Here is a diagnostic test from Tim Chester to use in order to determine if your community is based on performance or grace:
Is your community a community of performance or a community of grace? Try these diagnostic tests …
Communities of Performance Communities of Grace
the leaders appear sorted the leaders are vulnerablethe community appears respectable the community is messy
meetings must be a polished performance meetings are just one part of community life
identity is found in ministry identity is found in Christ
failure is devastating failure is disappointing, but not devastating
actions are driven by duty actions are driven by joy
conflict is suppressed or ignored conflict is addressed in the open
the focus is on orthodoxy and behaviour the focus is on the affections of the heart (allowing people to think they’re sorted) (with a strong view of sin and grace)
In performance-oriented churches people pretend to be okay because their standing within the church depends on it. A ‘sorted’ person is seen as the standard or the norm, and anyone who is struggling is seen as sub-standard or sub-Christian. In this kind of environment to acknowledge that you’re struggling with sin is difficult and distressing.
Well, which is it for you? I have been a part of a Performance community for a long time. I tried within that structure to create a community of Grace and there was a culture clash.
What about you?
again, hat tip to Vitamin Z.