What do I mean by "Church Seasons"? I'm referring to particular chunks of time in church history. There are many ways to divide church history, but as I listened to a summary of the three ecumenical creeds recently, I realized that the church has had an interesting historical flow that may relate to mission outreach--and the hesitance to reach out--during our era of church history.
An initial season of church history can be called a season of doctrine. For the first 800 years or so of the Christian Church's existence, teachers asserted ideas that were opposed to Biblical orthodoxy. Marcion didn't like anything Jewish, so he started to slice sections out of the Bible. Montanus advocated adding to the Scriptures through the revelations of his ecstatic prophets. Valentinus promulgated Gnostic teachings. Arianism led to the first ecumenical council in Nicaea in 325 A.D. There are plenty more, but you get the idea. Biblical orthodoxy was being defined in response to unscriptural teachers. Ecumenical councils were convened. Doctrine was being sorted out.
The next season to develop was a season of corruption. The institutional church became a place of power and control. Political and Ecclesiastical lines became blurred. Human traditions and inclinations supplanted Biblical mandates and emphases. The church was a mess. Money, sex, and power became the prevailing themes within the church. It was an ugly season.
The third major season of the church was a season of reformation. While many voices of reformation cried out during the season of corruption, Martin Luther stands out as the person who led a season of reform in the church. Luther sought to bring the church back to the Bible and back to the cross of Christ. It was a season of refocusing on God's will, His ways, and His gifts.
The season of reformation led to another season of doctrine. As the new phenomenon of protestant movements and denominations developed, departures from the historic teaching of the Scriptures came on the scene. The church wrestled with the definition and nature of the sacraments, teachings on millennialism, the nature of church and ministry, and more. Some older heresies resurfaced and caused the church to wrestle anew with ancient issues. Stretching into the 1800's and 1900's everything from Biblical liberalism to the development of false "Christian" groups presented the church with doctrinal challenges.
This second season of doctrine fueled another season of corruption. Religious charlatans, money-focused televangelists, and a sexual scandal laden Roman Catholic priesthood mark our present era. In addition, a desire for fame, power, and control in the church taints and distracts from the Christocentric aim of the body of Christ.
So, as one of my professors used to say, "Cui bono?" In other words, "To whom for good?" "What's the point?"
Here's the bottom line:
- While all these seasons happen to some degree all the time in the church, we are living in a time poised for another season of reformation. Will this mean a recovery of the mission of the church? Will it mean a return to authenticity versus institutionalism? I don't know, but we are moving toward reform.
- When the rumblings of reformation begin to happen, the people caught up in the season of corruption believe that change equals heresy instead of reform. This is very important. Corrupt church leaders try to cast Biblical and Gospel reforms as doctrinal errors. This is done to prevent change and to maintain control. The Roman Catholic Church excommunicated Martin Luther on doctrinal grounds. Instead of adopting a spirit of repentance based on an honest look at the Scriptures, the church in Luther's time did not want to surrender control and, therefore, misinterpreted reform.
It is important that we do not make the same mistake. The big question is: Can we recognize when change is true reformation and welcome it with a spirit of repentance?
What changes in the church today are moving us back to the cross of Christ? What changes are bringing us back to what the church was designed to be by its head, Jesus?
We're running into a season of reformation. We need to watch carefully.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Who's Story?
Time Magazine's Millennium Edition rated Martin Luther as one of the most significant people in the past 2000 years. We would tend to agree. Why? Was it because of his courageous action? Does it boil down to German pride? Hermann Sasse asked these questions in his book Here We Stand. His conclusion? We don't worship a hero. We don't celebrate heritage. In fact, Luther and the Reformation are not stories of human triumph or theological development. Sasse cited "the profound conviction of Luther that church history is not a history of what human beings have done, but a history of what the living and mighty Word of God has accomplished in its course through the nations of the world" (p.184).
This is all about the Gospel. This is not our story. It is God's story.
In The Message paraphrase of Romans 4, Eugene Peterson expresses the first part of verse three ("What does the Scripture say?") as: "But the story we're given is a God-story."
By God's grace, we are living in His story. This has powerful implications for mission and ministry--implications that follow the pattern of Luther's life.
What does being in God's story do?
Being in God's story creates in us to zeal for the Word of truth versus concern about personal status. Luther gave up his standing in the church and was willing to give up his life because the true Gospel was too important to compromise. Luther was not nitpicking about traditions. He knew that people would be lost eternally if the Gospel was not given free course. He understood that the light of Jesus Christ could not be placed under a bushel. The news of salvation by grace alone could not be blockaded by traditions of men. It could not be diminished into meaninglessness by the distracting and destructive "add-ons" of human tradition and contrivance. The main thing was the Word of life, and the Word of life had to get out into the world. God's story needed to prevail.
Being in God's story also grows in us a sense of servanthood verses a quest for control. As the institutional church sought to crush Luther, the Reformer focused on helping people understand and share the Gospel. Papal pawns worked to reinforce the control of those in command, but Luther continually brought people back to the Word of God. What gifts did God give? What was His calling? What is His mission? How is God dislodging us from our plans and preferences in order to serve Him and His people? Being in God's story leads us to be faithful script followers not commanding playwrights.
Finally, being in God's story leads us to expansive vision versus self-centered shortsightedness. I recently heard two pastors discussing which of them could get a certain church planter for the new missions they wanted to launch. What a refreshing conversation! The "competition" between these churches was all about new outreach. The energy of these pastors was being devoted to Kingdom multiplication. Instead of internal squabbles or a comparison of how each church was doing, an expansive and contagious Kingdom vision was taking hold. Being in God's story means the Church has an exciting future.
Who's story are you living? Through the shed blood of Jesus on the cross and His resurrection from the grave, you're given the gift of a God-story. Live it well.
This is all about the Gospel. This is not our story. It is God's story.
In The Message paraphrase of Romans 4, Eugene Peterson expresses the first part of verse three ("What does the Scripture say?") as: "But the story we're given is a God-story."
By God's grace, we are living in His story. This has powerful implications for mission and ministry--implications that follow the pattern of Luther's life.
What does being in God's story do?
Being in God's story creates in us to zeal for the Word of truth versus concern about personal status. Luther gave up his standing in the church and was willing to give up his life because the true Gospel was too important to compromise. Luther was not nitpicking about traditions. He knew that people would be lost eternally if the Gospel was not given free course. He understood that the light of Jesus Christ could not be placed under a bushel. The news of salvation by grace alone could not be blockaded by traditions of men. It could not be diminished into meaninglessness by the distracting and destructive "add-ons" of human tradition and contrivance. The main thing was the Word of life, and the Word of life had to get out into the world. God's story needed to prevail.
Being in God's story also grows in us a sense of servanthood verses a quest for control. As the institutional church sought to crush Luther, the Reformer focused on helping people understand and share the Gospel. Papal pawns worked to reinforce the control of those in command, but Luther continually brought people back to the Word of God. What gifts did God give? What was His calling? What is His mission? How is God dislodging us from our plans and preferences in order to serve Him and His people? Being in God's story leads us to be faithful script followers not commanding playwrights.
Finally, being in God's story leads us to expansive vision versus self-centered shortsightedness. I recently heard two pastors discussing which of them could get a certain church planter for the new missions they wanted to launch. What a refreshing conversation! The "competition" between these churches was all about new outreach. The energy of these pastors was being devoted to Kingdom multiplication. Instead of internal squabbles or a comparison of how each church was doing, an expansive and contagious Kingdom vision was taking hold. Being in God's story means the Church has an exciting future.
Who's story are you living? Through the shed blood of Jesus on the cross and His resurrection from the grave, you're given the gift of a God-story. Live it well.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
How Are You Struggling?
Has my life been perfect? Have my days been problem free?
Because I'm a pastor, some people have thought that my life-journey has been smooth sailing the whole way. It's not true. Just as the world groans, each one of us groans inwardly as we await restoration from the Lord (Romans 8). Life is difficult and challenging.
The question is not whether or not you will struggle. The question is HOW will you struggle. When challenges come calling, when difficulties test your heart and soul, when temptations knock on your door, when life isn't very good, how will you respond?
Will you struggle poorly? Will you give in to the blowing winds of the world? Or will you struggle well? Will you see the new pathways of redemption, grace, and strength Jesus provides?
I've received some very positive feedback about my new book, "Struggle Well." God is using it to reach deeply into the lives of His precious children. The book is being offered at a special discounted price on Amazon.com. If you'd like to order a copy, click the link to the right of this article to access links to purchase the book.
During a season of the year that brings many struggles, get equipped to Struggle Well.
Because I'm a pastor, some people have thought that my life-journey has been smooth sailing the whole way. It's not true. Just as the world groans, each one of us groans inwardly as we await restoration from the Lord (Romans 8). Life is difficult and challenging.
The question is not whether or not you will struggle. The question is HOW will you struggle. When challenges come calling, when difficulties test your heart and soul, when temptations knock on your door, when life isn't very good, how will you respond?
Will you struggle poorly? Will you give in to the blowing winds of the world? Or will you struggle well? Will you see the new pathways of redemption, grace, and strength Jesus provides?
I've received some very positive feedback about my new book, "Struggle Well." God is using it to reach deeply into the lives of His precious children. The book is being offered at a special discounted price on Amazon.com. If you'd like to order a copy, click the link to the right of this article to access links to purchase the book.
During a season of the year that brings many struggles, get equipped to Struggle Well.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
It's Going to Be Okay
One mission, one message, one people.
Witness, mercy, life together.
Do you see a similarity? The priority is telling what we have seen and heard, being all about God's mission, bearing witness to Jesus. The outward action is connecting people with the Gospel through word and deed, sharing the message, showing and speaking the mercy of God. The solid foundation is the community of faith, the church, God's people, our life together.
When our focus is truly on the mission of God given in the Scriptures, changes in leadership or the tweaking of programs do not move us away from what we are called by God to do.
This is the beauty of a Biblical church.
Personal agendas and axes to grind may be floating around the periphery of the mission. Quests for power or desires to control may simmer beneath the surface of personalities involved. Ministry emphases may be articulated and prioritized in different ways. In the mix of it all, some personalities will be more abrasive than others. But if the Word runs the show, the head of the body, Jesus Christ, will prevail. His Church will move forward.
Of course, we must be good and attentive stewards of the mysteries of God. We are called to unity, kindness, forgiveness, and love. But we do not have to be afraid. As the Bible says, "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline" (2 Timothy 1:7). By God's grace, we are equipped to move forward with strength--even in the midst of change and turbulence. Hebrews 10:39 declares, "But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved."
In His grace and mercy, God moves us forward in His mission. With humility and gratitude, we are called to run the race set before us as servants of the risen Savior. We need to be on guard and always be watchful, but we do not have to be afraid.
God's mission is going to be okay.
Witness, mercy, life together.
Do you see a similarity? The priority is telling what we have seen and heard, being all about God's mission, bearing witness to Jesus. The outward action is connecting people with the Gospel through word and deed, sharing the message, showing and speaking the mercy of God. The solid foundation is the community of faith, the church, God's people, our life together.
When our focus is truly on the mission of God given in the Scriptures, changes in leadership or the tweaking of programs do not move us away from what we are called by God to do.
This is the beauty of a Biblical church.
Personal agendas and axes to grind may be floating around the periphery of the mission. Quests for power or desires to control may simmer beneath the surface of personalities involved. Ministry emphases may be articulated and prioritized in different ways. In the mix of it all, some personalities will be more abrasive than others. But if the Word runs the show, the head of the body, Jesus Christ, will prevail. His Church will move forward.
