Having lived in parsonages in 32 years of pastoral ministry, it had been quite a few years since I had to mow the lawn. In my last church, the parsonage shared the property with the church so my grass was always cut. But in late April, I stepped down from years of pastoral ministry to begin a church consulting ministry. Since we had purchased our own home, I would have to take up lawn mowing once again. To be honest, I actually do not mind cutting the grass except when there is heat and high humidity. It gets me outdoors and there is something special about the smell of cut grass in the summertime. More importantly, I think that lawn cutting has taught me a few things beyond making my yard look beautiful. I think it has taught me a few things about the church. Now it might seem strange that cutting the grass would turn me into a backyard advisor concerning church matters, but there are some important lessons to be learned.
The first lesson the we can learn from cutting the grass, as it pertains to the church, is that before we start, we must make sure there is fuel. Power mowers do not work well without fuel. Even push mowers need a fuel of sorts in that the operator must have food and liquids to undertake the physical labor of cutting the grass. One can attempt to operate the mower without fuel but it won't get the job done and will be no more than a futile effort. Sadly, too many congregations attempt to do God's work without being fueled by prayer and devotion to the Lord. A church must never forget that the fuel it needs is God Himself. It is noteworthy in the New Testament, there are many passages referring to the power of God. The Greek word for power is where we get our word "dynamite" from. The explosive power of dynamite can move mountains and build highways. It is a fuel of sorts-a source of power. Likewise, with lawn mowers, the combustible engine with sparks from the spark plugs sets off a number of mini-explosions when it reacts to gasoline which powers the engine. Thus the lesson for the church is clear-it all starts with God and His power.
It is also important to realize that the larger the lawn, the more fuel is needed and the lawnmower may need to be refueled if the grass cutting is to be completed. The church can learn a lesson from this. Quite often, churches start up being empowered by God and are dependent on the Lord. But as they grow with more and more ministries and people, they forget to refuel. Ministries and administration becomes more complex and pastors begin to burnout. Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger in the excellent book, Simple Church write, "If you are a church leader, you have been exposed to plenty of models. Most of them are on your shelf. Or worse, you have blended a bunch of models into one schizophrenic plan. If that is the case, neither you nor the people in your church are really sure what your church is all about." Could it be that many churches have made ministry so complex that they fail to get back to the basics of being refueled or empowered by the Lord?
Another lesson that can be learned from cutting the grass, as it pertains to the church, is the importance of emptying the bag. On my power lawnmower, I have a bag attached so I can collect all my grass clippings and dispose them in a designated area. If I let the bag get too full, two things happen. First of all, the mower gets clogged and I may have to unclog it before I restart the mower. This takes away valuable time and energy and can be a bit of a messy job. Secondly, when the bag gets too full, the mower becomes heavy in the back and the front part of the mower has a tendency of tipping up which means that it does not do as nice of a job cutting the grass. For the church, I think there are times that we have to "empty the bag." Sometimes programs and ministries can clog our vision of what the Lord is calling the church to do. Churches can also be weighed down by its past and unable to do the job that God has called them to in the here and now. Church ministry is not just about what to start up as it tries to reach the world for Jesus Christ, but what to let go of including relational "clippings" that have clogged congregations for years. These relational "clippings may include unresolved conflicts and other interpersonal issues. Ministries, too, can also become so complex and burdensome that the core purpose of why the church exists can be lost.
Matt Redman, Christian worship artist wrote a song in 1999 called "When the Music Fades." The song was written in his bedroom during a time where Redman's church had lost its core purpose of why they had gathered for worship. Redman's pastor, upon seeing this in the church, made a bold move. As Redman reflects, “There was a dynamic missing so the pastor did a pretty brave thing. He decided to get rid of the sound system and band for a season, and we gathered together with just our voices. His point was that we’d lost our way in worship, and the way to get back to the heart would be to strip everything away.” This wise pastor saw that the bag was getting too full and that it was taking away from effective ministry and a true sense of worship.
Another lesson about cutting the grass is to have a plan. My plan is to find the line between the cut portion and the uncut portion and mow the next row. Sometimes I cut in rows and sometimes I mow in a rectangular route until I get to the middle. Sometimes I start in the front yard and sometimes I start in the back yard. No matter what the plan is, it is best I don't mow down the tomato plants or the flowers (This also helps in keeping marital bliss!). Regardless of what I do, there is a plan in mowing the lawn.
Some churches try to operate without a plan. They say God will lead (which is true) but will use that as an excuse not to plan where God's leading might be. In Numbers, God had promised an inheritance-the Promised Land and He had led them out of Egypt enroute to the land flowing with milk and honey. But this did not negate a plan. In Numbers 13, spies were sent and a report on the land and its inhabitants was given. The report was a consultation of sorts which would outline the opportunities and challenges God had for the Israelites. In the New Testament, Jesus made plans every step of the way to Calvary. He secured a donkey to ride into Jerusalem. He made arrangements for the passover. Making plans are not unscriptural as long as they are made with the wisdom and direction of the Lord. Far too often, however, churches aim at nothing and they hit it every time.
Finally, the lesson I learned from mowing is to enjoy seeing the finished product. After I got done mowing, I looked over the lawn enjoying the fact that I was done and could get a nice glass of ice water. This was especially a treat on a hot day. I also enjoyed the fact that our lawn looked nice and trimmed. The lesson for churches is this: Do not forget to celebrate. Sometimes congregations are too intense when it comes to ministry. Congregations need to relax and celebrate what God has done. They need those times of joy. Churches are not just about work! work! work! but should be a place of great rejoicing. It is my feeling that there should be some fun in what we are called to do. We have much to celebrate and there is nothing worse than seeing a church acting like a chicken with its head cut off and not taking time to celebrate all that God is doing.
I have come to realize that cutting the grass and seeing what God wants to do in His church have much in common and there are some valuable lessons for us as we seek to see how the gospel can have an impact in today's world. My prayer is that our hearts will be open to God's leading and that we will see true renewal in the church.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Friday, June 21, 2013
4T..I-40 Church Consulting Blog with Steve Reynolds: What do visitors see when they first come to your ...
4T..I-40 Church Consulting Blog with Steve Reynolds: What do visitors see when they first come to your ...: Familiarity is not always a good thing. We become used to certain habits and surroundings especially in the church. We fail to see th...
What do visitors see when they first come to your church?
Familiarity is not always a good thing. We become used to certain habits and surroundings especially in the church. We fail to see that what may be familiar to us may seem as strange as walking on the moon for a first time visitor. While we may be used to our surroundings, a visitor may have a bit of anxiety as they walk through our doors for the first time. Unfortunately, sometimes our facilities may become our own worst enemy and is a deterrent to visitors and we do not even realize it. First impressions often can determine whether a visitor returns or not and this can include whether or facility is one that will leave a good impression on a visitor. Now I understand that facilities aren't the whole story. Certainly, how people are treated and loved is a major component as well as the spiritual atmosphere of the worship service. But if we are to "prepare for the people" as Isaiah 62:10 states then the facility and its connection with first time visitors should not be overestimated. In this blog, I would like to raise several questions concerning how user-friendly your facility is with visitors. Feel free to make comments and add some of your own ideas to things I might have missed.
