I was raised outside of any church influence. After hearing and receiving the Gospel I spent the majority of my adult life in different churches. I was always under an assumption. The assumption was that if everyone is doing church this way then it must be the right way ?
About 3 years ago my eyes were opened by the the Holy Spirit as Richard Greene taught about walking in the Spirit, making disciples, pastoring the community, and spiritual warfare. Within 2 years I found myself outside the system. A year ago I turned in my ordination papers and started walking in what I was learning. It was a huge step for me. I still remember the emails from some of the pastors of that denomination prophesying my demise. I saw up close an often hidden side of denominational control.
I had been trained, Masters of Theology, Church Planting Bootcamp, the best seminars American Christianity could offer, and years of Bible studies. I was led to endeavor to build the church. All of my efforts, no matter how subtly it was emphasised, was to build the church. The goal was not to build the Kingdom, though that language was used. The goal was always to build the Kingdom by building "our" church. This was consistent in every church I attended.
Now I was hearing a new call. Walk in the Spirit, make disciples, engage in spiritual warfare, and pastor the community. What a change that would make in my personal faith. While the language was accepted by the established church hierarchy, the actions were not. Without focusing on building "our" church we were labeled as a cult because we did not have a building. Every cult I have ever heard of has a compound or some building. By putting an emphasis on walking in the guidance of the Holy Spirit we were either labelled as charismatic or unorthodox. When we emphasized making disciples and only gathering the disciples into our worship we were shunned by existing churches and accused of hating people for not preaching the Gospel to unbelievers in our worship gatherings. When we taught and walked in spiritual warfare the spirit realm manifested in our presence and many were unable to handle the reality of the spiritual battle. When we began to pastor the community - everything changed.
When we connected all that we learned about these basics of the faith with the mission of pastoring our community amazing things started to happen. We began to find the remnant. There are many that have disconnected from the church and are living quietly among us. We connected with unbelievers in a new way. Because we are doing what Jesus' commands, caring for the poor, widows, orphans, and oppressed, those that deny God are connected with our mission. It is a fingerprint of God. Everyone is made to care about these things. God cares about these things. We are made in God's image. We now have people that have no regard for "church" asking us if they can help us minister to the community. We have people that are not connected with any church offering us resources.
As I look to the New Year I see a small group of highly trained and gifted disciples. They know how to Walk in the Spirit, make disciples, engage in spiritual warfare, and they are beginning to pastor the community. Now that we have the basics in place God is connecting us to our mission. Go! Not to build a church, that is God's job. (Matthew 16:18) Our mission is to transform the world. We must do it the way God designed. We must bring the transformational power of Christ to the world and not beg the world to come to "our" church.
If you want to know how mission impacts the church you must first stop trying to do God's job - building the church. Next you must look at your community and see how the Holy Spirit would have you minister. These simple changes in focus will transform your spiritual life and then the world.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
I Am Thankful
I am thankful for God’s grace – It forgives me
When thousands starve to death and I waste food and throw leftovers away.
When thousands die of thirst as I waste water on my lawn
When I buy a larger house as so many sleep outside
As so many die from curable disease and I debate healthcare
As I spend my wealth upon myself and rationalize my behavior
As I firmly place other peoples problems at their own feet and then place my own problems at Jesus’ feet.
When I avoid an entire area of my own city or country – its their problem they should fix it
When I consider myself privileged because of “me”
When I act as though I am the center of God’s attention on Sunday morning and then
I ignore the widows, orphans, poor, and homeless.
When I proclaim that Jesus is all that and more yet I never share the Good News.
When I study and study to show myself approved but never turn what I learn into action.
When I miss what love is according to Jesus – laying down your life for another
When I hold onto my right to have a good home, a newer car, good food and clothing, and the rest of the list from the American dream.
When I pollute the Holy Worship Assembly of God with His enemies and rationalize it as acceptable even though I cannot support it from Scripture
When my politics affect my actions more than my faith but I don’t see the difference
When I read this list and all the while I am convincing myself these things don’t apply to me or I am justified in my behavior.
God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. It is God’s grace that forgives these things so be humble and receive His grace.
One day we will all stand before judgement and be shown our actions from God’s perspective. On that day there will be no excuse. On that day I will again be thankful for God’s grace.
