Is It A Hard Saying?

Over the next few posts, I will be showing the text of a chapter from a book that I have just read. I will not reveal the author or the book title until after I have posted the complete chapter. For all of those who have been arguing and stressing the fact of needing to be relevant in today's society, to those who have hinted that we need to lower our standards to reach the world to those who feel that the church is almost a hopeless"club", please read these pages. Share your thoughts. Let me know how you feel about this in regards to the above statements.

I want to stress that this writing is not mine, but being that I have posted it, I must be endorsing it.

The title of the chapter is: "Is It A Hard Saying?"

In a former article I said that the want of an infusion of power from on high should be deemed a disqualification for a pastor, a deacon or elder, a Sunday school superintendent, a professor in a Christian college, and especially for a professor in a theological seminary. Is this a hard saying? Is this an uncharitable saying? Is it unjust? Is it unreasonable? Is it unscriptural?
Suppose any one of the Apostles, or those present on the day of Pentecost, had failed, through apathy, selfishness, unbelief, indolence, or ignorance, to obtain this outpouring of power. Would it have been uncharitable, unjust, unreasonable, or unscriptural, to have accounted him disqualified for the work which Christ had appointed them?

Christ had expressly informed them that without this infusion of power, they could do nothing. He had expressly commanded them not to attempt the work in their own strength, but to tarry at Jerusalem until they received the necessary power from on high. He had also expressly promised that if they tarried, in the sense which He intended, they should receive it “not many days hence” (Acts1:5). They evidently understood Him to command them to tarry in the sense of a constant waiting upon Him in prayer and supplication for the blessing. Now, suppose that any one of them had stayed away and attended to his own business, and waited for the sovereignty of God to confer this power. He of course would have been disqualified for the work; and if his fellow-Christians, who had obtained this power, had deemed him so, would it have been uncharitable, unreasonable, unscriptural?

Is it not true of all to who the command to disciple the world is given, and to who the promise of this power is made, if through any shortcoming or fault of theirs they fail to obtain this gift, that they are in fact disqualified for the work, and especially for any official position? Are they not, in fact, disqualified for leadership in the sacramental host? Are they qualified for teachers of those who are to do the work? If it is a fact that they do lack this power, however this defect is to be accounted for, it is also a fact that they are not qualified for teachers of God’s people; and if they are seen to be disqualified because they lack this power, it must be reasonable and right and Scriptural so to deem them, and so to speak of them, and so to treat them.

Who has a right to complain? Surely, they have not. Should the Church of God be burdened with teachers and leaders who lack this fundamental qualification, when their failing to possess it must be their own fault? It is truly amazing to see the obvious apathy, indolence, ignorance, and unbelief that exist on this subject. They are inexcusable. They must be highly criminal. With such a command to convert the world ringing in our ears; with such an admonition to wait in constant, wrestling prayer till we receive the power; with such a promise, made by such a Savior, held out to us, a promise of all the help we need from Christ Himself, what excuse can we offer for being powerless in this great work? What an awe-inspiring responsibility rests upon us, upon the whole Church, upon every Christian!

I Love My Church

Realizing that there will be several individuals that will read this blog who are attendees of my church, Life in Christ Fellowship, I am tempted to misstate my feelings in this post. However, I will resist buttering up my people and just tell the truth from my heart.

As the title states, I do love my church. I daily thank and praise the Lord for such an awesome privilege of serving them as their pastor. I have been here for almost 1 year now. The days have gone by very quickly and for the most part smoothly. Has it been all a bed of roses? No, it has not. There have been days and situations that have irritated me, as flies do horses on a humid summer day. There have been days in which I pulled the window shades and locked the doors because I needed recovery time.

But, the whole balance of all days has been totally awesome and fulfilling. It is amazing how just a year ago, both Debbie and I were totally drained by the abandonment and rejection that we went through at our previous pastorate, but now we both feel whole. I can truly say, I am now longer just content in the place of ministry but I am truly and completely happy. What an amazing feeling that is!

I have been praying and searching my heart to make sure I am in balance with God’s will for the path of LICF. He has so graciously burdened my heart and soul deeply for these people. The burden goes beyond just those who are a part of our congregation, but I can honestly say without any reserve, it goes to those who WILL be a part of our church. Does that make sense? It is different that the burden for the whole community. I wish I could explain it further.