1) How does the entry way and the outside area look? Is the lawn mowed? Are the bushes trimmed? Are the weeds pulled? Are there flowers and pleasant looking grounds? How about the entry way into the sanctuary? Does it look clean? Does it smell clean? I am not suggesting that one has to hire a professional landscaper but people with "green thumbs" should be encouraged to use their talents to create a nice well kept yard to the church. I have seen a church that was overgrown with weeds and looked neglected. In fact, one might wonder if the church was abandoned or if it had closed its doors. I have also seen a church that when I opened the front door, the first smell was the smell of bat dung and stains on the ceiling and walls from bats. Sometimes churches have a musty smell that is a cross between a locker room and a flooded basement. While the regular attendees might be used to those odors and appearances, it sends a message to the visitor that this is not a pleasant place to be.
2) How easy is it to get into the building? Are entrances and directions to the sanctuary well marked for visitors? Long time members may know how to get in, but visitors may find themselves hunting around door to door trying to figure out how to enter a church building that seems more like a corn maize than a church. This is a problem in especially older church buildings that have a myriad of doors-some of which may be locked. Another factor is whether a church has handicapped accessibility and even if it does, is the ramp easy to find? A simple solution may be to post signs and to place an usher or two at some of the entrances.
3) How about the restrooms? Are they well marked with signage throughout the building? Is there handicapped accessibility? Are they clean and painted? Is toilet paper stocked up for Sunday morning? Nothing could be worst than for a first time visitor to use a restroom that hasn't been properly cleaned and is out of toilet paper! It is unlikely they'll be back! Unfortunately, some church restrooms I have seen through the years aren't much better than some service stations I have used. Some church restrooms seemingly haven't been updated since indoor plumbing was invented! Restrooms are one of those first time impression factors that stick in visitors' minds.
4) How updated is the nursery and children's classroom area? Again, cleanliness, safety and smells are important to first time visitors with children. In my previous church, there was a regular schedule to make sure the toys were cleaned and scrubbed. The church also had a security camera system in the hallways in the children's area so that they could be monitored during worship. This was done fairly inexpensively but it was a way to improve the safety of the children.
5) What about church clutter? An active church (and inactive ones too) will always struggle with clutter especially in facilities where closet space is scarce. Unfortunately many churches could easily be on an episode of "Hoarders." This is due to a number of reasons. First of all, no one dares to throw anything away because it might offend someone who donated the item thirty years ago. But the film strip projector given by Aunt Gladys in 1961 needs to go. Secondly, it is too easy to just let stuff collect. If an organized closet isn't available, perhaps the church should take the approach that if the item hasn't been used in a certain time frame (ie. two years), then it should go. I served one church that had saved Vacation Bible School murals that were over five years old and sitting in a closet. This meant that newer stuff that had to be put away had no place to go which increased the clutter problem. Finally, a decision was made to have a major clean out and it was amazing how much space became available! For the first time visitor, clutter sends a signal that the church isn't very organized and is haphazard in its ministry. This will be a constant battle for many churches (not to mention myself since I am a borderline hoarder!), but one that must be dealt with if the church is to leave a good impression on a first time visitor.
In conclusion, I know these are just a few areas that should be looked at when attempting to make our facilities a place where visitors will feel welcomed and a place they can hear the message of the gospel without having the facility be a source of distraction. I know I have only scratched the surface on the various issues concerning facilities and I welcome your thoughts. Also, the suggestions I make here are easily within most church budgets and many of the ideas can be done inexpensively. For those who think that talking about facilities isn't "spiritual" enough, I am reminded of Scripture where great care was taken in making the temple a place where the Israelites could worship God. In the New Testament, while the temple and the law was no longer the centerpiece, nevertheless Paul says in I Corinthians 9:19-22 that "Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible... I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some (NIV)." Doesn't it make sense that, as Christians, we will do everything (including making our facilities user-friendly to our visitors) to bring people to a relationship with the living God?
1) How does the entry way and the outside area look? Is the lawn mowed? Are the bushes trimmed? Are the weeds pulled? Are there flowers and pleasant looking grounds? How about the entry way into the sanctuary? Does it look clean? Does it smell clean? I am not suggesting that one has to hire a professional landscaper but people with "green thumbs" should be encouraged to use their talents to create a nice well kept yard to the church. I have seen a church that was overgrown with weeds and looked neglected. In fact, one might wonder if the church was abandoned or if it had closed its doors. I have also seen a church that when I opened the front door, the first smell was the smell of bat dung and stains on the ceiling and walls from bats. Sometimes churches have a musty smell that is a cross between a locker room and a flooded basement. While the regular attendees might be used to those odors and appearances, it sends a message to the visitor that this is not a pleasant place to be.
2) How easy is it to get into the building? Are entrances and directions to the sanctuary well marked for visitors? Long time members may know how to get in, but visitors may find themselves hunting around door to door trying to figure out how to enter a church building that seems more like a corn maize than a church. This is a problem in especially older church buildings that have a myriad of doors-some of which may be locked. Another factor is whether a church has handicapped accessibility and even if it does, is the ramp easy to find? A simple solution may be to post signs and to place an usher or two at some of the entrances.
3) How about the restrooms? Are they well marked with signage throughout the building? Is there handicapped accessibility? Are they clean and painted? Is toilet paper stocked up for Sunday morning? Nothing could be worst than for a first time visitor to use a restroom that hasn't been properly cleaned and is out of toilet paper! It is unlikely they'll be back! Unfortunately, some church restrooms I have seen through the years aren't much better than some service stations I have used. Some church restrooms seemingly haven't been updated since indoor plumbing was invented! Restrooms are one of those first time impression factors that stick in visitors' minds.
4) How updated is the nursery and children's classroom area? Again, cleanliness, safety and smells are important to first time visitors with children. In my previous church, there was a regular schedule to make sure the toys were cleaned and scrubbed. The church also had a security camera system in the hallways in the children's area so that they could be monitored during worship. This was done fairly inexpensively but it was a way to improve the safety of the children.
5) What about church clutter? An active church (and inactive ones too) will always struggle with clutter especially in facilities where closet space is scarce. Unfortunately many churches could easily be on an episode of "Hoarders." This is due to a number of reasons. First of all, no one dares to throw anything away because it might offend someone who donated the item thirty years ago. But the film strip projector given by Aunt Gladys in 1961 needs to go. Secondly, it is too easy to just let stuff collect. If an organized closet isn't available, perhaps the church should take the approach that if the item hasn't been used in a certain time frame (ie. two years), then it should go. I served one church that had saved Vacation Bible School murals that were over five years old and sitting in a closet. This meant that newer stuff that had to be put away had no place to go which increased the clutter problem. Finally, a decision was made to have a major clean out and it was amazing how much space became available! For the first time visitor, clutter sends a signal that the church isn't very organized and is haphazard in its ministry. This will be a constant battle for many churches (not to mention myself since I am a borderline hoarder!), but one that must be dealt with if the church is to leave a good impression on a first time visitor.
In conclusion, I know these are just a few areas that should be looked at when attempting to make our facilities a place where visitors will feel welcomed and a place they can hear the message of the gospel without having the facility be a source of distraction. I know I have only scratched the surface on the various issues concerning facilities and I welcome your thoughts. Also, the suggestions I make here are easily within most church budgets and many of the ideas can be done inexpensively. For those who think that talking about facilities isn't "spiritual" enough, I am reminded of Scripture where great care was taken in making the temple a place where the Israelites could worship God. In the New Testament, while the temple and the law was no longer the centerpiece, nevertheless Paul says in I Corinthians 9:19-22 that "Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible... I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some (NIV)." Doesn't it make sense that, as Christians, we will do everything (including making our facilities user-friendly to our visitors) to bring people to a relationship with the living God?
