Today I watched a video called "The True Gospel" and it can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7X24_vOWwU&feature=youtu.be. It is quite lengthy (nearly an hour and a half), but really gets at the core of why so many Christians and churches in America are not seeing the power of God being lived out in their lives. Admittedly, this was a very hard video for me to watch personally. After all, it was years ago that I had made a decision to follow Christ and my temptation is to rest on the merits of that decision rather than on the cross of Jesus. As I was clearly reminded of, once again, that our salvation is not about the decision we make or by following the Roman road or the four spiritual laws our about our even going forward. That is the easy part. The truth is that we are condemned to God's wrath because God is holy. God is just and He hates sin. He hates our rebelliousness and our self-centeredness. He hates the idolatry that exists within us and the only just thing to do is to eradicate it once and for all. We are rightfully objects of His wrath. Sometimes, when things don't go my way I question the fairness of God. But, if I think about it, do I want God to be fair? My thoughts and my actions clearly are vile and deserve the wrath of God. Justice must be served.
Which brings us to grace. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. This is more than a slogan to put on a pillow or as a memory verse. This is the ultimate act of justice. The filth of my sin being placed on the one who is fully God and fully man. When Jesus asked in the Garden of Gethsemane to have the cup removed from him, he was not asking to remove the possibility of facing a wooden cross. After all, those who followed him in the years to come would experience executions that were equally as torturous as his. Some would be hung upside down on cross covered with tar and be set on fire. Others would be sawn in two and others would be fed to the lions. If Jesus was merely asking that the cup of the cross be removed, he would be no more heroic than those who followed him. The cup that Jesus asked to be removed was the cup of God's wrath which poured on him the heinous and vile sins of all of humanity against a holy God. Only Jesus could satisfy this because he was fully God and man. Only one who was God had the power to forgive sins and only one who was man could bear the wrath that Adam's race deserved. Until we come to grips with the depth of God's wrath, we will never understand the depths of God's mercy and love.
My prayer is that you will spend the hour and a half and watch this video which causes us to pause. Oh how easy we forget the depth of our sin and the depth of His mercy. Lord, I pray that as I pursue the ministry of consulting with churches, I will not lose sight of what is really at the heart of the gospel. While it is important to be able to contextualize the gospel in today's world and while it is important to help churches be places where outsiders can connect with God's people, let us never forget the gospel. Outside of God's grace we are nothing but objects of God's wrath, but ,praise be to God, we receive mercy because of what Christ has done.
Monday, July 8, 2013
Monday, July 1, 2013
4T..I-40 Church Consulting Blog with Steve Reynolds: Top Ten Myths of Reviving a Church
4T..I-40 Church Consulting Blog with Steve Reynolds: Top Ten Myths of Reviving a Church: Top ten lists seem to be a popular item these days. David Letterman has been using such lists for years. Even before my teenage years...
Top Ten Myths of Reviving a Church
Top ten lists seem to be a popular item these days. David Letterman has been using such lists for years. Even before my teenage years in the 1960's when I would listen to the Beatles, the Temptations, and the Dave Clark Five, there were the top ten hits. Every year, newspapers will often print the top ten news stories of the previous year and such lists occur in many different areas of society. But what about such lists as it pertains to the church? How about the top ten myths of reviving today's church? What would you add to the list? In this blog, I am going to outline these myths as I reflect on my many years of pastoral ministry and personal observation.
MYTH #1: IF WE HAVE AN EVENT OR SPONSOR A PROGRAM OR CHANGE OUR STYLE THEY WILL COME. This myth permeates many churches today. Somehow congregations get the idea if we hold a certain event or if we change the music style or offer a program, people will automatically come to the church. While in individual cases, this may be true, in the vast majority of cases, people come because a follower of Christ took the time to build a relationship with them and invited them to church and a relationship with Christ. Now, this does not mean that events and programs aren't important. They can be a tool that God uses to help people connect with Christ and His church. Certainly some events are very community oriented. But if one thinks that such events or worship style will draw the unchurched, then such a congregation will easily be discouraged. The truth is that the average non churchgoer could care less about what event we have or music we play. This is especially true in our modern world in which there are a sea of choices. What will draw the unchurched, in most cases, is a follower of Christ befriending them.
MYTH #2: WHAT WORKED YESTERDAY WILL CONTINUE TO WORK. The are many variations of this myth but the two that come to mind are reviving a program that worked 30 years ago because it was successful then, and keeping something going for the sake of tradition. Now, I am not totally against occasionally reviving a successful past event or program (Not all good ideas are new ones!), but in most cases, chances are it won't have the same impact that it had years ago. Also, some traditions are good to keep but not if they no longer fit the makeup of the church or its mission. Through the years, I have seen some programs that have outlived the church's ability to maintain them. The church dinner, in which the women used to spend days preparing for because most of them were stay at home moms, no longer is able to find enough volunteers because most women work outside the home is an example of such a event that has outlived the church's ability to maintain it.