Because of this burden, it brings me to some restlessness dealing with the ministry of the church. I just want my people to deeply and freshly experience an invigorating moving of the Holy Spirit in their lives. I deeply believe that God wants to pour down upon us and do a mighty thing in our midst. So often through the account of the early church this happened only when the people were gathered together in a central location with their hearts, souls and minds united in focused upon God. I am greatly perplexed by the lack of commitment that people have at times to the gathering together of the Body of Christ. I know God can bless and move in people’s lives in their private times of individual worship, but why is there the abandonment of the Body gathering? I have asked a few other pastors about this, and they too have the same question.

Offer food … and they will come. Have music practice they will come to that, but leave prior to the studying of God’s word. Why?

To my people who read this. Please know and hold on to this thought. I LOVE YOU WITH ALL THAT I AM. I just desire that we all experience together (all of us and those who come along later) the awesome, glorious, refreshing, empowering, cleansing, leading, healing, equipping and so forth power of God! If today, this point of time in the history of our church, we who are the current people of the church do not make a re-focusing desire to the ministry and events of the church, what will that tell those who come along later? If they see us sitting in the second chair instead of the first chair, they will be taught that it is ok to remain distant in their commitment.

It was explained to me this way some time back. Today’s church people (I am not just referring to those who attend LICF) treat their commitment to the church and its ministry like leaving a tip on the table. I ask … how long could we get away with the paying of our restaurant tab by just leaving a tip in the table? Once … twice? NO we have to pay the total of the bill or we will be in trouble.

Why is it so often believers feel they can get away with just leaving a tip and not paying the whole tab? (No I am not talking about paying tithes).

There is a great debate among many church leaders about the church not being relevant to the world around her. But I ask are you as a believer making yourself relevant to the church? Maybe that is the question that should be addressed 1st? If the world could see that the believers believe in the local church and its ministry, they may ask, “What is going on that makes people so committed?” If the world could see the Church excited about being the Church, I believe that they, the world, would get interested and feel that they too need to be a part. You see, it is human nature to go where the excitement is taking place. I am not talking about pure emotionalism. I am taking about the church getting excited about being the Church. Being excited to be the messenger of the Message. The world around the local church needs to experience that is still the tool of God’s design to exclaim the truth to those with out the truth!

Yes I love my church. Because of this love, it brings me to my knees daily as I intercede for them before the throne. I just want us all to experience together; all that God wants to do in our midst. I simply refuse to believe that we have seen, heard or experience it all. I believe the best is yet to come. But are you going to be there to experience it together or will you have to hear about it in the 6 o’clock news report?

I love you, LICF. I am blessed and honored to be called your pastor.

Make Me A Sycamore Tree

One of my favorite accounts of Jesus’ ministry is where he interacted with Zacchaeus. I can strongly relate to Zacchaeus because I see a lot of myself in him. I am not referring to his physical stature, because I am almost 6’2” and as the children’s song describes him as a wee little man. Nor am I referring to his profession as a tax collector and his journey to acquiring that position.

What I see in Zacchaeus, was an individual that was empty, alone and disconnected in the midst of his important and busy life. He was a man who needed to find his identity or at least re-discover it. A person who seemed, among some groups, he had it altogether but yet wondered where the road he was on would eventually lead to. While he did not know where he was heading, he was well aware of where he was. He knew he was standing in the consequences as an outcast from the “fold” because of his compromises which he made. Those who should have been the ones to reach out to him by offering their assistance in restoring him back into the “fold” were the ones who abandon him.

All around us, there are lonely and out-cast people. While at most of the time, this status is a result of their doing which drove them away from their “home” alliances. However, the opportunity or invite to return has seldom been extended to them from the home community. These “Zacchaeus's” are just as removed from restoration, as what the Zacchaeus of the Bible was. They proceed through the continual movement of the motions of life and duty, but yet are empty, lonely and lost. Deeply desiring to be re-connected, but yet shoved behind the crowd, prevented from escaping the dungeon of loneliness and abandonment.

