There were a lot of comments made today about how wonderful it was to see all those kids and those young families streaming toward the church facility, gathering together for a fellowship activity aimed at children. As far as we can tell, with all of those bodies moving about on that pile of snow out front, approximately 80 children showed up, along with a good assortment of their parents, and were within the relational influence of our church body for about three hours.
So, how does this work for outreach?
We determined that slightly more than half of those who showed up today were not people we see in our fellowship on a regular basis. Some were people who have recently visited, some were people who have visited in previous months. There were several families who came as a result of the postcard we mailed to the list of new families in the neighborhood that we maintain in the office. Some came at the invitation of friends or relatives. There were several families connected with the ELC who brought their kids, and several families connected with Garden Oaks Home School Cooperative (GOCO) who brought theirs.
Several of our church members who came to help out went about the task of making everyone feel welcome. Through that process, invitations to come to Bible study and church on Sunday were issued. Though sometimes the results from those kind of conversations do not seem to produce immediate results, they do plant seeds and show an interest. Those conversations also give us information about whether or not the family already attends church somewhere, and through that process we discovered that about half of those in attendance today do not regularly go anywhere.
Those who were here with friends or relatives, with the ELC, or with GOCO fall within groups of individuals who have some sort of connection to our church. That is a connection on which future relationships can be build, and through which the gospel can be shared. We gathered four pages of contact information today, which can be used for future invitations to similar events, such as VBS later on in the summer. And today's contact hopefully built some ties which can be used to build some new relationships.
Snow Day also sent a message from our church to the community, "We want to get to know you!" Through an event like this, we are telling our ELC parents that we care about them. We are telling GOCO families we care about them. We are telling the school friends of our kids that we care about them and their families. We are willing to make an investment in the community for the sake of sharing the gospel message that we have.
We also had somewhat of a billboard on Shepherd Drive for about two hours today, as snowballs were flying, kids and parents were gathered and the traffic driving by was visibly attracted to look and see what was going on. Though that is a somewhat different kind of outreach, based on the attraction model, as people drove by, they did not see an empty parking lot and no activity. The sight of kids playing in the snow in Houston is a definite attention getter. I was a little worried that we might cause an accident, but fortunately, that didn't happen. But we got a lot of slowing down to take a look, and that's a good thing, too.
In the coming days and weeks, we need to take advantage of the outreach opportunities that will come our way as a result of this activity.
We've got another big one coming up February 16, with the Al Melson Memorial Men's Venison Barbeque.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Church(es). Is Yours Going to Make it? If Not, What Will You Do Along the Way to Death That Makes Your Life Worthwhile?
The following article was written by Rick Davis, pastor of Brock Baptist Church, Brock, Texas, former pastor of First Baptist Church of Brownwood, Texas and appeared in his blog "Ain'tsobad."
Is your church going to survive the next twenty years? By your church, I mean the local, congregational expression of the Body of Christ intended to worship, work and witness as the visible manifestation of Christ's Kingdom in a specific area.
Is the average age of your church membership over sixty years of age? You may be able to grow through this serious demographic problem if you are allowed to do so but there is no guarantee and only younger people can give you some assurance of life beyond the five to seven years you have left. You may not have what it takes to patiently lead these non-conformists to Christ and assimilate them into the life of the local body, so much as they are able.
I spent two years ministering to a young man. He was a non-traditional, body art guy and I loved him. He finally started asking about Big Church, as we facetiously called it, and agreed to try us one Sunday. His welcome was less than stellar. One fellow asked him to remove his ball cap.
This was my great failure as a pastor. I could prepare the soil to accept the seed but I could not get the farmers to tend the little plants.
Is the neighborhood around you transitioning away from you? You might be able to do some really fine ministries for the people around you but the question for your survival is different. Can you make the transition from one day a week church to seven day a week Kingdom representative, with all the headaches that come from being an eleemosynary institution without much prospect for institutional survival as a Sunday-intensive entity?
I had my little quarter time churches around my community. In fact, I have made this a hallmark of the work wherever I have ministered. I do not sit around the office, measuring the length and breadth of my desk top repeatedly or baby-sitting the staff. I wanted to pastor the entire town for there is great good in having a pastor and penetration of the culture requires one great thing; being there.
God looked down on his servant, Obama, and said, "This man is very ambitious. I will have to convert him to myself, so I can help him."
God looked down on his servant, Randel E. and said, "This man is witty, charming and kind. He has a lot. I will give him a terrible job to make him humble."
God looked down on his servant, Davis, sniffed audibly and said, "That boy is gonna get himself in trouble. I will have to give him a good family and lots of friends."
Your pastor is going to get himself in great trouble if he gets out of the office much. The Traditional/Conformist metaphor needs to have a fellow who will convince them it is going to be okay and that he will embody that okayness for them. The Modern/Controls folks need reports, regular office hours and the kind of mid-level management skills designed to keep an office flowing smoothly.
