Growing up in Eastern Iowa in the late 1980s, it was big news when a major motion picture began filming a baseball movie on a family farm. In the movie, Field of Dreams, a mysterious voice is heard from beyond: “If you build it, he will come.” As the story unfolds, the lead character plows under his crops mid-growing season to build a baseball field. Then from out of the cornfields beyond centerfield appeared a historic team from baseball lore.
The cultural impact of Field of Dreams was significant. Visionary leaders seized upon the infamous movie line and adapted it for their own organizations: “If you build it, they will come.” Even pastors and churches adopted the mantra as ministries scaled bigger and better programs and church facilities, trusting in the idea that new and bigger would attract more people. To some extent, this approach seemed to work! As churches engaged in expanding and improving their ministries and facilities, more people were attracted to it and began engaging with churches in news ways.
Despite these successes, there were also unintended consequences. Fast forward two decades and churches discovered that what once worked was no longer working. Successful ministries needed to be constantly refreshed and renewed with the latest and greatest programs or building renovations to keep people coming. A consumer mentality crept into the church as church attendees began “church shopping” and congregations felt the urge to “compete” with one another.
Church growth began to feel like chasing after a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. How many churches “built it” but the people did not come? While God certainly used the church growth movement, we now recognize the ways it detracted from an authentic faith journey of following Jesus.
What if the church adopted a new mantra based upon an old idea: “If you love them…” How would you complete that sentence? What do you think the result of sharing Jesus’ love might be? For me it would be this: “they will know they are loved by God.” I believe that God is calling us to shift our focus from building better programs and facilities just to entice people to come to the church to hear the Good News towards equipping and mobilizing the people of the church to love people and engage in Gospel mission in their everyday lives. #LoveWorks2024
