www.
So we live in a .com era. I mean really, the whole world is at our fingertips.
Just about any question you have can been answered by Google. And these personal search engines like myspace, facebook, and blogger all seem to be bringing people together all over the world. Personally I think it is great (although, I don’t have a myspace, or facebook).
And have you ever noticed that all you really need anymore to appear legitimate to the world around you is a website??
I can remember awhile back when sky harbor was just getting started people obviously wanted to know the ways in which we were going to live as a community, but the second most asked question was, “what’s your webite?”
It was as if that was sky harbor’s arrival flare.
So I guess my question is…if the church community has but a window for the world (.com) to get an idea for the ways in which as a community they are going to live, what would you want people to see…feel…or know about you?
In answering this question I have become a little sad. Sad in the fact that as I look at church websites it seems as though their main target as a window to the world is for the churched people of the world. In other words I feel like the majority of church websites that I have seen are a great place for a Christian to do some church window-shopping to see if they are interested in changing churches or seeing what the “other guys” are doing.
I think this sheds light on the reason why so many churches are growing deceptively. Churches are indeed getting bigger…but I think this growth is coming from one Christian leaving one church to attend another church (I think it is important to note that I am not saying this is the ONLY reason, but rather from observation I think that this is just one reason for this deceptive growth). And if this church growth were the affect, I think that one cause would be our churches appearance to the world through the art of websites.
Here are a few (key word) observations from various church websites…
1. I noticed that just about every church website had a “What we believe” page. Which is really good, but does a person who is not a Christian really care what your church thinks about the manifestation of God, Inerrancy of Scripture, etc...I would imagine these terms and definitions would be confusing and pointless to a non-Christian.
2. Have you ever been at a church service during the time when they take the offering?? Doesn’t it always go something like…“if you are visiting us for the first time today, we ask that you would not give us your money.” Well, I noticed that on most church websites there was an online giving icon. This leads me to believe that those churches are geared toward Christians, because if they weren’t then they wouldn’t ask for money.
3. Download sermons: I honestly don’t know why any non-Christian would want to listen to a senior pastor before they came to any church. Unless that is you are a Christian looking for another church, or you might not want to leave the church you are going to so you download the sermons of another pastor you like.
4. I also noticed that a lot of church websites love to highlight their senior pastor. Almost as though they are a celebrity and you should get to know them because it is their (possessive adjective) church.
5."Christian Jargon"...church websites often use christian jargon/lingo that when realistically looking at it, christians understand (not unbelievers). For example, the word "disciple"...maybe used in phrases like "we encourage discipleship..." To a non-believer they have no real idea what this may mean....(another word would be "devotionals")
6. also, a "really cool and visually pleasing" website is not a real representation of of the people. I can go to a church website where they have great banners, awesome images, great placement....but, I may go to their actual church and find that their leadership is off....
7. E-mail me some other observations I forgot and I will add them to this list…
These are just a few quick observations that I had…my fear is that I just sounded to harsh or sarcastic. And I want you to know that isn’t my heart at all. I really think that the church has a choice to make though. And I am wondering if we have the ability to have the world at our fingertips (literally)…why not try and intrigue the world?? I think that it is okay if you want to reach Christians. In that case all these observations above (and the ones you added) are great if you are trying to intrigue a church culture.
The people of sky harbor has made the choice to attempt to intrigue the world with our website…and please know that we have not figured it all out...but you have to start somewhere right?
I look forward to your thoughts.
heart.soul.mind.
kyle diroberts
Just about any question you have can been answered by Google. And these personal search engines like myspace, facebook, and blogger all seem to be bringing people together all over the world. Personally I think it is great (although, I don’t have a myspace, or facebook).
And have you ever noticed that all you really need anymore to appear legitimate to the world around you is a website??
I can remember awhile back when sky harbor was just getting started people obviously wanted to know the ways in which we were going to live as a community, but the second most asked question was, “what’s your webite?”
It was as if that was sky harbor’s arrival flare.
So I guess my question is…if the church community has but a window for the world (.com) to get an idea for the ways in which as a community they are going to live, what would you want people to see…feel…or know about you?
In answering this question I have become a little sad. Sad in the fact that as I look at church websites it seems as though their main target as a window to the world is for the churched people of the world. In other words I feel like the majority of church websites that I have seen are a great place for a Christian to do some church window-shopping to see if they are interested in changing churches or seeing what the “other guys” are doing.
I think this sheds light on the reason why so many churches are growing deceptively. Churches are indeed getting bigger…but I think this growth is coming from one Christian leaving one church to attend another church (I think it is important to note that I am not saying this is the ONLY reason, but rather from observation I think that this is just one reason for this deceptive growth). And if this church growth were the affect, I think that one cause would be our churches appearance to the world through the art of websites.
