As Geoff and I were just there last night, we mused briefly about Yogurtland as a bad metaphor for church. The missional church has come a long way from the consumer model... but I wonder if there aren't still some similarities between the way that we participate in our missional communities and the way we engage a Yogurtland.
Here's what I mean...
At Yogurtland, you serve yourself. You clean your own hands. You grab your own bowl. No attendant is forcing you to make up your mind by asking, "are you ready to order?" Take as long as you need to be ready. No coersion. Your indecision inconveniences no one. If you're not ready to partake and engage, others simply go around you.
On any given day, there are a dozen flavors to choose from. If you're not sure if you'll like a flavor, you can pick up a little paper cup and sample something to see if it dances on your tastebuds like you thought it might. You can choose from flavors like cheesecake, huddles / discipleship groups, blue lychee bliss, missional order / house gathering, chocolate twilight, eucharist / worship, apricot tart, or post worship barbeque.
Once you've decided on your flavors, you choose your own portions. You take as much or as little as you think you might be capable of digesting. You can choose multiple flavors, or stick with just one thing. Some days, that might be a bit of everything, filling the bowl to overflowing... other days, your appetite might be small and you can only take in a couple ounces.
After you've chosen your yogurt, you walk by the toppings. There, you'll find extras like blackberries, scripture memorization challenges, weird fruit flavored gelatinous balls, and short-term missions trips. Again, take only what looks appealing and mix and match as much as you like.
Finally, you're ready to weigh your creation. You pay only for what you take. During this whole process, you've been carefully selecting only what you've been willing to pay for, realizing that every delicious bite has a price.
When you come to the register, you're finally aware of the presence of a few bi-vocational pastors scurrying about the store... usually 3 or 4. One has been monitoring the toppings, making sure that everything is fresh and inviting. Another has been out wiping tables, disposing of trash left behind, and interacting with the customers if necessary. You know there is at least one person in the back, attending to the yogurt machines, but you're not really sure who it is because they remain hidden during your visit. Lastly, someone tells you how much you owe and receives your contribution to keep the store running in exchange for what you've received.
After you've enjoyed the taste explosion, delivered by a quality pink or green spoon, and been dazzled by the clever touch of strawberries bobbing in the chilled water dispenser, you're ready to go and tell all of your friends about the magic of Yogurtland... where you rule.
What do you think? Do people view your missional community as a Yogurtland? Or as Stone Soup? Or as something else entirely? Are we still believing the individuals rule? Or are we submitting to the mystery of the stone that unites the pieces?