Meanwhile, the world goes to Hell.
A truth is that it is not going to be okay. A truth is no one three blocks from your office really cares if the copier has all the toner it needs.
One day when I worked for the BGCT EX. BD. staff, I was in San Antonio trying to meet some pastors and get some information. I passed a small church inside the inner loop around the Alamo City and circled back to enter. Inside I found a sweet little part time secretary, who told me the pastor was indeed in that day but he was in conference at the moment and could not see me right away.
I pulled a book out of my briefcase and happily read it for twenty minutes. The pastor emerged from his conference.
At that time, he was 73 years old, this pastor. His conference that day was with a twenty something Hispanic male replete with ink, piercings and looking for the world like a gang member from the barrio. This was because he was a former gang member from the barrio. The 73 year old anglo pastor had met him in the park during a spring season of walking the park paths near the church to engage people in conversation.
Let me say, these two people had less than nothing in common. Let me say, they had become best friends for life. The old anglo was the discipler in this conversation, though I am certain he was learning as much about the post-modern world as the young man was learning from him.
I was never more impressed with a man than with that 73 year old anglo pastor. He was there, not waiting to die, not holding the fort, but, instead, making the hours worthwhile; writ large on the hearts of men instead of tablets of stone.
Is your church going to make it? Your church will not make it sitting in the building, waiting for the sixties to come back by one more time.
Is your church going to survive the next twenty years? By your church, I mean the local, congregational expression of the Body of Christ intended to worship, work and witness as the visible manifestation of Christ's Kingdom in a specific area.
Is the average age of your church membership over sixty years of age? You may be able to grow through this serious demographic problem if you are allowed to do so but there is no guarantee and only younger people can give you some assurance of life beyond the five to seven years you have left. You may not have what it takes to patiently lead these non-conformists to Christ and assimilate them into the life of the local body, so much as they are able.
I spent two years ministering to a young man. He was a non-traditional, body art guy and I loved him. He finally started asking about Big Church, as we facetiously called it, and agreed to try us one Sunday. His welcome was less than stellar. One fellow asked him to remove his ball cap.
This was my great failure as a pastor. I could prepare the soil to accept the seed but I could not get the farmers to tend the little plants.
Is the neighborhood around you transitioning away from you? You might be able to do some really fine ministries for the people around you but the question for your survival is different. Can you make the transition from one day a week church to seven day a week Kingdom representative, with all the headaches that come from being an eleemosynary institution without much prospect for institutional survival as a Sunday-intensive entity?
I had my little quarter time churches around my community. In fact, I have made this a hallmark of the work wherever I have ministered. I do not sit around the office, measuring the length and breadth of my desk top repeatedly or baby-sitting the staff. I wanted to pastor the entire town for there is great good in having a pastor and penetration of the culture requires one great thing; being there.
God looked down on his servant, Obama, and said, "This man is very ambitious. I will have to convert him to myself, so I can help him."
God looked down on his servant, Randel E. and said, "This man is witty, charming and kind. He has a lot. I will give him a terrible job to make him humble."
God looked down on his servant, Davis, sniffed audibly and said, "That boy is gonna get himself in trouble. I will have to give him a good family and lots of friends."
Your pastor is going to get himself in great trouble if he gets out of the office much. The Traditional/Conformist metaphor needs to have a fellow who will convince them it is going to be okay and that he will embody that okayness for them. The Modern/Controls folks need reports, regular office hours and the kind of mid-level management skills designed to keep an office flowing smoothly.
Meanwhile, the world goes to Hell.
A truth is that it is not going to be okay. A truth is no one three blocks from your office really cares if the copier has all the toner it needs.
One day when I worked for the BGCT EX. BD. staff, I was in San Antonio trying to meet some pastors and get some information. I passed a small church inside the inner loop around the Alamo City and circled back to enter. Inside I found a sweet little part time secretary, who told me the pastor was indeed in that day but he was in conference at the moment and could not see me right away.
I pulled a book out of my briefcase and happily read it for twenty minutes. The pastor emerged from his conference.
At that time, he was 73 years old, this pastor. His conference that day was with a twenty something Hispanic male replete with ink, piercings and looking for the world like a gang member from the barrio. This was because he was a former gang member from the barrio. The 73 year old anglo pastor had met him in the park during a spring season of walking the park paths near the church to engage people in conversation.
Let me say, these two people had less than nothing in common. Let me say, they had become best friends for life. The old anglo was the discipler in this conversation, though I am certain he was learning as much about the post-modern world as the young man was learning from him.