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
4T..I-40 Church Consulting Blog with Steve Reynolds: Five Keys for Church Renewal
4T..I-40 Church Consulting Blog with Steve Reynolds: Five Keys for Church Renewal: "Pass through, pass through the gates! Prepare the way for the people. Build up, build up the highway! Remove the stones, Raise a banne...
Five Keys for Church Renewal
"Pass through, pass through the gates! Prepare the way for the people. Build up, build up the highway! Remove the stones, Raise a banner for the nations (Isaiah 62:10, New International Version).
What will it take to turn around a congregation? To put it quite frankly, far too many churches are in trouble and need a radical change in direction. What is needed today is renewal or revival, no matter how one wants to phrase it. However, does this mean we put up a tent and have a "revival meeting?" Do we find a program that has worked some place out West in a growing community and plug it into our little small town church in rural New York or in the hills of Pennsylvania? Do we purchase more books and materials that will suddenly jump start our congregation? What will it take?
I believe, while some of the above suggestions might be helpful, that a good place to start is to look at the Bible. In Isaiah 62, we see a wonderful picture on how a nation that is in exile will be restored. It was a nation that was in trouble which needed a turn around. It was a nation that basically was spiritually (and geographically) dead, but God had plans to bring it back to life. However, it is clear that God's people also have a stake in this by a call to obedient faith. As a result an important question must be considered: What are the important responses that God's people must have if revival or renewal is to take place? Of course, it starts with God and His power to bring transformation, but this does not mean that the church is to stand idly by and expect revival or renewal to happen on its own. True revival demands a response which is outlined for us in Scripture through a number of imperatives. In Isaiah 62:10, we see five imperatives for church renewal or revival which outlines the type of response the church needs if we are to see congregations pass from death into new life. They are as follows:
IMPERATIVE #1: PASS THROUGH THE GATE: The first step for revival or renewal to happen is to leave where we have been and to pass through the new direction that God has. For years, the nation was in exile but Jerusalem would be rebuilt, the gates restored and the temple would be reestablished. Yet for renewal or revival to take place, there was a call to God's people to "pass through the gates." It is noteworthy that in the text, "Passing through" is repeated. Whenever words are repeated in the Bible, it means that a point is being emphasized and highlighted. To paraphrase this verse, it, in essence, is saying, "Get off of your duffs and pass through!" For the church today, it cannot be business as usual. It cannot be thinking about the old days nor holding on to what has always worked. It is noteworthy throughout the Scriptures that "passing through" takes place when God was about to do something significant. In Exodus and Joshua, the Israelites passed through two bodies of water in addition to the desert in order to receive the Promised Land. In the New Testament, Jesus passes through the gates of the city on the way to the cross, thus securing the redemption of humanity. The question for the church is, "What gate is God asking our congregation to pass through?"
IMPERATIVE #2: PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE PEOPLE: In the Isaiah passage, anticipating the influx of people meant that the city must be able to handle those who had returned. Houses would have to be rebuilt, infrastructure would have to be repaired and updated. Spiritually, since they were the people of God, a place would have to be restored to encourage worshipping the one true God. Likewise for the church today, a congregation must ask the question, "How prepared are we for the influx of new Christians that the Lord may bring to us? Are we in a position to mentor and disciple them? Are our facilities conducive to be a welcoming place for potential followers of Christ? Is our focus inward or outward? I once heard a pastor ask this question, "Besides Jesus, who is the most important person in church?" His answer was, "The person who has not attended here yet." How prepared are we for people?
IMPERATIVE #3: BUILD UP THE HIGHWAY: Yesterday, I had to travel up Interstate 81 in Upstate New York to visit my mother. On the way, there was an all too familiar sight that is typical of the short summers in the snowy part of New York State called "construction season." In places, the road was down to traveling over the rumble strips on the shoulder of the road to get by the tearing up of the other lane in order to restore the road. To say the least (especially for a preacher whose dream is to drive the Audubon), it was frustrating to slow down and to maneuver around heavy equipment. Yet, if Interstate 81 is to be a highway that will continue to transport people, the construction was necessary.
It is important to understand, that congregations are in the highway business. How is our congregation providing a way for people to find the Lord? How must we change in order to accommodate this change? How are we sensitive to the environment around us? What ministries are no longer effective and must be eliminated? What new ministries does God want us to be involved in? This process can be long and slow and, like a construction site, is a work in process. Yet when a congregation invests the time, prayers (and money too!), a new highway of helping people find the Lord is established.
IMPERATIVE #4: REMOVE THE STONES: Any construction site not only involves building something new but in removing the old. After Jerusalem was destroyed, the city was in shambles. Streets were blocked with rubble and stones and those stones had to be cleared out and removed. Likewise, there are stones in the church that have to be removed. Some of these stones are relational stones-stones where people have not been able to forgive others along with bitterness. There may be stones of unrepentant sin that will require some difficult decisions to be made. This is especially true in churches that are in conflict or there is a power struggle. Some of the stones that have to be removed may be old programs and events that have long gone past their life-cycle yet have been retained because "we have always done it this way." If revival is to happen, then something will have to go.
IMPERATIVE #5: RAISE A BANNER FOR THE NATIONS: So far, the first four imperatives focused on creating the right environment for revival to happen. But it is possible to act on the first four imperatives and forget the most important last piece in revival-the proclamation of the gospel beyond the church's four walls in word and in deed. The methodology on how this is done will vary from congregation to congregation but it all comes down to Christians telling others of the good news of Jesus Christ. According to Dr. John Ewart, it is estimated that 90% of church members have no intention of sharing their faith. As a result, even if the first four imperatives are followed, there will not be enough Christians raising the banner to have much of an impact on our culture. Thus the last imperative for revival to happen is to become a congregation that openly raises the banner of God's grace to the nations.
In conclusion, there is no question that revival and renewal are sorely needed in today's church in America. In order for it to happen, God has already done His part in the work of His Son, Jesus Christ. But the question for the church is whether it will be obedient to the imperatives that God has outlined for us in His Word.
What will it take to turn around a congregation? To put it quite frankly, far too many churches are in trouble and need a radical change in direction. What is needed today is renewal or revival, no matter how one wants to phrase it. However, does this mean we put up a tent and have a "revival meeting?" Do we find a program that has worked some place out West in a growing community and plug it into our little small town church in rural New York or in the hills of Pennsylvania? Do we purchase more books and materials that will suddenly jump start our congregation? What will it take?
I believe, while some of the above suggestions might be helpful, that a good place to start is to look at the Bible. In Isaiah 62, we see a wonderful picture on how a nation that is in exile will be restored. It was a nation that was in trouble which needed a turn around. It was a nation that basically was spiritually (and geographically) dead, but God had plans to bring it back to life. However, it is clear that God's people also have a stake in this by a call to obedient faith. As a result an important question must be considered: What are the important responses that God's people must have if revival or renewal is to take place? Of course, it starts with God and His power to bring transformation, but this does not mean that the church is to stand idly by and expect revival or renewal to happen on its own. True revival demands a response which is outlined for us in Scripture through a number of imperatives. In Isaiah 62:10, we see five imperatives for church renewal or revival which outlines the type of response the church needs if we are to see congregations pass from death into new life. They are as follows:
IMPERATIVE #1: PASS THROUGH THE GATE: The first step for revival or renewal to happen is to leave where we have been and to pass through the new direction that God has. For years, the nation was in exile but Jerusalem would be rebuilt, the gates restored and the temple would be reestablished. Yet for renewal or revival to take place, there was a call to God's people to "pass through the gates." It is noteworthy that in the text, "Passing through" is repeated. Whenever words are repeated in the Bible, it means that a point is being emphasized and highlighted. To paraphrase this verse, it, in essence, is saying, "Get off of your duffs and pass through!" For the church today, it cannot be business as usual. It cannot be thinking about the old days nor holding on to what has always worked. It is noteworthy throughout the Scriptures that "passing through" takes place when God was about to do something significant. In Exodus and Joshua, the Israelites passed through two bodies of water in addition to the desert in order to receive the Promised Land. In the New Testament, Jesus passes through the gates of the city on the way to the cross, thus securing the redemption of humanity. The question for the church is, "What gate is God asking our congregation to pass through?"