When thousands starve to death and I waste food and throw leftovers away.
When thousands die of thirst as I waste water on my lawn
When I buy a larger house as so many sleep outside
As so many die from curable disease and I debate healthcare
As I spend my wealth upon myself and rationalize my behavior
As I firmly place other peoples problems at their own feet and then place my own problems at Jesus’ feet.
When I avoid an entire area of my own city or country – its their problem they should fix it
When I consider myself privileged because of “me”
When I act as though I am the center of God’s attention on Sunday morning and then
I ignore the widows, orphans, poor, and homeless.
When I proclaim that Jesus is all that and more yet I never share the Good News.
When I study and study to show myself approved but never turn what I learn into action.
When I miss what love is according to Jesus – laying down your life for another
When I hold onto my right to have a good home, a newer car, good food and clothing, and the rest of the list from the American dream.
When I pollute the Holy Worship Assembly of God with His enemies and rationalize it as acceptable even though I cannot support it from Scripture
When my politics affect my actions more than my faith but I don’t see the difference
When I read this list and all the while I am convincing myself these things don’t apply to me or I am justified in my behavior.
God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. It is God’s grace that forgives these things so be humble and receive His grace.
One day we will all stand before judgement and be shown our actions from God’s perspective. On that day there will be no excuse. On that day I will again be thankful for God’s grace.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Things are Changing Fast
There is a growing trend in St. Louis and around our great country. The trend is armed security guards at your church! In certain areas of our city this has become common. So common that some would not consider attending a church without good security.
Is this a trend or just a passing fad brought on by recent church rampages? Time will tell. My business sense tells me this is a trend. Here is why. Insurance! There are a handful of insurance companies that specialize in insuring churches. I think this trend will develop based on common sense and good stewardship principles. Insurance companies will encourage this trend until it becomes viable to require armed security in order to stay insured. At that point churches will face 3 choices.
1. Hire armed security
2. Go uninsured
3. Change the way they meet from public to private.
I say most will choose number one. Choosing number two leaves every Elder or Board member open to liability in this liturgis society. Most successful business men will not put themselves in that position. Choosing number three requires churches to operate in a way that most find foreign. No more attractional events. No more invitational ministry. How will they possibly get the message to the unbeliever if they don't get them to church?
So in the end I think most will get used to passing armed guards and walking through metal detectors on their way to a sermon. I bet some will turn it into a positive thing. I can see a flyer coming soon to my mail box.
"Relevant, relational, secure! A new kind of church. Come to one of our highly secure worship services."
Security may be marketed like music is marketed.
8:00 am Traditional security
10:30 am Contemporary security
Guest appearances will combine the speaker and security as an additional draw.
Come see Four Star General Powell Speak this Sunday, with special guests the Army Ranger's anti-terrorist Special Forces providing security.
All of this will be done in order to maintain operating in the same way they learned to operate. Many will adjust and even rationalize it as a good thing. The American church will continue to struggle trying to get a disconnected generation to COME to church. Only now those unreached will have to consider if its worth risking their life to come. If it isn't dangerous why do they have armed security.
Is this a trend or just a passing fad brought on by recent church rampages? Time will tell. My business sense tells me this is a trend. Here is why. Insurance! There are a handful of insurance companies that specialize in insuring churches. I think this trend will develop based on common sense and good stewardship principles. Insurance companies will encourage this trend until it becomes viable to require armed security in order to stay insured. At that point churches will face 3 choices.
1. Hire armed security
2. Go uninsured
3. Change the way they meet from public to private.
I say most will choose number one. Choosing number two leaves every Elder or Board member open to liability in this liturgis society. Most successful business men will not put themselves in that position. Choosing number three requires churches to operate in a way that most find foreign. No more attractional events. No more invitational ministry. How will they possibly get the message to the unbeliever if they don't get them to church?
So in the end I think most will get used to passing armed guards and walking through metal detectors on their way to a sermon. I bet some will turn it into a positive thing. I can see a flyer coming soon to my mail box.
"Relevant, relational, secure! A new kind of church. Come to one of our highly secure worship services."
Security may be marketed like music is marketed.
8:00 am Traditional security
10:30 am Contemporary security
Guest appearances will combine the speaker and security as an additional draw.