I was never more impressed with a man than with that 73 year old anglo pastor. He was there, not waiting to die, not holding the fort, but, instead, making the hours worthwhile; writ large on the hearts of men instead of tablets of stone.
Is your church going to make it? Your church will not make it sitting in the building, waiting for the sixties to come back by one more time.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Worship in the Sanctuary This Sunday, January 25
We will have both worship services, 8:30 and 11:00, in the sanctuary this coming Sunday morning, January 25. There is still some building repair work going on, but the pews are back, the carpet is in, the painting is done, there is still some touch-up and clean up to be done but we can worship there this week.
Work is also being finished on the Serenity building.
The contractor will begin work on the youth building and the educational building damage. In the educational building, a window blew out in one of the ELC storage areas, and that will be replaced along with the drywall, flooring and carpet in that room. In the youth building, roof damage caused leaks which damaged drywall and ceiling tile in several places, as well as the floor, all of which will be replaced, along with a couple of windows.
Some of this work, especially in the youth building, will also enhance the appearance of the room. The ceiling tile and flooring in there was definitely dated, and those things will be replaced. The work in the Serenity building, which also replaced dated ceiling tile and lighting, has enhanced the appearance of that building as well.
Work is also being finished on the Serenity building.
The contractor will begin work on the youth building and the educational building damage. In the educational building, a window blew out in one of the ELC storage areas, and that will be replaced along with the drywall, flooring and carpet in that room. In the youth building, roof damage caused leaks which damaged drywall and ceiling tile in several places, as well as the floor, all of which will be replaced, along with a couple of windows.
Some of this work, especially in the youth building, will also enhance the appearance of the room. The ceiling tile and flooring in there was definitely dated, and those things will be replaced. The work in the Serenity building, which also replaced dated ceiling tile and lighting, has enhanced the appearance of that building as well.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Almost There!
The pews are being reinstalled today and tomorrow. It took quite some time for the work crew just to haul them in and lay them out. They actually go very well with the new carpet, as does the green ceramic tile in the foyer. The wallpaper on the pillars will be done Monday, and once the audio visual equipment, organ, and sound equipment is re-installed, we will be ready for worship.
It looks like our first Sunday back in the sanctuary will be January 25th.
The remaining work on the building, in the pre-school storage area and the youth building, will start once the sanctuary has been completed.
It looks like our first Sunday back in the sanctuary will be January 25th.
The remaining work on the building, in the pre-school storage area and the youth building, will start once the sanctuary has been completed.
Friday, January 09, 2009
Consumerism, Pastoring and the Slow Death of the American Church
Guest Author Alan Cross, Pastor of Gateway Baptist Church, Montgomery, Alabama
For about a year now, I've been heavily contemplating and praying through the effects of the ideology of Consumerism on the Church. I have come to believe that this worldview and economic system is one of the greatest enemies that the church is facing today. Consumerism tells us that the individual can find satisfaction in life through making economic choices that benefit him personally. While the idea of economic choice is not necessarily bad, it is when those choices establish our identity apart from God that this perspective becomes deadly. In other words, "choice" is only a good thing when we choose what is ultimately good, namely God and His ways. Under God's authority, choice is beneificial. Under our own authority, it is a nightmare. When our choices are focused on what we perceive to be best for us based on our own reasoning, then they become spiritually deadly. According to the perspecitve of Consumerism, life is about choice and the individual exercises his personal freedom by making choices based on preference, desire, and the perceived benefit of the choice regarding material purchases. The locus of authority is in the individual himself, or so it seems. Behind the mechanisms of consumerism is a whole host of manipulators, er, advertisers that exist to create desire within the individual where none previously existed. Messages are sent and taken in that communicates to the individual that their happiness and self-worth will be enhanced if they purchase a certain product or consume an experience. We feel like we are missing out on something valuable if we do not have what others have. Envy, greed, and lust are the result of this approach to life as people judge others and promote themselves over others according to what they are able to consume or personally own. Our identity becomes based on what we have and we value earthly things over spiritual realities. Because our lives are based on a consumeristic approach to life (we define ourselves by our ability to "choose" what satisfies us the most) instead of the worship and devotion of the Living God, our thinking becomes futile and our foolish hearts are darkened. Though we claim to be wise, we become fools (Romans 1:21-22).
Alan Hirsch in The Forgotten Ways says,
I was trained as a marketer and advertiser before I came to Christ, and when I look at the power of consumerism and of the market in our lives, I have little doubt that in consumerism we are now dealing with a very signficant religious phenomenon. If the role of religion is to offer a sense of identity, purpose, meaning, and community, then it can be said that consumerism fulfills all these criteria. Because of the competitive situation of the market, advertisers have become so insidious that they are now deliberately co-opting theological ideas and religious symbols in order to sell their product. But this co-option is merely incidental or functional; in so doing it is acting consistently with its own nature, namely that of the official priesthood of a new and all-pervasive religion. The assimilation of religious symbols and rituals merely serves to bolster its appeal to the spiritual dimension of life. An advertising executive recently confessed to me that they are now deliberately stepping into the void that was left by the removal of Christianity from Western Culture.
