I have been involved at a country club three times in my life. The first time was under my parents’ membership while I was growing up. The second was as an employee serving as the assistant to the golf pro. The third was at an affordable club I found in Louisville a few years back. Let me just say, I have an affinity for golf!
I’ve also grown up in the church and have been a pastor of several churches over the last 12 years. Let me say, with all her blemishes and imperfections (of which I am a part), I love the church!
Is Your Church a Country Club?
Having been a part of both as well as studying the North American landscape, I think for many Christians it’s easy to confuse country club membership to church membership. In this two-part blog, I want to highlight eight identifiers that your church might be a country club.
Keep in mind that Jesus didn’t die for the church to be a country club. Jesus died and rose again for the church to be a commissioned conduit to take the good news to the ends of the earth!
With that in mind, here are four identifiers that your church might be a country club, in part 1.
First, your church might be a country club if the goal is to keep members happy.
A country club is a service provider. For many, they provide golfing, swimming, tennis, dining, and entertainment services. Thus, if their services don’t appeal and appease the members, they will soon experience a decrease in membership.
As a result, if members complain about the conditions of the locker rooms, the quality of the greens, the attire of the staff, or the taste of the food, country clubs will work to rectify the problem. A club’s future and sustainability is fueled by the satisfaction of the members.
A church, on the other hand, is a mission vehicle …
Or, jump to Part 2…
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