Of course, we must be good and attentive stewards of the mysteries of God. We are called to unity, kindness, forgiveness, and love. But we do not have to be afraid. As the Bible says, "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline" (2 Timothy 1:7). By God's grace, we are equipped to move forward with strength--even in the midst of change and turbulence. Hebrews 10:39 declares, "But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved."
In His grace and mercy, God moves us forward in His mission. With humility and gratitude, we are called to run the race set before us as servants of the risen Savior. We need to be on guard and always be watchful, but we do not have to be afraid.
God's mission is going to be okay.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Discovering Your Faith Language
I had the privilege of serving at a Christian camp over the weekend. Even though I was there to teach, I learned so much more. As it happens so often, God placed before me the remarkable stories of His work among His people.
As I spoke to these dear and faithful servants of Jesus, I heard them speak about their trials and challenges in a "faith language" that inspired me and led me closer to the Savior. It made me wonder if workers in the harvest field need to discover and develop their "faith language."
I'm not talking about preaching. I'm talking about using language that shows you remember God's work. I'm referring to the natural references you make to your Savior who promised to be with you always. I'm thinking of language that reflects your trust in God who hears your prayers and knows your needs. Over and over the Psalms make reference to declaring to the assembly what God has done: "Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders" (Psalm 107:32).
When people are assembled and you're talking about your life, are you making sure God has his rightful place in the story? Or are you leaving out the most important person?
At camp, I heard men talk about how God walked with them and taught them as they navigated the difficult and stressful world of business. I heard couples talk about Jesus' presence in the midst of cancer diagnoses and treatments. I heard some tough dudes utter statements that told of changed lives and eager ears awaiting the voice and guidance of the Lord. I heard moms talk about how they were eager to make Christ's difference and how this world is nothing compared to the glory of heaven.
It was faith language. It was natural. It was winsome. It communicated a real and present God, a good God, an active and living God. It caused me to want to know Him more.
What if you practiced your faith language this week? What if you made sure to include your Savior in your conversation? What if you let the assembly know who the main character of your story really is?
Just think, instead of figuring out an evangelism technique or getting nervous about sharing a testimony, you could simply speak in faith language that glorified God and showed the people in your life that He's the real deal and that they can know Him too.
Will you try it this week?
As I spoke to these dear and faithful servants of Jesus, I heard them speak about their trials and challenges in a "faith language" that inspired me and led me closer to the Savior. It made me wonder if workers in the harvest field need to discover and develop their "faith language."
I'm not talking about preaching. I'm talking about using language that shows you remember God's work. I'm referring to the natural references you make to your Savior who promised to be with you always. I'm thinking of language that reflects your trust in God who hears your prayers and knows your needs. Over and over the Psalms make reference to declaring to the assembly what God has done: "Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders" (Psalm 107:32).
When people are assembled and you're talking about your life, are you making sure God has his rightful place in the story? Or are you leaving out the most important person?
At camp, I heard men talk about how God walked with them and taught them as they navigated the difficult and stressful world of business. I heard couples talk about Jesus' presence in the midst of cancer diagnoses and treatments. I heard some tough dudes utter statements that told of changed lives and eager ears awaiting the voice and guidance of the Lord. I heard moms talk about how they were eager to make Christ's difference and how this world is nothing compared to the glory of heaven.
It was faith language. It was natural. It was winsome. It communicated a real and present God, a good God, an active and living God. It caused me to want to know Him more.
What if you practiced your faith language this week? What if you made sure to include your Savior in your conversation? What if you let the assembly know who the main character of your story really is?
Just think, instead of figuring out an evangelism technique or getting nervous about sharing a testimony, you could simply speak in faith language that glorified God and showed the people in your life that He's the real deal and that they can know Him too.
Will you try it this week?
Monday, August 23, 2010
The Pretty-Ugly Factor
Honda and Toyota came out with some redesigned vehicles recently. These Japanese automakers used to be lithe and nimble in design, production, and sales. Vehicles were inexpensive and reliable. In fact, they were beautiful. They were pretty automobiles. But since the car companies have grown and expanded, some quality glitches have surfaced. And some of their designs are downright ugly.
The same thing happened to GM, Ford, and Chrysler in the course of their history. For a while, the American automakers churned out some ugly vehicles. Bloated versions of the Ford Thunderbird and Chevy Impala appeared in the '70's and 80's. Cadillacs looked like boats on wheels. Remember the Pontiac Aztek? Yikes!
American automakers seem to be coming back with some sleek designs these days, but what gets into a company to become ugly? Can the church learn anything from this swinging pendulum? Let's try:
First, the car companies took the easy road of tweaking what exists instead of inventing something new. The result can be very ugly. In the church, tweaking routines and old ways can happen for a while, but keeping the old around for too long will result in something that people view as irrelevant and meaningless. Car companies will always make cars, and the church should always reach people with the unchanging Gospel of Jesus Christ. But never inventing new ways to reach out with the Good News of Jesus adds up to laziness. Never creating innovative ways to communicate the Gospel will hurt the work of the church. It's ugly.
Second, the car companies became out of touch with people. They lived in denial. Instead of considering people's genuine needs and feedback, they plowed ahead as institutions with blinders on. They were big ships that resisted the blowing winds of change. The church must listen to people. True, it can't be blown around by the winds of untruth and relativism, but it has to hear what people are saying. The church must know how people are hurting and where the world is sending them. If the church really listens, it can bring God's truth to peoples lives in a vibrant and powerful way. That's a beautiful thing.
Third, the car companies drifted into valuing survival over service. They let the bottom line of profits erode their focus on people. Once a local church is born, the tendency to focus on survival becomes an enticing false god. Staying in "business" can replace the risk-oriented, life-sacrificing spirit of laying it all on the line for Jesus and His Kingdom. A survival spirit will take the heart and purpose out of an organization. If the church forgets that it is here not to be served, but to serve and give its live as a ransom for many, it will become an ugly, bloated, beast.
Fourth, the car companies lost the joy in their work. They cranked out products. They kept the lines running. But they let the joyful art of automobile design and creation slip from their grasp. All over the Bible, the church is described as the Bride of Christ beautifully adorned. God bestows a crown of beauty on His redeemed. The feet of the one who brings good news are beautiful. God's work is not a joyless grind. Lives are being changed for eternity. If the people of the church lose their joy so the "assembly line" can keep running, something may need to change. Purpose may need to be revisited. The living Word may need to be inwardly digested. Reaching out may need to be rekindled. Why? Because God's Church is a beautiful thing!
(Church Planting Series, Part forty-three)
The same thing happened to GM, Ford, and Chrysler in the course of their history. For a while, the American automakers churned out some ugly vehicles. Bloated versions of the Ford Thunderbird and Chevy Impala appeared in the '70's and 80's. Cadillacs looked like boats on wheels. Remember the Pontiac Aztek? Yikes!
American automakers seem to be coming back with some sleek designs these days, but what gets into a company to become ugly? Can the church learn anything from this swinging pendulum? Let's try:
First, the car companies took the easy road of tweaking what exists instead of inventing something new. The result can be very ugly. In the church, tweaking routines and old ways can happen for a while, but keeping the old around for too long will result in something that people view as irrelevant and meaningless. Car companies will always make cars, and the church should always reach people with the unchanging Gospel of Jesus Christ. But never inventing new ways to reach out with the Good News of Jesus adds up to laziness. Never creating innovative ways to communicate the Gospel will hurt the work of the church. It's ugly.
Second, the car companies became out of touch with people. They lived in denial. Instead of considering people's genuine needs and feedback, they plowed ahead as institutions with blinders on. They were big ships that resisted the blowing winds of change. The church must listen to people. True, it can't be blown around by the winds of untruth and relativism, but it has to hear what people are saying. The church must know how people are hurting and where the world is sending them. If the church really listens, it can bring God's truth to peoples lives in a vibrant and powerful way. That's a beautiful thing.
Third, the car companies drifted into valuing survival over service. They let the bottom line of profits erode their focus on people. Once a local church is born, the tendency to focus on survival becomes an enticing false god. Staying in "business" can replace the risk-oriented, life-sacrificing spirit of laying it all on the line for Jesus and His Kingdom. A survival spirit will take the heart and purpose out of an organization. If the church forgets that it is here not to be served, but to serve and give its live as a ransom for many, it will become an ugly, bloated, beast.
Fourth, the car companies lost the joy in their work. They cranked out products. They kept the lines running. But they let the joyful art of automobile design and creation slip from their grasp. All over the Bible, the church is described as the Bride of Christ beautifully adorned. God bestows a crown of beauty on His redeemed. The feet of the one who brings good news are beautiful. God's work is not a joyless grind. Lives are being changed for eternity. If the people of the church lose their joy so the "assembly line" can keep running, something may need to change. Purpose may need to be revisited. The living Word may need to be inwardly digested. Reaching out may need to be rekindled. Why? Because God's Church is a beautiful thing!
(Church Planting Series, Part forty-three)
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Hall of Fame
I watched the Hall of Fame induction speeches on Saturday. The theme of each speech was remarkably similar. Each football player recounted how impossible it seemed for him to one day play in the NFL. Speaker after speaker told of their upbringing in poor, working class neighborhoods; in single-parent, disadvantaged surroundings; in an environment that pulled them toward rebellion or despair; in a situation that systematically told them "you can never have a better life." But there they stood, miracles of human beings. Some gave glory to God and praised Jesus. Others sighed in relief and disbelief that their lives were now being cheered by a throng of fans on a sultry night in Canton, Ohio.
I watched. I listened. I saw a picture of heaven.
As I sat in awe at the athletic accomplishments of these men and as I listened to the ups and downs of their lives, I saw that they were being enshrined in spite of their imperfections and in the face of the walls of impossibility that stood before them. Poverty, bad influences, poor decisions? They were being enshrined. Failures, imperfection, stumbles along the way? They were being enshrined. Good games, bad games, bad press, good press? They were being enshrined. On that evening in that place and at that time, their lives were being lifted up. In that moment, they were all good. Everything was just right. Grace covered the blemishes, and their achievements were bigger than life, projected on the giant screen behind them.
I thought of Jesus' dialogue with believers at the heavenly enshrinement in Matthew 25: "Come you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."
The "sheep" responded: "When did we do all this?" Jesus told them, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
In other words Jesus enshrined a bunch of lowly, disadvantaged, fragile and failing people. He made their lives all good. Everything was just right. Grace covered their blemishes and their achievements were bigger than life. They were now in God's Hall of Fame.
This applies to you, of course. But it also applies to the people you meet and are with. As a servant of Jesus, you will meet many broken, dysfunctional, hard-to-get-along-with, unreliable, vacillating, insecure, poor-decision-making people. You will get frustrated and be tempted to push them all out of your life. You will be tempted to give up all hope when they don't get their acts together in a timely or efficient way. You will be tempted to lash out when they hurt you or let you down.
But remember, these are God's Hall of Famers. One day, on that Great Day, if these hobbled human beings stumbled along with a shred of faith, they will be enshrined. Their lives will be lifted up. Everything will be good. Grace will have covered their blemishes and they will be celebrated by the throngs of heaven.
That's what God's redemptive gift of His Son has accomplished. Sin-cold corpses have been raised up to stand on the victor's podium. A bunch of nothings will be celebrated as the greatest somethings.
When you feel like you're wasting your time on persistent problem people, press on. You're rubbing shoulders with God's Hall of Famers.
(Church Planting Series, Part forty-two)
I watched. I listened. I saw a picture of heaven.
