Give Up the Gimmicks

Brian and I have long and detailed discussions about our philosophy of ministry.  

What should ministry look like?

What factors determine pastoral success?

What factors should determine pastoral success?

How is church growth measured?  Numerically?

How should church growth be measured?

What (if any) 'gimmicks' should be used in ministry to draw/keep people?

I enjoyed reading this refreshing article on The Gospel Coalition site:

Give Up the Gimmicks, Youth Pastors

Mr. Cosby writes:

All too often, youth programs have turned to entertainment-driven models of ministry in order to bring in youth. Success has become the name of the church-growth game. The devastating effects, however, are not only seen in the number of youth leaving the church after high school, but also in a spiritually and theologically shallow worldview among many American teenagers. The irony is that these same teens actually want to grow and learn hard truths. They want to know how to think about suffering, how to pray, and why Jesus had to die.

The same is true for all of the Church - senior pastors, program coordinators, etc., not just youth pastors.  Entertainment driven ministry doesn't endure - it can't compete with the real entertainment industry!

He continues:

Youth need the means of grace that God has provided his church---the local, intergenerational, community of sinner-saints---to supply both the content and the method of ministry. This is the biblical model given by Christ and witnessed in the early church, and remains, I believe, the most faithful and Christ-centered approach to youth ministry today.

Yes.  Exactly.  God, through His Word, has given churches all that they need for life transforming, people-keeping ministry.  Gimmicks can't compete with the life changing power of grace.  If gimmicks could compete, statistics probably wouldn't show that 94% of teens leave the church after high school and that 70% of 23-30 year olds don't attend church.  People (youth included) want to know how Christ changes and impacts their lives.  Life is tough - people want true, life giving answers.  Give them Christ; skip the gimmicks as Mr. Cosby suggests!