IMPERATIVE #2: PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE PEOPLE: In the Isaiah passage, anticipating the influx of people meant that the city must be able to handle those who had returned. Houses would have to be rebuilt, infrastructure would have to be repaired and updated. Spiritually, since they were the people of God, a place would have to be restored to encourage worshipping the one true God. Likewise for the church today, a congregation must ask the question, "How prepared are we for the influx of new Christians that the Lord may bring to us? Are we in a position to mentor and disciple them? Are our facilities conducive to be a welcoming place for potential followers of Christ? Is our focus inward or outward? I once heard a pastor ask this question, "Besides Jesus, who is the most important person in church?" His answer was, "The person who has not attended here yet." How prepared are we for people?
IMPERATIVE #3: BUILD UP THE HIGHWAY: Yesterday, I had to travel up Interstate 81 in Upstate New York to visit my mother. On the way, there was an all too familiar sight that is typical of the short summers in the snowy part of New York State called "construction season." In places, the road was down to traveling over the rumble strips on the shoulder of the road to get by the tearing up of the other lane in order to restore the road. To say the least (especially for a preacher whose dream is to drive the Audubon), it was frustrating to slow down and to maneuver around heavy equipment. Yet, if Interstate 81 is to be a highway that will continue to transport people, the construction was necessary.
It is important to understand, that congregations are in the highway business. How is our congregation providing a way for people to find the Lord? How must we change in order to accommodate this change? How are we sensitive to the environment around us? What ministries are no longer effective and must be eliminated? What new ministries does God want us to be involved in? This process can be long and slow and, like a construction site, is a work in process. Yet when a congregation invests the time, prayers (and money too!), a new highway of helping people find the Lord is established.
IMPERATIVE #4: REMOVE THE STONES: Any construction site not only involves building something new but in removing the old. After Jerusalem was destroyed, the city was in shambles. Streets were blocked with rubble and stones and those stones had to be cleared out and removed. Likewise, there are stones in the church that have to be removed. Some of these stones are relational stones-stones where people have not been able to forgive others along with bitterness. There may be stones of unrepentant sin that will require some difficult decisions to be made. This is especially true in churches that are in conflict or there is a power struggle. Some of the stones that have to be removed may be old programs and events that have long gone past their life-cycle yet have been retained because "we have always done it this way." If revival is to happen, then something will have to go.
IMPERATIVE #5: RAISE A BANNER FOR THE NATIONS: So far, the first four imperatives focused on creating the right environment for revival to happen. But it is possible to act on the first four imperatives and forget the most important last piece in revival-the proclamation of the gospel beyond the church's four walls in word and in deed. The methodology on how this is done will vary from congregation to congregation but it all comes down to Christians telling others of the good news of Jesus Christ. According to Dr. John Ewart, it is estimated that 90% of church members have no intention of sharing their faith. As a result, even if the first four imperatives are followed, there will not be enough Christians raising the banner to have much of an impact on our culture. Thus the last imperative for revival to happen is to become a congregation that openly raises the banner of God's grace to the nations.
In conclusion, there is no question that revival and renewal are sorely needed in today's church in America. In order for it to happen, God has already done His part in the work of His Son, Jesus Christ. But the question for the church is whether it will be obedient to the imperatives that God has outlined for us in His Word.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
4T..I-40 Church Consulting Blog with Steve Reynolds: Is There a Father in the House?
4T..I-40 Church Consulting Blog with Steve Reynolds: Is There a Father in the House?: On this Fathers Day, a truth that is often ignored, is the reality that many homes exist without the presence of a father in the home. ...
Is There a Father in the House?
On this Fathers Day, a truth that is often ignored, is the reality that many homes exist without the presence of a father in the home. In the African-American Community, nearly 70% of the children are born out of wedlock with most of them without a father in the home (See the article at http://atlantablackstar.com/2013/04/06/without-fathers-in-the-home-black-children-are-at-risk/). In one part of Washington, D.C. the rate is even more staggering in which the data shows that 84% of the children live in homes without a father. This has tremendous implications for the church as we try to minister to people who are raised in fatherless homes especially in the African-American community.
The challenge for the church in this issue is a theological as well as a relational one. Theologically we call God our heavenly Father and address Him as "Abba," Father. The Lord's Prayer begins with "Our Father which art in heaven." However the theological challenge for the church is to try to help people understand the concept of fatherhood in the increasing number of homes that have no dad. Furthermore, there are homes in which a dad is present but has been physically or emotionally abusive. To those in such circumstances, the concept of a loving heavenly Father seems foreign to them. As a result, it will be very important for the church to explain theologically the teaching on God's Fatherhood. We cannot assume that people will understand what we mean when we refer to God as "Father."
Relationally, it will be increasingly important for the church to mentor those who are without parents or who are especially without fathers. Scripture talks about the widow and the orphan (Isaiah 1:17) and the responsibility to care for them. While technically the father may still be living, yet in actuality, the child is in a state where the father is out of the picture which virtually means that he/she is like an orphan. It is imperative that churches begin to look at mentoring programs to help children in fatherless homes to see in action the concept of fatherhood and how God's Fatherhood is to be understood.
Finally, one other question must be asked. Does the church act like it is without a Father? Do congregations try to carry on its ministry without the guiding and leading of the Father? As a consultant, do I try to conduct ministry without the Father's leading? Unlike children whose fathers choose to leave them, sometimes the church chooses to disassociate itself from the heavenly Father by trying to be ministry-centered rather than God-centered. Far too often, in our ministries we live more like orphans rather than being under the guidance of a Father who loves us.
The challenge for the church in this issue is a theological as well as a relational one. Theologically we call God our heavenly Father and address Him as "Abba," Father. The Lord's Prayer begins with "Our Father which art in heaven." However the theological challenge for the church is to try to help people understand the concept of fatherhood in the increasing number of homes that have no dad. Furthermore, there are homes in which a dad is present but has been physically or emotionally abusive. To those in such circumstances, the concept of a loving heavenly Father seems foreign to them. As a result, it will be very important for the church to explain theologically the teaching on God's Fatherhood. We cannot assume that people will understand what we mean when we refer to God as "Father."
Relationally, it will be increasingly important for the church to mentor those who are without parents or who are especially without fathers. Scripture talks about the widow and the orphan (Isaiah 1:17) and the responsibility to care for them. While technically the father may still be living, yet in actuality, the child is in a state where the father is out of the picture which virtually means that he/she is like an orphan. It is imperative that churches begin to look at mentoring programs to help children in fatherless homes to see in action the concept of fatherhood and how God's Fatherhood is to be understood.
