#10

10. The Public Perception

I'm going to start be stating the obvious, that perception is not reality.  I personally know and am involved with multiple churches who are doing virtually everything he suggests, and more, but who are still perceived negatively by the culture.   Jesus told us to expect this.  Focusing on perception rather than on doing the work of God's Kingdom here on earth is a mistake.  The only one who we need to be concerned with pleasing is God.

 

 
"We should be serving the crap out of them."

No argument.   I'll tread lightly on pointing out that this sort of contradicts the "don't expect us to serve" (#8), but in reality he's right.    

"We desperately need to be calling the schools and the city, knocking on doors, asking everyone around us how we can make their world better. When the public opinion shows 1/3 millennials are ANTI-CHURCH, we are outright failing at being the aroma of Christ."

Again, he's correct.  The Church should be seeking out many and varied means to do just what he suggests.  But our motivation should be to expand and further God's Kingdom on earth, not to try to impress millennials.

Again, from personal experience I'm pretty confident that this is happening more than he realizes. 

Solutions:

• Call the local government and schools to ask what their needs are. (See: Service Day from #3)
• Find ways to connect with neighbors within the community.
• Make your presence known and felt at city events.

I have no problem with any of these things.  I do feel like having the right motivation can make a huge difference.  I also believe that nothing that the Church does will necessarily change peoples perceptions, and that the Church needs to remain the Church and not become just another social service organization.

Ultimately what the Church has to offer is far more than alleviation of material suffering.