Heart of America Radio reports on how mystery worshipers, based on the mystery shopper concept, are critiquing churches.
That unfamiliar face sitting next to you in the pew might be more than just a visitor – he or she may be a "mystery worshipper" who will critique your church's worship service and post the findings on a popular Web site. During the past six years, volunteer "mystery worshippers" have slipped unannounced into more than 800 pews in England, North America, and occasionally more exotic locales. Mystery worshippers share their impressions and experiences on Ship-of-Fools.com.
Some reviews focus on relatively trivial details, like the quality of the coffee or the comfort of the pews. Some will take the church to task on bigger issues. "The Dumb Acolyte" reported on an African-American Pentecostal church in Boston called the United House of Prayer for All People. He didn't like the 'cult of personality' surrounding the church's spiritual leader, referred to as "Sweet Sweet Precious Precious Daddy Madison" throughout the service.
You can read more here.
You can visit the actual webpage here.
Some questions:
-What do you think of the mystery worshipper concept?
-Do you think this is beneficial to the local church or at best neutral?
-Should a Church incorporate aspects of "Corporate America" in its bid to stay relevant?
-What do you think would be some adverse affects of implementing this concept?
-Do you think this could undermine the authority given to the elders of the particular local church?
That unfamiliar face sitting next to you in the pew might be more than just a visitor – he or she may be a "mystery worshipper" who will critique your church's worship service and post the findings on a popular Web site. During the past six years, volunteer "mystery worshippers" have slipped unannounced into more than 800 pews in England, North America, and occasionally more exotic locales. Mystery worshippers share their impressions and experiences on Ship-of-Fools.com.
Some reviews focus on relatively trivial details, like the quality of the coffee or the comfort of the pews. Some will take the church to task on bigger issues. "The Dumb Acolyte" reported on an African-American Pentecostal church in Boston called the United House of Prayer for All People. He didn't like the 'cult of personality' surrounding the church's spiritual leader, referred to as "Sweet Sweet Precious Precious Daddy Madison" throughout the service.
You can read more here.
You can visit the actual webpage here.
Some questions:
-What do you think of the mystery worshipper concept?
-Do you think this is beneficial to the local church or at best neutral?
-Should a Church incorporate aspects of "Corporate America" in its bid to stay relevant?
-What do you think would be some adverse affects of implementing this concept?
-Do you think this could undermine the authority given to the elders of the particular local church?
11 comments:
I've got to say that this fascinates me more than anything. I think there are people "mystery-worshipping" at our church all the time; I call them visitors. As one of the outreach leaders in my Sunday School class, I try to survey the service we go to and will greet anybody I don't recognize and briefly chat with them.
I also don't have a problem with people posting about the service they went to; with a few exceptions, I thought their criteria were valid. I took the coffee question and pew question as tongue-in-cheek humor. Having read about a half-dozen of the reviews, I'm convinced that they do, too.
My gripe mostly centers around the "looking lost" thing. The insinuation, to me, is that if you look lost, the church people are expected to help you find whatever. If you're lost, find help, don't assume someone will help you.
I don't necessarily see this as a parallel to being a secret-shopper, though. I don't see where anybody's being paid to do this; would it be any different if I moved to a new area and in my search for a home church offered my views of the places we've visited? As I'm not familiar with the idea of church elders, I'm not sure how this undermines them when a church gets reviewed.
I take issue with the idealogy that is behind the concept. I think that it could foster a habbit of visiting multiple churches for the sake of reviewing as opposed to settling into a local church and placing yourself under the authority of the local church. I think that could further lead one to miss the purpose of fellowship and focus on the task of reviewing.
On the other hand, I think it could be a service for those who are looking for a church home and it could be a service done by those actively seeking to find a church home. I again say though, that writing a review should not be the primary purpose of visiting churches.
j razz
I just saw the comments on Willow Creek service from 2004. Sounds pretty right on to me. I agree with you that worship should be the main goal of going to church and we are to be under the authority of a spiritual leader. Now, had the board called and asked to have a stranger come so they could get an unbiased opinion on one service, I could do that. I would go to my own service somewhere and then go to one of their many many services to tell them what I see. I can't see it being a job that I would want. I already kind of have that job with my blog. I point out what churches are missing and I pray that people will challenge their pastors and elders to preach the whole Word of God! Hope your Christmas was a good one!
Here is the Willow Creek review.
Here is a response from someone who attends Willow Creek.
What are your thoughts?
j razz
I find it rather telling how many times references are made to "in a church of this size" or "in a church this big" or "with that many people" in the response.