So what does this have to do with pastoring and the church? Well, it should be rather obvious. Pastors in 21st century America are attempting to lead people who are used to being presented with a plethora of choices for every decision of their lives. These choices are made off of the basis of enticed desire (usually by someone convincing them that this choice will improve their happiness and their life). Rarely does the aspect of duty or obligation elicit anything more than frustration and a sense of loss of personal freedom. So, pastors quickly take on the role of "salesman" if they want to be effective in enticing their church members into following their teachings. But whereas in past generations there was an appeal to judgment and discipline if one did not obey, today there is a constant appeal to desire and personal fulfillment, because that is the language of our times. It is all that people understand when it comes to personal choice.
This prevailing attitude causes us to eschew authority, even Scriptural authority. It used to be that a pastor's authority was judged based on whether or not he was acting within the bounds of Scripture. Now, even the authority of Scripture is ignored if the consumer/churchgoer does not see where the commands will benefit them. Faith is exchanged for instant gratification. Instead of sitting under sound biblical teaching, we personalize our faith based on what we perceive our needs to be in the moment. In order to get a hearing, the contemporary pastor must make sure that he is speaking to the hearers perceived needs at that time. Then, the pastor must convince the hearer of the validity of his message and the utility of it for accomplishing the goal of the personal happiness of the hearer as he understands it to be. Sin, redemption, heaven, and hell have given way to personal fulfillment and self-actualization. The therapuetic has taken over the theological. In reality, the real authority has become the consumer. His choice personal perception of happiness (what works for me) is what determines the validity of the message for his life. Since the Church has not critically examined the effects of consumerism and its related philosophy of moral relativism on the worldview of its people, we have created a situation where people claim to value Scripture, but feel very comfortable in picking and choosing the aspects of it that they perceive will benefit them in the moment based on what THEY feel their needs are. Instead of sitting under the authority of the Word of God, we have given ourselves over to relativism, as the truth that is lived out becomes relative to the perceived needs of the individual as they exercise their right to choose as they see fit. Again, perceived personal happiness is the goal, not based on the Bible, but based on our own wisdom.
Under this scenario, church discipline becomes almost impossible except in cases of obvious, glaring sin, and even then it is difficult. There is also constant suspicion. Because Consumerism teaches people that their right to choose is their greatest expression of personhood and indivuality, there is always the fear that someone will take away that freedom by telling them how they should live, even if what they are telling them is totally Biblical. They fear that their freedom will be somehow restricted. How many Christians today say, "I just don't know if I can trust God in that?" What they are really saying is that they are afraid that God will require something of them or limit their happiness in some way. They do not know the character of God, and even if they did, they have little interest in submitting to Him if they do not see how it will benefit them according to how they understand benefit. So, the pastor becomes a salesman, trying to entice people to obey God so that they will experience the ultimate in personal happiness. God does bless us and prosper us, but our view of this is so skewed that we have actually developed theologies that show us how we can get God to bless us if we follow the right steps. We have succumbed to trying to control God! The gravest errors occur when we are told that we can give money so that we will experience God's favor and blessing, as though God were some kind of commodity to be purchased at the department store. Pastors become the clerks that take the money and dispense the goods.
All that I have said applies to people who are already IN the church and are supposedly redeemed. When it comes to "evangelism" and "church growth" the situation becomes even more dire as churches sell themselves in every way possible to convince people that all their needs will be met if they just give Jesus (and them) a try. They say that the message is unchanging but the means of proclaiming that message can and should change to fit the times. Some of this is true, but we fail to realize that for many, the means becomes the message. If my introduction to Jesus is in a large auditorium filled with rock music, flashing lights, coffee bars, and fun-filled activities for all ages, what am I saying about Christianity? What am I saying about Jesus? People encounter such a spectacle and quickly see Jesus as one who exists to give them their best life now. The problem is that rarely do we trade in what we think our best life should be for what Jesus says that it should be. We more likely end up baptizing our own views of what personal happiness is and believe that God exists to fulfill our desires. This is why people just leave a church whenever there is any type of problem instead of sticking around to work through issues. Problems do not equate to happiness, therefore, the church down the road will work out better - until I realize that it has problems too. It is why people leave neighborhoods when they are no longer trendy and their homes are no longer increasing in value, and why people move to the suburbs or outlying communities when the city has problems. Instead of being salt and light in dark places and confronting problems to make our world better, we have given the message that our own personal fulfillment as we see it is what Jesus died for. Therefore, we should escape problems by running to idyllic communities where we can experience earthly bliss - if we have the economic means to make these choices. If not, we wonder why God has abandoned us.
