Here is a basic law of entrepeneurial endeavors. You only begin something if you think that:
1) It doesn’t exist already
2) There isn’t enough of it already
3) You can do it better
By starting something new, we are declaring that their is a vacuum to be filled, or criticizing the existing offers. The problem isn’t noticing something is missing, it’s when we jump to the next step, and assume we know what is needed.
Many church plants begin with a desire to do church “better” or “differently.” While these are laudable goals, they make a basic assumption about your audience. If you set out to be a better church, you are limiting yourself to only reaching people who have had a church experience, and are disatisfied with it.
(…and people wonder why their church plants get taken over by bitter disatisfied church hoppers…)
When I was considering moving to Austin I met with a number of church planters from around the city. Many of them told me how I could join them in the way they were doing church differently. Another looked at me and said “If you want to plant in Austin, move out here, get rid of your Christian books, your Christian CDs and stop reading your church blogs. Move into the neighborhood with us and get to know Austin. We’ll talk about it in a year.”
Many missional endeavors are so focused on offering something different and new from what the missionary has experienced before. The problem is, this has nothing to do with the needs of their city, their neighborhood or their neighbors. They claim to be coming with a gospel, but they don’t always take the time to learn what good news is for the people all around them.
When we set out to do church differently, it’s often code for “I want to do church my way,” or “I want to be in charge.” What if we just got rid of our preconceived notions, and spent a year eating, drinking, going to movies, running, cycling and walking our dogs with the people who God has sent us to. Maybe at the end of that year, we could tell them about the good news. Maybe then it would be the good news they need to hear.
Missional Misstep: Assuming you know what your city needs.
The fix: Take some time to find out.
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