What if the First Something Church of Somewhere sent people on their way with a blessing, making no attempt to recruit, or raise funds, or in any way "snag" them? Two positive caveats come to mind.
First, most of us need a positive community for our faith to grow, our hope to endure tough times, our love to mature.
Second, the community won't be there for the next person, or next generation, or need if some folks don't stick around to create a positive, vigorous base. That next person might be a spouse, that next generation might be children of the seeker, that next need might be in a friend.
So, there is some reason to recruit people whose particular search has met with success.
On the other hand, there are a couple of abusive caveats to consider.
One, folks already in the community or on the staff of the First Something Church may be stuck in a felt need to maintain the institution. William Stringfellow once said in my hearing that whenever a church seeks justice, hope, or other positive outcome and succeeds it should celebrate for two weeks and then begin opposing whatever the success is. Because, he said, the success gets institutionalized and becomes part of the "principalities" that are demonic death-carriers. Most successful churches need not apply. They are already there.
Second, institutions lose sight of the mission to offer hope, spiritual value, opportunities to explore and begin to tell people how it is and should be. They fail to evoke growth and try to force growth.
Yes, there is a place for recruiting, but the intent can be deadly.
What do you think? Leave a comment and let us know.
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