The Church and Late Adopters

Yesterday on my blog (www.waylonbailey.com), I explained the concept or early, middle, and late adopters. You will find that this paradigm is very helpful in understanding people and society as a whole but especially helpful to understand a church congregation.

You can find the article by going to www.waylonbailey.com. I would appreciate your subscribing to my blog (it’s free and easy to do) so that I can communicate with you about church, leadership, and applying God’s Word to our lives.

Here is the point about Early, Middle, and Late Adopters.

We all adapt to change or adopt change either early, late, or in the middle. As you might expect, most of us are middle adopters. Only a relatively few people are early or late adopters.

This helps us understand what we are going through as we regather. Early adopters showed up last week for our regathering (and were early to the worship service!) Some middle adopters also came.

Over the next few weeks or months, other middle adopters will show up as well. As they feel comfortable, they will return.

Late adopters may take quite a long time to return. In fact, some may become never-adopters.

(Obviously, this does not explain everyone’s decision because or age and pre-existing conditions.)

How do we deal with each of these?

First, we recognize that none of these is right and none is wrong. They are simply responding in the way (for the most part) they are wired. I might be an early adopter in one area and a late adopter in another.

Second, we must all let others be who they are, even if they frustrate us in certain ways.

Third, we must treat others as we want to be treated. We call this simple command of Jesus “The Golden Rule.” Attitudes that display Jesus’ teaching certainly are “golden.”

Fourth, we must recognize that we doing something we’ve never done before. It is difficult for us all. As we put ourselves in the place of others, we begin to see how they feel and what they are experiencing.

Finally, we must seek to honor God in all our ways and in all our attitudes. We must do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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One Response

  1. My family and I went back for the first time last week. We were welcomed to open doors and smiles hidden by masks. Look into someone’s eyes and you can tell if they smile!! My family and siblings sit together so we gathered and went in all together we were spaced out and felt safe. My younger child said he felt good about attending church again and can’t wait to go back next week. Thank you for all of the caring thought you and the pastoral team put into welcoming us all back.

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