As I sat in awe at the athletic accomplishments of these men and as I listened to the ups and downs of their lives, I saw that they were being enshrined in spite of their imperfections and in the face of the walls of impossibility that stood before them. Poverty, bad influences, poor decisions? They were being enshrined. Failures, imperfection, stumbles along the way? They were being enshrined. Good games, bad games, bad press, good press? They were being enshrined. On that evening in that place and at that time, their lives were being lifted up. In that moment, they were all good. Everything was just right. Grace covered the blemishes, and their achievements were bigger than life, projected on the giant screen behind them.
I thought of Jesus' dialogue with believers at the heavenly enshrinement in Matthew 25: "Come you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."
The "sheep" responded: "When did we do all this?" Jesus told them, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
In other words Jesus enshrined a bunch of lowly, disadvantaged, fragile and failing people. He made their lives all good. Everything was just right. Grace covered their blemishes and their achievements were bigger than life. They were now in God's Hall of Fame.
This applies to you, of course. But it also applies to the people you meet and are with. As a servant of Jesus, you will meet many broken, dysfunctional, hard-to-get-along-with, unreliable, vacillating, insecure, poor-decision-making people. You will get frustrated and be tempted to push them all out of your life. You will be tempted to give up all hope when they don't get their acts together in a timely or efficient way. You will be tempted to lash out when they hurt you or let you down.
But remember, these are God's Hall of Famers. One day, on that Great Day, if these hobbled human beings stumbled along with a shred of faith, they will be enshrined. Their lives will be lifted up. Everything will be good. Grace will have covered their blemishes and they will be celebrated by the throngs of heaven.
That's what God's redemptive gift of His Son has accomplished. Sin-cold corpses have been raised up to stand on the victor's podium. A bunch of nothings will be celebrated as the greatest somethings.
When you feel like you're wasting your time on persistent problem people, press on. You're rubbing shoulders with God's Hall of Famers.
(Church Planting Series, Part forty-two)
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Genuine Theology
There's a lot of talk in the church about talking about theology. Theology is a fine subject. Martin Luther elevated theology (the study of God) as the head of all subjects. He said, "Whatever we may do, let us see to it that we do not lose the Bible but read and preach it! When theology flourishes, everything goes on happily; for theology is the head of all branches of knowledge and the arts."
Theology is a worthy pursuit. It is the core of the mission of God and, therefore, the center of the mission of the Church. But there is a danger. Not all conversation claimed as theological is really about theology. Someone may assert that he is discussing theology when, in reality, he is not discussing the things of God, but the things of man.
Jesus rebuked Peter when his theology went the way of man. After Peter confessed Christ as the Messiah, the disciple went on to try to keep Jesus away from suffering, death, and resurrection. Jesus responded, "Get behind me, Satan! You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men" (Mark 8:33).
Peter thought he was talking theology. Jesus let him know that theology can easily drift into an anthropological gutter when placed in the shaky hands of sinful men.
Even Luther realized this danger. He said, "The proper subject of theology is man, guilty of sin and lost, and God, who justifies and is the Savior of sinful man. Whatever in theology is sought or argued outside this subject is error and poison."
As you venture into the high calling of bringing lost people the Good News of the Savior, you are immersing yourself in theology. But there will be people around you--even people in the church--who claim that your theology is secondary to the "real" theological issues they want to talk about.
Be on guard against such theological misdirection.
Putting lost humanity and the Savior God on the back burner, servings of pseudo-theology may be placed before you. Debates about music, church adornments, vestments, worship style, ministry titles, structure, hymnals, uniformity in practice, and the like will be served up as theological conversation. But this is not theology. Dare I say that even some debates about communion practice and the pastoral office are not in the realm of genuine theology.
Oh, it can be worthwhile to discuss these subjects. But, too often, human pride can commandeer god-subjects and elevate them even above the cross of Jesus Christ, above real theology. No one would admit this affront to the cross, but if someone spends more time thinking, talking, writing, and debating about anthropological issues, where is his heart?
Paul cautioned believers in Colossians 2:8, "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." Why? Because theological misdirection will pull us away from the cross and away from God's mission.
I hear a lot of talk about who's breaking worship rules, how pastors are supposed to dress, how worship services are to be outlined, and why some pastors and congregations are to be looked at with suspicion and disregard. But I don't hear a whole lot of genuine theological conversation. What if we discussed our obedience to the Great Commission? What if we discussed our personal alignment with the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5)? What if we talked about our ministry of reconciliation and our adherence to Christ's command to forgive and to love each other? What if we discussed what it means to have a Christ-like attitude in light of Philippians chapter 2? What if we debated how the church can grow and develop as the light of the world (Matthew 5)? What if we discussed how the Word of Christ can dwell in us richly as we teach and admonish one another with all wisdom (Colossians 3)?
What if we minimized anthropological smokescreens and pride-filled platitudes and started to venture into genuine theology?
(Church Planting Series, Part forty-one)
Theology is a worthy pursuit. It is the core of the mission of God and, therefore, the center of the mission of the Church. But there is a danger. Not all conversation claimed as theological is really about theology. Someone may assert that he is discussing theology when, in reality, he is not discussing the things of God, but the things of man.
Jesus rebuked Peter when his theology went the way of man. After Peter confessed Christ as the Messiah, the disciple went on to try to keep Jesus away from suffering, death, and resurrection. Jesus responded, "Get behind me, Satan! You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men" (Mark 8:33).
Peter thought he was talking theology. Jesus let him know that theology can easily drift into an anthropological gutter when placed in the shaky hands of sinful men.
Even Luther realized this danger. He said, "The proper subject of theology is man, guilty of sin and lost, and God, who justifies and is the Savior of sinful man. Whatever in theology is sought or argued outside this subject is error and poison."
As you venture into the high calling of bringing lost people the Good News of the Savior, you are immersing yourself in theology. But there will be people around you--even people in the church--who claim that your theology is secondary to the "real" theological issues they want to talk about.
Be on guard against such theological misdirection.
Putting lost humanity and the Savior God on the back burner, servings of pseudo-theology may be placed before you. Debates about music, church adornments, vestments, worship style, ministry titles, structure, hymnals, uniformity in practice, and the like will be served up as theological conversation. But this is not theology. Dare I say that even some debates about communion practice and the pastoral office are not in the realm of genuine theology.
Oh, it can be worthwhile to discuss these subjects. But, too often, human pride can commandeer god-subjects and elevate them even above the cross of Jesus Christ, above real theology. No one would admit this affront to the cross, but if someone spends more time thinking, talking, writing, and debating about anthropological issues, where is his heart?
Paul cautioned believers in Colossians 2:8, "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." Why? Because theological misdirection will pull us away from the cross and away from God's mission.
I hear a lot of talk about who's breaking worship rules, how pastors are supposed to dress, how worship services are to be outlined, and why some pastors and congregations are to be looked at with suspicion and disregard. But I don't hear a whole lot of genuine theological conversation. What if we discussed our obedience to the Great Commission? What if we discussed our personal alignment with the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5)? What if we talked about our ministry of reconciliation and our adherence to Christ's command to forgive and to love each other? What if we discussed what it means to have a Christ-like attitude in light of Philippians chapter 2? What if we debated how the church can grow and develop as the light of the world (Matthew 5)? What if we discussed how the Word of Christ can dwell in us richly as we teach and admonish one another with all wisdom (Colossians 3)?
What if we minimized anthropological smokescreens and pride-filled platitudes and started to venture into genuine theology?
(Church Planting Series, Part forty-one)
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Struggle Well
My daughter is teaching third graders over the summer. They're wild, wooly and drama-filled. It's summer vacation. They don't want classrooms, rules, or structure. They want freedom! It's my daughter's job to facilitate some semblance of order in the middle of this chaos.
Recently, she weathered a particularly rambunctious day with the students (read: she wanted to quit). I was proud of the way she handled the behavior cyclone. Instead of blowing up, yelling at the kids, and chucking the whole mess, she assessed the situation. As she navigated the turbulence of 16 rebelling eight-year-olds, she did her best to communicate with them and serve them. She realized that many of them have no foundation of discipline at home. She understood that she still had to get her job done, care for these little human beings, and help them understand what boundaries and good behavior are.
In other words, instead of struggling poorly, she struggled well.
Oh, the temptation to struggle poorly! As you serve Christ and His people, it is so enticing to lash out when they rebel. It feels so natural to give up, become disheartened, and walk away. When hard times hit, you feel weak and weary, disheartened and depressed. It's during those times you want to abandon your calling, tell God to find someone else, and take a permanent vacation. Or you lose your temper. Or you lose yourself in destructive behavior. There are so many ways to struggle poorly.
But Jesus opened a new way through struggle. The Apostle Paul said, "Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings" (Romans 5:1-3). Why? How? Because "hope does not disappoint us." Yes, we struggle. But in Christ Jesus, we can struggle well.
Jesus shattered the barrier of hopelessness when He rose from the dead. When grief fills our hearts, when depression envelops our souls, when temptation wracks our bodies, when frustration strains our emotions, we've been given a way through it that brings glory to God and bears witness to His name. In Christ, we struggle well.
Paul captured that divine dynamic in 2 Corinthians 4:8-10, "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body."
As you serve Jesus, you will be tempted to struggle poorly. You'll be tempted to conform to the behavior of the world. But you are called to something better. The Spirit dwells in you for a greater purpose. You are here to struggle well, and to see that light of Jesus Christ shine in the hearts of those who are lost in darkness.
Read more about struggling well in my new book "Struggle Well: Living Through Life's Storms." Click the link on this page to take a look at the book--complete with study guide.
(Church Planting Series, Part forty)
Recently, she weathered a particularly rambunctious day with the students (read: she wanted to quit). I was proud of the way she handled the behavior cyclone. Instead of blowing up, yelling at the kids, and chucking the whole mess, she assessed the situation. As she navigated the turbulence of 16 rebelling eight-year-olds, she did her best to communicate with them and serve them. She realized that many of them have no foundation of discipline at home. She understood that she still had to get her job done, care for these little human beings, and help them understand what boundaries and good behavior are.
In other words, instead of struggling poorly, she struggled well.
Oh, the temptation to struggle poorly! As you serve Christ and His people, it is so enticing to lash out when they rebel. It feels so natural to give up, become disheartened, and walk away. When hard times hit, you feel weak and weary, disheartened and depressed. It's during those times you want to abandon your calling, tell God to find someone else, and take a permanent vacation. Or you lose your temper. Or you lose yourself in destructive behavior. There are so many ways to struggle poorly.
But Jesus opened a new way through struggle. The Apostle Paul said, "Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings" (Romans 5:1-3). Why? How? Because "hope does not disappoint us." Yes, we struggle. But in Christ Jesus, we can struggle well.
Jesus shattered the barrier of hopelessness when He rose from the dead. When grief fills our hearts, when depression envelops our souls, when temptation wracks our bodies, when frustration strains our emotions, we've been given a way through it that brings glory to God and bears witness to His name. In Christ, we struggle well.
Paul captured that divine dynamic in 2 Corinthians 4:8-10, "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body."
As you serve Jesus, you will be tempted to struggle poorly. You'll be tempted to conform to the behavior of the world. But you are called to something better. The Spirit dwells in you for a greater purpose. You are here to struggle well, and to see that light of Jesus Christ shine in the hearts of those who are lost in darkness.
Read more about struggling well in my new book "Struggle Well: Living Through Life's Storms." Click the link on this page to take a look at the book--complete with study guide.
(Church Planting Series, Part forty)
Monday, June 28, 2010
Should You Invite People to Church?
