Wednesday, March 8

Asking the right questions


Last night, Quest didn't have it's regular meeting. Instead, we participated in the church's informational meeting about the potential sale of the church's property to our neighbor, Wal-Mart, and relocation to another piece of property.

Most people in the church are pretty excited about the possibility. The church has been stymied for years by a lack of adequate space in our building. The sanctuary isn't big enough. We don't have enough classroom space. We don't have a big enough foyer. The church has proposed a building program that will take at least two phases before everything is done. While there is no timetable for finishing the final phase, it will certainly take years before everything is finished.

If Wal-Mart purchases the property, it will allow the church to get all of the new space it needs, all at once, and at much less cost to the church. There is every reason to be excited, and to see it as a miracle in the making.

In the middle of the excitement being expressed in the meeting, and the details being requested, our friend Alan asked an excellent question. He asked if the church leadership had considered the controversial nature of Wal-Mart's business practices, and whether or not the church should support or try to stop Wal-Mart.

The short answer was that the church tries to stay out of political arguments, and that the church leadership does not see the decision to sell or not to sell to be either a support of or statement against Wal-Mart. The decision is going to be based solely on the best interest of the church. It was also brought up that, even if Wal-Mart were bad (and this is not a given), that there are plenty of places in scripture where God used bad people or events to accomplish His work. A good example, although far from the only one, is the story of Joseph being sold into slavery.

But Alan raised a series of very good questions. What exactly is the role of the church in addressing social issues? Should the church (either the local church or the Church as a whole) weigh in on issues like this? Should the church base decisions on social concerns? How big of a role should social concerns play in the decision-making process? How do you decide?

I've thought a lot about these questions in the last 24 hours. I don't have any answers yet.

7 comments:

TheBGRT said...

Very interesting. I am curious as to how this will turn out. Please keep me up to date. If the Church does move I would like to know so that I don't go back to Elk Grove and not find LHC there.

Tim Gleason said...

"You shouldn't be treated poorly just because you got capitalism right." Maybe that's a question we need to ask.

For the last 100 years (maybe even more), capitalism and the church have been intertwined. But I certainly don't think we can say that capitalism is necessarily Biblical. Capitalism, at least modern, Western capitalism, wasn't around at the time the Bible was written.

So to what extent does capitalism match what we see in the Bible? To what extent does it seem to contradict the principles of the Bible? What do we as the church do if (where?) there is a disconnect?

I still have more questions than answers.

Unknown said...

I love Alan's heart. What a guy.

I'm a little disappointed by the response "The decision is going to be based solely on the best interest of the church". The CHURCH was not established to think of itself. But to work in the lives of others.

I don't think that selling to Wal-Mart is an excplicit endorsement of their business practices. The fact of the matter is that if LHC put up a big for sale sign in the front lawn and left it up to God; Wal Mart would probably make the best offer bid by far.

I agree with Tim in that we have to examine our hearts long and hard in the areas of motive and method. How we do what we do is just as important as the thing we do. I love you guys and will be in prayer for God's explicit leading in this expand or relocate decision. Someone give Alan a high five for me.

Tim Gleason said...

To be fair, I oversimplified the response to Alan's question. It wasn't ignored, or talked around. It led to 5 or 10 minutes of discussion. And when I mentioned the best interest of the church, those were my words. It was made clear throughout the meeting that the purpose for a move (or even expansion on the current location) is because it will give the church more space to do more and better ministry. If I gave any other impression, that was my mistake, and I appologize.

TheBGRT said...

All very interesting. I am not well versed enough to talk about the involvement and interwining of the Church and capitolism without making myself sound as smart as a rock.

I supposed all that I can say, is to echo off what has already been said by Scott and then reclarified by Tim, in that whatever descision is to be made should be for the well-being of the Church, not the church, and not for those in leadership. I know that is not the point, nor was it brought up, I mentioned it because I felt as if there is a connection, however great or small, with business dealings and those in power doing things for their own gain. Again I am not suggesting this, just puting it out there.
Hopefully you all understand what I am trying to desperately in vain to clarify, haha.

Tim Gleason said...

One of the interesting things to me is how this situation leads to all kinds of different questions.

Another thing to throw into the mix is that Wal-Mart has always been an excellent neighbor to LHC. Wal-Mart bought land from us that there was no way that we could use, because it would cost too much to make it usable for our purposes. As a result, the church was able to build the entire wing with the gym without the need for a mortgage, and the additional parking we needed without having to build a parking lot. They have been generous in donations to events and ministries at LHC. They even rent the church for their holiday party.

Whatever you think about Wal-Mart and other corporations like them (and I think informed people can take either side in that debate), I think that the relationship that has been built over the years as neighbors has to enter into the issue as well. How exactly do you do that? One more question for the list...

Unknown said...

You guys rock. It would be so easy just to take one side in a black or white conversation. Instead, you guys are willing to wade through all the shades of grey in order to find the heart of God and serve the cause of the cross. This encourages me and makes me smile.

I love you guys.

Scott