Most everyone knows my affection I have for the Chic , I truly hold it close to my heart but I also love a good cheeseburger. And what I mean is thinly pieces of sliced onion, 2 pickles, processed cheese and the perfect combination of ketchup or catsup (depending where you live ) and mustard on a slightly toasted bun. It is mannah with an additional 1000 calories. Of course I am talking about a Mc Donald's cheeseburger.
Recently our family went to dinner at McD's and I got my usual ( 2 double cheeseburgers and a small fry) the girls ordred roughly the same thing. It took forever and the service was lousy. I am sure that I will continue to support the Golden Arches but what makes an experience at Chic Fil A so much better. Here is what I think:
1.At Chic Fil-a they say "My pleasure " see blog below
2.They get your food to you quickly
3.It is good.
4.Most importantly They are concerned about Chicken.
They do chicken strips, sanwhiches and nuggets all be it in different forms but chicken none the less. They do not do, Mc Ribs , nuggets, pancakes, Big Mac, Iced Coffee ( although I hear it is good) cheeseburgers and so on. It is so cloudy and confusing in fact I believe it shows up on the face of their employees. Chic Filet does Chicken and I would never go there for anything else but Chicken. They make it painfully simple. And they do what they do really well. There is no doubt you know what you are going to get.So now you are thinking so what, well here is the so what.
What if Church was that simple,and I mean what if we did one thing and did it really well, to the point that we became known for that one particular thing maybe in varying forms but all the same chicken. It seems to me that many churches and denominations try to become all things for all people, the problem is when you become all things are you really anything. When you are all things your focus is everywhere, your people are stressed and unclear about direction and no -one or at least only a select few really know what is happening. Service is slow and the mission is not really accomplished. A singular purpose in various form seems to me to be a better way to go. Maybe it means you go somewhere else for a cheeseburger but maybe that is ok because if that part of the body is doing what it ought to be doing that cheeseburger will be delicious, in fact you will proably tell your other cheeseburger eating friends, you have got to try this. The Church can do what it does really well.
A clairity in purpose to pin point percision allows you to know exactly where you are going or at least what you are aiming for. It allows you to make necessary steps to get there. Everyting you do gets you to where God is calling you to be, because as Andy Stanley sugests , it is about one thing what God is calling your particular church to in your particular setting and context.
I say this to say when I want Chicken I go to the Chic when I want a cheeseburge I head for the arches, maybe the Church ought to think more in that direction. Just a thought.