When one of my daughters was in high school, she invited me to go to a high school baseball game. The main reason she invited me was that she needed me to drive her there so she could watch her boyfriend play. Needless to say, I wasn't all that excited about attending the game. I could see much better baseball in other venues. The game was being played at an inconvenient time after a long day at work. And I didn't want to cozy up to the boyfriend too much. But I went. I went because I wanted to spend time with my daughter and show my support for her.
During those same high school years, I was invited to attend a meeting of the Principal's Council. This was a group of parents who got together with the principal to hear the latest news and to help shape the direction of the school. This was a worthy cause. My children were in high school. I wanted to help make a difference. I went willingly and with a sense of purpose.
Which scenario is most like an invitation to church?
It may be scenario number one, the ball game. You invite your friend Bob to church. He isn't that enthused about going. He's one of the more than 80% of the people in our culture who doesn't think faith or church attendance is all that important. He can hear better speakers and better music in other venues. The time of the service is in the middle of his restful weekend. And he doesn't want to be pestered by a bunch of religious people. He may go because he cares about you, but he doesn't wake up in the morning with a deep desire to attend a church.
But what if you aimed for scenario number two? What if you didn't invite Bob TO church, but to BE the church? What if your church was so committed to transforming your community that you could invite your friend Bob to help mentor and tutor kids twice each month in a program that meets in the local public school? Bob, like the vast majority of all human beings, wants to make a difference in the world. He wakes up in the morning and wonders why he is here. He wants to leave a legacy and help make people's lives better. So Bob enthusiastically agrees. He's in! As he volunteers, he gets to know you. He asks why you and others are giving their time away like this. He finds out that it's rooted in the self-sacrificial Spirit of Jesus. After a couple months, he is intrigued. He wants to meet more people like you--people who give themselves away to help others. He asks if he could go with you to church.
Do you see the difference? There will be people who are receptive to an invitation to church. But percentages show that most people who don't know Jesus won't want to start there. That means you have to figure out a way to infiltrate the world with Christ's love. You have to show the world how good, right, helpful, and life-changing the Savior is. Once they see the Spirit of Jesus, they won't be able to stay away.
What kind of invitations are you offering? Keep inviting people to church. Keep asking people who are interested in God to hear His life-changing Word. Keep bringing people with you so they can experience the miraculous reach of the Gospel.
But will you also invite people to BE the church with you? Will you help develop your outreach to the lost, lonely, disenfranchised, forgotten, and weak? Will you be a church that cares about your community and makes an effort to lift it up in the name of Jesus? Then, will you invite people who crave purpose to be part of the greatest purpose there could ever be?
It will make church much more than a high school baseball game.
(Church Planting Series, Part thirty-eight)
During those same high school years, I was invited to attend a meeting of the Principal's Council. This was a group of parents who got together with the principal to hear the latest news and to help shape the direction of the school. This was a worthy cause. My children were in high school. I wanted to help make a difference. I went willingly and with a sense of purpose.
Which scenario is most like an invitation to church?
It may be scenario number one, the ball game. You invite your friend Bob to church. He isn't that enthused about going. He's one of the more than 80% of the people in our culture who doesn't think faith or church attendance is all that important. He can hear better speakers and better music in other venues. The time of the service is in the middle of his restful weekend. And he doesn't want to be pestered by a bunch of religious people. He may go because he cares about you, but he doesn't wake up in the morning with a deep desire to attend a church.
But what if you aimed for scenario number two? What if you didn't invite Bob TO church, but to BE the church? What if your church was so committed to transforming your community that you could invite your friend Bob to help mentor and tutor kids twice each month in a program that meets in the local public school? Bob, like the vast majority of all human beings, wants to make a difference in the world. He wakes up in the morning and wonders why he is here. He wants to leave a legacy and help make people's lives better. So Bob enthusiastically agrees. He's in! As he volunteers, he gets to know you. He asks why you and others are giving their time away like this. He finds out that it's rooted in the self-sacrificial Spirit of Jesus. After a couple months, he is intrigued. He wants to meet more people like you--people who give themselves away to help others. He asks if he could go with you to church.
Do you see the difference? There will be people who are receptive to an invitation to church. But percentages show that most people who don't know Jesus won't want to start there. That means you have to figure out a way to infiltrate the world with Christ's love. You have to show the world how good, right, helpful, and life-changing the Savior is. Once they see the Spirit of Jesus, they won't be able to stay away.
What kind of invitations are you offering? Keep inviting people to church. Keep asking people who are interested in God to hear His life-changing Word. Keep bringing people with you so they can experience the miraculous reach of the Gospel.
But will you also invite people to BE the church with you? Will you help develop your outreach to the lost, lonely, disenfranchised, forgotten, and weak? Will you be a church that cares about your community and makes an effort to lift it up in the name of Jesus? Then, will you invite people who crave purpose to be part of the greatest purpose there could ever be?
It will make church much more than a high school baseball game.
(Church Planting Series, Part thirty-eight)
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Mercury and Missions
The Ford Motor Company recently announced it was shutting down the Mercury line. For over 70 years, Mercury provided a mildly upscale automobile between the Ford and Lincoln brands. Was anyone surprised Mercury was phased out? I don’t think so.
Everybody could see that Mercury had become meaningless. It duplicated Ford models. It offered nothing unique to the public. Buyers of Mercury came from an insider pool—people who would have bought Fords. No vigorous product identity existed. When the announcement of the shutdown was made public, no one expressed shock. I don’t even know if anyone objected.
Can the church learn anything from Mercury? Let's try.
First, a vigorous and unique product identity offered in a vibrant way is essential. Who has a better "product" than the church? The true God, the living Word, the forgiveness of sins, eternal salvation, the presence of the Almighty, deep purpose and meaning for life--is there anything better? Can we not help speak of what we've seen and heard (Acts 4:20) or are we bored, listless, and distracted?
Second, appealing only to insiders will destroy you. A dear older lady said to me recently, "I know what I prefer to experience in church, but the church doesn't have to worry about me. I believe in Jesus already. They need to appeal to the people who don't believe!" A focus on preserving the organization, the institution, or the already convinced will slowly destroy the church. In business, that inside focus may be a chosen strategy. In the church, it's a sin. Jesus said to the church leaders of the day, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill, and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former" (Matthew 23:23). Maintaining an inside emphasis while neglecting the mission is wrong, hypocritical, and deadly.
Third, a meaningless organization is never mourned. There may be some sentimental farewells to Mercury. We'll probably see photos of the last Mercury as it rolls off the assembly line in the fall. There will be a few people who buy one of the final autos for their car collections. But because losing Mercury is not a loss to many people, not many people will care. Is the church like Mercury? Eighty percent of the population in Texas does not consider faith important and does not attend church with any regularity. More churches are shrinking and closing than are opening and growing. More and more, the culture considers the church irrelevant, hypocritical, snooty, weird, and meaningless. Its decline is not being mourned.
Can we learn from Mercury? Will we become moved and compelled by the miraculous Gospel to lift it up as the light of life in a dying, darkened world? Will you, without shame and with great boldness, bring Jesus to the lost? Will we break the bonds of insider comfortableness and get outside the walls of the church to form relationships and take risks? Will you sacrifice your comfort levels so people of this generation can meet their Savior? Will we serve Christ in such a way that people crave the impact and influence of the church? Will you represent Jesus so clearly that people urge you to stick around--not to go because they need you?
It's happened before. The Samaritans from Sychar urged Jesus to stay with them after they heard what happened to the sinful woman at the well. Jesus hung around for two days. John 4:41 says that "because of his words many more become believers." God's mission plan is much better than Mercury's marketing plan. Which will you follow?
(Church Planting Series, Part thirty-seven)
Everybody could see that Mercury had become meaningless. It duplicated Ford models. It offered nothing unique to the public. Buyers of Mercury came from an insider pool—people who would have bought Fords. No vigorous product identity existed. When the announcement of the shutdown was made public, no one expressed shock. I don’t even know if anyone objected.
Can the church learn anything from Mercury? Let's try.
First, a vigorous and unique product identity offered in a vibrant way is essential. Who has a better "product" than the church? The true God, the living Word, the forgiveness of sins, eternal salvation, the presence of the Almighty, deep purpose and meaning for life--is there anything better? Can we not help speak of what we've seen and heard (Acts 4:20) or are we bored, listless, and distracted?
Second, appealing only to insiders will destroy you. A dear older lady said to me recently, "I know what I prefer to experience in church, but the church doesn't have to worry about me. I believe in Jesus already. They need to appeal to the people who don't believe!" A focus on preserving the organization, the institution, or the already convinced will slowly destroy the church. In business, that inside focus may be a chosen strategy. In the church, it's a sin. Jesus said to the church leaders of the day, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill, and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former" (Matthew 23:23). Maintaining an inside emphasis while neglecting the mission is wrong, hypocritical, and deadly.
Third, a meaningless organization is never mourned. There may be some sentimental farewells to Mercury. We'll probably see photos of the last Mercury as it rolls off the assembly line in the fall. There will be a few people who buy one of the final autos for their car collections. But because losing Mercury is not a loss to many people, not many people will care. Is the church like Mercury? Eighty percent of the population in Texas does not consider faith important and does not attend church with any regularity. More churches are shrinking and closing than are opening and growing. More and more, the culture considers the church irrelevant, hypocritical, snooty, weird, and meaningless. Its decline is not being mourned.
Can we learn from Mercury? Will we become moved and compelled by the miraculous Gospel to lift it up as the light of life in a dying, darkened world? Will you, without shame and with great boldness, bring Jesus to the lost? Will we break the bonds of insider comfortableness and get outside the walls of the church to form relationships and take risks? Will you sacrifice your comfort levels so people of this generation can meet their Savior? Will we serve Christ in such a way that people crave the impact and influence of the church? Will you represent Jesus so clearly that people urge you to stick around--not to go because they need you?
It's happened before. The Samaritans from Sychar urged Jesus to stay with them after they heard what happened to the sinful woman at the well. Jesus hung around for two days. John 4:41 says that "because of his words many more become believers." God's mission plan is much better than Mercury's marketing plan. Which will you follow?
(Church Planting Series, Part thirty-seven)
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
What Are You Giving Away?
I was watching television the other day and saw one of those commercials that gave you not one, not two, but three magic vegetable slicers for the price of one. Wow, that company is losing money! They’re giving away their stock. They’re going to close down if they keep that up. Giving things away free will drain them! Or will it?
Clearly, free is not free. The scales still tip to the profit side. The company is a profit-making business. They’re getting something out of all this.
We know this and become skeptical patrons. “What’s the catch?” is the question we’ve learned to ask. Usually, we read the fine print or wait a few minutes to find out that free really isn’t free.
This is the mindset people bring to the Gospel. “What’s the catch?” they wonder. Unfortunately, we can fall into the trap of adding catches to the Gospel. We can scribble fine print below the message of grace. Unintentional “profit-making” attempts can interfere with Christ’s free gift.
We may proclaim salvation by grace alone, but do we express that a person really belongs only when they conform to certain outward habits and appearances?
We may preach the unconditional love and acceptance of God, but do our lives communicate that acceptance has its limits? Certain people are not welcome.
We may talk about the beautiful fellowship in the body of Christ, but do our social and organizational structures show that there is no additional room for anyone else in the club? There are no openings for new friendships.
We may claim flexibility in that which is not commanded—and even use the term “adiaphora,” but, in reality, are we idolizing and giving priority to the “indifferent things”? Is our rigidity based in tradition rather than on enduring truth?
We may wave the banner of grace, the free gift of God, but do we put a collection basket by every coffee pot, at every doorway, and by every resource rack? Are we teaching selling rather than stewardship?
