Friday, March 28, 2008
THE ECONOMY OF TIME AND RESPECT
In the March 2008 issue of Wired magazine, editor Chris Anderson explains how "free" is the new economy and the future of business. As digital storage and processing plummet in cost the two "main scarcity functions of traditional economics--the marginal costs of manufacturing and distribution--are rushing headlong to zip." But money is not the only scarcity. The other two chief scarcities in our world today are time and respect or the "attention economy" and the "reputation economy."
In some ways the church has recognized this all along and has provided many open doors and opportunities free of charge in order to get people's attention and respect. Examples would include Vacation Bible School and Marriage/Family seminars. This is the basic "economy" of addressing felt needs in order to connect with people in hopes they will then see the beauty of Christ.
But this task is getting harder and harder as the challenge of winning time and respect gets more difficult. In the market place of ideas, images and advertising in a busy world the challenge of getting anyone to give you the time of day for a word about God is a huge barrier. The increase in telemarketing, mail solicitations and catalogs, sales attempts or charity solicitations at the door all cause one to tune out and turn off. You can't buy a pair of socks at the store without a solicitation to apply for a credit card - even if you already have one from that store! In a world where "everybody wants something from you" it is hard to get a hearing for God. My own experience is that people in our local church often don't even read the church bulletin or open mail from the church.
Then there is reputation. "Church" has a credibility problem stemming both from bad press such as moral hypocrisy in national religious figures to well-intended but poorly received individual efforts. Yesterday my wife was at the grocery store and was helped to the car by an store employee. She asked "How are you doing today?" The reply, "I'm ready for the Judgment!" That may well have been a well-intended "witnessing" but in reality it was a conversation killer.
Both issues, time and respect, are hurdles for a national campaign underway to distribute a book titled The Agony and Glory of the Cross. It is distributed free, so money is not the issue. But to expect people who are not already connected to Christianity to take the time to read and to be drawn to a book about the "agony" of the cross is an unrealistic expectation. You and I might find it interesting and appealing and we have a basis for appreciating the "agony and glory" of the cross, but why would the "unchurched" person on the street take the time to read it?
The path to overcoming the hurdle of time and reputation is personal ministry to individuals. It is for the church to be of obvious and practical value to the community. The open door that our church is exploring in ministering to kids (and by extension, to families) through service in the local schools is a way to not only "do what Jesus would do," in other words, be faithful in Christian living and service, but also to connect with people who are busy, overwhelmed by entities trying to get their attention, and often suspicious of church - or for whom a church is simply irrelevant.
The church has long had the "free" part down. Wisdom is needed in getting through the time and respect barriers.
In some ways the church has recognized this all along and has provided many open doors and opportunities free of charge in order to get people's attention and respect. Examples would include Vacation Bible School and Marriage/Family seminars. This is the basic "economy" of addressing felt needs in order to connect with people in hopes they will then see the beauty of Christ.
But this task is getting harder and harder as the challenge of winning time and respect gets more difficult. In the market place of ideas, images and advertising in a busy world the challenge of getting anyone to give you the time of day for a word about God is a huge barrier. The increase in telemarketing, mail solicitations and catalogs, sales attempts or charity solicitations at the door all cause one to tune out and turn off. You can't buy a pair of socks at the store without a solicitation to apply for a credit card - even if you already have one from that store! In a world where "everybody wants something from you" it is hard to get a hearing for God. My own experience is that people in our local church often don't even read the church bulletin or open mail from the church.
Then there is reputation. "Church" has a credibility problem stemming both from bad press such as moral hypocrisy in national religious figures to well-intended but poorly received individual efforts. Yesterday my wife was at the grocery store and was helped to the car by an store employee. She asked "How are you doing today?" The reply, "I'm ready for the Judgment!" That may well have been a well-intended "witnessing" but in reality it was a conversation killer.
Both issues, time and respect, are hurdles for a national campaign underway to distribute a book titled The Agony and Glory of the Cross. It is distributed free, so money is not the issue. But to expect people who are not already connected to Christianity to take the time to read and to be drawn to a book about the "agony" of the cross is an unrealistic expectation. You and I might find it interesting and appealing and we have a basis for appreciating the "agony and glory" of the cross, but why would the "unchurched" person on the street take the time to read it?
The path to overcoming the hurdle of time and reputation is personal ministry to individuals. It is for the church to be of obvious and practical value to the community. The open door that our church is exploring in ministering to kids (and by extension, to families) through service in the local schools is a way to not only "do what Jesus would do," in other words, be faithful in Christian living and service, but also to connect with people who are busy, overwhelmed by entities trying to get their attention, and often suspicious of church - or for whom a church is simply irrelevant.
The church has long had the "free" part down. Wisdom is needed in getting through the time and respect barriers.