MYTH #3: ENDING A PROGRAM MEANS FAILURE. Allow me to say this, "It is OK to end a program!" Churches get this idea that because a program ended that it was a failure. But if it has run its course, then let it end. In my previous congregation, we had started a contemporary worship service. At first, it had gone well with a decent number of attendees. But gradually, it lost interest and those leading it were burned out and it was evident that it was time to scrap the service. But all was not lost. The evening service allowed a praise team to be formed (in a very traditional church) in which they were able to help lead worship in a blended family style morning worship service with the result that the church became a multigenerational gathering of God's people. The suspension of the evening contemporary service also freed up a time for the meeting of a small group. Not all was lost and the ending of the service strengthened other areas of the church.
MYTH #4: DOCTRINE ISN'T AS IMPORTANT AS RELATIONSHIPS. To be sure, some congregations treat doctrine as a litmus test for being a member of the church regardless of the fruit they are bearing (Galatians 5:22), but it seems today that many congregations are scrapping Biblical teaching and theology for a "feel good" experience of interpersonal relationships. Biblical doctrine and relationships are not mutually exclusive. In fact, a relationship that has depth and meaning requires the knowledge of that person-who he/she is, what they do, their dreams, their personality, their background etc. Likewise, it is no different than having a relationship with God and with fellow believers. This means that an understanding of God, human beings, sin, the cross, the resurrection, the Holy Spirit, the church, and the future hope of the church is vital to understanding the relational aspects of the Christian life. Biblical illiteracy and the lack of the understanding of basic Christian beliefs is a huge issue in the modern church because it fails to see the connection of sound doctrine and living in relationship with Jesus Christ and His church.
MYTH #5: INCREASED NUMBERS MEANS REVIVAL HAS TAKEN PLACE. While an increase in numbers may mean that people are coming to Christ and revival is taking place, it is important not to assume that revival is taking place without asking some important questions. These questions include: a) Is the numerical growth transfer growth from other churches and communities of people who are already professing Christians or is it truly evangelistic growth of new believers? b) Are people living out their faith by serving Christ in the everyday world or are they being entertained by a dynamic pastor or music program? This question is harder to evaluate but is a crucial one to ask.
MYTH #6: A SHRINKING OR A NUMERICALLY UNCHANGING CHURCH MEANS THAT THE CHURCH IS HEADING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. This myth is a hard one to evaluate mainly because, in many cases, this myth is true. Often, the loss of membership due to aging, conflict and finances does indicate the church is on the decline. But one must not assume that numbers alone tell the story. Sometimes, churches who have had not so "well intentioned dragons" and people who have used the church for personal power are served well when those people are no longer there to stir up dissension and trouble. This can happen by their departure either by leaving the church or by death. Sometimes, this frees up the church to renew its vision. In other cases, especially in a declining or stable community, a church may see very little growth numerically, but have replaced those who have died with a new generation of followers. The important fact is not to assume anything about the actual numbers but to see the dynamics behind what is truly happening.
MYTH #7: THE CHURCH SHOULD NOT BE INVOLVED IN PLANNING BUT SHOULD LET THE HOLY SPIRIT LEAD. On the surface, there is an element of truth to this myth, but it is important to realize that the work of the Holy Spirit and the church to have a plan are not mutually exclusive. Frequently in Scripture, things were being planned all the time. Jesus made plans ahead of time including the arrangements he made for securing a donkey for his triumphal entry (Matthew 21:1-3), and for the passover meal in the upper room in which He shared the Lord's Supper. (Matthew 26:17-19). In Acts 6, when a dispute arose in the church, plans were made to deal with the issue and in I Corinthians 14:26-40, Paul carefully laid out a plan for worship when things had become disorderly. The important fact is that intentional, carefully laid out plans that are led by the Holy Spirit are not contradictory with each other. For example, in modern day worship, there seems to be a trend to just let the Spirit lead-to spontaneously gather together, but with no intentionality nor planning. While the more liturgical churches may be accused of being overly planned and given into formalism, I wonder if the modern church has gone too far the other way in its lack of intentionality?
MYTH #8: THE CHURCH LACKS THE RESOURCES TO DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT. Money (or the lack thereof) always seems to be a big topic in many churches. Unfortunately, this myth can control the direction of the church and thwart any attempts of walking in faith and for revival. Now, I am not suggesting that a church should have unrealistic expectations about their resources ( a church of 35 shouldn't plan on building a 1200 seat sanctuary in a town of 100), but a church should realize that the Lord has given the congregation everything it needs to do the work of ministry. The resources may be those which are already in the church or in the pockets of those who support the church. It is my experience that when the church catches God's vision, the resources will come. Far too often, however, the church either saves its resources for a rainy day or they talk about what they don't have so they do not act on anything. Churches would be best served by starting somewhere in terms of pursuing the vision that God has for it, and then watch the Lord provide.
