I don’t know how many times I have actually had the privilege of being in the same room and hearing Reggie McNeal speak before, but I am never disappointed. He is a charismatic and straightforward communicator, leader, missional church guru and just plain fun to listen to.
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to hear him again. He captivated the room. The problem is, most everything he says normally makes me uncomfortable because he has a way of attacking my preconceived ideas of what church is really all about.
He asked the question, “How is it that American churches brought in over 100 billion dollars last year but yet the average church in America is plateaued or dying; while at the same time, Christianity in India and China is growing like crazy with little to no budget? How can that be?”
He went on to make the statement that the church does not have a mission but rather, the mission has a church.
As I have reflected on all the things Reggie said, I have been uncomfortable and I am having a hard time getting over it.
How much longer will we continue to struggle to maintain the structure we have built that we call the church, when all along, people are living and dying without the hope that only God can give?
Maybe its time to be the church outside the building and worry less about the building itself.
Just a thought!
Clay in the Hands 
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