Church audit failures

[Gymtech]

It breaks my heart seeing some churches not being friendly to people who are standing outside on public sidewalks filming their church.
If one where to come to my church I would make them feel welcome and invite them to attend the service.
Afterwards I would walk them through the church so they could record and tell them about our church. Our church is open to everyone.
We do have limits on what part of our learning center is available during children ministry. We require everyone to be background check so unless you are dropping off or picking up a kid you can't be in the building .
My church is very small. We do have people trained on church security. But we don't turn strangers away or make them feel unwanted.
As followers of Chirst we shouldn't be afraid of people with camera's.

[MrTokarev]

It breaks my heart seeing some churches not being friendly to people who are standing outside on public sidewalks filming their church.
If one where to come to my church I would make them feel welcome and invite them to attend the service.
Afterwards I would walk them through the church so they could record and tell them about our church. Our church is open to everyone.
We do have limits on what part of our learning center is available during children ministry. We require everyone to be background check so unless you are dropping off or picking up a kid you can't be in the building .
My church is very small. We do have people trained on church security. But we don't turn strangers away or make them feel unwanted.
As followers of Chirst we shouldn't be afraid of people with camera's.

Can you provide background for this? My gut reaction is that most ?auditors? are probably bad faith actors and trying to harm people but I?m willing to consider the position if you show examples.

[Gymtech]

Can you provide background for this? My gut reaction is that most ?auditors? are probably bad faith actors and trying to harm people but I?m willing to consider the position if you show examples.

Check out utube videos. There is one that was done this Easter. The auditors didn't do anything weird or questionable. They stayed on the sidewalk.
I don't have a problem with the churches being nervous. If people from the church decides to engage with people they shouldn't allow the bad actors to take them out of character.

[MrTokarev]

Check out utube videos. There is one that was done this Easter. The auditors didn't do anything weird or questionable. They stayed on the sidewalk.
I don't have a problem with the churches being nervous. If people from the church decides to engage with people they shouldn't allow the bad actors to take them out of character.

Can you post a youtube link? The Easter one you mention would be a good one.

Auditing a church is weird and questionable in and of itself. What is the motivation of someone to ?audit? someone else?s church?

Certainly church goers should put their best foot forward with guests. Auditors or otherwise.

[skilletboy]

Problem is this isn't really a church or Christian issue. This is an issue that people have this incorrect belief that it's illegal to record someone in a public space or that you cannot record children as well. I understand it's creepy and some of them are looking for reactions, but I agree with you mostly. We Christians are supposed to "turn the other cheek", when referring to insults and the like (not referring to self defense and actual danger). Doing good to those that mock you and persecute you isn't encouraged, it's commanded.

[BB-Stacker]

I don't understand what it is these folks who are "auditing" are actually doing. Are they videoing they congregants to see what demographics are attending? Are they videoing to see how many old vs young people are attending? Are the videoing to see how many people are going to a small vs large church?

I hear the word "audit" and I think forensic review of financial records or maybe I'm to literal in my thinking. Once you step out of your home, there should be no pretense of expected privacy, that's been well documented. Gosh, I guess I'm really too old to understand the need to make other people feel uncomfortable, especially just going to church. Sad, very sad.

[2761377]

^^^
this post caused me to actually research this phenomena. the OP was not on my radar because it doesn't happen at my church.

turns out the OP has a misinformed understanding of what is happening. bottom line, it's foolish to show these people hospitality. it's a money grab on their part. the best Christian reaction is just to be polite but distant. don't interact with them.

https://churchwest.com/first-amendment-audit/

[M1NM]

Be like the Mormons if they aren't members they don't get in.

[Gymtech]

^^^
this post caused me to actually research this phenomena. the OP was not on my radar because it doesn't happen at my church.

turns out the OP has a misinformed understanding of what is happening. bottom line, it's foolish to show these people hospitality. it's a money grab on their part. the best Christian reaction is just to be polite but distant. don't interact with them.

https://churchwest.com/first-amendment-audit/

I'm very well aware of what the auditor is doing. I agree that some are just baiting and trying to get a negative reaction.
I personally prefer to engage with people who may have a negative opinion about churches or don't believe in God.
I just watched a video were the auditor question a church member about child molestation in Christian churches. The church member replied that it was God's well.
I watch utube on my TV . Some of the videos don't show up on my phone utube. I wish that I could paste the link so everyone could view it..
I don't care about auditors baiting people. I care about the negative reactions they get from the churches.
Some people have a relationship with Chirst. Some people are religious.
I think the videos shows people for who they are...

[2761377]

^^^
so, in your opinion what is the correct answer to the question about molestation?

if you're going to engage these people, who are there to provoke and have prepared their questions to be the most offensive possible, you need to be perfect in your response. and who among us is perfect?

btw, it's not God's "well" (I presume you mean will). God does not will evil. the correct answer comes from an understanding of theology and as such will be disregarded.

they are playing a different game with different rules and goal. engaging them is giving them their win.

[Barang]

^^^ i agree. if they are there to provoke instead of searching for answer then don't engage. no answer will satisfy them because they're no looking for one. confrontation is what they're looking for.