Consumerism and its effects are slowly killing the church and its witness. If the defining factor in my life is making choices about what makes me most happy; if I am primarily a consumer of goods and services that I perceive to satisfy me personally; if I am determined to avoid situations that do not directly correlate to my own personal satisfaction as I perceive it; then what chance do we have to become disciples of Christ? Didn't Jesus say that we are to take up our cross and follow Him? I doubt that He meant to the mall to spend money on consumer goods that we perceive will make us happy. I also doubt that He meant that we are to follow Him from church to church in search of the congregation that best "meets our needs." Yet, few pastors will challenge this perspective because they know that to do so will elicit opposition and frustration in the hearts of their people. We do not like our idols to be tipped over. So, pastors fall in line and try and entice people to do what the Bible clearly says that we should be doing through means of manipulation and persuasion instead of declaration of the Word of God. Everything then becomes an option and we use our own idea of grace as an excuse to live how we desire according to our own choices.
Of course, this whole perspective is nothing new. It is as old as the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve made their "choice" to partake of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Ever since then, we have been darkened in our understanding and have rebelled against God. This is common to the human experience. But, it was never meant to be so. We were not to operate off of the perspective of informed choices. That view comes from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. We were supposed to live from the Tree of Life which comes from relationship with God. He is to be our ruler and Lord. We need to begin to take seriously again the Lordship of Christ over all of life and pastors need to stop being salesmen and start being shepherds. This means that we might be rejected and persecuted, but that just puts us in the same boat as Jesus. He did not give the people what they wanted and they responded by crucifying Him. If we are His followers, why do we avoid His fate? Could it be that we are getting our identity from the approval of a people who base their view of spirituality on what makes them happy and makes them feel most satisfied? Is man really the measure of all things, or should we listen to God and worship Him only? Yes, God satisfies, but we receive what we need when we first seek the Kingdom (reign and rule) of God.
Should we not all submit to Christ and seek to live for the glory of God and not ourselves? Until we do, what hope do we have? What will keep the American Church from continuing to go softly into the night? If Jesus is not Lord, then can we even call ourselves the Church? He is life and it is not compassionate to leave us in our fallen state of selfishness and continually appeal to what we think our needs. are.
I spoke strongly in this post about a virus that I believe is attacking the Church with a vengence. I am not speaking here of all churches or pastors by any means. There are many, many faithful pastors and congregations that have not bowed the knee to the god of Consumerism. In case anyone reads this and thinks that I am writing from some sense of personal frustration with my own church, they would be off base. I can speak like this BECAUSE I am fortunate enough to serve a church of people who really do want to follow God and put away idols. We are not perfect and we are assaulted by the same struggles as any American congregation, but there is a desire to work through our temptations and strongholds and know God and the freedom that He gives. No, I am writing about the overall cultural environment that we live and minster in so that we can see things clearly. If we do not see things clearly, then how can we recognize where we need repentance and healing? If we stay immersed in a broken worldview without our eyes being opened, then how will restoration come our way? Because of the grace of God, repentance is a good thing. There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. It is only a desire to stay the same that rejects the call to repent, turn to Jesus, and experience the life that God really has for us.
For about a year now, I've been heavily contemplating and praying through the effects of the ideology of Consumerism on the Church. I have come to believe that this worldview and economic system is one of the greatest enemies that the church is facing today. Consumerism tells us that the individual can find satisfaction in life through making economic choices that benefit him personally. While the idea of economic choice is not necessarily bad, it is when those choices establish our identity apart from God that this perspective becomes deadly. In other words, "choice" is only a good thing when we choose what is ultimately good, namely God and His ways. Under God's authority, choice is beneificial. Under our own authority, it is a nightmare. When our choices are focused on what we perceive to be best for us based on our own reasoning, then they become spiritually deadly. According to the perspecitve of Consumerism, life is about choice and the individual exercises his personal freedom by making choices based on preference, desire, and the perceived benefit of the choice regarding material purchases. The locus of authority is in the individual himself, or so it seems. Behind the mechanisms of consumerism is a whole host of manipulators, er, advertisers that exist to create desire within the individual where none previously existed. Messages are sent and taken in that communicates to the individual that their happiness and self-worth will be enhanced if they purchase a certain product or consume an experience. We feel like we are missing out on something valuable if we do not have what others have. Envy, greed, and lust are the result of this approach to life as people judge others and promote themselves over others according to what they are able to consume or personally own. Our identity becomes based on what we have and we value earthly things over spiritual realities. Because our lives are based on a consumeristic approach to life (we define ourselves by our ability to "choose" what satisfies us the most) instead of the worship and devotion of the Living God, our thinking becomes futile and our foolish hearts are darkened. Though we claim to be wise, we become fools (Romans 1:21-22).
