Other
"Thinking Drafts" and writing by Keith Drury -- http://www.indwes.edu/tuesday .
Quick Reference List... for Why New Ideas
around the church WON'T WORK.
Somebody's always suggesting new
ideas around the church, like adding on to the building, or switching Sunday
school to after worship, or changing the times of services. No sooner than such
ideas surface, objections swarm up like spring mosquitoes. In order to proceed
in a more orderly and organized manner, why don't we all begin expressing our
reasons for why these new ideas won't work by simply citing the objections by
number, as in, 'I'm against it because of 11, 26, and 44.' Just think of the
time we'd save!
1. It's not in the budget.
2. I need more time to think and
pray about it.
3. What we're doing now is working just fine.
4. I know a church who tried it and it didn't work.
5. They never had to do that in Bible times.
6. We don't have the power to act on that.
7. Let's assign it to a study committee.
8. Some of our best givers would oppose that.
9. It's a good idea, but several years ahead of its
time.
10. This sort of thing could cause a reaction.
11. It might work in California, but not here.
12. The older people would never accept it.
13. It would never produce any tithers.
14. We've done OK all these years without it.
15. We couldn't do it until we have a new building.
16. It is too expensive.
17. It could ruin our carpet.
18. The timing's just not right.
19. Let's not be the first to try it.
20. Let's put it on hold for a while.
21. I need to see more details before I can vote on I.
22. It's too charismatic.... (mainline, Mormon, etc. )
23. It doesn't fit in with our long range plan.
24. Some of our newer people won't like it.
25. I don't see any long term value in it.
26. That's what we hire the pastor for.
27. We'll lose people; why I know several...
28. It doesn't fit the culture of the people around here.
29. Good idea, but we're just not ready for it yet.
30. Our people are already overworked.
31. It doesn't jive with our mission statement.
32. Our church is too small to try that.
32. Our church is too big to try that now.
34. Jesus didn't have to do that to minister.
35. There are people who will stop tithing if we do it.
36. There's just not enough time.
37. In a larger city that might work.
38. Perhaps it would work in a rural area, but not here.
39. Our facilities just couldn't handle it.
40. It's too much change too fast.
41. I think all we need is to do what we're doing better.
42. It needs done, but we're not the ones to do it.
43. Let's let it marinate for a few months.
44. The trend right now is exactly the opposite way.
45. Everybody's not on board yet.
46. Our people are stretched too thin.
47. Our people have been asked to give too often.
48. The woman's group would be against it.
49. This could be divisive.
50. We could get sued.
So what do you think?
To contribute to the thinking on this issue
e-mail your response to Tuesday@indwes.edu
By Keith Drury, 1997. You are free to transmit, duplicate or distribute
this article for non-profit use without permission.