So another question would be, is it beneficial for a church to be of such a size? Does the "attendance factor" trump everything else?
j razz
I agree wholeheartedly with your issue with this, j razz, and it's a concern I do share but didn't illustrate in my initial comment. While I only randomly sampled the reviews, most of them seemed centered around going there to worship; if that were to change and not be the primary reason for them attending, then I would take issue as well.
Concerning the Willow Creek review: the thing that sets this review apart from the many of the others is the fact that the reviewer never just flat out says "this isn't the type of place I can worhip." He's obviously not comfortable or has a chip on his shoulder with mega-churches; he could have been having a bad morning, too. Nevertheless, these are things he should have revealed, as opposed to assuming the reader would know what his preferences are. In short, I think it's just bad writing and communication on his part.
Concerning the response: this guy comes across as if his church is the end-all; remarks such as "If you are looking for a personal relationship with Jesus and you can’t find it at Willow Creek Church than that is on you," nearly make me nauseous. Certain churches just don't cut it for some people, and that's ok; instead of shaming somebody - "that's on you" - encourage them to find Christ and a church that allows them to pursue Him.
His response sounds exactly like one I got a while back when talking about Willow Creek. It seems to some people that size validates the message. The fact there are so many people there makes it a great church regardless of what is preached. The weekend services are geared towards those seeking and the midweek services are more for the true Christian. So in other words, if you go to a weekend service, you will not be fed by God's Word, but you will be entertained in hopes that you will come back during the week to learn more. How sad! After listening to Bill Hybels say this past summer how their programs are not working, I would think he would be changing his ways. My understanding is that they still have not changed their formats yet. Personally, I prefer a smaller congregation. I hold no grudge against large churches, John MacArthur has a large church and it is very effective! It is all about what the sermon is and if it was exposited correctly! (if exposited at all)
I think the Willow Creek visitor definitely had an agenda as he said he wanted to confront someone about his ability to marry only in MA and that was only made an available option as of recently.
As for large churches, I really struggle with that concept. Here is where my struggle lies. If you have a large congregation, how do those placed in authority over them oversee them well? They will at some point have to give an account before the Lord our God and they will be judged more harshly as they were teachers, pastors, leaders. With that oversight comes the responsibility of knowing those for whom you will give an account. How can an elder/pastor/overseer give an account for 300 people let alone 3,000?
Our church has 4 elders (we are a Southern Baptist Church: Cornerstone Community Church) and our membership is 137 and we have a weekly attendance of 200+/-. Even with the 137 members it is still not an easy task to oversee. If we get much bigger, we will look at starting a second church- even second services pose problems due to the divisiveness of it. A local body of believers is to be just that- a body not a split personality.
So, when it comes down to it, I struggle with the concept of large churches as I have to wonder how they are doing oversight and church discipline and how they are doing it well knowing that the Lord's promises are true and they will one day have to stand before the Lord and give an account of their actions. Of course expository preaching is great, but oversight is a big part of it too.
j razz
good points! I agree with you in regards to oversight. And the sad part is that too many of these large churches have elders who are nothing more than ushers who help you get seated. I have sat in large churches to have not a single elder approach me. I purposely approached them because I wanted to know more about the church and they offered very little info for me. I also agree on the church discipline part of it, of course, how many churches big or small do you see that actually do church discipline? Seems like no one wants have a biblical church anymore. I pray your church is following the bible in all you do! Keep up the good work!
One of the things our church tries to do is to not skip over hard teachings such as discipline and say, "that is just too difficult to implement and if we get it wrong then we will surely offend and it is just to risky". On the contrary, we would rather practice such teachings and get them wrong and repent than to never try to carry out such teachings of the Lord. You see, if we never attempt to follow through with the commands He has given us, we are in sin. At least if we try, we know that there is a possibility that we are doing what is required of us. If we mess up, we repent and ask for forgiveness.
Now, you have to read between the lines on some of that as I am not saying that we recklessly move foward with all types of obscure biblical practices, but I am saying that a staple of a healthy church, such as discipline, should not be neglected out of fear of offense. If it is not practiced, you have to wonder if the church is really a church at all as they are disobeying the Lord each and every day it is not utilized.
Brian, you should take a listen to some of our sermons that are online. I think they will meet you where you are at. We preach through the books of scripture. Currently Chad Davis is preaching through the book of Romans. Before him was Lee Tankersley (who is now off studying for a PhD and will return to us in about another year and a half. Both are excellent preachers. Be sure to pick one from each... I would be curious to hear your opinion. Each sermon is about 50 minutes long.
j razz
Thanks! I will listen to them. Although, since I am at work, they would probably prefer I wait till I get home!!!! Will probably check them out this weekend.
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