You Don’t Have to “Join” Imagine Church

When you become part of Imagine Church, you’re not joining a club.  Have you ever wondered why we don’t have membership?  Here’s why.

1.  Jesus didn’t die for a club.

Jesus introduced a brand new movement based around this simple command:  “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”  But something changed.  Now, many churches focus on their own needs.  The mission is comfort and security; a country club minus the golf course.  This is not true of all churches, of course, but it is a general declaration of the American church culture which Imagine Church has simply chosen to resist.

2.  Clubs pour time and resources back into themselves.

People in clubs expect resources to be used on them and their needs.  But the church should never use most of its resources to feed internal programs and events.

3.  Clubs value comfort and security.

This is why you pay to enter clubs. You want to feel safe and comfortable.  But often this is more rooted in the country club mindset rather than in God’s direction.

4.  Clubs keep conversations in the shallow end of the pool.

Clubs are not venues to share feelings, disappointments and struggles.  Clubs keep conversations in the kiddie pool.  “How ’bout them Cowboys?  What about the stock market?  Will Trump be the next President?”  This is a club mentality.  The church of Jesus Christ should value transformative community.  We should bear one another’s burdens.  No one should walk the road alone.  No one.

5.  People in clubs want to make their club the biggest, brightest one around.

Being a club is about competing.  Why is this a competition, American church?   The church of Jesus Christ should view growth through the lens of people coming to know Jesus.

6.  Clubs only invite people into their lives who look like them.

Clubs value likemindedness.  The church of Jesus Christ should value diversity.

7.  Clubs are divisive and argumentative.

Insiders believe their way of doing things is THE way.  This is a dangerous trap.  When the focus shifts away from Jesus, the level to which you will become divisive has no end.

8.  People in clubs value keeping everyone happy.

Clubs hate losing members, so they cater to every need.  If Joe is unhappy about this change, the club caters to him.  If Jill is unhappy about that change, the club caters to her.  Most churches today equate unity with happiness.  Unity does not mean you keep everyone happy.  Unity means you keep everyone focused on Jesus.

This is why Imagine Church doesn’t see itself as another club.  Love, grace, and truth are the standards by which we view our ministry in the world.  I like those standards. They feed the tendency to accept and love rather than the tendency to become judgmental.

Clubs don’t like change.  Clubs do things the way they’ve always been done.  What we’ve discovered is that making disciples and refusing to change are usually at odds with one another.  So when you come to Imagine Church, don’t think you’re being invited to join another club.  I hope you understand.

You’re being invited to join a movement.

(Thanks to Frank Powell of Churchleaders for the idea behind this post.)