MYTH #9: IF WE CHANGE THE PASTOR OR IF WE ONLY HAD PASTOR JONES STILL HERE, THEN OUR CHURCH WILL GROW. Pastoral leadership, to a point, can encourage and promote revival in a church, but if a congregation thinks that revival will come merely because of a pastoral change or a desire to return to the good old days when a beloved pastor was at the church, then they have fallen to the myth of personality. In I Corinthians 3:1-7, Paul confronts this myth head on by saying that basing a church's ministry on the personality of its leaders was a reflection of spiritual immaturity which is hardly conducive to revival. Congregations need to learn that God raises up different people at different times in the church's life in order for it to grow into the fulness of Christ which is at the heart of revival.
MYTH #10: IF WE COPY SADDLEBACK'S FORMULA FOR SUCCESS THEN THE CONGREGATION WILL GROW. Certainly, a congregation can learn great things from Saddleback or Willow Creek. Their resources may serve as valuable tools for ministry. But ultimately, each congregation must look at where God's vision is for their church. The truth is that there are no sure-fire methods or programs that will turn around a church. What worked in Southern California may not work in Wilawana, Pennsylvania. Nevertheless, God has a plan for each church and desires to see His church revived and reawakened.
These are a list of my top ten myths of church revival. Now it is your turn to add to this blog.
MYTH #1: IF WE HAVE AN EVENT OR SPONSOR A PROGRAM OR CHANGE OUR STYLE THEY WILL COME. This myth permeates many churches today. Somehow congregations get the idea if we hold a certain event or if we change the music style or offer a program, people will automatically come to the church. While in individual cases, this may be true, in the vast majority of cases, people come because a follower of Christ took the time to build a relationship with them and invited them to church and a relationship with Christ. Now, this does not mean that events and programs aren't important. They can be a tool that God uses to help people connect with Christ and His church. Certainly some events are very community oriented. But if one thinks that such events or worship style will draw the unchurched, then such a congregation will easily be discouraged. The truth is that the average non churchgoer could care less about what event we have or music we play. This is especially true in our modern world in which there are a sea of choices. What will draw the unchurched, in most cases, is a follower of Christ befriending them.
MYTH #2: WHAT WORKED YESTERDAY WILL CONTINUE TO WORK. The are many variations of this myth but the two that come to mind are reviving a program that worked 30 years ago because it was successful then, and keeping something going for the sake of tradition. Now, I am not totally against occasionally reviving a successful past event or program (Not all good ideas are new ones!), but in most cases, chances are it won't have the same impact that it had years ago. Also, some traditions are good to keep but not if they no longer fit the makeup of the church or its mission. Through the years, I have seen some programs that have outlived the church's ability to maintain them. The church dinner, in which the women used to spend days preparing for because most of them were stay at home moms, no longer is able to find enough volunteers because most women work outside the home is an example of such a event that has outlived the church's ability to maintain it.
MYTH #3: ENDING A PROGRAM MEANS FAILURE. Allow me to say this, "It is OK to end a program!" Churches get this idea that because a program ended that it was a failure. But if it has run its course, then let it end. In my previous congregation, we had started a contemporary worship service. At first, it had gone well with a decent number of attendees. But gradually, it lost interest and those leading it were burned out and it was evident that it was time to scrap the service. But all was not lost. The evening service allowed a praise team to be formed (in a very traditional church) in which they were able to help lead worship in a blended family style morning worship service with the result that the church became a multigenerational gathering of God's people. The suspension of the evening contemporary service also freed up a time for the meeting of a small group. Not all was lost and the ending of the service strengthened other areas of the church.
MYTH #4: DOCTRINE ISN'T AS IMPORTANT AS RELATIONSHIPS. To be sure, some congregations treat doctrine as a litmus test for being a member of the church regardless of the fruit they are bearing (Galatians 5:22), but it seems today that many congregations are scrapping Biblical teaching and theology for a "feel good" experience of interpersonal relationships. Biblical doctrine and relationships are not mutually exclusive. In fact, a relationship that has depth and meaning requires the knowledge of that person-who he/she is, what they do, their dreams, their personality, their background etc. Likewise, it is no different than having a relationship with God and with fellow believers. This means that an understanding of God, human beings, sin, the cross, the resurrection, the Holy Spirit, the church, and the future hope of the church is vital to understanding the relational aspects of the Christian life. Biblical illiteracy and the lack of the understanding of basic Christian beliefs is a huge issue in the modern church because it fails to see the connection of sound doctrine and living in relationship with Jesus Christ and His church.