Alan Hirsch in The Forgotten Ways says,
I was trained as a marketer and advertiser before I came to Christ, and when I look at the power of consumerism and of the market in our lives, I have little doubt that in consumerism we are now dealing with a very signficant religious phenomenon. If the role of religion is to offer a sense of identity, purpose, meaning, and community, then it can be said that consumerism fulfills all these criteria. Because of the competitive situation of the market, advertisers have become so insidious that they are now deliberately co-opting theological ideas and religious symbols in order to sell their product. But this co-option is merely incidental or functional; in so doing it is acting consistently with its own nature, namely that of the official priesthood of a new and all-pervasive religion. The assimilation of religious symbols and rituals merely serves to bolster its appeal to the spiritual dimension of life. An advertising executive recently confessed to me that they are now deliberately stepping into the void that was left by the removal of Christianity from Western Culture.
So what does this have to do with pastoring and the church? Well, it should be rather obvious. Pastors in 21st century America are attempting to lead people who are used to being presented with a plethora of choices for every decision of their lives. These choices are made off of the basis of enticed desire (usually by someone convincing them that this choice will improve their happiness and their life). Rarely does the aspect of duty or obligation elicit anything more than frustration and a sense of loss of personal freedom. So, pastors quickly take on the role of "salesman" if they want to be effective in enticing their church members into following their teachings. But whereas in past generations there was an appeal to judgment and discipline if one did not obey, today there is a constant appeal to desire and personal fulfillment, because that is the language of our times. It is all that people understand when it comes to personal choice.
This prevailing attitude causes us to eschew authority, even Scriptural authority. It used to be that a pastor's authority was judged based on whether or not he was acting within the bounds of Scripture. Now, even the authority of Scripture is ignored if the consumer/churchgoer does not see where the commands will benefit them. Faith is exchanged for instant gratification. Instead of sitting under sound biblical teaching, we personalize our faith based on what we perceive our needs to be in the moment. In order to get a hearing, the contemporary pastor must make sure that he is speaking to the hearers perceived needs at that time. Then, the pastor must convince the hearer of the validity of his message and the utility of it for accomplishing the goal of the personal happiness of the hearer as he understands it to be. Sin, redemption, heaven, and hell have given way to personal fulfillment and self-actualization. The therapuetic has taken over the theological. In reality, the real authority has become the consumer. His choice personal perception of happiness (what works for me) is what determines the validity of the message for his life. Since the Church has not critically examined the effects of consumerism and its related philosophy of moral relativism on the worldview of its people, we have created a situation where people claim to value Scripture, but feel very comfortable in picking and choosing the aspects of it that they perceive will benefit them in the moment based on what THEY feel their needs are. Instead of sitting under the authority of the Word of God, we have given ourselves over to relativism, as the truth that is lived out becomes relative to the perceived needs of the individual as they exercise their right to choose as they see fit. Again, perceived personal happiness is the goal, not based on the Bible, but based on our own wisdom.
Under this scenario, church discipline becomes almost impossible except in cases of obvious, glaring sin, and even then it is difficult. There is also constant suspicion. Because Consumerism teaches people that their right to choose is their greatest expression of personhood and indivuality, there is always the fear that someone will take away that freedom by telling them how they should live, even if what they are telling them is totally Biblical. They fear that their freedom will be somehow restricted. How many Christians today say, "I just don't know if I can trust God in that?" What they are really saying is that they are afraid that God will require something of them or limit their happiness in some way. They do not know the character of God, and even if they did, they have little interest in submitting to Him if they do not see how it will benefit them according to how they understand benefit. So, the pastor becomes a salesman, trying to entice people to obey God so that they will experience the ultimate in personal happiness. God does bless us and prosper us, but our view of this is so skewed that we have actually developed theologies that show us how we can get God to bless us if we follow the right steps. We have succumbed to trying to control God! The gravest errors occur when we are told that we can give money so that we will experience God's favor and blessing, as though God were some kind of commodity to be purchased at the department store. Pastors become the clerks that take the money and dispense the goods.