What are you giving away? Is free really free? Are people finding “catches” to your presentation of the Gospel? Could there be better ways for you to reflect the lavish generosity of God so more of His goodness can be given away?
(Church Planting Series, Part thirty-six)
Clearly, free is not free. The scales still tip to the profit side. The company is a profit-making business. They’re getting something out of all this.
We know this and become skeptical patrons. “What’s the catch?” is the question we’ve learned to ask. Usually, we read the fine print or wait a few minutes to find out that free really isn’t free.
This is the mindset people bring to the Gospel. “What’s the catch?” they wonder. Unfortunately, we can fall into the trap of adding catches to the Gospel. We can scribble fine print below the message of grace. Unintentional “profit-making” attempts can interfere with Christ’s free gift.
We may proclaim salvation by grace alone, but do we express that a person really belongs only when they conform to certain outward habits and appearances?
We may preach the unconditional love and acceptance of God, but do our lives communicate that acceptance has its limits? Certain people are not welcome.
We may talk about the beautiful fellowship in the body of Christ, but do our social and organizational structures show that there is no additional room for anyone else in the club? There are no openings for new friendships.
We may claim flexibility in that which is not commanded—and even use the term “adiaphora,” but, in reality, are we idolizing and giving priority to the “indifferent things”? Is our rigidity based in tradition rather than on enduring truth?
We may wave the banner of grace, the free gift of God, but do we put a collection basket by every coffee pot, at every doorway, and by every resource rack? Are we teaching selling rather than stewardship?
What are you giving away? Is free really free? Are people finding “catches” to your presentation of the Gospel? Could there be better ways for you to reflect the lavish generosity of God so more of His goodness can be given away?
(Church Planting Series, Part thirty-six)
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
What is Productivity?
Are you a person who likes to get things done? To cross things of the list? If you don’t accomplish a certain quota of tasks do you get frustrated? Do you feel like a failure? Like your day was wasted? Are you the kind of person who likes to measure progress and see results?
A healthy number of leaders are task oriented. They like to see things get done. Unfortunately, this desire for productivity can lead to creating and living in an illusion of accomplishment. The hunger for productivity can lead to the trap of meaningless busyness.
What is productivity in mission and ministry? Is it simply keeping up and catching up? You know how it goes: you work to keep the e-mail inbox clear; you try to keep up with snail mail and reports, you keep your website up to date, you compose your latest blog, you return phone calls, you scramble to meetings, you outline strategic plans, you make sure worship services are set to go, you communicate with church leaders and staff, you set up for your next event. Work, work, work. Busy, busy, busy.
But is it productive? These are good things, but at the center of mission and ministry are people. The ultimate measure of productivity in the church is redemptive relationships. Who is lost but now is being found? Who is weak, but now is being strengthened? Who is idle, but now is being equipped and sent out? Who is hopeless, but now is being brought to the Shepherd of their souls?
When I was serving a mission church in suburban Chicago, there were stretches of time when all I seemed to do was spend hours on the phone with people, handle walk-ins, go to hospitals and nursing homes, and spend time meeting people in the community. On some days I felt like I got nothing done! But a few years before that season of ministry, I determined that my number one priority in ministry would be people. Even though I felt as if I never kept up with all the tasks, I was going to connect with people. It felt completely unproductive at times, but God showed me otherwise.
Every month I visited a woman who was bedridden because of severe arthritis. Her sister and brother-in-law took care of her. We talked, drank 7-Up, laughed, prayed and celebrated God’s gifts. It took most of the afternoon. I loved this dear lady and her family, but sometimes I wondered if this was a productive use of time. God showed me it was. In addition to caring for a dear and precious child of God who had no other access to Christian fellowship, this sweet lady and her family had a network of family and friends who I got to know gradually. The synergy of our relationship resulted in remarkable opportunities for witness, consolation, and service to the Lord. God showed me that, ultimately, relationships move the Kingdom forward.
I’ll never forget how meeting a homeless man connected me to a Roman Catholic nun, who connected me with a network of community leaders, who ultimately banded together to reach several key high-risk and high-need areas of the community, allowing me to bring Christ to thousands of at-risk young people and disenfranchised adults. What seemed like a distraction from productivity resulted in the most productive Kingdom work ever.
How could I miss this simple truth? How could I think that a list of tasks and an empty e-mail inbox rivaled relationships with others? After all, Jesus spent time with people. He sought relationships. His web of people connections opened the door of new life for thousands. And Jesus still seeks people.
I am in full support of responsible administration and organizational leadership. I hope that every servant of Christ is able to get certain things done in a timely way. But what if you started to measure your productivity in terms of relationships? What if you reserved large chunks of time to see what the synergy of redemptive relationships can accomplish? What if you redefined productivity and reveled in its new freedom and opportunities?
(Church Planting Series, Part thirty-five)
A healthy number of leaders are task oriented. They like to see things get done. Unfortunately, this desire for productivity can lead to creating and living in an illusion of accomplishment. The hunger for productivity can lead to the trap of meaningless busyness.
What is productivity in mission and ministry? Is it simply keeping up and catching up? You know how it goes: you work to keep the e-mail inbox clear; you try to keep up with snail mail and reports, you keep your website up to date, you compose your latest blog, you return phone calls, you scramble to meetings, you outline strategic plans, you make sure worship services are set to go, you communicate with church leaders and staff, you set up for your next event. Work, work, work. Busy, busy, busy.
But is it productive? These are good things, but at the center of mission and ministry are people. The ultimate measure of productivity in the church is redemptive relationships. Who is lost but now is being found? Who is weak, but now is being strengthened? Who is idle, but now is being equipped and sent out? Who is hopeless, but now is being brought to the Shepherd of their souls?
When I was serving a mission church in suburban Chicago, there were stretches of time when all I seemed to do was spend hours on the phone with people, handle walk-ins, go to hospitals and nursing homes, and spend time meeting people in the community. On some days I felt like I got nothing done! But a few years before that season of ministry, I determined that my number one priority in ministry would be people. Even though I felt as if I never kept up with all the tasks, I was going to connect with people. It felt completely unproductive at times, but God showed me otherwise.
Every month I visited a woman who was bedridden because of severe arthritis. Her sister and brother-in-law took care of her. We talked, drank 7-Up, laughed, prayed and celebrated God’s gifts. It took most of the afternoon. I loved this dear lady and her family, but sometimes I wondered if this was a productive use of time. God showed me it was. In addition to caring for a dear and precious child of God who had no other access to Christian fellowship, this sweet lady and her family had a network of family and friends who I got to know gradually. The synergy of our relationship resulted in remarkable opportunities for witness, consolation, and service to the Lord. God showed me that, ultimately, relationships move the Kingdom forward.
I’ll never forget how meeting a homeless man connected me to a Roman Catholic nun, who connected me with a network of community leaders, who ultimately banded together to reach several key high-risk and high-need areas of the community, allowing me to bring Christ to thousands of at-risk young people and disenfranchised adults. What seemed like a distraction from productivity resulted in the most productive Kingdom work ever.
How could I miss this simple truth? How could I think that a list of tasks and an empty e-mail inbox rivaled relationships with others? After all, Jesus spent time with people. He sought relationships. His web of people connections opened the door of new life for thousands. And Jesus still seeks people.
I am in full support of responsible administration and organizational leadership. I hope that every servant of Christ is able to get certain things done in a timely way. But what if you started to measure your productivity in terms of relationships? What if you reserved large chunks of time to see what the synergy of redemptive relationships can accomplish? What if you redefined productivity and reveled in its new freedom and opportunities?
(Church Planting Series, Part thirty-five)
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
A Life-changing Event
I was walking in a parking lot in Florida a few weeks ago and saw something I had never seen in my life.
It was early morning. Sprinkler systems had shut off fairly recently and the pavement was puddled but drying. About a foot from the grass was an earthworm. He was stranded on a dry patch of pavement, wiggling slowly. Death was not far away as the sun rose, the temperature grew warmer, and the moisture disappeared.
Suddenly, the worm jumped! Yes, it leaped about an inch off the ground, springing closer to its grassy goal. With a mighty contraction, the worm got some air. Unbelievable.
I’m not sure if the worm made it back to a moist and muddy haven, but this was an unusual action for an earthworm. Trying to free itself from certain shriveling, dehydration, and death, the worm was pushed to go where no earthworm had gone before. It was a catalytic occurrence in the life of that worm. It was a life-changing event.
The church is being ignored more and more. Fewer people are deciding to go to church. The reputation of the church is suffering. By some it is considered boring and irrelevant. By others it is viewed as corrupt and cliquish. The organized church, it seems, is like a worm on drying pavement.
Mind you, the Bride of Christ is alive and well. Christ’s body will advance so that the gates of hell cannot prevail against it. But the outward organization and expression of the church is hurting. My questions are: Will it jump, and where will it land?
Will the church lay down and die or will it spring into a catalytic, life-changing event that renews its relevance, outreach, and vigor?
Will the church leap from dry outmodedness into the living water of Christ crucified, risen, and reaching a lost world?
What will that jump look like? Where will the church land? Will the church be less building centered and more community saturating? Will the church be more servant focused and less consumer driven? Will the church release people for ministry instead of controlling a group for maximum uniformity? Will the church rejoice in Biblical truth instead of watering down its uniqueness and blending with the culture? Will worship services be means of celebration, refueling, and encouragement as believers are sent to their people and communities instead of being the end point of what a believer is supposed to do?
What will the earthworm bride do? We know that God will preserve His Church no matter what. Will the old worm have to die or will it burst into the air to live another day?
(Church Planting Series, Part thirty-four)
It was early morning. Sprinkler systems had shut off fairly recently and the pavement was puddled but drying. About a foot from the grass was an earthworm. He was stranded on a dry patch of pavement, wiggling slowly. Death was not far away as the sun rose, the temperature grew warmer, and the moisture disappeared.
Suddenly, the worm jumped! Yes, it leaped about an inch off the ground, springing closer to its grassy goal. With a mighty contraction, the worm got some air. Unbelievable.
I’m not sure if the worm made it back to a moist and muddy haven, but this was an unusual action for an earthworm. Trying to free itself from certain shriveling, dehydration, and death, the worm was pushed to go where no earthworm had gone before. It was a catalytic occurrence in the life of that worm. It was a life-changing event.
The church is being ignored more and more. Fewer people are deciding to go to church. The reputation of the church is suffering. By some it is considered boring and irrelevant. By others it is viewed as corrupt and cliquish. The organized church, it seems, is like a worm on drying pavement.
Mind you, the Bride of Christ is alive and well. Christ’s body will advance so that the gates of hell cannot prevail against it. But the outward organization and expression of the church is hurting. My questions are: Will it jump, and where will it land?
Will the church lay down and die or will it spring into a catalytic, life-changing event that renews its relevance, outreach, and vigor?
Will the church leap from dry outmodedness into the living water of Christ crucified, risen, and reaching a lost world?
What will that jump look like? Where will the church land? Will the church be less building centered and more community saturating? Will the church be more servant focused and less consumer driven? Will the church release people for ministry instead of controlling a group for maximum uniformity? Will the church rejoice in Biblical truth instead of watering down its uniqueness and blending with the culture? Will worship services be means of celebration, refueling, and encouragement as believers are sent to their people and communities instead of being the end point of what a believer is supposed to do?
What will the earthworm bride do? We know that God will preserve His Church no matter what. Will the old worm have to die or will it burst into the air to live another day?
(Church Planting Series, Part thirty-four)
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Even Better Than Twitter
A new communication tool has been unveiled recently. It’s a mass media monster that will transform society. The battery life is endless. It’s in 3-D (no glasses needed). And it truly can change your life. Is it a new gadget? The latest social networking site? No, it’s bigger than that.