Who around us, around me, have we over looked that are looking toward us for redemptive acceptance presented through us by the grace of God? Who is those or that one person, who feels as if they are of little stature, because we have forced them behind the crowds to where they can not see beyond? Who is the Zacchaeus around you? Around me?

We have to read between the lines and intelligently speculate to fill in some blanks about Zacchaeus’ search for acceptance both from among the home alliances and from Jesus. We have to assume that he had heard of the mighty stories (and at this time they were only stories to him) of what had taken place in people’s lives as they made contact with Jesus. Not only had he heard of these accounts, he may have personally witnessed such events as they took place while in the midst of his personal search for resolve of his disconnection. What about the mighty impact that was made in their lives as Jesus and the others connected? Rather it was a physical correction, an emotionally reformation or a spiritual transformation Zacchaeus could not deny that something beyond the explainable natural took place.

The emptiness that resulted in the unanswered questions that haunted him drove Zacchaeus into a consuming quest to find the answers. The opportunity now was within his grasp to personally reach out to the possible solution. He heard that Jesus was passing down his pathway of life. Jesus was in town. But how, given his handed out and his acceptance of his stature and status, was he even hoping to even make contact let alone to be impacted by Jesus? He knew, or at least presumed to know, that he was not going to receive any real assistance from those who had any authority, even in the littlest amount, to open the path to meet this Jesus. Those who moved within his circle were only mocking his longing to return to his home land. How then would he proceed from there? What were, in true reality, his chances to make contact with this Jesus, let alone to be impacted by or be connected with him? Would this day conclude just as so many of the past have? No connection, no transformation of his status, no returning to home. But he was not content to live one more day without at least making a personal contact with this Teacher, this Jesus, this one who has been proclaimed as the Messiah. But how? How could this take place?

As these questions haunted his quest, he threw his hands up in despair. If only I could see over the obstacles. If only I could get beyond the press of people. If only … if only. And then, as if he was kicked by the merchant’s, who stood next to him, camel, it hit him. There it was … the answer. The way above and over the fence of people in front of him. There was the sycamore tree. It was not a pretty tree as trees go, but it was a beautiful ladder. It was his pathway to raise him above so to make contact with Jesus as he passed his way. So up he went and there he sat. Just high enough to get him above the crown, but yet low enough to still make contact with Jesus.

Then it happen … Jesus stopped just in front of him. Before Zacchaeus could even draw enough breath to speak out, Jesus looked up at him and called out his name. Jesus told him, yes him … Zacchaeus the tax collector, the compromiser, the alien for the home land that he wanted to have lunch with him at his house. He never felt larger and taller in his life. Just the thought that Jesus had stopped and spoke his name brought a security that had evaded him for many years. Yes his name … not just a generic salutation … but his personal name. And it was done in compassion, not in mockery as he had grown accustomed to.

There it is … Zacchaeus saw Jesus, because of the Sycamore tree. Not only did he see Jesus, but he made contact, which opened the door to be impacted by Jesus and then to be connected to the Kingdom of God anew and afresh. Just as the old legend tells of the Dogwood tree used to make the Cross to lift Jesus up before the world so to be seen, so the Sycamore was used to lift up Zacchaeus to see Jesus. Oh may I be a Sycamore tree. Lord, please make me to be a Sycamore tree.

Remember, there are Zacchaeus’ all around us. Remember, Jesus is in town and he is passing this way. Are you available to be an old ugly Sycamore tree? It was not the Cedars of Lebanon or the mighty Oaks that did the lifting up. It was a twisted limb, shaggy bark Sycamore tree.

Please Lord, make me a Sycamore tree! Please make my church a Sycamore tree!

Tribute to One of God's Servants

Tribute to One of God’s Servants
Rev. Don Spurgeon
South Central District Superintendent
Churches of Christ in Christian Union

Yesterday evening, May 2oth my District Superintendent passed for this world into the realms of Glory. Don was a strong leader with a heart that beat heavily for the fulfilling of the Great Commission and living out the Great Commandment. Don had a strong desire to see the churches which oversaw to be strongly active in the harvest fields for the Kingdom of God.