Finally, one other question must be asked. Does the church act like it is without a Father? Do congregations try to carry on its ministry without the guiding and leading of the Father? As a consultant, do I try to conduct ministry without the Father's leading? Unlike children whose fathers choose to leave them, sometimes the church chooses to disassociate itself from the heavenly Father by trying to be ministry-centered rather than God-centered. Far too often, in our ministries we live more like orphans rather than being under the guidance of a Father who loves us.
Saturday, June 15, 2013
4T..I-40 Church Consulting Blog with Steve Reynolds: "Statue" of Limitations
4T..I-40 Church Consulting Blog with Steve Reynolds: "Statue" of Limitations: In my back yard this spring stood a badly worn out statue of the Virgin Mary surrounded by the overgrown thorns that were there when I moved...
Friday, June 14, 2013
4T..I-40 Church Consulting Blog with Steve Reynolds: "Statue" of Limitations
4T..I-40 Church Consulting Blog with Steve Reynolds: "Statue" of Limitations: In my back yard this spring stood a badly worn out statute of the Virgin Mary surrounded by the overgrown thorns that were there when I...
"Statue" of Limitations
In my back yard this spring stood a badly worn out statue of the Virgin Mary surrounded by the overgrown thorns that were there when I moved into my newly bought house. Being a non Catholic and from a Christian tradition that does not use icons or statues, I had a dilemma. What do I do with Mary? The statue was in no shape to be given away or sold in a yard sale we were having. Besides that, I wasn't sure if selling Mary would not be offensive to some, especially in a yard sale! My wife, jokingly, suggested that we put a sign on her in the front yard saying, "Available to a good home." Somehow that didn't seem right either. I finally did the only thing I could do to this beaten up statue (I hope I don't offend anyone). I secretly wrapped her up in a garbage bag and threw her in the trash. Even as a non Catholic it felt weird to throw away one who represents the mother of the incarnate God. Yet, at the time it seemed to be the best option for this non-statue believing Baptist.
However this encounter raises a more important issue for me as I reflect on this. Does the church and myself do the same to Jesus? As a church consultant, will my mission be to point congregations to a better method, program, ministry, facility etc. or to point them to Jesus? To be sure a consultation will involve all of those things but if Jesus isn't the central focus, then those things will only be like a worn out statue in the midst of the thorns. A church's ministry, facilities, programs and other activities may replicate Jesus but unless the congregation is truly centered in Jesus then it has no more value than an object headed to the landfill. A ministry-focused church rather than Christ-focused congregation will wear out quickly and lose its vision of why they are in existence-to reflect Jesus Christ in today's world.
It is my prayer that, in the midst of all my consultation, I don't lose sight of the centrality of Jesus in all I do. I am sure I can do a consultation without Jesus and do it well but it will only be a statue dedicated to a Christian endeavor rather than that which reflects the very essence of Jesus Himself. Like my backyard dilemma, the result will be a lifeless church surrounded by the thorns of programs and ministries. On the surface it may look like Jesus but unless He is the focus then we have missed the mark. May God give us the insight to know the difference.
However this encounter raises a more important issue for me as I reflect on this. Does the church and myself do the same to Jesus? As a church consultant, will my mission be to point congregations to a better method, program, ministry, facility etc. or to point them to Jesus? To be sure a consultation will involve all of those things but if Jesus isn't the central focus, then those things will only be like a worn out statue in the midst of the thorns. A church's ministry, facilities, programs and other activities may replicate Jesus but unless the congregation is truly centered in Jesus then it has no more value than an object headed to the landfill. A ministry-focused church rather than Christ-focused congregation will wear out quickly and lose its vision of why they are in existence-to reflect Jesus Christ in today's world.
It is my prayer that, in the midst of all my consultation, I don't lose sight of the centrality of Jesus in all I do. I am sure I can do a consultation without Jesus and do it well but it will only be a statue dedicated to a Christian endeavor rather than that which reflects the very essence of Jesus Himself. Like my backyard dilemma, the result will be a lifeless church surrounded by the thorns of programs and ministries. On the surface it may look like Jesus but unless He is the focus then we have missed the mark. May God give us the insight to know the difference.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Amateurs Built the Ark While Experts Built the Titanic
Much is made of consulting an expert in today's world. We seek expert advice and counsel. Television news shows are filled with a panel of experts covering a number of issues. When it comes to the medical field, we have experts (or specialists) in every field. Certainly when I go to have surgery, I depend on having an expert. When I have my taxes done or even when the church seeks outside help, a certain amount of expertise is needed. However, I wonder if we sometimes over estimate expertise. Are there other qualities other than mere competence or expertise that need to be considered? Is it enough just to have knowledge about a subject? Is it possible that even the experts can get it wrong in a number of ways?
As we ponder these questions, it might be beneficial to compare two of the greatest vessels ever assembled in history-the Titanic and Noah's ark. There is no question that the Titanic was built and designed by a team of experts. It was the most glorious ocean vessel of its day. It had all the luxuries and amenities that went beyond anything built in its era. It was a symbol of human ingenuity and progress. Yet there was one fatal flaw-the designers felt they had a ship in which nothing could go wrong. Perhaps it was a ship that could never sink. As a result, small details were ignored. The possibility of icebergs and evacuation procedures were not even considered. The real problem was that these so-called "experts" were way too sure of themselves and their ability to build the perfect ship. The rest is history (not to mention the theme of movies and books!)
Turning the clock back to many years earlier, we look at another ship builder. In Genesis 6, there was a man named Noah who answered God's call to build an Ark. Certainly he was no shipbuilder when he first heard the call though he did have some skills as a builder. But Noah had one thing going. He was willing to learn from God and he followed the Lord's instructions. Genesis 7:5 summarizes these events by saying that "Noah did all that the Lord commanded him." In Noah, we see a man who did not have any pretense about what he was building. We see nothing of the attitude that "I am going to build the biggest and best vessel ever made." Instead, we see a man who simply followed God's instructions and learned on the way. He became an expert shipbuilder because of his willingness to follow orders.
As I think about these two examples in history, it is evident that this has tremendous implications for me as I consult with churches. In my consultation, my desire is not to go in as an expert with a sure-fire way of turning around a church. It is true that in my many years of ministry, I have learned a few things and that the Lord has given me the training and skills to do this kind of work, but what it comes down to for me is whether I am willing to follow orders. Am I willing to listen to God's instructions and to the churches that I am serving? Any task requires a certain amount of expertise, but more importantly, what is really needed is a willingness to be led by the wisdom of God and to have a spirit that is willing to be taught. My prayer when I consult churches is that I will not come across as a "know-it-all" who is unwilling to learn. Instead I pray that I can serve the church and together we can discover the great things God wants to do. Noah started out as an amateur who became an expert because of his willingness to learn along the way the plans God had for him while the experts of the Titanic became foolishly amateur-like when the unsinkable ship tragically ended up on the ocean floor. In whatever God calls us to do, we can go in either direction. May we choose the way of Noah!
As we ponder these questions, it might be beneficial to compare two of the greatest vessels ever assembled in history-the Titanic and Noah's ark. There is no question that the Titanic was built and designed by a team of experts. It was the most glorious ocean vessel of its day. It had all the luxuries and amenities that went beyond anything built in its era. It was a symbol of human ingenuity and progress. Yet there was one fatal flaw-the designers felt they had a ship in which nothing could go wrong. Perhaps it was a ship that could never sink. As a result, small details were ignored. The possibility of icebergs and evacuation procedures were not even considered. The real problem was that these so-called "experts" were way too sure of themselves and their ability to build the perfect ship. The rest is history (not to mention the theme of movies and books!)