It’s conversation.
This is how it works: two or more people meet personally. They boot up their voice boxes and minds—perhaps with some java. Then they talk. With each other, they engage in what has been called a lost art. They exchange ideas and experiences. They express opinions. They share news. They laugh. They may even cry. But after the uploading and downloading, their lives are never the same.
I got to spend the afternoon with my daughter at a “Dads Day” hosted by her sorority. There were lots of dads there with their sweet daughters. We tailgated and went to a baseball game. It was really fun. But it wasn’t the activities that made it fun for me. It was spending time talking with my daughter. She’s a conversationalist. The baseball game lasted for 2 ½ hours. We talked the whole time. After the dad’s day festivities we went out for dinner. For another two hours, we talked. It was great.
But it was great for me, not because of what I was able to say, but because of what I was able to hear. I loved hearing my daughter’s opinions, thoughts, and experiences. I was thrilled to hear how she was growing, what interests she was developing, and what struggles she was facing. We didn’t solve the problems of the world or finish our to-do list, but something very good happened. That’s what conversation does.
This is where relationships begin. This is how you become close to people. This is one of the basic building blocks of sharing Jesus with someone. This is how news spreads best (word of mouth). But this is also one of the greatest challenges you will face.
Conversation requires listening and thinking. Listening requires sacrifice. Thinking calls for engagement. We live in a culture that plays on our need to need. We need stuff. We need attention. We need notoriety. We need to make our mark. We need to be busy and do our stuff. This neediness cuts us off from each other. When all we do is want and take, we will never be available to engage and give. If we’re never available to engage and give, we cut off God’s work through us.
The mission begins with conversation. But you will face barriers—many of them within yourself.
First is the unwillingness or inability to listen. It is so easy to want to talk about yourself. It’s so easy to dive into your life instead of asking about someone else’s life. It is so tempting to speed past someone else’s comments and get to what you want to share. Conversation requires the discipline to be quiet, to think about what another person is saying, and to dig deeper into what that person is sharing and experiencing. A good response to someone in conversation is a question that seeks to understand and find out more. If you listen well, you’ll find out that you end up receiving exactly what you need. Someone will listen to you, too.
Second is being too busy and distracted. You know how it goes: cell phone, TV, computer, newspaper, your thoughts, your agenda coursing through your brain. Conversation requires engagement. Look a person in the eye. Think about them, not you and your stuff. Be with one person in the moment.
Third is being competitive instead of compassionate. You don’t have to prove yourself all the time. You don’t have to trot out your resume and let people know how great you are. In addition, you’re not in competition with the person you’re speaking with. Just be there. Let your care show who you are. Let your selflessness lift the other person up. After all, what is your mission? Do you exist to exalt yourself? Or are you here to bring the presence of Jesus to a hurting and dying world?
How is conversation going in your life?
(Church Planting Series, Part thirty-three)
It’s conversation.
This is how it works: two or more people meet personally. They boot up their voice boxes and minds—perhaps with some java. Then they talk. With each other, they engage in what has been called a lost art. They exchange ideas and experiences. They express opinions. They share news. They laugh. They may even cry. But after the uploading and downloading, their lives are never the same.
I got to spend the afternoon with my daughter at a “Dads Day” hosted by her sorority. There were lots of dads there with their sweet daughters. We tailgated and went to a baseball game. It was really fun. But it wasn’t the activities that made it fun for me. It was spending time talking with my daughter. She’s a conversationalist. The baseball game lasted for 2 ½ hours. We talked the whole time. After the dad’s day festivities we went out for dinner. For another two hours, we talked. It was great.
But it was great for me, not because of what I was able to say, but because of what I was able to hear. I loved hearing my daughter’s opinions, thoughts, and experiences. I was thrilled to hear how she was growing, what interests she was developing, and what struggles she was facing. We didn’t solve the problems of the world or finish our to-do list, but something very good happened. That’s what conversation does.
This is where relationships begin. This is how you become close to people. This is one of the basic building blocks of sharing Jesus with someone. This is how news spreads best (word of mouth). But this is also one of the greatest challenges you will face.
Conversation requires listening and thinking. Listening requires sacrifice. Thinking calls for engagement. We live in a culture that plays on our need to need. We need stuff. We need attention. We need notoriety. We need to make our mark. We need to be busy and do our stuff. This neediness cuts us off from each other. When all we do is want and take, we will never be available to engage and give. If we’re never available to engage and give, we cut off God’s work through us.
The mission begins with conversation. But you will face barriers—many of them within yourself.
First is the unwillingness or inability to listen. It is so easy to want to talk about yourself. It’s so easy to dive into your life instead of asking about someone else’s life. It is so tempting to speed past someone else’s comments and get to what you want to share. Conversation requires the discipline to be quiet, to think about what another person is saying, and to dig deeper into what that person is sharing and experiencing. A good response to someone in conversation is a question that seeks to understand and find out more. If you listen well, you’ll find out that you end up receiving exactly what you need. Someone will listen to you, too.
Second is being too busy and distracted. You know how it goes: cell phone, TV, computer, newspaper, your thoughts, your agenda coursing through your brain. Conversation requires engagement. Look a person in the eye. Think about them, not you and your stuff. Be with one person in the moment.
Third is being competitive instead of compassionate. You don’t have to prove yourself all the time. You don’t have to trot out your resume and let people know how great you are. In addition, you’re not in competition with the person you’re speaking with. Just be there. Let your care show who you are. Let your selflessness lift the other person up. After all, what is your mission? Do you exist to exalt yourself? Or are you here to bring the presence of Jesus to a hurting and dying world?
How is conversation going in your life?
(Church Planting Series, Part thirty-three)
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Your Ministry Finds You
Dr. Zhao Xiao, a leading Chinese economist, was sent to the United States on a mission. The Chinese government asked him to investigate why the American economy was so successful. After several months of study, Dr. Xiao came to a startling conclusion. In an essay entitled "Market Economies with Churches, and Market Economies without Churches," Dr. Xiao stated that the Christian faith and the existence of Christian churches were key to America’s commercial success.
Dr. Zhao Xiao brought this message back to China—along with a newfound Christian faith. His findings persuaded the Communist government to acknowledge the need for the church—even including a new statement about the church in the Communist platform.
How in the world did this happen? Who could have planned such a turn of events?
Not any of us. It’s a perfect example of how the Mission of God (Missio Dei) works. God is in mission. He is sending Himself to redeem the world. Sometimes we identify what He’s doing and join in His work. Other times His work finds us. In fact, I think this is what happens most often.
Look at the Biblical accounts of God’s movements. God called and sent Abraham. God called Moses out of hiding. God sent Jonah to complete a plan Jonah had no desire to be involved with. God sent Jesus to a world of darkness that didn’t accept Him, to disciples who flunked out of Rabbi training who didn’t understand Him, to people who would have never put their lives on the line for the kind of Kingdom God designed.
Look at God’s movements in your life. I can’t tell you how many times my ministry bright ideas weren’t my ideas at all. Usually God sent someone to pester me into implementing some kind of outreach initiative. I ended up being called a wise pastoral leader when I really stumbled into, or was dragged into, the ministry idea in the first place.
That’s the beauty of God’s Kingdom. And that’s a liberating principle of God’s action for everyone who wants to serve Him. The wise theologian Michael Jordan once said, “You’ve got to let the game come to you.” If you say, “Here I am! Send me!” or even if you don’t, God will show you where He is leading you to serve.
For Dr. Zhao Xiao, it was bringing an economic study with surprising conclusions back to his atheistic Communist country—along with a life transformed by the Gospel.
For you, it may be serving your family. Or reaching out to the neighborhood. Or being Christ’s light at work. Or serving the poor. Or helping the lonely and aged in a local nursing home. Or being a witness at school. Or brining Jesus to your hospital room.
If you watch and pray, your ministry will find you!
Dr. Xiao will be speaking live at the Global Leadership Summit. Click here to register for attendance at a Texas venue.
You can watch a two and a half minute clip from a Frontline story about Dr. Xiao and read his groundbreaking essay by clicking here.
(Church Planting Series, Part thirty-two)
Dr. Zhao Xiao brought this message back to China—along with a newfound Christian faith. His findings persuaded the Communist government to acknowledge the need for the church—even including a new statement about the church in the Communist platform.
How in the world did this happen? Who could have planned such a turn of events?
Not any of us. It’s a perfect example of how the Mission of God (Missio Dei) works. God is in mission. He is sending Himself to redeem the world. Sometimes we identify what He’s doing and join in His work. Other times His work finds us. In fact, I think this is what happens most often.
Look at the Biblical accounts of God’s movements. God called and sent Abraham. God called Moses out of hiding. God sent Jonah to complete a plan Jonah had no desire to be involved with. God sent Jesus to a world of darkness that didn’t accept Him, to disciples who flunked out of Rabbi training who didn’t understand Him, to people who would have never put their lives on the line for the kind of Kingdom God designed.
Look at God’s movements in your life. I can’t tell you how many times my ministry bright ideas weren’t my ideas at all. Usually God sent someone to pester me into implementing some kind of outreach initiative. I ended up being called a wise pastoral leader when I really stumbled into, or was dragged into, the ministry idea in the first place.
That’s the beauty of God’s Kingdom. And that’s a liberating principle of God’s action for everyone who wants to serve Him. The wise theologian Michael Jordan once said, “You’ve got to let the game come to you.” If you say, “Here I am! Send me!” or even if you don’t, God will show you where He is leading you to serve.
For Dr. Zhao Xiao, it was bringing an economic study with surprising conclusions back to his atheistic Communist country—along with a life transformed by the Gospel.
For you, it may be serving your family. Or reaching out to the neighborhood. Or being Christ’s light at work. Or serving the poor. Or helping the lonely and aged in a local nursing home. Or being a witness at school. Or brining Jesus to your hospital room.
If you watch and pray, your ministry will find you!
Dr. Xiao will be speaking live at the Global Leadership Summit. Click here to register for attendance at a Texas venue.
You can watch a two and a half minute clip from a Frontline story about Dr. Xiao and read his groundbreaking essay by clicking here.
(Church Planting Series, Part thirty-two)
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Cyrus, Miley
Church Planting Series, Part thirty-one
Isn’t it strange that out of all the people who could rebuild Jerusalem and restore God’s people, God picked Cyrus, king of the Persian Empire?
God decided that he would use a pagan ruler to show the world who the true God really was.
In Ezra 1:2-3 we hear Cyrus decree: “The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Anyone of his people among you--may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem.”
Cyrus was acquainted with Yahweh. Cyrus heard Yahweh speak. Cyrus obeyed. Cyrus validated the reality of Yahweh.
God used an icon of the culture, a man outside the Israelite in-group, someone who probably didn’t understand all the details about Yahweh, to initiate an exciting and sacred renewal of faith and life in Jerusalem. Go figure.
I heard church commentator Reggie McNeal say recently, “There is a God conversation going on in the culture, but we’re too busy talking about church.”
While we “Israelites” live in the captivity of our worship schedules, programs, and hopes that people will come to our churches, God is doing something bigger.
Consider another Cyrus for 2010: Miley Cyrus. You know, Hannah Montana and lots of pre-teen girls screaming at her concerts. You may have read her article in the recent “Parade” national magazine. She said, “My faith is very important to me. But I don’t necessarily define my faith by going to church every Sunday…I am very spiritual in my own way. Let me make it clear, though—I am a Christian. Jesus is who saved me. He’s what keeps me full and whole.”