Though a strong District Superintendent, that was only a part of who/what Rev. Spurgeon was. He was strongly devoted husband and father. I had the privileged to sit in a series of special meetings with 5 other pastors for a period of time lasting over a year. These special days, facilitated by Rev. Spurgeon, were directed to the development of our spiritual and leadership character. During one of the sessions, that focused upon the priorities of life, dealt strongly with family commitment. As Don shared about his wife, it seemed as if the room grew brighter as his face glowed with a wholesome pride as he spoke of his wife. There was such a strong passion and love for his wife, son, daughter-in-law and his granddaughter.

As a leader, as with most leaders, Rev. Spurgeon had to make decisions and take steps that did not always set smoothly or was popular with all involved. I too, was affected by those decisions. At one point in our relationship there was some uneasy days and steps. However, through Biblical standards, we worked through that period. It was a great privilege to be able to ride around the Ohio Christian University campus on the closing day of Mount of Praise Camp meeting and to work through those feelings. I saw with in Don’s heart a passion for people that I had not seen in any other setting. I saw through his eyes, the vastness of his position as a district superintendent and the delicate balancing act that at times he had to do to keep the churches he was responsible for, marching forward.

To quote George Barna about leadership, “Leadership is not just influence, being efficient and accumulating control and power. Leadership is the process of motivating, mobilizing, resourcing and directing people to passionately and strategically pursue a vision from God that a group jointly embraces. A leader gets people excited about God’s vision.” (A Fish Out of Water). In my heart of hearts, I believe that Don fulfilled this to the utmost. He often lit a fire in my heart. Sometimes the fire was so hot, that Don even told me to slow down. Don’s passion was deep to see people to truly grasp exactly what could be done through them for the Kingdom of God. He was a man of great vision for the harvest and this vision was often passed on and adopted by those around him.

About 6 years ago, after setting out of the pastoral ministry for 7 years, I met with Don about returning. Through various events in previous pastorates, I was determined not to return to pastoring. But through Don’s gentleness and wisdom, I was offered the privilege to return. I have not looked back since nor will I look back in the future. Thank you Don for allowing me to return to the greatest job on all the earth! I am ever in-debt to Don for believing in me and affording me the opportunity to develop my leadership in the similar paths as which Don displayed and modeled.

There are so many more things in which I could write. This post is larger than I anticipated even now. As I write, more and more come to my mind. However, I wish to sum it up here. Rev. Don Spurgeon was a man after God’s own heart and he desired all those around him to experience and to be impacted by the passion of Christ. Don was a man which was surrendered to the things of God, and lived his life to fulfill God’s calling in all that he did. Thank you Don, for being my leader, mentor, friend and brother in Christ!

Hear the Voice? Is it the giant or the giant slayer?

All around us are a multitude of voices calling out our name. So many are trying to give us the advice and direction that will grant to us the tried and true answer. Society seems to have the right solutions at all times, but yet there is such a variety of answers for the same questions.

We are called to be tolerant and inclusive of all people. If we hold to only one solution, we are considered close-minded. If we hold to the fact that Jesus is the only way to heaven, we are considered as be exclusive of other people and are not relevant. If we take offence to the fact that certain religions declare war against Christianity, if we take a stand against this then we are being hatefully and not Christ like (see some of the post-links on the left for some of these thought lines. You'll have to read some the comments under the posts).

Are we too busy in deciding if we are relevant or not and then actually become un-relevant due to lack of action? Do we spend too much time in debate as to what the world needs to hear from us and fail to even tell them the simple gospel message? Do we spend too much time in "Aim, Target, Aim, Target, Aim, Target" and never finish the routine by firing? Are we too concern about what or how it will effect people's emotions and feelings that we have become a watered down functioning church? Do we spend too much time in debate among ourselves and fail to hear the voice of God? Are we too wrapped up in "what it can be" and fail to make it what it should be? Are we listening to the voices of giants and fail to hear the voice of the giant slayer?

Remember, the giant slayer who is calling out our name, only sees our giants as grasshoppers.

Let’s paint a picture in your mind. Picture a football game. The teams are stacked against each other on the field of play. Each is battling against the other for the score which will make them the winner.

