Do churches kill community?

Just read a great article by John McNight called, "Why Servanthood is Bad" (originally published in The Other Side magazine in 1989).
His main premise is that many churches and many service organizations actually hurt community when they focus on people's deficiencies and insist on bringing in service systems rather than community and capacity. These organizations employ "professionals" to come into a community and solve problems. He says that what this actually does is it weakens neighborhood organizations. He calls them "community busters".

As pastors and leaders we must reject systems that ignore, devalue or marginalize the human assets of a community. True community transformation happens from the inside out not the other way around. McNight states that we must therefore "never do for others what they can do for themselves".

After being burned in Kenya, Peru, East Dallas, West Dallas and other places . . . some of these lessons that McNight espouses are sounding more and more true. Its a shame that in our exuberance and passion we could actually hurt communities. What if we had done a more careful study of how to transform communites instead of just pushing our evangelistic agenda? What if we had actually asked the people what they needed and how the problems could be solved? What if we had recruited them in the process of finding and implementing a solution. We would have had more local ownership, more long-term results and solutions.

Despite our youthful impetousness, God still worked in us and through us. Even when we make frail or powerful attempts the wrong way, the wrong time and the wrong places . . . .the Spirit moves. That doesn't excuse our ignorant ways but it does comfort us . . . it does bring peace to a heavy heart.

A friend told me once that we learn much more from our failures than from our successes. So true. I have failed time and time again . . . may I listen and be ready to change!

So leaders, pastors and missionaries . . . lets be a little more strategic in our campaigns . . .let be a little more humble and ready to listen rather than talk.

Lord, forgive us when we think we know more than others. . . Lord forgive us when we think we have the answer . . . Lord forgive us when we refuse to collaborate and rather go solo than work in community . . . Lord forgive us when we give too much credit to the experts, to our strategies and to the extravant. Forgive us when we judge the rich and the poor alike. . . when we sneer at ignorant and hypocrites. Forgive us when we laugh at traditionalist and trendy too.

As John Baillie wrote, "Let me never think eternal Father that I am here to stay. Let me still remember that I am a stranger and pilgrim on the earth. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come. . . Do not let the happiness of this day become a snare to my too-worldy heart. . . .making peace more peaceful and joy more joyful and faith and hope more secure. AMEN.