The Church and New Wineskins

Most of us have dark times in our past that make us shudder with embarrassment or pain when they come to mind. It may have been a rebellious youth, things we have done that we knew were wrong, a wilderness experience, a broken relationship for which we were responsible, or one of many other things. Providentially, as we confess them we find forgiveness at the cross, but that does not keep us from cringing inwardly when they come to mind.

The Exile

The children of the Southern Kingdom had long been disobedient to God. After being warned many times, they were finally exiled to Babylon. It was there that they began to consider their guilt, turn back to God, and a desire to worship Him was reborn. Because they did not have the Temple, they created smaller worshiping communities we know today as Synagogues. Many scholars believe that the Synagogue was developed as a worship form during the Babylonian Captivity.

To pull it together, the people of Israel were being disciplined for their disobedience. Yet, while in their “wilderness,” they began to seek and find forgiveness. Absent the Temple, God guided them to create the synagogue as a new worship structure, which they brought back with them when they returned.

The Ministry of Jesus

Hundreds of years later, Jesus had a huge following. He taught in the synagogues, healed the sick, cast out demons, and raised the dead.

Jesus had His critics. He was socializing with those whom the conservative religious leaders had rejected as social outcasts. He ate and drank with prostitutes, alcoholics, traitorous tax collectors, and others who had been disenfranchised. Jesus countered that His mission was to sinners, not the righteous. He even spoke of his ministry as being new wine; and about new wine needing new wineskins, or structures. For that reason, the new wine (His teaching) would burst the old structure (the Temple) and be lost.

However, Jesus also offered a very curious observation. He said in Luke 5:39, "No one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, 'The old is better.'" In other words, those who were part of the existing religious order had gained their wealth, influence, and power through the “old,” and would prefer the old for the new.

New Wineskins

Fast forward to the disciples in the Upper Room. Jesus had given the “about 120” explicit instructions to wait there for power. On the day of Pentecost, the new wine of the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them all; it was the birthday of the Church. A new wineskin was being filled; a new religious community was born; a new synagogue was founded. The synagogue became the new wineskin, of which Jesus was speaking, into which the new wine of the New Covenant was poured.

Just imagine! While God was disciplining the children of Israel for their sin in Babylon, He was also fashioning the Synagogue; the instrument through which the whole world would hear about salvation in Christ.

We Are the New Wineskins

Let me take this metaphor one step farther. The curtain in the Holy of Holies was torn from top to bottom, giving the human race direct access to God – to all who will believe. By extension, you and I are the true wineskins.

Think about it! God used the Synagogue, formed while the Israelites were being disciplined, to transform them and to become the new wineskin for the New Covenant. Here is the larger lesson for us. God can transform those things in our past which we have confessed, and found forgiveness into a powerful means of advancing His kingdom. God does not waste anything He has redeemed. He is in the business of making even that of which we are ashamed into instruments of His grace, mercy, and love to others if we will allow Him to do it.

What has God used in your life for His glory?

Immigration and Complex Culture

One dynamic that often gets lost in immigration demographic analysis, is that many immigrants arrive in America with little to no knowledge of cities and how they work. They often arrive from an agrarian economy, a largely homogeneous culture, or both. It is not uncommon for them to get swallowed up in exploitative situations. They can often be overwhelmed by the effects of moral relativism and the impact of Information Age technology. Without their traditional extended family, agrarian, or sometimes even tribal roots, as a support system, staying true to their moral compass can often be very difficult.

Although more seldom, the same phenomenon can also happen to United States' citizens who move from sparsely populated areas, like Appalachia or the Deep South, to the city. An additional challenge is that both of these groups are often confronted with a society that is disconnected from all they have known and loved.

The Church could be a significant help to both of these groups, particularly if they are newly transplanted. Because their comfort zone is far away, they are often open to a new support system that is safe. Find out who they are. Discover what they need. Design programs that will fill that needs and reach out to them

But there is also a third group of people that is also part of complex culture. They are those who have lived in complex culture for some time but continue to hold on to a rural mindset. They can often be found in the Church. They were never sure they liked the social effects of the Industrial Age,[i] and are certain they want no part of the immigrant aspects of complex culture.[ii]

Often, the people with such an aversion to those who are different most often base their feelings on old prejudices or misconceptions. All of this, while on average, 40% of most neighborhoods are made up of people of color. Add to that number all the people to whom the church is unattractive due to other religious affiliation, lifestyle, their generational cohort, etc.

Such scenarios are one reason a high percentage of small neighborhood churches are dying. of this increasing percentage of people who are moving into the church’s communities often feel unwelcome there. Not only that, these percentages will only be growing. Over time, it seems to me that any church that refuses to embrace and minister to the complex culture around them will slowly cease to exist.

What is your opinion?

Do you know any churches in this position?

What is your church doing to engage the cultures in its neighborhood?

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[i] The question might be asked if it was this kind of person who moved to the "suburbs" in the 60’s ad 70’s, and is still insistent that the local congregation remain "suburban."

[ii] You will find a more complete definition of “complex culture” in two postings – July 2012.

Men's Ministry Questionnaire

This survey is one of many possibilities. This one is for a men’s ministry. They can also be constructed for specific needs in the community.

One of the important functions of a men’s ministry is to create practical ways for men to help other men. This questionnaire has been put together to help us build a database to make that possible. In order to accomplish this task we are asking you for your help. By filling out this questionnaire, you are NOT obligating yourself in any way.  Here’s what we are trying to do:

1. Our cultural and economic times are impacting us all individually and together.  We sympathize when our brothers lose their jobs or have their hours or pay cut. Why not support the companies we work for to help keep those things from happening?
2. We have all acquired certain skills, abilities, and knowledge. For most of us it is also true that there are things we would like do with others who enjoy the same things, or to learn from someone who knows how to do it.
3. We believe that the capabilities we have acquired are a significant part of our personal legacy and can be shared and used for fellowship with each other and for the glory of God. Added together, we have a wide range of abilities.