You are the quarterback, the team leader on the field with the great responsibility of leading the team to the goal. All around the playing field, supporters of each team are sitting in the crowd. Those you know along with scores and scores of others you don’t are aggressively voicing their insights and proclamations. Through the many voices, you have trouble in finding that one voice, that one sound that one familiar proclamation that will give direction.

Your opposing team is taunting you with jeers. They try to paralyze you, to cause you to freeze so to be unable to complete the duty assigned. You look into their eyes and see an in-depth determination that causes you to shutter. An eeriness of insecurity begins to penetrate your soul. The front line seemingly begins to grow even larger. Your personal defenders in-like manner, get smaller, as like now you’re grasshoppers against giants.
Then you pause. You glance around. Then there it is. That one thing you were wondering if it was still available. That time and object which in the past has brought you clarity and surety. You now have it. It, being that familiar voice of your coach gently speaking in your ear through the direct connection that you share with him. This connection allows you to filter through all other voices. Allowing you to shut out and shut down the voices of taunting. It lifts and restores. It secures your resolve to win.

Oh how precious it is to hear that voice.


We too are in the game. It is the game of fulfilling the mission, securely and confidently given to us. The mission, you ask? It is: “To fulfill the Great Commission and to live out the Great Commandment.” The mission produces within us a vision of what can be and will be. It develops within us a resolve that governs and empowers all that we do. It brings us an urgency in which we can not rest until the game is over. We are set to do it. We are ready to take on the Giants.

Living Sacrifices

The apostle Paul gives an urgent plea to believers in Christ “to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship” (Rom. 12:1). Paul makes such a plea based upon “the mercies of God.”

We are objects of His saving grace; therefore we are to put our lives at His disposal. Paul uses the sacrificial word for the Jewish Levitical offering of sacrifices. The body of the believer is to be a “living sacrifice.”

How do you become a “living sacrifice”?

It begins in a once and for all being set apart to God. The Christian is set apart for God’s use in the sense of being for pure and righteous purposes. Why such an urgent plea? The philosophy of the world system does not satisfy. The longer you life by the humanistic philosophy the emptier your inner person becomes. However, the will of God is good, acceptable and perfect.

Being a living sacrifice is often not easy, or pleasant. It is self-denial, self-sacrifice, self-crucifixion of the whole person. But remember the problem with living sacrifices is they want to crawl off the altar. For the Lord Jesus Christ being a living sacrifice meant oppressive burdens. It brought Him in conflict with evil. He offered Himself as the perfect Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. However, as He conducted His Father's business He found it to be good and acceptable and perfect. A living sacrifice for Him means He humbled Himself and became “obedient to death—even death on a cross” (Phil. 2:8). Should the disciple of Jesus expect anything different?

Only spiritual things will last through eternity. Jim Elliott said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Jim gave his life in reasonable service, to gain a spiritual inheritance that will last forever. How many saints of God have died possessing nothing of earthly value, but a living sense of “no retreats and no regrets.” They were living sacrifices to the living God.

We are living sacrifices because God is at work in us now. He is continuing to work in those whom He has brought to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. We are living sacrifices because He is at work in us changing attitudes, destroying destructive habits, forming new ways of thinking that pleases God. God does not start a new work and abandon it. He always finishes what He begins. The only reasonable worship is to join Him in what He is doing.

It is our privilege to glorify God with our bodies (Rom. 6:13; 1 Cor. 6:19-20; Phil. 1:20-21). Therefore, Paul admonishes us to present our bodies once and for all to God as living sacrifices. A living sacrifice involves yielding the body, mind and will to God. It is a privilege to give God our mind (Eph. 4:17-24; Col. 3:1-11) because He wants to transform it by releasing His power from within by using His Word. “If God controls your thinking you are a transformer.” It is a privilege to give Him your will. It is not by will power that we are transformed, but as we yield to the will of God that His power takes control of us.

Is the “living sacrifice” worth the cost? If we are living sacrifices we will not look back at the end of our lives and be disappointed or feel life is all vanity. We will be able to hear our Master say, "Come, enter into your rest."

We have only two options. We can choose to be conformed to this world system and its values or be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

Depending upon God

We often hear and use the phrase … “Just depend upon God and you’ll make it.” Or, “My trust and dependence is upon what God can do.” Have you said these or something similar? Just what do we mean when we say we are depending upon God to see us through?

