Process Versus Results

I have always been big on setting goals.  But when I was serving a particular church, it bothered me that the primary goal they always set was "to get more people in church".    Of course, that is what we all want, and is a biblically sound goal.  I could not have articulated exactly why I thought that was the wrong goal, but I always did. I knew I wanted the focus to be on how we were being the church, rather than the end result of numbers.

I just read a chapter in a book  (Christian Caregiving:  A Way of Life, by Kenneth Haugk), which clarified that frustration for me. The chapter is about the differences between process goals and results goals.  What follows is a summary of the main thoughts in that chapter, which I want to put together for my own edification.

Goals are helpful, but in Christian theology, results are primarily what God accomplishes.   We, of course, have goals to "press on toward---the upward call of God in Christ Jesus"  (Phil 3:14)   But overall, scripture directs us toward the  process of Christian living, and toward the goal of spiritual growth and renewal.  Results and outcomes are God's turf.

Rather than the bottom line of church work being about getting "more bodies",  the focus should be on the process.  Process words are:  providing, comforting, accepting, helping, relating, encouraging, communicating, sharing.

This focus is not unlike any athlete or team, who needs to concentrate on what has to be done at any given moment--guarding, passing, receiving, scoring, dribbling, blocking.  If the players focus on the championship, or the trophy, or the super bowl ring or the outcome, there is a much greater chance of losing than winning.  Victories are the results of many things being done well.

Same way with the church.  People who come will want to come back, and stay if the church does all the little things well----greeting, welcoming, accepting, informing, presenting the best worship service, or music program, or most excellent educational program.

So, Church, listen up.  To ask: How can we get more people in here is the wrong question!  Rather, ask:  How can we improve the ways we relate, invite, integrate?  How can we provide excellence in service and program?