Club, Church or Crowd?

I only want to pastor a church. A church is both personal and powerful. It expresses both intimacy and impact. It is an authentic Christian community that effectively reaches out to unchurched people.

On the other hand, I'm not interested in leading a club, or a crowd. A club is a Christian community that doesn't reach out effectively (intimacy without impact). A crowd reaches out, but lacks community (impact without intimacy). A church is more concerned than a club, and more connected than a crowd.

I once had a lady take exception to CTK’s emphasis on effectively reaching out to unchurched people. She said, “the church is for believers, not unbelievers.” I had to disagree. The church is not for believers. It is believers. The church (Greek ecclesia: “called out ones”) is who we are. But to say that the church is “for” us (as in “intended for” us) is to say that God called us out for our own sake. This is circular and contrary to Christ’s marching orders in Matthew 28:18-20. To organize the church for the benefit of it’s members is tantamount to purchasing a hammer “so that I have one to hold in my hand” instead of “so that I can build things.” When it comes to the church, Christ is interested in building something. Ministries that do not engage in making more disciples of Jesus Christ become inward focused, resembling a club more than a church.

When a ministry becomes effective in reaching out to lost people, but does not maintain an authentic Christian core, it can become a “crowd” instead of a “church.” If you get a bunch of people in a room who have no connection to each other, you have a crowd. If you get a bunch of people in a room who have connection to each other, you might have a church.

The "big idea" of Hybrid Church is the fusion of intimacy and impact - melding the best of club and crowd dynamics. In your experience is this balance between “community” and “outreach” difficult to maintain in the church? Why? Do they have to compete?