I’ve been listening to all the news of GM closing plants and Ford’s “eleventy billion” dollar loss this week and it all sounds vaguely “familiar”. General Motors has a terrible “image” problem. The created their current image problem by complacently ignoring the threat of foreign imports. For years they cranked out bloated “oldsmobuicks” to a loyal, but aging clientele that felt socially compelled to purchase their product as long as they made slight changes every few years and continually tacked on new accessories and comfort features…GM spent much of it’s effort competing with the other American automakers and ignored the rising tide of buyers looking for a more efficient nimble product. They allowed their work force to become inefficient and their leadership bureaucratic. In the last decade they have attempted to compete with the “imports”…They actually have been cranking out some pretty sweet SUV’s and Trucks. Unfortunately by the time they began to compete the market had completely changed. People still want and need to purchase transportation…perhaps more than ever…but I just read a survey that showed that over 50% of car buyers wouldn’t ever consider buying an American Car…

I know it’s a dangerous analogy to compare evangelical Christianity to a car company…but it’s certainly raising some warning flags in my mind. Are Churches still depending on an ever-aging but loyal “clientele” to “buy” their product? Are we bloated and inefficient…out of step with the times? Have we allowed our leadership to become bureaucratic and inward focused? Have we ignored our primary “competition” for the hearts and minds of our country? What can we do about the image problem we have that causes over so many to say they wouldn’t consider church? People still need Jesus…long for spiritual direction…they are just not looking in our direction. What should we do about that?

This is still a very “incomplete” thought…I’d love to hear what you all have to add…