Life is filled with a vast amount of opportunities to stand still and see God do great and mighty things. But do we stand still long enough to see them? How long is long enough? Our relationship with Christ is based upon having faith in him and believing in what He says he’ll do is what he will do. We accept this when it comes to our salvation, but how deep does it run in living it out day by day?

When we hear and read the wonderful words of scripture and we are often over-whelmed with emotion as we ponder upon themes such as: “I know the plans I have for you, thus says the Lord ….” Or, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Or, “Our Lord never sleeps nor slumbers.” But just how far can we or do we trust him to fulfill his plans in our lives because he will not leave or forsake us because he is always alert concerning us?

We all, including myself, need to increase our “belief level” when it comes to depending upon God. We all too often get impatient and forge ahead by taking the reins out of God’s hand and in some form or the other tell him, “Let me show you how to do this.”

If this does not reflect upon you in any way at all, great …just tell us how you do it. But if this reflects upon you life in some form, let me suggest the following.

We all depend upon something for our main resource. For some, it is personality; for others, knowledge; still others depend upon past experiences. We often run off the strength of that main source until we come to the end of ourselves and then cry out to God. What are you depending upon God to do? The ability to find that answer is very easy to discover. Those things you are praying for are the things you are depending upon God to do. Those things which you are not praying for, you are doing on your own.

We cannot do life (ministry) upon our own. Prayer is a requirement. If you want to test your commitment to praying for your life (seeing your dependence upon God), do this little exercise. Rate yourself from 1 – 100 on praying for guidance (applying your dependence) in the last month or even the last year. Now put a percent sign after that number. The result: that is the level of the percent of your dependence upon God’s capability to care for your life.

Culturally Relevant Gospel

There is a story about two boys, and each was given a block of wood and a knife. They were instructed to begin whittling. Both set off with great determination to complete the task given them. They were aggressively making the wood chips fly. When they finished the given task, they were asked to present their final product. The first handed over a nicely carved boat and the second handed over a pile of wood shavings.

What was the difference for the outcome? One had a vision within the task and the second only saw the task. This is a reflective illustration of how we, the church, often approach the journey of the task. We hear the presentation, and receive tools to do it then set off aggressively in getting it done. Then when we are asked to present the result of the process there is a wide variety in the end product.

To have a “Culturally Relevant Gospel” it requires visualizing what the end of the journey can and should look like. Time must be spent in “seeing the boat” before starting. All of the tools and materials have been previously given to us. We the church have been given the knife, “When the Holy Spirit comes upon you” and the block of wood, “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the far ends of the earth” and the task “Be my witnesses”. We do not need to change the tool or find a new block of wood. The task has not changed.

So what do we need to do to have a culturally relevant Gospel? In my experience in wood working, there are different types of wood and an equal amount of requirements to work with wood. Just as the scripture above depicts different groups of people, we must realize, no, we must deeply comprehend that people (and situations) are vastly different and requires different handling. Think with me. Instead of only looking at the listing of the people groups of Acts 1:8 as different regions, let’s look at the listing as different personalities, make-up and styles of people. Just as different regions must be ministered to at a culturally relevant way, so local people must be ministered to relevantly based upon their socially, mentally, educationally and economically make-up.

So, why it is that two churches placed in the same region experience different results? They are handed the same block of wood, receive the same tool and given the same task, but the results are so vastly different. I have trouble believing that God desires one over the other in completing the journey. I have trouble that God desires to bless one church and not the other. I have trouble accepting that God wants one church to have more and higher quality results. I refuse to accept that God provides a better tool to one over the other. But why are there different results? Can I suggest that maybe we, the wood workers are just whittlers and not cravers. Maybe we do not stop and visualize what the block of wood can be. I think of when Jesus approached Jerusalem and the scripture says that He beheld the city, He began to weep. He beheld … He visualized the status of the city and realized just what they could become. He stopped and looked at the block of wood and saw the boat. Let’s stop and see the boats in our blocks of wood and take the necessary steps to release the boats thus we become carvers instead of whittlers.

