Belong - Behave - Believe? Reversing the traditional steps...

[Jono Smith]

Hi y'all,

Writing my first post on this forum feels a bit like working my first Sunday at a new church. There are invariably a whole host of "local customs" that one is not aware of, and that one must learn quickly lest he incur the wrath of the kitchen ladies... If there are any 'MASG kitchen ladies' reading this post - I apologise in advance if I (hitherto and from this point forward) offend, transgress, and otherwise infringe on the local customs and laws of this forum. Sorted.

The discussion I wish to kick-off centres on the question of how we initiate new members into our church or ministry. In the past, the mantra was "BELIEVE-BEHAVE-BELONG"...
That is, a newcomer would BELIEVE the Gospel, change his lifestyle in order to BEHAVE like a disciple should, and then he would be accepted as someone who BELONGed to the church community.

In my ministry, however, I'm seeing the reverse of those traditional steps.

For example, I run a men's ministry that reaches out to unchurched men by providing spaces outside of the church building (church is too intimidating for some, too weird for others) where men who belong to the church can bring their unchurched mates.
On Monday arvos we meet at the pub, drink beer, play pool - its ground-breaking stuff - and I've found that many of the unbelievers who come have taken the following steps...
1. They have found (in us) a group they want to belong to (they come regularly for fellowship).
2. They have modified some of their pagan behaviours (getting drunk) after they have seen our example.
3. They have then (perhaps after checking out/living out the Christian lifestyle) inquired about what is would mean for them to submit themselves wholly to Jesus and confess him as Lord (my words, not theirs!)

What do you guys think about this? I know the Emerging Church has been chanting the "Belong - Behave - Believe" mantra for a while now, telling us that it was Jesus method of discipleship.
Personally I never strategically planned for this pattern to emerge, I'm just observing how things are developing in my own ministry and I'm keen to hear your thoughts.

Cheers.

[Matt Williams]

Hey Jono,

That's really exciting ministry you're describing. It sounds fantastic to me!

I think the only thing I would want to be clear about, contra many emerging church models, is not equating 'belonging' to one of these groups and 'belonging' to the church. It is important to be clear about what commitment being a member of the church entails, and maintain it as a distinct 'thing', so people don't expect to progress into a role in the church  before they are actually converted. It certainly sounds like you are clear about that, so I don't see any major problems coming with the model you describe.

Perhaps it's helpful to think of these things in terms of "overlapping communities" - i.e. communities of mates with common interests that overlap with the church community (and happen to be organised by people from it). It seems to me that would harvest the strength of emerging church thinking without the downside. Good stuff!

Cheers
Matt

[Jono Smith]

Matt Williams wrote:

I think the only thing I would want to be clear about, contra many emerging church models, is not equating 'belonging' to one of these groups and 'belonging' to the church. It is important to be clear about what commitment being a member of the church entails, and maintain it as a distinct 'thing', so people don't expect to progress into a role in the church  before they are actually converted.

Thanks Matt, that's really helpful.
I guess we're forming these ministries ('overlapping communities') as a way of bringing people into the church community, as well as providing a training ground for our Christians to do ministry (evangelism, accountability, discipline, etc.)
I want to avoid the Emerging Church trend of meeting with 2 guys in a pub and calling it a church (it's not!) - but at the same time I want to trumpet the value of such gatherings as real opportunities for Christians to engage, for unbelievers to be saved, and of course, for God to work powerfully for His name's sake.

[angusj]

Jono Smith wrote:

What do you guys think about this? I know the Emerging Church has been chanting the "Belong - Behave - Believe" mantra for a while now, telling us that it was Jesus method of discipleship.

Hi Jono. I'll join you in making a first post here (but also confess to being an interloper from Sydney).
It's great to hear about your pub ministry. It doesn't surprise me that people now are much more comfortable with the "belong behave believe" model of coming to faith - it's very congruent with our "try before you buy" culture.

[Rachel L]

Hi Jono,

Welcome to the forum! I've been a little nervous to write too, but so encouraged to read your post that I thought I'd reply. It's great to read a ministry-focussed post - I hope there will be more of this sort of thing. Perhaps we could all share the exciting ministries we're involved in or have heard about!

Your story is just like something my Mum told me about today. At her church, there's a craft group meeting weekly at the church-run op shop. At first it was just 3 ladies, but now there are heaps of them (even one guy!) and praise God, people who are not usually involved in church have been coming along, meeting Christians and getting to know them in a non-threatening setting. Some have started going to the church, and my Mum told me one lady was baptised recently! This seems very similar to what you've described with your blokes group.

If God is working through both the Belong - Behave - Believe, and the Believe - Behave - Belong models, I think we'd do well to include both in our church ministry plans. Perhaps some people will prefer to hear about what we believe (perhaps through Alpha or Christianity Explored) and make a decision about that before they get involved in our community, while others will be on the fringe of the church for months or even years, making friends with people in the church as they slowly grow in understanding and belief.

God Bless you,
Rachel

PS I'm not sure there are any MASG kitchen-ladies, but if there are, I like muffins!

[Paul Barker]

Hi Jono
I think you should take up Rachel's point and start a craft group!
Your boss speaking!

[Jono Smith]

Paul Barker wrote:

I think you should take up Rachel's point and start a craft group!
Your boss speaking!

The only way I'll be staring a craft group is if it involves "full contact origami"
Nice one Boss.