Turning the clock back to many years earlier, we look at another ship builder. In Genesis 6, there was a man named Noah who answered God's call to build an Ark. Certainly he was no shipbuilder when he first heard the call though he did have some skills as a builder. But Noah had one thing going. He was willing to learn from God and he followed the Lord's instructions. Genesis 7:5 summarizes these events by saying that "Noah did all that the Lord commanded him." In Noah, we see a man who did not have any pretense about what he was building. We see nothing of the attitude that "I am going to build the biggest and best vessel ever made." Instead, we see a man who simply followed God's instructions and learned on the way. He became an expert shipbuilder because of his willingness to follow orders.
As I think about these two examples in history, it is evident that this has tremendous implications for me as I consult with churches. In my consultation, my desire is not to go in as an expert with a sure-fire way of turning around a church. It is true that in my many years of ministry, I have learned a few things and that the Lord has given me the training and skills to do this kind of work, but what it comes down to for me is whether I am willing to follow orders. Am I willing to listen to God's instructions and to the churches that I am serving? Any task requires a certain amount of expertise, but more importantly, what is really needed is a willingness to be led by the wisdom of God and to have a spirit that is willing to be taught. My prayer when I consult churches is that I will not come across as a "know-it-all" who is unwilling to learn. Instead I pray that I can serve the church and together we can discover the great things God wants to do. Noah started out as an amateur who became an expert because of his willingness to learn along the way the plans God had for him while the experts of the Titanic became foolishly amateur-like when the unsinkable ship tragically ended up on the ocean floor. In whatever God calls us to do, we can go in either direction. May we choose the way of Noah!
Monday, June 10, 2013
The Redefining of the Pastoral Ministry
It is 1973 and Henry is about to graduate from seminary. Soon he will cart off his wife and two kids off to a remote town in Northern New York to his very first pastorate. The church is small, the pay is low but the local farmers fill his refrigerator with food and home grown vegetables are frequently brought to his house. The ministry is hard yet somehow they are able to get by on his meager salary. The church experiences some growth at the arrival of this young pastor. After a short time, he becomes an important part of the community. Everyone in town knows who he is and he is a respected person in the community who is often asked to pray or whose counsel is sought. Church is important to those folks in this Northern New York community. Even those who do not attend often participate in many of the activities that the church has to offer-fairs, dinners, Vacation Bible School, music programs, tent meeting revivals, and other activities. Whenever there is a crisis, Pastor Henry and the church is the first place that is thought of to unravel the difficulties of life.
It is 2013 and that same church in Northern New York is barely twenty strong (or weak, depending on one's perspective). No longer able to afford a seminary-trained pastor and facing the rising costs of health insurance and maintaining a building that is over one hundred years old, the church settles on having a different speaker leading its services every week after the previous pastor had moved on. He left disillusioned in a church and community that was in decline. Many of the church members had grown older and were no longer physically able to carry on the many activities of the church. The community no longer sought the church for its social presence and found that it was more appealing to make the 45 minute trek down the interstate to engage in activities at the mall or civic center. For those who needed answers to life's questions or issues, the Internet or Dr. Phil had replaced the counsel of the church when life became difficult. Increasingly the church nor the pastor, before he moved on, no longer had the relevancy to the community that Henry had enjoyed in the 1970s.
These two scenarios are just a snapshot of the changes that have taken place over the past forty years. The typical image of a seminary trained pastor moving into a church and becoming one of the leaders of the community no longer holds the weight it once did. A number of factors have played into this including the cost of health insurance, the cost of education for the graduated seminarian who perhaps has incurred $50,000 in college loan debt, the secularization of society, the negative reaction to organized religion, post-modern rejection of absolutes-all of these factors and many others have had an impact. The church which had an important role in the community was now seen as a relic of the past and today many people drive by the building unaware that the church even exists. The truth is that this scenario is becoming increasingly a familiar one. Many churches no longer support a pastor on a full time basis and are in a period of decline. In our denominational association, nearly sixty percent of our churches no longer support a pastor on a full time basis and they must work outside the church in order to make ends meet. Furthermore, in many rural communities, there are fewer and fewer farmers and the possibility of the pastor being subsidized with food to help meet costs (as in the 1973 scenario) has become a thing of the past. This has further diminished the ability of the church to secure a pastor especially in small towns.
The point I am raising in this blog is that the pastoral ministry and the church is being redefined. But what are the implications of this? I would like to suggest several.
1) The increasing importance of bi-vocational pastors. If I had a suggestion for seminarians today, my suggestion would be to find an occupation or skill that can supplement your ministry. The idea that upon seminary that a graduate is going to get a full time church that is large enough to support a pastor and his/her family is no longer the rule. Of course, one must depend on God to provide but it would be wise to seek the Lord on other possibilities to help supplement the ministry. Certainly this is not without Biblical precedent as St. Paul was a tentmaker.
2) The increasing role of certified lay pastors. Many churches have a hard time finding pastors who have completed seminary to come to their community due to the inability to adequately support their work or due to a number of other factors including college loans, the inability for the spouse to find work in his/her field, or in declining membership. However trained, certified lay pastors can be utilized especially if it is in close proximity to their home and employment. Churches that struggle in acquiring a seminary trained pastor will have greater opportunity to utilize this developing ministry. It is important to note that this will require a great deal of flexibility by both the denomination and the church. When I first entered the ministry, the expectation in the denomination and the local church was that you had to be a seminary graduate to pastor a local church. But based on current realities, this is one expectation that needs to be evaluated and greater flexibility over the type of pastoral leadership in the local church is a must.
3) The importance of mentoring/training. Since there will be an increasing number of lay pastors, the danger is that they will be sent into churches without adequate training and mentoring. It is here where I feel that the seminary trained, ordained clergy can be of great help in this changing scenario. Trained ordained pastors need to step up to the task of helping lay pastors (who may have not had much training) so that they are not thrown to the wolves, so to speak. Mentoring these lay pastors becomes crucial. One challenge to this may be in the fact that many seminary trained, ordained clergy are still living with the old expectation that only a seminarian trained person should pastor a church, but if the church is to adequately deal with the changing landscape of today's world, then those who are ordained also must exhibit greater flexibility and openness to lay pastors.
These are just a few factors of how I see the pastoral ministry being redefined in the local church. Please feel free to respond and give me your thoughts.
It is 2013 and that same church in Northern New York is barely twenty strong (or weak, depending on one's perspective). No longer able to afford a seminary-trained pastor and facing the rising costs of health insurance and maintaining a building that is over one hundred years old, the church settles on having a different speaker leading its services every week after the previous pastor had moved on. He left disillusioned in a church and community that was in decline. Many of the church members had grown older and were no longer physically able to carry on the many activities of the church. The community no longer sought the church for its social presence and found that it was more appealing to make the 45 minute trek down the interstate to engage in activities at the mall or civic center. For those who needed answers to life's questions or issues, the Internet or Dr. Phil had replaced the counsel of the church when life became difficult. Increasingly the church nor the pastor, before he moved on, no longer had the relevancy to the community that Henry had enjoyed in the 1970s.
