Most of us on the East Coast aren’t familiar with In-N-Out Burger, a California-based fast food chain. You can read more about it here.
The stores are known for their simple, focused menus. You won’t find a chicken sandwich or a taco salad, for example, at any In-N-Out Burger. Instead, it’s all burgers all the time.
So I love the philosophy of founder Harry Snyder:
“Do one thing and do it the best you can.”
Music to my ears.
See, most churches tend to operate like the “family” restaurants you see with signs advertising “Chicken, Steaks, Seafood, Italian.” That sign is a giveaway that the restaurant underneath it won’t do any of those things very well.
In the same way, churches usually try to offer a wide array of programming, seeking to meet any expressed (or imagined) need. The typical result? By doing everything they guarantee they won’t do anything with excellence. Complexity breeds mediocrity.
So at Good Shepherd, we keep emphasizing simplicity. For years, we were a “large menu” church; now we want to emulate the In-N-Out Burger model. While we can’t do only “one thing,” we can do just a few things.
And do them the best we can.
There are 9 comments
Unfortunately, this could also be interpreted as get them in and out as quickly as possible with little contact and interaction versus family style where it’s come sit awhile, take your time, we want to get to know you.
Hadn’t thought of it that way. Of course, another food example is Ruth’s Chris — all they do is the steak and nothing but the steak.
Same principle, different dining experience.
Talbot
That’s great if you can afford Ruth’s Cris … AND like steak.
What if you are a vegetarian?
I guess you will go hungry.
What about Chik Fil-A? They only do chicken!
PLUS, no one can not “afford” church. It’s free!
I guess the point was that doing “steak” the best it can be done is great.
Unless you were coming to GS for the “chicken”.
Too bad .. your out of luck!
The other thing about In and Out is that they use US Beef, without additives and chemicals that other brands use. They also give abundantly to church fundraisers and many youth groups here go there for a quick meal, over most any other place.
I’m sorry, is someone actually writing commentary based an a literal menu? If there is no chicken, or vegetarian friendly option, you find the option that fits YOU. If I am to understand the initial metaphore, it is that churches today, driven by the need to increase membership or make a congregation feel ‘included’ miss the oppotrunity to foster genuine spiritual growth and purpose due to a fragmented (at best) messege.
I agree, and I don’t really like church. I have attended many and feel that whether you agree with a doctrine you have to aplaud, respect and maybe even attend a church with a focused purpose.
Variety leads to mediocrity in a great many places churches nedd not be one of them
The original post is advocating that simplicity and focus is the correct path to excellence within the church. Talbot used the In-N-Out metaphor to support this position. In looking at this metaphor, I think we neglect to see that a “Family Style” restaurant can be successful too. They succeed BECAUSE they serve a variety. Not everyone has the same tastes or dietary needs.
And as well, not everyone is in the same place in their walk with Christ. The church NEEDS a variety of ministry and missions to help us with our journey. The church NEEDS a congregation with diverse ideas, personalities, gifts and talents.
God gave us unique gifts and talents to serve Him. Why would you think that excellence can only be achieved when we use the gifts of the collective congregation of GS in a “cookie cutter” approach to ministry and mission?
How about if we move to another metaphor? Do you think it would be possible for a player to win Wimbledon, or the US Open if the only thing they excelled at was a killer backhand? What about The Slice? Topspin? Forehand? Serve?
I never went to seminary. I also never played tennis, so some of these views maybe a bit simplistic. I do believe that excellence can be found everywhere; you just need to know how recognize and develop it.
There are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. -1 Corinthians 12:6
Again, nicely said. With a tennis reference, no less!
Let me take metaphor out of it.
This church already HAS a wide variety of missions and ministry opportunities. So do most churches.
But we’ve got to exercise real caution in taking on new ministries or emphases. We know what we want to do: invite people to faith, help them be filled with the Holy Spirit, encourage them to grow in the Word, and then create opportunities for them to serve. All the while teaching them to be loving in their closest of relationships. That’s what we’re about and we want to harness the energy, creativity, and diversity of the people to help make those things happen.
I believe there is a world of difference between “cookie cutter” and focus. We don’t want “cookie cutter” people — goodness, we’ve got folks from 30 different countries who come here — but we want to focus our energy on what is eternally important.
It’s why we’re not a pumpkin patch, restaurant, clothing consigner, or pine needle retailer. We’re a church, and it’s hard enough to do that well wihtout getting distracted into other areas.
In recent months, the move towards focus and simplicity has helped our Sunday series become stronger and also made our Pathfinder group ministry exponentially more effective than the scattered approach we used to have. We’re hoping for the same with First Serve.