Here are a few (key word) observations from various church websites…
1. I noticed that just about every church website had a “What we believe” page. Which is really good, but does a person who is not a Christian really care what your church thinks about the manifestation of God, Inerrancy of Scripture, etc...I would imagine these terms and definitions would be confusing and pointless to a non-Christian.
2. Have you ever been at a church service during the time when they take the offering?? Doesn’t it always go something like…“if you are visiting us for the first time today, we ask that you would not give us your money.” Well, I noticed that on most church websites there was an online giving icon. This leads me to believe that those churches are geared toward Christians, because if they weren’t then they wouldn’t ask for money.
3. Download sermons: I honestly don’t know why any non-Christian would want to listen to a senior pastor before they came to any church. Unless that is you are a Christian looking for another church, or you might not want to leave the church you are going to so you download the sermons of another pastor you like.
4. I also noticed that a lot of church websites love to highlight their senior pastor. Almost as though they are a celebrity and you should get to know them because it is their (possessive adjective) church.
5."Christian Jargon"...church websites often use christian jargon/lingo that when realistically looking at it, christians understand (not unbelievers). For example, the word "disciple"...maybe used in phrases like "we encourage discipleship..." To a non-believer they have no real idea what this may mean....(another word would be "devotionals")
6. also, a "really cool and visually pleasing" website is not a real representation of of the people. I can go to a church website where they have great banners, awesome images, great placement....but, I may go to their actual church and find that their leadership is off....
7. E-mail me some other observations I forgot and I will add them to this list…
These are just a few quick observations that I had…my fear is that I just sounded to harsh or sarcastic. And I want you to know that isn’t my heart at all. I really think that the church has a choice to make though. And I am wondering if we have the ability to have the world at our fingertips (literally)…why not try and intrigue the world?? I think that it is okay if you want to reach Christians. In that case all these observations above (and the ones you added) are great if you are trying to intrigue a church culture.
The people of sky harbor has made the choice to attempt to intrigue the world with our website…and please know that we have not figured it all out...but you have to start somewhere right?
I look forward to your thoughts.
heart.soul.mind.
kyle diroberts
posted by Kyle DiRoberts at 4:55 PM
2 Comments:
K, you bring up some good points. ok, this is going to be a little long so pls read carefully,
There are several things that come to mind. 1. Personally, i appreciate a church being up front w/who they are. I don’t know if you’ve ever been “amway-ed” before but its an incredibly disturbing feeling when you’ve been “bait and switched”. I think this would be especially detrimental in the cases of churches. So, in a way there’s actually something very respectful about knowing what you’re getting yourself into e.g. what we believe, etc.
2. You’ve made some astute and accurate observations about how non-Christians view church websites but truth is, (hopefully I am wrong but) I personally don’t think that many non-Christians are visiting church websites. Not an excuse to overlook the issue but just an intuition. But, probably even a church as cutting edge and relevant as sky harbor is predominantly made up of Christians who were once involved or led to Christ somewhere else. I don’t have the research to back this up but I know you well enough to know that you’d agree with me that “word of mouth” from a friend still seems to be the best way to introduce a non-Christian to church in the USA., not websites.
Yet, youre right. Its generational. and as you referenced we live in a very visual culture and so yes, it is critical how churches are representing themselves to the emerging generation. You've brought up an issue that has been a tension for a long time... Is the church for Christians or non-Christians? Both.
Back in the 80s Hybels and MacArthur have fought this one out and a great case can be made for both points of view. You've now brought the issue to church websites.
Maybe churches need 2 websites. Seriously. One as a vehicle to enrich the spiritual lives of their congregations, inform them, and connect w/de-churched and un-churched Christians and a 2nd one that’s completely and totally pre-evangelistic in nature. See you at the usual. One love.
(Bobby and I spoke this morning and I asked him to post a comment because I think his thoughts concerning this post are very constructive…and I also told him that I would respond so that people could read our conversation…thanks bobby!)
Bobby,
As far as being "amway-ed"...While I can completely understand what you are saying, I don't think that was what I was trying to get at…and I also know that is not what you were assuming I was implying. I think more than anything our church websites are to Christian in language and in appearance...and from an evangelistic purpose I think it hurts churches because it feeds the predetermined thoughts that non-Christians have if/when they see church websites. You know?
And as far as non-Christians viewing church websites...I guess I would ask what generation we are talking about? Cause yeah, I don't think that very many people at SBC, Highlands, and any other modern churches look at their websites...that generation as a majority don’t know very much about computers/websites anyways. However, I think a lot of people who go to Sky Harbor, Vertigo, etc look at their churches website often. We are a website generation. I think that Myspace, facebook, .mac, blogger, are all great examples of our generation wanting to have their own space (literally) on the web. And not only do they want the space...but they want it to look good too! That is why they design and customize them so much…it is a great way for people to get a feel for who you are with out every meeting you.
While I think ideally it would be good to just have one website, I think that it is a great idea for churches to explore the possibilities of having two websites…
I love you like a fat kid loves chocolate cake!
:)
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