Our hope is to eventually include men outside the church who are interested in being included. It could become an effective outreach tool. Please answer as completely as you can.

·         Name: ________________________________

·         Email: ________________________________

·         Age Group:   ____ 13-18      ____ 19-35      ____ 36-48      ____ 49-66      ____ 66+

·         What company do you work for? _______________________________________

·         If you are self-employed, or work for a retail or service company, please give us its address (we want to encourage the men to patronize your business: _______________________________________________________________

·         What is it you do (vocation / job)? ______________________________________

·         What are your hobbies? _______________________________________________

·         What kinds of things do you love to do? ______________________________

·         What are the favorite things you do to relax? _________________________

·         Please list any knowledge or skills you may have acquired:

o   Home repair                                                                                       _____

o   Auto mechanics                                                                                _____

o   History (and other topics of interest)                                            _____

o   Photography                                                                                      _____

o   Using helpful computer hardware                                                _____

o   Running computer software others might find useful               _____

o   Collecting (stamps, coins, baseball cards, etc)                           _____

o   Recreational sports (fishing, etc.)                                                _____

o   Other: ______________  ______________   ________________

·         Is there a skill, a hobby (stamp/coin collecting, photography, woodworking, etc.), or a proficiency of any kind you would like to learn?    __________________   ___________________   ___________________

·         Would you be interested in getting together with one or more men to pursue a hobby or activity you like to do? ___ Yes  ___ No

Please specify ______________________________________________

·         Would you be willing to help pass on what you know to someone willing to learn?

___ Yes   ___ No

What needs have you uncovered either in the church or in the community?

How can you construct a questionnaire that will pinpoint what the church can do to meet that need?

For more information and practical projects you can do to discover the make-up of the complex culture in your community, I would refer you to: Kauffman, J. Timothy. Reconnecting the Church: Finding Our Place in Complex Culture. Bloomington, IN: Xlibris, 2010. It can be purchased at Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com, the iBooks Store, and Xlibris.com; it is also in Kindle and Nook format. Check it out.

Surveys and Questionnaires

The use of surveys and questionnaires is one of the most effective methods a researcher can use to "zero‑in" on participant needs. They are especially valuable after another method (interviews, for example) has helped you develop an "educated guess" about what is needed. Webster defines a questionnaire as being, “a set of questions for obtaining statistically useful or personal information from individuals. They have an almost infinite variety, but we want to look at more simple and direct forms here.

Types of Questions

They can use either open‑ended or closed‑ended questions. An open‑ended question is one where the question leaves room for the survey‑taker to answer in complete sentences and ideas. A closed‑ended question allows the survey‑taker to answer with only one response; there options are pre‑determined and closed.

In general, open‑ended questions are easier to develop than closed‑ended questions.

Types of Questions

There are numerous types of questions available in formal questionnaires. For our purposes, we will be exploring the three major types.

1.      In closed ended questions, respondents’ answers are limited to a fixed set of responses. Some types of closed ended questions are:

o    Yes/no questions

o    Multiple choice questions

o    Scaled questions – where responses are graded on a continuum (for ex: rate the product on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the most preferred).

2.      With open ended questions, no options or predefined categories are suggested. The respondents supply their own answers. For ex: how does your organization make decisions?

3.      Completely unstructured – For ex: “What is your opinion of questionnaires?”

o    Word association – a word is spoken and the respondent mentions the first word that comes to mind.

o    Sentence completion – the respondent completes an incomplete sentence.

o    Story completion – the respondent completes an incomplete story.

o    Picture completion – the respondent fills in a conversation balloon.

As it is with interviews, good construction is critical to a questionnaire’s effectiveness. Leading questions, inappropriate questions, incorrect ordering of questions, confusing questions, or bad format can make any survey valueless.

Question sequence

·        Questions should flow logically from one to the next, and from the more general to the more specific.

·        The researcher must give care that the answer to a question is not influenced by previous questions.

·        Questions should flow from the least sensitive to the most sensitive.

·        Questions should flow from factual and behavioral questions to attitudinal and opinion questions.

·         Initial questions should be for screening and rapport. Then in the second stage you ask all the specific questions. In the final stage you ask demographic questions.

One way to check a questionnaire to make sure it accurately elicits the intended information, is to pretest it using a smaller group of target respondents.

Questionnaire Advantages:

·         It is an effective method to use when you need to quantify the data.

·         It is time‑effective for use with larger numbers of participants.

·         It yields qualitative and quantitative data, because one can use both open- and closed-ended questions.

Questionnaire Disadvantages:

·         It can be somewhat impersonal.

·         Questions may miss the true issues.

·         Some have been negatively conditioned to the value of questionnaires.

·         Those who do respond can skew results with biased data.

Conclusion:

Surveys and questionnaires can be especially useful instruments when you are trying to quantify community issues or congregational needs. If the issue in question is technical in nature (e.g. program changes, safety, community or church satisfaction, etc.), then questionnaires can help you focus in on potential needs. If, however, the issues in question involve interpersonal dynamics and/or conflict, questionnaires may not generate the type of useful rapport when training designers take time to sit down and listen to potential participants (as in interviews).

One useful rule of thumb is to use open‑ended questions (particularly during an interview) to identify, in broad strokes, the general scope of participant needs. Then, mail closed‑ended questions to the participants to test the initial scope of needs and to quantify the results as much as possible. This "one‑two" punch can be very helpful when attempting accurately to determine participant needs.