MYTH #5: INCREASED NUMBERS MEANS REVIVAL HAS TAKEN PLACE. While an increase in numbers may mean that people are coming to Christ and revival is taking place, it is important not to assume that revival is taking place without asking some important questions. These questions include: a) Is the numerical growth transfer growth from other churches and communities of people who are already professing Christians or is it truly evangelistic growth of new believers? b) Are people living out their faith by serving Christ in the everyday world or are they being entertained by a dynamic pastor or music program? This question is harder to evaluate but is a crucial one to ask.
MYTH #6: A SHRINKING OR A NUMERICALLY UNCHANGING CHURCH MEANS THAT THE CHURCH IS HEADING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. This myth is a hard one to evaluate mainly because, in many cases, this myth is true. Often, the loss of membership due to aging, conflict and finances does indicate the church is on the decline. But one must not assume that numbers alone tell the story. Sometimes, churches who have had not so "well intentioned dragons" and people who have used the church for personal power are served well when those people are no longer there to stir up dissension and trouble. This can happen by their departure either by leaving the church or by death. Sometimes, this frees up the church to renew its vision. In other cases, especially in a declining or stable community, a church may see very little growth numerically, but have replaced those who have died with a new generation of followers. The important fact is not to assume anything about the actual numbers but to see the dynamics behind what is truly happening.
MYTH #7: THE CHURCH SHOULD NOT BE INVOLVED IN PLANNING BUT SHOULD LET THE HOLY SPIRIT LEAD. On the surface, there is an element of truth to this myth, but it is important to realize that the work of the Holy Spirit and the church to have a plan are not mutually exclusive. Frequently in Scripture, things were being planned all the time. Jesus made plans ahead of time including the arrangements he made for securing a donkey for his triumphal entry (Matthew 21:1-3), and for the passover meal in the upper room in which He shared the Lord's Supper. (Matthew 26:17-19). In Acts 6, when a dispute arose in the church, plans were made to deal with the issue and in I Corinthians 14:26-40, Paul carefully laid out a plan for worship when things had become disorderly. The important fact is that intentional, carefully laid out plans that are led by the Holy Spirit are not contradictory with each other. For example, in modern day worship, there seems to be a trend to just let the Spirit lead-to spontaneously gather together, but with no intentionality nor planning. While the more liturgical churches may be accused of being overly planned and given into formalism, I wonder if the modern church has gone too far the other way in its lack of intentionality?
MYTH #8: THE CHURCH LACKS THE RESOURCES TO DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT. Money (or the lack thereof) always seems to be a big topic in many churches. Unfortunately, this myth can control the direction of the church and thwart any attempts of walking in faith and for revival. Now, I am not suggesting that a church should have unrealistic expectations about their resources ( a church of 35 shouldn't plan on building a 1200 seat sanctuary in a town of 100), but a church should realize that the Lord has given the congregation everything it needs to do the work of ministry. The resources may be those which are already in the church or in the pockets of those who support the church. It is my experience that when the church catches God's vision, the resources will come. Far too often, however, the church either saves its resources for a rainy day or they talk about what they don't have so they do not act on anything. Churches would be best served by starting somewhere in terms of pursuing the vision that God has for it, and then watch the Lord provide.
MYTH #9: IF WE CHANGE THE PASTOR OR IF WE ONLY HAD PASTOR JONES STILL HERE, THEN OUR CHURCH WILL GROW. Pastoral leadership, to a point, can encourage and promote revival in a church, but if a congregation thinks that revival will come merely because of a pastoral change or a desire to return to the good old days when a beloved pastor was at the church, then they have fallen to the myth of personality. In I Corinthians 3:1-7, Paul confronts this myth head on by saying that basing a church's ministry on the personality of its leaders was a reflection of spiritual immaturity which is hardly conducive to revival. Congregations need to learn that God raises up different people at different times in the church's life in order for it to grow into the fulness of Christ which is at the heart of revival.
MYTH #10: IF WE COPY SADDLEBACK'S FORMULA FOR SUCCESS THEN THE CONGREGATION WILL GROW. Certainly, a congregation can learn great things from Saddleback or Willow Creek. Their resources may serve as valuable tools for ministry. But ultimately, each congregation must look at where God's vision is for their church. The truth is that there are no sure-fire methods or programs that will turn around a church. What worked in Southern California may not work in Wilawana, Pennsylvania. Nevertheless, God has a plan for each church and desires to see His church revived and reawakened.
These are a list of my top ten myths of church revival. Now it is your turn to add to this blog.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Mowing the Church Lawn
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.
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.
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...
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