Sensitivity to cultural issues has become an absolutely essential
role in evangelism as it relates to church guests, Will McRaney told Southern
Baptist church leaders recently.
Sensitivity to cultural issues has become an absolutely essential
role in evangelism as it relates to church guests, Will McRaney told Southern
Baptist church leaders recently.
A lack of guest sensitivity may mean guests will feel out of
place and less likely to return, warned McRaney, associate professor of evangelism
at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and co-founder of Ministry Enhancement
Group.
Also, a lack of sensitivity could mean that church members
will be less inclined to invite friends, and new Christians may not understand
what is taking place in a worship service, McRaney said.
“New Christians sometimes fake an understanding of what
is going on in the service, or they may quit coming to church altogether, thinking
that they just dont get it,” McRaney said.
Welcoming guests without making them feel awkward or embarrassed
and explaining insider church language can be sensitive gestures that make people
want to return to church, he said.
McRaney listed reasons a church should want to be sensitive
to guests.
He noted that:
There is a desire for people to understand the
message of the gospel.
There is a desire for people to experience God
and Christian fellowship.
There is a desire for people to return to the church
as they seek to find God.
The Bible speaks of Christians taking care of strangers
and not just taking care of themselves.
The Bible models sensitivity, such as when Paul
limited the churchs behaviors.
Jesus engaged lost people in public settings.
Jesus modeled teaching from the known to the spiritual.
Sensitivity can demonstrate that the church cares,
respects, honors and loves seekers.
Sensitivity demonstrates that the church planned
on lost people being present.
Sensitivity makes people feel wanted.
Lost people do not understand our language and
may have no Christian background.
Areas of guest sensitivity may include greeting persons in
the parking lot and upon entering the building, as well as providing directional
signs, McRaney said.
Elements of worship, musical style, service length, attire
and announcements all have the potential to be inviting or to help persons decide
they will not return to the church, he cautioned.
“Make a decision every time in the interest of the guest,”
he suggested. “If you consistently fail to do that, you are giving up the
mission of the church. Leaders should keep the church on mission, reaching and
discipling lost people.”
McRaney listed suggestions to help churches become guest sensitive.
They include:
Pay attention to local cultural norms and local
environment.
Get feedback from guests in the best possible way
for your culture.
Talk with members about why they are or are not
inviting guests to church.
Avoid insider jokes and most insider announcements
during services.
Tape the service and have key leaders watch
and evaluate it.
Enlist guests and outsiders to evaluate the service
from their perspective.
Evaluate the words in the messages.
Make the easy adjustments first.
Have something in the service that is of value
to lost people and new Christians.
Use the term “guest,” not “visitor.”
(BP)