Expect more!

So I just had to share how much I love the Practicing Congregation!

I remember in Middle School that my parents talked about the kids in Confirmation class. The church was struggling over the fact that many of the kids came just for Confirmation, went to church at one of the Non-Denominational churches, and then never came back to our church after they finished Confirmation. Part of the discussion was the baffling fact (to most) that these large and growing NonDenom churches had such high expectations/requirements of the people that attended! I also remember working at a church in college and wondering why we make people take a pledge when they join, but do nothing to really hold them to that standard after they are in the church.

The dominant idea for years was put forth in 1972 by Dean Kelly in his book: Why Conservative Churches Are Growing. The conclusion was that Religiously demanding (aka strict) churches grow. Diana Butler Bass counters: "Kelley equated 'conservative' with 'demanding,' or religion that had to be engaged with rigor and purpose...No one expected that old mainline churches would - or could- ever reject the low-demand, establishment ethos of the early twentieth century." The point is that churches that focuses on an intentional faith are growing!

I love it! The studies seem to indicate what I've been feeling all along. Why don't we expect more, instead of less, from our congregation? from our new members? We seem to cheapen God's grace when we fit it neatly into our existing lives. "While still being politely mainline about it, they nevertheless 'demanded' certain things from their members - not in terms of doctrinal assent, but in terms of stewardship, spiritual growth, ministry, mission, and practice." !!!!! This is exactly what we need to be calling people to! This is exactly what we are called to!