For centuries, the local church was the center of community life in America. In a few places it still is to some degree, especially in rural areas and small towns. The community gathers for the usual Sunday services and Sunday School, along with an occasional dinner on the grounds, family reunions, VBS, weddings, funerals, and in some cases voting. During war time or other national crises, people of the community would flock to the local church
Part of the reason for this was geographical. The church may have been the geographical center of the community and was only a short distance to travel. But maybe more importantly, the church represented the heart and soul and values of the community.
What factors have attributed to the local church not being the center of community life as it once was?
Our society has become more mobile. Once families stayed for a life time in their local community and church, but now more families move and are more spread out. Much of this mobility is job related
There are a lot more churches than there used to be. Since most families have at least one vehicle, they may pass many “local churches” to travel to another church.
As certain communities have grown, some local churches simply don’t have building space to accommodate the people. Those churches that have added or enlarged buildings are more likely to still be the center of community life.
In addition to these factors, event centers of various sizes are popping up in many locations. They are catering to people who once used the church for weddings, family reunions, and other such events.
The policies a church has for the community to use her building can discourage its use. Some charge a fee for any meeting, and the price some charge for weddings is prohibitive to many families.
Still another factor that has affected the church not being the center of community life is the fact that the common interest some share in a sports team or some other cause binds them together more than the bond of Christ in the local church. My dear friends, this ought not to be. Rather than gathering in the local church on the Lord’s Day, many chose to gather with others who are like-minded around that team, hobby, or cause in various locations.
There is one additional factor. The local church may no longer represent the heart and soul and values of the community. That should be of significant concern to all of us.
The local church ought to be the moral compass of the community. If the church is not the moral compass of the community, who will be or will there be one at all? The local church ought to be the light on the hill for her community. If the church is not that light, who will be that light or will there be a light at all? The church is be to salt for a community, preserving that which is good and right and moral. If the local church is no longer salt for the community, who will be the salt or will there be salt at all?
There was another time in the history of God’s people when the Lord’s dwelling place was at the geographic center of the community. During the wilderness wanderings, the Lord’s dwelling place was in the tent or tabernacle. Wherever it was set up, the people always camped around it, making it the geographic center of their camp. During the day, a cloud hovered above the tent, and in the evenings it was a pillar of fire. All of the Israelites were constantly reminded of God’s presence simply because of the location of the tent.
Of course the Lord does not dwell in the local church building today as He did in the tabernacle. He dwells in the lives of His people. But just as the Israelites were reminded of God’s presence simply because of the location of the tent, so in a similar way, our communities today can still be reminded of God’s presence because of the location of a church building. And in one sense, that building is a great tangible representation of the real church-the people. While some have minimized the importance of a church building in recent decades, its importance should not be diminished.
While some of these factors are just part of life and the changes it brings, some of them can be changed or eliminated, giving the local church the possibility to once again be the center of community life.
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.”
Matthew 5:13-14