The church in the United States has a major “image” problem. Now I don’t mean the kind of problem that might be solved by hiring a marketing firm or image consultant. I am speaking of the kind of image, or metaphor, that comes to mind when people think of the church.
What are the images that come to mind when you think of church? What images do people envision when they think of the nature or essence of the church? What images do you hear people use to describe and define the church in America? Complete the phrase: “Church as . . .”
I recently asked that question on my Facebook page and I received a variety of thought provoking responses:
Church as hospital
Church as civic group
Church as social club
Church as fortress
Church as election headquarters
Church as moral compass
Church as singles’ pickup joint
Church as daycare
Michael Goheen, in his book A Light to the Nations: The Missional Church and the Biblical Story, offers a few images of his own that illustrate how we often think of the church from a consumerist perspective.
Church as shopping mall
Church as food court
Church as motivational seminar
Church as classroom
Church as theater
The point of this discussion is that we must offer alternative images and stories to capture the missional imagination of people. Otherwise, we continue to allow non-biblical, consumerist ideas to rule the day. How can we better present a picture of the church as the sent, missionary people of God? What alternative images can we offer to create a more accurate vision of the essence of the church?
One possible alternative comes from Reggie McNeal when likens the Church to an airport terminal, which is meant to connect travelers to their destination, but it is not the destination. Using another flight analogy, McNeal has compared the Church’s mission to an aircraft carrier. It’s not how many planes are stacked up on the flight deck, he said; it’s the kind of missions that are being flown.
What other images might we use today?
Photo: kthypryn
Recently, we discussed the church as a head lamp rather than a lighthouse. Our role is not simply to warn others of danger as they pass by, but to search for the lost and provide light to darkness.
Brian, I like the head lamp idea, it also speaks to being “on the move”, you don’t usually use a head lamp in a static position. It also can speak to an individual missionary effort, thanks1
It’s not the most creative or original image, but I love “Church as Family”. In my life, the church has been at it’s best when it’s been family to me, or when I have been able to be family to others.
I think when it’s at it’s worst, church is a place. Somewhere we go to get “fed” or “recharged” and then leave again.
Sadly, it seems Church as Motivational Seminar, or I would add “Inspirational Concert” is where we seem to be stuck these days…
I have to agree with family. I’ve been looking for a church with the connection that my home church has. Everyone cares about the people there. We even had someone from the church donate a kidney to someone else in the church, because they were a family there. I crave that connection again. Unfortunately, all I get is a concert, a ritual stuck in the past, and a gathering of people who don’t seem interested in me at all.
Ah, yes the inspirational concert, that is sadly true. And yes church as family is a good biblical image/metaphor. Paul uses it often along with related terms like father, brother, sister, infant, etc. Family doesn’t speak to the missionary nature of the church, but certainly speaks to the relational aspect that is very important.
I think the best way we can alter the image of church is to show the big picture. We gather at our local congregations, and some times all we see is just our church, and forget something bigger is happening all around us that is special and amazing. Show the big picture and all the preconceived images of church will soon change.
thanks for share!
Thank you for your reminder that trying to understand the mission of the Church from a consumer mindset is so dangerous.