These two scenarios are just a snapshot of the changes that have taken place over the past forty years. The typical image of a seminary trained pastor moving into a church and becoming one of the leaders of the community no longer holds the weight it once did. A number of factors have played into this including the cost of health insurance, the cost of education for the graduated seminarian who perhaps has incurred $50,000 in college loan debt, the secularization of society, the negative reaction to organized religion, post-modern rejection of absolutes-all of these factors and many others have had an impact. The church which had an important role in the community was now seen as a relic of the past and today many people drive by the building unaware that the church even exists. The truth is that this scenario is becoming increasingly a familiar one. Many churches no longer support a pastor on a full time basis and are in a period of decline. In our denominational association, nearly sixty percent of our churches no longer support a pastor on a full time basis and they must work outside the church in order to make ends meet. Furthermore, in many rural communities, there are fewer and fewer farmers and the possibility of the pastor being subsidized with food to help meet costs (as in the 1973 scenario) has become a thing of the past. This has further diminished the ability of the church to secure a pastor especially in small towns.
The point I am raising in this blog is that the pastoral ministry and the church is being redefined. But what are the implications of this? I would like to suggest several.
1) The increasing importance of bi-vocational pastors. If I had a suggestion for seminarians today, my suggestion would be to find an occupation or skill that can supplement your ministry. The idea that upon seminary that a graduate is going to get a full time church that is large enough to support a pastor and his/her family is no longer the rule. Of course, one must depend on God to provide but it would be wise to seek the Lord on other possibilities to help supplement the ministry. Certainly this is not without Biblical precedent as St. Paul was a tentmaker.
2) The increasing role of certified lay pastors. Many churches have a hard time finding pastors who have completed seminary to come to their community due to the inability to adequately support their work or due to a number of other factors including college loans, the inability for the spouse to find work in his/her field, or in declining membership. However trained, certified lay pastors can be utilized especially if it is in close proximity to their home and employment. Churches that struggle in acquiring a seminary trained pastor will have greater opportunity to utilize this developing ministry. It is important to note that this will require a great deal of flexibility by both the denomination and the church. When I first entered the ministry, the expectation in the denomination and the local church was that you had to be a seminary graduate to pastor a local church. But based on current realities, this is one expectation that needs to be evaluated and greater flexibility over the type of pastoral leadership in the local church is a must.
3) The importance of mentoring/training. Since there will be an increasing number of lay pastors, the danger is that they will be sent into churches without adequate training and mentoring. It is here where I feel that the seminary trained, ordained clergy can be of great help in this changing scenario. Trained ordained pastors need to step up to the task of helping lay pastors (who may have not had much training) so that they are not thrown to the wolves, so to speak. Mentoring these lay pastors becomes crucial. One challenge to this may be in the fact that many seminary trained, ordained clergy are still living with the old expectation that only a seminarian trained person should pastor a church, but if the church is to adequately deal with the changing landscape of today's world, then those who are ordained also must exhibit greater flexibility and openness to lay pastors.
These are just a few factors of how I see the pastoral ministry being redefined in the local church. Please feel free to respond and give me your thoughts.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
The Birds and the Bees
I am sure that when you saw the title of this blog that you thought that I was going to start a discussion on sexuality. But, the truth is, I really am going to literally talk about the birds and the bees. In my front yard of the new home that we recently moved into, I have three bird feeders which I fill up several times a week. Yet, it is amazing how fast those bird feeders become empty-sometimes within hours. Between the birds (especially the morning doves and the starlings) and the squirrels, the feed rapidly disappears. I can barely keep up with this feeding frenzy as the birds and those bushy-tailed rodents peck away at every seed I fill up in the feeder.
In my back yard, the neighbor who lives behind me is a beekeeper by hobby. Bees are a very social insect and my neighbor told me that after the males are done mating (OK, so I couldn't totally avoid talking about sex!) that they like to get together and hang out. Often bees will swarm and stay together and they are known to be hard working insects who produce honey. The important fact is that bees very seldom work alone and are known for their connection with other bees.
These two lessons from nature which involves both my front and back yard teaches some important spiritual lessons that has implications for the church of God's people. First of all, the birds remind us of their hunger for the seed as I can barely catch up to them before it is time to refill the feeders. What would happen if God's people had that kind of hunger for God and for His word? What would happen if His church was so hungry for the presence of the Lord that they were never satisfied to stay at the same level spiritually. Churches would have a new passion. People would not keep checking their watches thinking about the next diversion that can take away their attention. Worship would be dynamic and God's people would never have enough of the Lord. Jesus says in Matthew 5:6, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled." What the church needs today are people who are hungry for God.
Secondly, the bees remind us that those who call on the name of Christ constitute a community. In our individualistic society, this is a truth that is too often forgotten. We talk about our PERSONAL relationship with Jesus and our PERSONAL devotions and our PERSONAL calling from God but we have forgotten that we are called into a community. I Corinthians 12 likens this community to a human body where the different parts are necessary and how they need each other. This smacks in the face of much of the individualistic Christianity that we see in America today. If we can learn one thing from bees, we are called as a community of faith.
As Christians we can learn much about the birds and the bees and this is not merely from premarital counseling or a sermon series from the Song of Songs! Much can be said about hungering for God and walking in community with each other. Jesus said that the two great commandments was to love the Lord and to love one another ( Luke 10:27). If even the birds and the bees can hunger and live in community, how much more should we who have been redeemed by grace do any less than to have a hunger and love for God and to love one another in community?
In my back yard, the neighbor who lives behind me is a beekeeper by hobby. Bees are a very social insect and my neighbor told me that after the males are done mating (OK, so I couldn't totally avoid talking about sex!) that they like to get together and hang out. Often bees will swarm and stay together and they are known to be hard working insects who produce honey. The important fact is that bees very seldom work alone and are known for their connection with other bees.
These two lessons from nature which involves both my front and back yard teaches some important spiritual lessons that has implications for the church of God's people. First of all, the birds remind us of their hunger for the seed as I can barely catch up to them before it is time to refill the feeders. What would happen if God's people had that kind of hunger for God and for His word? What would happen if His church was so hungry for the presence of the Lord that they were never satisfied to stay at the same level spiritually. Churches would have a new passion. People would not keep checking their watches thinking about the next diversion that can take away their attention. Worship would be dynamic and God's people would never have enough of the Lord. Jesus says in Matthew 5:6, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled." What the church needs today are people who are hungry for God.
Secondly, the bees remind us that those who call on the name of Christ constitute a community. In our individualistic society, this is a truth that is too often forgotten. We talk about our PERSONAL relationship with Jesus and our PERSONAL devotions and our PERSONAL calling from God but we have forgotten that we are called into a community. I Corinthians 12 likens this community to a human body where the different parts are necessary and how they need each other. This smacks in the face of much of the individualistic Christianity that we see in America today. If we can learn one thing from bees, we are called as a community of faith.
As Christians we can learn much about the birds and the bees and this is not merely from premarital counseling or a sermon series from the Song of Songs! Much can be said about hungering for God and walking in community with each other. Jesus said that the two great commandments was to love the Lord and to love one another ( Luke 10:27). If even the birds and the bees can hunger and live in community, how much more should we who have been redeemed by grace do any less than to have a hunger and love for God and to love one another in community?
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Walmart Wedding
I just read an article which reported that a couple had gotten married at Walmart. Apparently that particular Walmart was the place the couple had met and fallen in love. For most of us it seems to be a rather strange place to get married, yet it was not without its uniqueness. As a place for marriage, Walmart is a foreign place for us, but to that couple it was a special place.
I wonder if that couple feels that way about the church? Perhaps the church was a foreign place to them and the only place they found love was in a Walmart. What does that say about the state of our culture today? But, more importantly, what does it say about the church? Is it possible that we in the church are so self-centered that most people on the outside feel that finding love in the church is just as foreign as it is for us to find love in a Walmart? It is an important question that we must wrestle with.