Come see Four Star General Powell Speak this Sunday, with special guests the Army Ranger's anti-terrorist Special Forces providing security.
All of this will be done in order to maintain operating in the same way they learned to operate. Many will adjust and even rationalize it as a good thing. The American church will continue to struggle trying to get a disconnected generation to COME to church. Only now those unreached will have to consider if its worth risking their life to come. If it isn't dangerous why do they have armed security.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Fear and the Lord
Deuteronomy 20:2-4
"When you are approaching the battle, the priest shall come near and speak to the people. "He shall say to them, 'Hear, O Israel, you are approaching the battle against your enemies today. Do not be fainthearted. Do not be afraid, or panic, or tremble before them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.'
As I enter into what most consider dangerous areas I find my enemy has paralyzed the army of the Lord with fear. I see professing Christians shrink from the battle because they fear something. Some fear the loss of life. Some fear the loss of reputation for going against the established structure. Others fear the loss of wealth or the imaginary security that they think it brings to them. Others are just overcome with the fear of life.
I must admit my frustration with cowardice. I know I have no right to be frustrated but the feeling does overcome me at times. I find myself taking a deep breath, stepping back into God’s perspective, and I realize this is not a new problem. The question has been asked of me by some if this fear is sin? Can people really help it if they are afraid? Fair question right? We live in a society that puts the most cruel and gruesome aspects of society in front of us everyday. What is a reasonable way for us to respond. When all we see is one story after another of how someone was shot in this area today, isn’t it reasonable to fear for our lives when asked to go to this area?
In Matthew 8:26 the disciples were fearful. They had good reason to be afraid. They were at sea in a terrible storm. Their lives were in immediate danger. They wake Jesus and His response gives us insight into His attitude towards fear.
“He *said to them, "Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?" Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm.”
Jesus equates fear with a lack of faith! In Revelation 21:8 it says the fearful will have their part in the lake of fire. That should scare anyone that is fearful.
1 John 4:18 says this - There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment and the one who fears is not perfected in love.
God says fear is a lack of faith. He says the fearful will have part in the Lake of Fire. He says one who fears is not perfected in love. Is someone teaching you this? Are you acting on it? Walking in faith through the Holy Spirit will build your faith and prove God’s love to you so you no longer have to walk in fear. The Christian life is not a life of fear. The only fear approved by God is a fear of the Lord.
"When you are approaching the battle, the priest shall come near and speak to the people. "He shall say to them, 'Hear, O Israel, you are approaching the battle against your enemies today. Do not be fainthearted. Do not be afraid, or panic, or tremble before them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.'
As I enter into what most consider dangerous areas I find my enemy has paralyzed the army of the Lord with fear. I see professing Christians shrink from the battle because they fear something. Some fear the loss of life. Some fear the loss of reputation for going against the established structure. Others fear the loss of wealth or the imaginary security that they think it brings to them. Others are just overcome with the fear of life.
I must admit my frustration with cowardice. I know I have no right to be frustrated but the feeling does overcome me at times. I find myself taking a deep breath, stepping back into God’s perspective, and I realize this is not a new problem. The question has been asked of me by some if this fear is sin? Can people really help it if they are afraid? Fair question right? We live in a society that puts the most cruel and gruesome aspects of society in front of us everyday. What is a reasonable way for us to respond. When all we see is one story after another of how someone was shot in this area today, isn’t it reasonable to fear for our lives when asked to go to this area?
In Matthew 8:26 the disciples were fearful. They had good reason to be afraid. They were at sea in a terrible storm. Their lives were in immediate danger. They wake Jesus and His response gives us insight into His attitude towards fear.
“He *said to them, "Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?" Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm.”
Jesus equates fear with a lack of faith! In Revelation 21:8 it says the fearful will have their part in the lake of fire. That should scare anyone that is fearful.
1 John 4:18 says this - There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment and the one who fears is not perfected in love.
God says fear is a lack of faith. He says the fearful will have part in the Lake of Fire. He says one who fears is not perfected in love. Is someone teaching you this? Are you acting on it? Walking in faith through the Holy Spirit will build your faith and prove God’s love to you so you no longer have to walk in fear. The Christian life is not a life of fear. The only fear approved by God is a fear of the Lord.
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