What If We Told The Bored Ones Not To Come To Church?

I’m currently enjoying three months of severance/sabbatical time. Which means for the first time in 17 years, I don’t have to be at a worship service on Sunday morning. Instead, I’m getting out in the world and seeing what the majority of the general population is doing while worship goers file into a sanctuary.

Yesterday, I went to Starbucks. It was fun. I got my coffee, perched myself at a small table near the corner, and simply observed. It was a steady stream of customers, almost all individuals or couples. Most looked dressed for sports or recreation. Only two out of dozens looked like they could be dressed for worship.

But more so than appearance, what struck me was the vibe. Many were laughing and sharing a casual moment with a friend. Others were enjoying a quiet time of solitude, either reading or just observing the world around them, like I was. A few were engrossed in intense conversation. 

Most importantly, no one looked bored or stressed. They were all here by choice, because going to a coffee shop is what refreshes them on a morning off. Granted, this same refreshment happens for many people at church. Seeing friends, stimulating conversation, or a moment of quiet solitude are all ways I enjoy time at church when I’m not leading it.

But it’s not that way for everyone. Next time you`re at church, take a mental note of how many people seem to be refreshing themselves, and how many seem bored or wanting to be somewhere else. It`s a mixed bag, and as church leaders, we typically see the bored ones and try to create ways to interest them in the service.

But what if we took a different approach? What if we welcomed the ones who wanted to be there, and encouraged the others to go back out into the world and find a place that does refresh them: a coffee shop, a nature trail, or perhaps even their own back porch?

How would that change what we do on Sundays and the rest of the week? How might that lessen the anxiety and desperation that is slowly creeping into our congregations as the world shows up for our services less and less?