Teen Queen Cyrus, as the article describes her, is just one of many interesting indicators of the “God conversation” going on in our culture. While Miley is overtly Christian, other voices of the culture utter God talk in less defined and more imprecise expressions. But like King Cyrus, popular and even pagan voices are out there with God on their lips—even the true God at times. In some very interesting ways, they are initiating an exciting and sacred renewal of faith and life. The true God doesn’t just live in church buildings, so why shouldn’t we expect His Spirit’s work in the nooks and crannies, on the stages and in the studios, on the streets and in the neighborhoods of our world?
What is our response? Should Ezra have rebuked Cyrus as a Pagan no-goodnick who had no right to pretend he had any shred of the truth? Should we condemn all the “outsiders” who stumble around with clumsy God-talk?
Or should we praise God and get into the conversation? Ezra 1:1 says that “the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing.” Yahweh was working in the culture. Two hundred years before Cyrus or Persia were even known, Yahweh formed His plan for the restoration of Israel. In Isaiah 45:13 Yahweh declared: “I will raise up Cyrus in my righteousness.”
God uses Cyruses. They’re all over the place. They’re saturating the culture. God is leading the discussion. It’s time for us to get on board. As we worship on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, the goal is not to pack our churches. The goal is to send as many people as possible into the world to enter into the conversation that God has started. We are to join the God-conversation, helping to bring the Way and the Truth and the Life to a world that is hungry for food that lasts and thirsty for water that quenches.
Watch for the latest Cyrus. Let the conversation encourage you and inspire you to get out there and to send people out there! If we claim Jesus is alive, let’s not be surprised that He’s doing a lot of talking.
Isn’t it strange that out of all the people who could rebuild Jerusalem and restore God’s people, God picked Cyrus, king of the Persian Empire?
God decided that he would use a pagan ruler to show the world who the true God really was.
In Ezra 1:2-3 we hear Cyrus decree: “The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Anyone of his people among you--may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem.”
Cyrus was acquainted with Yahweh. Cyrus heard Yahweh speak. Cyrus obeyed. Cyrus validated the reality of Yahweh.
God used an icon of the culture, a man outside the Israelite in-group, someone who probably didn’t understand all the details about Yahweh, to initiate an exciting and sacred renewal of faith and life in Jerusalem. Go figure.
I heard church commentator Reggie McNeal say recently, “There is a God conversation going on in the culture, but we’re too busy talking about church.”
While we “Israelites” live in the captivity of our worship schedules, programs, and hopes that people will come to our churches, God is doing something bigger.
Consider another Cyrus for 2010: Miley Cyrus. You know, Hannah Montana and lots of pre-teen girls screaming at her concerts. You may have read her article in the recent “Parade” national magazine. She said, “My faith is very important to me. But I don’t necessarily define my faith by going to church every Sunday…I am very spiritual in my own way. Let me make it clear, though—I am a Christian. Jesus is who saved me. He’s what keeps me full and whole.”
Teen Queen Cyrus, as the article describes her, is just one of many interesting indicators of the “God conversation” going on in our culture. While Miley is overtly Christian, other voices of the culture utter God talk in less defined and more imprecise expressions. But like King Cyrus, popular and even pagan voices are out there with God on their lips—even the true God at times. In some very interesting ways, they are initiating an exciting and sacred renewal of faith and life. The true God doesn’t just live in church buildings, so why shouldn’t we expect His Spirit’s work in the nooks and crannies, on the stages and in the studios, on the streets and in the neighborhoods of our world?
What is our response? Should Ezra have rebuked Cyrus as a Pagan no-goodnick who had no right to pretend he had any shred of the truth? Should we condemn all the “outsiders” who stumble around with clumsy God-talk?
Or should we praise God and get into the conversation? Ezra 1:1 says that “the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing.” Yahweh was working in the culture. Two hundred years before Cyrus or Persia were even known, Yahweh formed His plan for the restoration of Israel. In Isaiah 45:13 Yahweh declared: “I will raise up Cyrus in my righteousness.”
God uses Cyruses. They’re all over the place. They’re saturating the culture. God is leading the discussion. It’s time for us to get on board. As we worship on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, the goal is not to pack our churches. The goal is to send as many people as possible into the world to enter into the conversation that God has started. We are to join the God-conversation, helping to bring the Way and the Truth and the Life to a world that is hungry for food that lasts and thirsty for water that quenches.
Watch for the latest Cyrus. Let the conversation encourage you and inspire you to get out there and to send people out there! If we claim Jesus is alive, let’s not be surprised that He’s doing a lot of talking.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Oscar and Making Heroes
Church Planting Series, Part thirty
It’s Oscar time of year! Yes, you may be a connoisseur of the red carpet, a viewer of the very famous, a watcher of designer outerwear, a groupie of the acting-gifted. Or maybe not.
I’ll be honest, whenever I see Hollywood awards shows, I feel like they’re very self-indulgent. An award extravaganza amounts to actors throwing a big party and patting each other on the back publicly in order to self promote, create more revenue, and position themselves for bigger and better contracts.
But in the midst of the glamorous gowns, the insipid speeches, and the drawn-out demagoguery, could there be a bright spot? Is there a lesson to learn?
Recently, I heard Reggie McNeal speak about apostolic leaders. Addressing what was created to be a living organism, the Church, McNeal commented that the Church needs to celebrate the right things. The living, breathing, changing, on-the-move Church needs to rejoice in the risks it takes. It needs to share success stories of outstretched arms of salvation being brought to the hurting and lost.
McNeal said that apostolic leaders and a truly apostolic Church “make heroes of the right people.”
Could it be that the Oscars are closer to apostolic leadership than the Church?
Think about what the Church does with its risk-takers, change-agents, and new idea people. Too often, it buries them beneath criticism. It shuns them. Even when these on-the-edge entrepreneurs are solidly proclaiming Biblical truth, the Church has responded with complacency or cruelty.
A local pastor may suppress the gifts of a layperson. A denomination may hiss over the newest local church that is growing. Why? It may be that no one wants to risk compromising the glory of God. But I think there’s another reason. I believe that the Church, in part, is imprisoned in unhealthy fear and ungodly egocentricity. Instead of lifting up others for the sake of the Kingdom, the church has fallen into the trap of pushing others down for the sake of itself. It is madness. It is contrary to our calling.
So, as we create enemies, Hollywood makes heroes. As we decline, Hollywood identifies and lifts up its best to increase its market share.
What if we decided to follow Hollywood’s lead? Not in Hollywood style, of course, but in God’s style. What if we made heroes of good and faithful servants? What if we celebrated and learned from missional risk takers? What if we listened to people who had new ideas—-and tried them out! What if we lifted up exceptional Kingdom advancers to increase Jesus’ market share?
How will you lose yourself and make a hero of one of Jesus’ servants this week?
It’s Oscar time of year! Yes, you may be a connoisseur of the red carpet, a viewer of the very famous, a watcher of designer outerwear, a groupie of the acting-gifted. Or maybe not.
I’ll be honest, whenever I see Hollywood awards shows, I feel like they’re very self-indulgent. An award extravaganza amounts to actors throwing a big party and patting each other on the back publicly in order to self promote, create more revenue, and position themselves for bigger and better contracts.
But in the midst of the glamorous gowns, the insipid speeches, and the drawn-out demagoguery, could there be a bright spot? Is there a lesson to learn?
Recently, I heard Reggie McNeal speak about apostolic leaders. Addressing what was created to be a living organism, the Church, McNeal commented that the Church needs to celebrate the right things. The living, breathing, changing, on-the-move Church needs to rejoice in the risks it takes. It needs to share success stories of outstretched arms of salvation being brought to the hurting and lost.
McNeal said that apostolic leaders and a truly apostolic Church “make heroes of the right people.”
Could it be that the Oscars are closer to apostolic leadership than the Church?
Think about what the Church does with its risk-takers, change-agents, and new idea people. Too often, it buries them beneath criticism. It shuns them. Even when these on-the-edge entrepreneurs are solidly proclaiming Biblical truth, the Church has responded with complacency or cruelty.
A local pastor may suppress the gifts of a layperson. A denomination may hiss over the newest local church that is growing. Why? It may be that no one wants to risk compromising the glory of God. But I think there’s another reason. I believe that the Church, in part, is imprisoned in unhealthy fear and ungodly egocentricity. Instead of lifting up others for the sake of the Kingdom, the church has fallen into the trap of pushing others down for the sake of itself. It is madness. It is contrary to our calling.
So, as we create enemies, Hollywood makes heroes. As we decline, Hollywood identifies and lifts up its best to increase its market share.
What if we decided to follow Hollywood’s lead? Not in Hollywood style, of course, but in God’s style. What if we made heroes of good and faithful servants? What if we celebrated and learned from missional risk takers? What if we listened to people who had new ideas—-and tried them out! What if we lifted up exceptional Kingdom advancers to increase Jesus’ market share?
How will you lose yourself and make a hero of one of Jesus’ servants this week?
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Making Room II
Church Planting Series, Part twenty-nine
Is there room for a new generation of leaders in the church? Will we welcome younger leaders with their fresh voices and inexperience? Will we help shape, mentor, and form them in a way that allows them to have a meaningful voice in Christ’s mission?
But what about current leaders? What about experienced voices?
We are living in an in-between time. Technology is changing rapidly, but not everyone has e-mail. Social networking is sweeping the world, but you can’t reach everyone through Facebook. The outcry is, “Let’s do away with paper and go all electronic!” Yet, reams of paper keep coming our way.
It’s an in-between time.
It’s an in-between time for churches. But we’re designed to be really good at this.
As the times started changing in the first century, believers were led by the Holy Spirit to realize that there is room for both old and new—-as long as God was being served and glorified. God gave Peter visions to show him the way. Finally, he was able to say, “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism, but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right” (Acts 10:34-35). In Acts 15 the Jerusalem Council made the declaration: “We should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.” The council then instructed the Gentiles in some key teachings of Moses that would help lift up the Jewish believers and create unity in the church.
The Church has always been about bringing old and new together, living lives of reconciliation, doing change well, and harnessing everything for the mission of the Gospel.
This remarkable self-sacrifice is rooted in the remarkable action of Jesus, “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant” (Philippians 2:6-7a).
As redeemed people, this is what we do—-joyfully and willingly, founded on the unchanging Word, for the sake of reaching out with the Good News of eternal life.
Are you willing to make extra sacrifices and expend extra effort in order to reach out during these in-between times? What will it mean?
• Flexibility in communication methods
• Flexibility in how people are involved in church
• Flexibility in mission outreach
• Flexibility in accepting “outsiders”
• Flexibility in listening to and honoring “insiders”
• Flexibility in governance style
• Flexibility in worship methods and tools
You get the idea. As the Church, we have the opportunity during these in-between times to live out the self-sacrifice of Jesus. When everyone gives, everyone will receive. Founded on the truth of God’s Word, how do you need to be flexible to make room for effective ministry?
Is there room for a new generation of leaders in the church? Will we welcome younger leaders with their fresh voices and inexperience? Will we help shape, mentor, and form them in a way that allows them to have a meaningful voice in Christ’s mission?
But what about current leaders? What about experienced voices?
We are living in an in-between time. Technology is changing rapidly, but not everyone has e-mail. Social networking is sweeping the world, but you can’t reach everyone through Facebook. The outcry is, “Let’s do away with paper and go all electronic!” Yet, reams of paper keep coming our way.
It’s an in-between time.
It’s an in-between time for churches. But we’re designed to be really good at this.