All that I have said applies to people who are already IN the church and are supposedly redeemed. When it comes to "evangelism" and "church growth" the situation becomes even more dire as churches sell themselves in every way possible to convince people that all their needs will be met if they just give Jesus (and them) a try. They say that the message is unchanging but the means of proclaiming that message can and should change to fit the times. Some of this is true, but we fail to realize that for many, the means becomes the message. If my introduction to Jesus is in a large auditorium filled with rock music, flashing lights, coffee bars, and fun-filled activities for all ages, what am I saying about Christianity? What am I saying about Jesus? People encounter such a spectacle and quickly see Jesus as one who exists to give them their best life now. The problem is that rarely do we trade in what we think our best life should be for what Jesus says that it should be. We more likely end up baptizing our own views of what personal happiness is and believe that God exists to fulfill our desires. This is why people just leave a church whenever there is any type of problem instead of sticking around to work through issues. Problems do not equate to happiness, therefore, the church down the road will work out better - until I realize that it has problems too. It is why people leave neighborhoods when they are no longer trendy and their homes are no longer increasing in value, and why people move to the suburbs or outlying communities when the city has problems. Instead of being salt and light in dark places and confronting problems to make our world better, we have given the message that our own personal fulfillment as we see it is what Jesus died for. Therefore, we should escape problems by running to idyllic communities where we can experience earthly bliss - if we have the economic means to make these choices. If not, we wonder why God has abandoned us.
Consumerism and its effects are slowly killing the church and its witness. If the defining factor in my life is making choices about what makes me most happy; if I am primarily a consumer of goods and services that I perceive to satisfy me personally; if I am determined to avoid situations that do not directly correlate to my own personal satisfaction as I perceive it; then what chance do we have to become disciples of Christ? Didn't Jesus say that we are to take up our cross and follow Him? I doubt that He meant to the mall to spend money on consumer goods that we perceive will make us happy. I also doubt that He meant that we are to follow Him from church to church in search of the congregation that best "meets our needs." Yet, few pastors will challenge this perspective because they know that to do so will elicit opposition and frustration in the hearts of their people. We do not like our idols to be tipped over. So, pastors fall in line and try and entice people to do what the Bible clearly says that we should be doing through means of manipulation and persuasion instead of declaration of the Word of God. Everything then becomes an option and we use our own idea of grace as an excuse to live how we desire according to our own choices.
Of course, this whole perspective is nothing new. It is as old as the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve made their "choice" to partake of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Ever since then, we have been darkened in our understanding and have rebelled against God. This is common to the human experience. But, it was never meant to be so. We were not to operate off of the perspective of informed choices. That view comes from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. We were supposed to live from the Tree of Life which comes from relationship with God. He is to be our ruler and Lord. We need to begin to take seriously again the Lordship of Christ over all of life and pastors need to stop being salesmen and start being shepherds. This means that we might be rejected and persecuted, but that just puts us in the same boat as Jesus. He did not give the people what they wanted and they responded by crucifying Him. If we are His followers, why do we avoid His fate? Could it be that we are getting our identity from the approval of a people who base their view of spirituality on what makes them happy and makes them feel most satisfied? Is man really the measure of all things, or should we listen to God and worship Him only? Yes, God satisfies, but we receive what we need when we first seek the Kingdom (reign and rule) of God.
Should we not all submit to Christ and seek to live for the glory of God and not ourselves? Until we do, what hope do we have? What will keep the American Church from continuing to go softly into the night? If Jesus is not Lord, then can we even call ourselves the Church? He is life and it is not compassionate to leave us in our fallen state of selfishness and continually appeal to what we think our needs. are.
I spoke strongly in this post about a virus that I believe is attacking the Church with a vengence. I am not speaking here of all churches or pastors by any means. There are many, many faithful pastors and congregations that have not bowed the knee to the god of Consumerism. In case anyone reads this and thinks that I am writing from some sense of personal frustration with my own church, they would be off base. I can speak like this BECAUSE I am fortunate enough to serve a church of people who really do want to follow God and put away idols. We are not perfect and we are assaulted by the same struggles as any American congregation, but there is a desire to work through our temptations and strongholds and know God and the freedom that He gives. No, I am writing about the overall cultural environment that we live and minster in so that we can see things clearly. If we do not see things clearly, then how can we recognize where we need repentance and healing? If we stay immersed in a broken worldview without our eyes being opened, then how will restoration come our way? Because of the grace of God, repentance is a good thing. There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. It is only a desire to stay the same that rejects the call to repent, turn to Jesus, and experience the life that God really has for us.
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Who Stole My Church?
Don't worry. No one really did. That's the title of a book by pastor Gordon MacDonald which addresses issues that have come up in recent years as churches have tried to design their ministries in such a way that they will develop a look and feel of relevance and have an appeal to younger generations. MacDonald creates a fictional account of a church where many older and dedicated members deal with mixed feelings as the choir is replaced by a praise band, the youth no longer dress in their "Sunday best," the pipe organ is no longer used and a rift had developed in the fellowship because many people felt out of place and uncomfortable in a church where they had once felt at home.
MacDonald's account is very much representative of the way many people feel about their church today, and of what has happened as churches strive for cultural relevance, evangelism and outreach to a rapidly changing population. We have members here who have experienced and expressed similar feelings, as the cultural and demographic changes that have come to our community have affected the way we do ministry, and as we have made some major changes in our methods, particularly in worship and discipleship ministries, in order to find a path to effectiveness in ministry.
