This story of the life-saving station that became a club has become a familiar parable of the modern church. I first heard it a few years ago, and was struck by how well it seemed to describe the church as I experienced it. As it turns out, this parable dates from 1953!

Recently, I’ve been mulling this parable over, and a couple of questions have come up:

1. Is this really an accurate assessment of the trajectory of the church—moving away from focus on mission and towards accommodating members’ desire for comfort—or is it a wee bit cynical or judgmental?
2. If this is an accurate assessment of the culture of the contemporary church, what are the implications for those who love and lead the church?