Think Outward

By Jerry Harris

“We will do whatever it takes to reach people who are far from Jesus.” To focus outward means that the church’s primary concern is the people outside its walls and influence. It means that the church’s assets; its money, its talent, its time, and its facility are used up reaching into that group. Every church will tell you they have an outward focus. They know that Jesus’ great commandment and great commission are clear about it. The painful reality is that even though churches would claim to be outward, their activity, teaching, finances, ministries, and even architecture tell a different story. 

There is a gravity that pulls the church inward where the concerns are for those inside its walls. Church budgets show that most of the money spent is directed to the saved. The building is filled with classrooms used only an hour or two a week. The songs chosen for worship are the ones church people know and love. Church boards and by-laws are designed to keep it that way, being weighed down with bureaucracy and tradition. Any changes to reach out in new ways are quickly squelched by the status quo. The fact that very few unfamiliar faces appear in church is a constant reminder of missing the mark. Many of these traditional churches are so afraid of how change would affect the usual that they would rather curse the darkness than venture out into the darkness and light a candle. I know that I’m being hard on the inwardly focused church, but after spending 11 years pastoring one, I think I understand why they are the way they are.  

For an outwardly focused church, the competition is not the other churches in the area. The competition is every other available use of time. For people outside of an intimate, personal relationship with Jesus Christ, Sunday is a great day to sleep in, read a good book, or spend time with family. It’s an opportunity to get chores crossed off the list or recover from last night’s hangover. An outwardly focused church confronts the question, “Why would I give up these other things to come to church?” Is there something more valuable there that would justify me spending some of the most important currency I have—my time? 

The church and especially its leaders have to make a daily commitment to get in the shoes of the 80 percent, the subset of our communities that don’t attend church regularly. We can’t lose touch with how the world looks and feels in their shoes. If you are a Christian, you may have never had an Islamic experience. How would you feel driving into an Islamic Center’s parking lot? What would it be like walking through the door? How would you be viewed? Where should you go? How should you conduct yourself? These are some of the same questions going through the minds of the 80 percent. No doubt the defenses would be up. We need to create an environment where defenses come down. The 80 percent also have a set of presuppositions of what a church looks and feels like. Turning down the lights gave the 80 percent anonymity. Raising the volume allowed them to experiment with singing without others hearing them. Extending the invitation time gives people the opportunity to come forward and do business with God without anyone bothering them. When defenses come down, Jesus comes in. In the process, a new dynamic will emerge. The 80 percent will risk inviting their friends. I think we forget that those of us who have been Christians a while have probably already invited most of the people we know. Once your church breaks through into the 80 percent, big things are going to start to happen.