When people come through our church doors, do they find it as a special place? How do our church attendees feel? Is church a special place or is it a place of strife and activity without purpose?
Jesus says in John 13:35 that people will “know that we are His disciples if we love one another.” The truth is that because of the depth of the love of Christ and all that He has done, the greatest demonstration of this love that we can offer is the church’s love for one another.
Is our church a special place for this kind of love? While we may be amused or intrigued whenever we hear about unusual weddings and romances, let us not forget that the church, above all, is to demonstrate the highest display of love-the sacrificial love of Jesus. It is that kind of love that will make a difference in today’s world.
Monday, June 3, 2013
Congregational Reactions to When a Pastor Leaves
In my previous blog, I outlined the various phases we pastors go through when we leave a church. However in this blog, I outline several reactions that take place when they first hear the news that their pastor is leaving.
REACTION #1: SHOCK AND CONFUSION: Some people are in utter shock and become confused when a pastor announces that he/she is leaving. They wonder what the church will do next and are concerned that the church will not be able to survive without the pastor. It is helpful during this time for the departing pastor to preach and teach from the Scriptures that God is in control. I often use such Scriptures such as I Corinthians 3 and the Exodus-Joshua accounts to show how God raises up different leaders at different times and that God still leads.
REACTION #2: NOT SURPRISED/ACCEPTING: Many people have had a suspicion that the pastor was about to leave and may have very little reaction to the news. There may a number of reasons for this “non-response.” First of all, they may have been long-term members and have been through this before and figured it would happen again, sooner or later. The church may have had a history of pastors leaving every few years and some members almost expect a change. Others recognize that God can call pastors to a church and call them away. When I broke the news to my leaders, while there were different reactions, a number of them realized that God was leading me in a new direction and were able to accept the decision to a certain degree.
REACTION #3: GOOD RIDDANCE: In the Wizard of Oz, the Munchkins sing a joyful song, “Ding Dong the Witch is Dead!” and are happy she is gone. Particularly in church situations in which there is a huge conflict between the pastor and congregation, there is a similar rejoicing when the pastor decides to leave. However, even in the best situations, there may be individuals who are glad when the pastor leaves. Sometimes they might be people who have left the church because they did not like the pastor but will return when he/she is gone.
REACTION #4: ANGER AND THE SENSE OF BETRAYAL: Although similar to reaction #1, this reaction takes it a step further and are very vocal in expressing their disapproval and outrage at the pastor’s announcement. The truth is that such a person will take the pastor’s announcement personally and can even take on the role of a victim with the idea that the pastor has done this to them on purpose. They will sometimes resort to guilt and manipulation to attempt to make the pastor feel miserable or guilty. Sometimes the anger is directed toward the church (rightly or wrongly) for forcing the pastor out even if that weren’t the case. It is not unusual for these persons to drop out of church especially if they think by doing so is their way of getting even..
REACTION #5: STEP UP TO THE PLATE: Although it has some similarities to reaction #2, some people (even those who weren’t necessarily involved previously in the leadership of the church) rise up to the occasion and take responsibility to carry on the church’s mission. They realize that now is not the time to back down or to take a back seat. In the midst of a huge change in the life of the church, they know that the church needs them more than ever and that there is kingdom work to be done.
REACTION #6: WITHDRAW: Combined with reaction #1 and #4, this reaction is just the opposite to the previous reaction. Some people drop out of church all together or if they continue to attend, they will step down from any ministry positions that they were active in under the departing pastor. Sometimes people drop out when they did not like the departing pastor ( see reaction #3) but the congregation, as a whole, loved the pastor. Some also drop out because they are burned out from serving but did not previously do so out of loyalty to the departing pastor.
Whenever a pastor leaves, there will be a number of reactions from the congregation. It is not unusual that one or two of these reactions will be the dominant one in any given congregation. If a pastor has had a long and fruitful ministry, reaction #3 in which people are glad to see the pastor leave may be relatively few. Yet, it is not unusual to see most (if not all) of these reactions in any congregation and a wise pastor is aware of these different reactions and is able to offer pastoral guidance. Whenever a pastor leaves is a major change for both the pastor and the congregation and necessitates the need to hear God’s compassionate voice during the process.
REACTION #1: SHOCK AND CONFUSION: Some people are in utter shock and become confused when a pastor announces that he/she is leaving. They wonder what the church will do next and are concerned that the church will not be able to survive without the pastor. It is helpful during this time for the departing pastor to preach and teach from the Scriptures that God is in control. I often use such Scriptures such as I Corinthians 3 and the Exodus-Joshua accounts to show how God raises up different leaders at different times and that God still leads.
REACTION #2: NOT SURPRISED/ACCEPTING: Many people have had a suspicion that the pastor was about to leave and may have very little reaction to the news. There may a number of reasons for this “non-response.” First of all, they may have been long-term members and have been through this before and figured it would happen again, sooner or later. The church may have had a history of pastors leaving every few years and some members almost expect a change. Others recognize that God can call pastors to a church and call them away. When I broke the news to my leaders, while there were different reactions, a number of them realized that God was leading me in a new direction and were able to accept the decision to a certain degree.
REACTION #3: GOOD RIDDANCE: In the Wizard of Oz, the Munchkins sing a joyful song, “Ding Dong the Witch is Dead!” and are happy she is gone. Particularly in church situations in which there is a huge conflict between the pastor and congregation, there is a similar rejoicing when the pastor decides to leave. However, even in the best situations, there may be individuals who are glad when the pastor leaves. Sometimes they might be people who have left the church because they did not like the pastor but will return when he/she is gone.
REACTION #4: ANGER AND THE SENSE OF BETRAYAL: Although similar to reaction #1, this reaction takes it a step further and are very vocal in expressing their disapproval and outrage at the pastor’s announcement. The truth is that such a person will take the pastor’s announcement personally and can even take on the role of a victim with the idea that the pastor has done this to them on purpose. They will sometimes resort to guilt and manipulation to attempt to make the pastor feel miserable or guilty. Sometimes the anger is directed toward the church (rightly or wrongly) for forcing the pastor out even if that weren’t the case. It is not unusual for these persons to drop out of church especially if they think by doing so is their way of getting even..
REACTION #5: STEP UP TO THE PLATE: Although it has some similarities to reaction #2, some people (even those who weren’t necessarily involved previously in the leadership of the church) rise up to the occasion and take responsibility to carry on the church’s mission. They realize that now is not the time to back down or to take a back seat. In the midst of a huge change in the life of the church, they know that the church needs them more than ever and that there is kingdom work to be done.
REACTION #6: WITHDRAW: Combined with reaction #1 and #4, this reaction is just the opposite to the previous reaction. Some people drop out of church all together or if they continue to attend, they will step down from any ministry positions that they were active in under the departing pastor. Sometimes people drop out when they did not like the departing pastor ( see reaction #3) but the congregation, as a whole, loved the pastor. Some also drop out because they are burned out from serving but did not previously do so out of loyalty to the departing pastor.
Whenever a pastor leaves, there will be a number of reactions from the congregation. It is not unusual that one or two of these reactions will be the dominant one in any given congregation. If a pastor has had a long and fruitful ministry, reaction #3 in which people are glad to see the pastor leave may be relatively few. Yet, it is not unusual to see most (if not all) of these reactions in any congregation and a wise pastor is aware of these different reactions and is able to offer pastoral guidance. Whenever a pastor leaves is a major change for both the pastor and the congregation and necessitates the need to hear God’s compassionate voice during the process.
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