some aren't. When you talk to more people, more often and in more ways you will get more response. Identify those who want what you offer. Spend much less time trying to convince people they need what they don't want.
Never try to put pants on a pig. If you do the pig will get angry and you will just get dirty. How is that for introducing a third option? Would you like chicken, beef or pork? Shall we add emu to the menu?
It will never end if you invest too much time on the road of trying to convince people and not enough time on the road of identifying the people who are ready for what it is that you offer. Don't get distracted; offer what you offer; let the people decide on their own.
Some day when the conversions dribble in you will understand why they were so resistant. For not, find those who can be found and work with them.
As for me, I still just want lunch.
Powered by ScribeFire.
0 comments:
Post a Comment