As the times started changing in the first century, believers were led by the Holy Spirit to realize that there is room for both old and new—-as long as God was being served and glorified. God gave Peter visions to show him the way. Finally, he was able to say, “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism, but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right” (Acts 10:34-35). In Acts 15 the Jerusalem Council made the declaration: “We should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.” The council then instructed the Gentiles in some key teachings of Moses that would help lift up the Jewish believers and create unity in the church.
The Church has always been about bringing old and new together, living lives of reconciliation, doing change well, and harnessing everything for the mission of the Gospel.
This remarkable self-sacrifice is rooted in the remarkable action of Jesus, “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant” (Philippians 2:6-7a).
As redeemed people, this is what we do—-joyfully and willingly, founded on the unchanging Word, for the sake of reaching out with the Good News of eternal life.
Are you willing to make extra sacrifices and expend extra effort in order to reach out during these in-between times? What will it mean?
• Flexibility in communication methods
• Flexibility in how people are involved in church
• Flexibility in mission outreach
• Flexibility in accepting “outsiders”
• Flexibility in listening to and honoring “insiders”
• Flexibility in governance style
• Flexibility in worship methods and tools
You get the idea. As the Church, we have the opportunity during these in-between times to live out the self-sacrifice of Jesus. When everyone gives, everyone will receive. Founded on the truth of God’s Word, how do you need to be flexible to make room for effective ministry?
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Making Room
Church Planting Series, Part twenty-eight
Where will new Kingdom leaders come from? Are we developing them? Are we making room for their ideas and mistakes? Do they have a significant place around the leadership table? Two observations make this question even more urgent.
Observation #1: I was on a run in Florida recently and saw a group of 70-year-olds whiz by me on road bikes. Each was dressed like Lance Armstrong. These guys were flying.
I turned a corner and saw a man in his eighties dressed in his technical running gear, adjusting his playlist selection on his iPod.
These guys are not like my grandparents were. They’re still center stage, grabbing the gusto, and living life to the full.
The result? A good number from the late Builder generation and early Boomer generation still hold strong places of leadership in the church. They will be actively leading for a long time. The key questions are:
Will they make room for the leadership voices of new generations?
Will they intentionally identify and mentor new leaders?
Observation #2: My older brother is like many in our generation. He and his wife waited to have children. He is now 50-years-old and has a 5-year-old child.
A significant number of people in the U.S. are getting married older, waiting to have children, and having fewer children.
The result? The age gap between parents and children is growing. Instead of 30 or 40-year-olds succeeding their parents’ generation in leadership roles, many 20-year-olds will be in that position. The key questions are:
Will these 20-year-olds have access to a faith-maturing, leadership development process from their parents’ generation?
Will these young leaders be given a chance to reach their generation for Christ in new ways that fit who they are?
If we don’t make room for a new generation of leaders, share leadership and Kingdom lessons with them, and allow them to have a meaningful voice, they may find themselves alienated from the church and ill-equipped to bring Jesus to a broken world.
Are you actively making room?
Next Time: Making Room for the older and younger, together in the church.
Where will new Kingdom leaders come from? Are we developing them? Are we making room for their ideas and mistakes? Do they have a significant place around the leadership table? Two observations make this question even more urgent.
Observation #1: I was on a run in Florida recently and saw a group of 70-year-olds whiz by me on road bikes. Each was dressed like Lance Armstrong. These guys were flying.
I turned a corner and saw a man in his eighties dressed in his technical running gear, adjusting his playlist selection on his iPod.
These guys are not like my grandparents were. They’re still center stage, grabbing the gusto, and living life to the full.
The result? A good number from the late Builder generation and early Boomer generation still hold strong places of leadership in the church. They will be actively leading for a long time. The key questions are:
Will they make room for the leadership voices of new generations?
Will they intentionally identify and mentor new leaders?
Observation #2: My older brother is like many in our generation. He and his wife waited to have children. He is now 50-years-old and has a 5-year-old child.
A significant number of people in the U.S. are getting married older, waiting to have children, and having fewer children.
The result? The age gap between parents and children is growing. Instead of 30 or 40-year-olds succeeding their parents’ generation in leadership roles, many 20-year-olds will be in that position. The key questions are:
Will these 20-year-olds have access to a faith-maturing, leadership development process from their parents’ generation?
Will these young leaders be given a chance to reach their generation for Christ in new ways that fit who they are?
If we don’t make room for a new generation of leaders, share leadership and Kingdom lessons with them, and allow them to have a meaningful voice, they may find themselves alienated from the church and ill-equipped to bring Jesus to a broken world.
Are you actively making room?
Next Time: Making Room for the older and younger, together in the church.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Fame or Service?
Church Planting Series, Part twenty-seven
My nephew is really good at basketball. He’s in fifth grade and scores most of the points for his team. He’s a good sportsman, has lots of fun, and absolutely loves the game.
I suspect you know, however, what every parent, coach, and observer says to his parents:
“He’s really good. You should sign him up for an AAU team.”
“He’s got talent. He may be able to get a scholarship to a major university.”
“With his skill, he may make you rich one day by playing in the NBA.”
I understand that it’s good to think about goals, plans, and using your gifts. I understand that you need to look ahead. But I also see a great danger in always dwelling on the next step. If my nephew gets too far ahead of himself, he’ll become miserable. He’ll end up hating basketball.
The same issue exists among servants of the church. When using gifts, talents, imagination, and initiative to serve the local church, the devil whispers:
“Hey, you’re really good. This might make you famous.”
“You know, you shouldn’t waste your talent here. You should hit the conference circuit.”
“With abilities like yours, you should stop messing around in your insignificant ministry. You should cash in on your talent.”
The temptation to fame attempts to replace the dedication to service. And if the desire for notoriety takes control, the servant of the church will become miserable, empty, and ineffective. Glorifying God will be replaced by trying to make an impression. Serving people will be replaced by lusting after personal prominence. Transforming lives will be replaced by gaining approval.
It’s a dangerous trap.
The answer? A renewal of faith. Jesus didn’t count equality with God something to hang onto. He made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant (Philippians 2). And what happened? His humble, short-term ministry in a little corner of nowhere saved us.
Do you believe that your humble ministry in a little corner of nowhere will bring salvation to people in need? Do you believe that God has you there on purpose for His purpose? Do you believe that your gifts will not be wasted there, that the purpose of your energy and talent is for serving God’s precious people, not for getting your name on a marquee somewhere?
Do you believe in THIS step—-not just the NEXT step?
It’s wonderful when God lifts up servants to reach many people. It’s a blessing when we can reap the benefits of people’s great talents on a large scale. Renown can bring the result of widespread ministry impact. But let’s not miss the here. Let’s not miss the now. Let’s not allow a lust for fame to dilute the high calling of serving God's people in a local ministry that the world may never see…until that day!
My nephew is really good at basketball. He’s in fifth grade and scores most of the points for his team. He’s a good sportsman, has lots of fun, and absolutely loves the game.
I suspect you know, however, what every parent, coach, and observer says to his parents:
“He’s really good. You should sign him up for an AAU team.”
“He’s got talent. He may be able to get a scholarship to a major university.”
“With his skill, he may make you rich one day by playing in the NBA.”
I understand that it’s good to think about goals, plans, and using your gifts. I understand that you need to look ahead. But I also see a great danger in always dwelling on the next step. If my nephew gets too far ahead of himself, he’ll become miserable. He’ll end up hating basketball.
The same issue exists among servants of the church. When using gifts, talents, imagination, and initiative to serve the local church, the devil whispers:
“Hey, you’re really good. This might make you famous.”
“You know, you shouldn’t waste your talent here. You should hit the conference circuit.”
“With abilities like yours, you should stop messing around in your insignificant ministry. You should cash in on your talent.”
The temptation to fame attempts to replace the dedication to service. And if the desire for notoriety takes control, the servant of the church will become miserable, empty, and ineffective. Glorifying God will be replaced by trying to make an impression. Serving people will be replaced by lusting after personal prominence. Transforming lives will be replaced by gaining approval.
It’s a dangerous trap.
The answer? A renewal of faith. Jesus didn’t count equality with God something to hang onto. He made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant (Philippians 2). And what happened? His humble, short-term ministry in a little corner of nowhere saved us.
Do you believe that your humble ministry in a little corner of nowhere will bring salvation to people in need? Do you believe that God has you there on purpose for His purpose? Do you believe that your gifts will not be wasted there, that the purpose of your energy and talent is for serving God’s precious people, not for getting your name on a marquee somewhere?
Do you believe in THIS step—-not just the NEXT step?
It’s wonderful when God lifts up servants to reach many people. It’s a blessing when we can reap the benefits of people’s great talents on a large scale. Renown can bring the result of widespread ministry impact. But let’s not miss the here. Let’s not miss the now. Let’s not allow a lust for fame to dilute the high calling of serving God's people in a local ministry that the world may never see…until that day!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
When the Earth Shakes
Church Planting Series, Part twenty-six
The earth shook. 7.0 on the Richter scale. Haiti is in crisis. What is the response? Walls of self-centeredness have crumbled. People are scrambling to help. People want to help. People are hungry to make a difference.
When the earth shakes, people take notice. People look away from themselves and reach out to help those in need. It’s refreshing, isn’t it? Suddenly we are moved from a culture of consumption to a culture clamoring to care.
Even churches are awakened to the greater need, to think about the reason for their existence, to awake from slumber and move forward with ears that hear, eyes that see, and hearts that are softened by the call of the Holy Spirit.
When the earth shakes, people take notice.
It happened before. As Jesus breathed His last breath on the cross, Matthew 27 tells us, “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, ‘Surely he was the Son of God!’” (vss. 51-54)
The walls of unbelief crumbled. The curtain of separation was removed. The centurion confessed the truth of what he saw. And the world changed forever.
What shakes your world? What shakes your church’s world? What reawakens you to the mission, the core, the purpose of your life in Christ?
People are hungry to make a difference. This is a deep need for unbelievers. It is also a Holy Spirit fueled desire in believers. It is the intersection of all humanity as people yearn for significance. As a church, you can give people real purpose. You can lead people to making an eternal difference in the lives of others. It’s Biblical. It’s God’s deep desire. It’s the reason we are here.
Haiti may help remind you of that. It may help you re-prioritize what’s happening in your church. It may be a reality check. The earth has shaken. Will you and your church take notice?
The earth shook. 7.0 on the Richter scale. Haiti is in crisis. What is the response? Walls of self-centeredness have crumbled. People are scrambling to help. People want to help. People are hungry to make a difference.
When the earth shakes, people take notice. People look away from themselves and reach out to help those in need. It’s refreshing, isn’t it? Suddenly we are moved from a culture of consumption to a culture clamoring to care.
Even churches are awakened to the greater need, to think about the reason for their existence, to awake from slumber and move forward with ears that hear, eyes that see, and hearts that are softened by the call of the Holy Spirit.
When the earth shakes, people take notice.
It happened before. As Jesus breathed His last breath on the cross, Matthew 27 tells us, “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, ‘Surely he was the Son of God!’” (vss. 51-54)
The walls of unbelief crumbled. The curtain of separation was removed. The centurion confessed the truth of what he saw. And the world changed forever.
What shakes your world? What shakes your church’s world? What reawakens you to the mission, the core, the purpose of your life in Christ?
People are hungry to make a difference. This is a deep need for unbelievers. It is also a Holy Spirit fueled desire in believers. It is the intersection of all humanity as people yearn for significance. As a church, you can give people real purpose. You can lead people to making an eternal difference in the lives of others. It’s Biblical. It’s God’s deep desire. It’s the reason we are here.
Haiti may help remind you of that. It may help you re-prioritize what’s happening in your church. It may be a reality check. The earth has shaken. Will you and your church take notice?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)