One additional thought. Consider the knife. Just in carving, the proper use of the tool makes all of the difference regardless of the vision you have. Use the knife the wrong way you’ll destroy the final outcome. Use the tool the wrong way, and you run the very high risk of causing grave bodily damage. A dull knife is more dangerous than a sharp one when it comes to carving. (Our knife when it comes to craving for the Church will never go dull).

Having a culturally relevant gospel does not mean changing the gospel to fit the region, but the changing the ways in which we get the boats out of the blocks of wood we have been given. Are you; am I, a whittler or a carver?

Marketing The Church

“Share The Dream … Build The Team” Ten keys for revitalizing your church, Donald W. Morgan.

In the chapter “Let your light shine” Morgan makes this statement. “We in the church are called to do a first-rate public relations job. We’re to do a first-rate communications job, a first-rate sales job and a first-rate advertising job. These are not to be an afterthought, of marginal consideration, or elective. They’re points central to our evangelistic task – if we would make good on the mission committed to us by our Lord Christ”

His scriptural support, or at least his proof text, is Matthew 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket … Let you light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

While I believe that his expounding of the text is stretched beyond traditional interpretation, I do not want to debate the scripture. What I like to converse about is: Are we the church, becoming to much like a business? Looking for the next marketing program so to grow our business? I know we have to get our “name” out into the public so that people will know we are in existence and so we can be found. But are we so desperate to establish our identity that we must rely upon marketing to find it?

Do new and fancy words describe who we are? Have we abandon our Biblical identity and gone to gadgets and trends to re-establish it? Are the structures (the avenues through which we do ministry) taken the lead in who we are as a church? In example: We are a seeker-sensitive church. We are a contemporary worship style church. We are a blended worship church. We are a church made up of small communities. We are a relevant church in an ever changing world. And so forth.

I fear that we are so consumed with trying to “market” the church that we a failing in getting the message out. Society/population is growing faster than the church. A higher percentage of ‘church growth” is basically transfer growth. Oh I know that this does not apply to all churches, but is it not true for most?

Can we discuss these lines of thought? I would love to hear from individuals who are in the trenches.

Shall We Become Relevant?

New day. Emergent Church. Vibrant Church. Relevant Ministry. And a whole lot more. There are a vast amount of terms used today through out the church world to describe the status of ministry that the church should obtain and/or function at. Why do we, church leaders find ourselves so often wrapped up in making sure we have the “correct” terminology as the basis of what we do as a church? Don’t get me wrong, I deeply believe that the church must be relevant to the ministry community to where God has placed them. We must relate to the people to whom we have been entrusted with the Holy task of sharing the all powerful Gospel of Jesus Christ. We must make sure we are using all available “tools” to get the message out beyond the walls of the church. After all Jesus was the first one to us PowerPoint in his message. Recall the story of the woman caught in adultery and in the midst of the message to those standing around he drew something on the ground and showed to the onlookers? (I know that point is lame but I thought I would just throw it in to see if anyone catches it.) We must think beyond the boundaries of tradition.

Do not all these terms really mean ministry? Do they not describe exactly what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:19-27?
“Although I'm free from all people, I have made myself a slave for all people to win more of them. I became Jewish for Jewish people. I became subject to Moses' Teachings for those who are subject to those laws. I did this to win them even though I'm not subject to Moses' Teachings. I became like a person who does not have Moses' Teachings for those who don't have those teachings. I did this to win them even though I have God's teachings. I'm really subject to Christ's teachings. I became like a person weak in faith to win those who are weak in faith. I have become everything to everyone in order to save at least some of them. I do all this for the sake of the Good News in order to share what it offers. Don't you realize that everyone who runs in a race runs to win, but only one runner gets the prize? Run like them, so that you can win. Everyone who enters an athletic contest goes into strict training. They do it to win a temporary crown, but we do it to win one that will be permanent. So I run-but not without a clear goal ahead of me. So I box-but not as if I were just shadow boxing. Rather, I toughen my body with punches and make it my slave so that I will not be disqualified after I have spread the Good News to others.” (God’s Word Version)

Paul, as well as the members of the early church, had a solid grasp upon what it took to win lost people. They deeply understood the term “emergent”, “relevant”, “seeker-sensitive”, “vibrant” and any of the “church-correct” (like politically correct) terms that grace across the pages of today’s modern day church growth movement. Oh, they understood deeply their culture, for they were a part of it. They understood the necessity of relating with the people groups they we involved with as they shared the gospel. However, I feel that one of the main distinctions that is prevalently seen among them, was they did not candy-up the gospel message. The gospel message is suppose to give a stinging effect to the hearers. The presentation of the gospel message does not become more powerful because we have altered the methods of presentation to reach the post-moderns.

A couple of years back, I got involved in a discussion with a minister in North Carolina about rather the Bible is any longer relevant to society. He told me, that there is a group of churches with strong ties in Alabama that is in the process of re-writing the Bible. His claim was that they felt that the historical Bible no longer contains the adequate messages for today’s society. Because of this conclusion, they feel that a new Bible must be written so that the modern society can hear from God. This is more than just another paraphrased version or another translation; it is a totally new bible.

Though I have not been able to find credible sources of confirmation of this information, may I assume for a minute that it is true? With this being true it raises a fear within my heart about becoming relevant as the main focus of what we do as a church. I know that this is a very far extreme result but could this become the final destination of the road of becoming relevant?

Let me suggest the following: If we have …
Empowering Leadership, Gift-based Ministry, Needs-based Evangelism, Inspiring Worship Services, Passionate Spirituality, Loving Relationships, Holistic Small Groups and Functional Structures then we will win the lost, disciple believers, equip the disciples and release labors into ministry. This will take place through the 5 avenues of growing the Church. We will then be: Broader through Ministry, Stronger through Worship, Larger through Evangelism, Warmer through Fellowship and Deeper through Discipleship.

Let’s not get so wrapped up in relevant terms of modern dialect, but let’s get wrapped up in being impacted by the passion of Christ … with a desire to impact all people with that passion. I guess what I am trying to say is this. Are people coming into a life changing, heart cleansing, and life equipping relationship with Jesus Christ through the things we are doing as a church? If not then why do it? Being relevant is not the issue … or is it?
Hum ….

Belief Level

The following is an excerpt taken from Bob Buford’s book, “Finishing Well, what people who really live do differently". It is a discussion between him and Dr. Dallas Willard in regards to the thought “is there something more?”

The Knowing/Doing Gap

… the church has always taught the importance of surrender, yet we don’t (perhaps can’t) let go of our own desires and ambitions in order to let God take control of our lives. The mere thought of that gives all of us pause.

I said, “What you seem to be describing, Dallas, is a knowing/doing gap, that even what we know, what we’ve been taught, what we heard in sermons, what we read in books, doesn’t seem to be a viable reality for most Christians. There seems to be a chasm between our knowledge and our ability or willingness to do it.”

“That’s very true,” he said, “and I would even put it in these terms: We know about these things but we do not believe them. Too many Christians profess to believe them because we are expected to, but profession of belief doesn’t carry the action. Only real belief carries action. We live in a context where millions and millions of professing Christians do not believe what they profess because they’ve been taught that the important things is to profess it whether you believe it or not. Just think of the words of the apostle James: ‘You do not have because you do not ask God’. Our faith is not strong enough to believe and to expect God to answer. Consequently, this gap of faith and action creates a severe problem.”

“That’s very troubling, isn’t it?” I said. “It’s obviously true, just as you said. But it’s such a strong indication of the modern church.”

“Unfortunately,” he said, “historically we have emphasized professing certain things, and sometimes people have died for not professing them. The religious wars were all about this. In recent times, evangelicals have stressed professing faith – not necessarily having it but professing it. As a result, many people don’t think of death as a joyous trip to a world that is so much better than this one. Most Christians are terrified by the thought of dying.”

For Discussion:

Do we really believe what we profess? Is there really a difference or is it just a different way of saying the same thing. If there is a difference, what effect should it have on our lives?

In my pastoral ministry, I see and can relate to the above excerpt and say that many professing Christians have a shallow (either by choice or by lack of teaching) belief level. They have set through many class room teachings, heard many sermons and studied many materials but yet there seems to be a lack of deep spirituality in their lives. Why is this? What is the effect in their lives and the life of the Church?
Please share your thoughts and let’s discuss this issue.