These issues are really nothing new. The church has been dealing with them for most of its existence. MacDonald's approach is to encourage the church to be what it is called to be in the scripture, taking note of the fact that a church is a "Biblical" community, and the instructions for establishing and operating what is the local Body of Christ are all found there. Change in ministry approach and setting a course for effectiveness and relevance is therefore a matter of determining what is non-negotiable according to the scripture, not according to popular culture, and then once that determination has been made, all options are open.
The consumer philosophy that has permeated our whole culture has caused churches to base ministry decisions purely on appeal. Knowing that people choose to attend a church based on what that church has to offer them, churches change their whole approach to ministry by developing a cafeteria buffet of ministries designed to convince prospective members that all of their family's needs will be met. It is costly in terms of resources, including money and time, has led to an increase in the number of professional "ministers" churches employ, but it is considered necessary to "attract" people who have high expectations regarding what they need to get from their church experience. That is the logical approach, but it is not found anywhere in the scripture.
According to the New Testament, Christians are to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and be sensitive to where God wants them to be. It is a matter not only of being obedient, but of giving of yourself. The Holy Spirit has given each Christian a unique set of spiritual gifts designed to fit with the other gifts that other members of the church have received in order to work together in harmony and unity. So the question Christians need to ask when they are determining which body of Christ to which they need to belong is, "What can I do for the ministry of this church?"
When the body works together in harmony in this manner, it is God who takes care of the details. If a church is doing ministry as they have been led, and in a way in which they have determined, by consensus, is God's will, then they do not have to worry about attracting younger people or competing with other churches for the attention of families. Instead of swapping members who are already Christians with other churches, they grow by evangelism.
If that's the way the church is organized and operating, then the sense of alienation that is often felt by long time members never has a chance to develop. Instead of dividing up into groups like gold miners staking out their share of the claim on the creekbank, the church functions like a community, which is what God indended. Senior adults, who don't understand the cultural changes that have taken place in society, do not have to feel alienated and disoriented by what they see happening to the church that they love dearly and to which they have given so much of their lives. They should be honored and respected, as the scriptures instruct, and instead of being seen as obstacles to progress, they become partners in ministry. And the church, instead of fighting to stay alive through a slow decline, becomes a place of celebration and joy as people are brought into the Kingdom.
As always, it is a matter of listening to, and following, the Holy Spirit, and of not leaning on our own understanding. Sometimes, the ways of God are a mystery to us.
MacDonald's account is very much representative of the way many people feel about their church today, and of what has happened as churches strive for cultural relevance, evangelism and outreach to a rapidly changing population. We have members here who have experienced and expressed similar feelings, as the cultural and demographic changes that have come to our community have affected the way we do ministry, and as we have made some major changes in our methods, particularly in worship and discipleship ministries, in order to find a path to effectiveness in ministry.
These issues are really nothing new. The church has been dealing with them for most of its existence. MacDonald's approach is to encourage the church to be what it is called to be in the scripture, taking note of the fact that a church is a "Biblical" community, and the instructions for establishing and operating what is the local Body of Christ are all found there. Change in ministry approach and setting a course for effectiveness and relevance is therefore a matter of determining what is non-negotiable according to the scripture, not according to popular culture, and then once that determination has been made, all options are open.
The consumer philosophy that has permeated our whole culture has caused churches to base ministry decisions purely on appeal. Knowing that people choose to attend a church based on what that church has to offer them, churches change their whole approach to ministry by developing a cafeteria buffet of ministries designed to convince prospective members that all of their family's needs will be met. It is costly in terms of resources, including money and time, has led to an increase in the number of professional "ministers" churches employ, but it is considered necessary to "attract" people who have high expectations regarding what they need to get from their church experience. That is the logical approach, but it is not found anywhere in the scripture.
According to the New Testament, Christians are to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and be sensitive to where God wants them to be. It is a matter not only of being obedient, but of giving of yourself. The Holy Spirit has given each Christian a unique set of spiritual gifts designed to fit with the other gifts that other members of the church have received in order to work together in harmony and unity. So the question Christians need to ask when they are determining which body of Christ to which they need to belong is, "What can I do for the ministry of this church?"
When the body works together in harmony in this manner, it is God who takes care of the details. If a church is doing ministry as they have been led, and in a way in which they have determined, by consensus, is God's will, then they do not have to worry about attracting younger people or competing with other churches for the attention of families. Instead of swapping members who are already Christians with other churches, they grow by evangelism.
If that's the way the church is organized and operating, then the sense of alienation that is often felt by long time members never has a chance to develop. Instead of dividing up into groups like gold miners staking out their share of the claim on the creekbank, the church functions like a community, which is what God indended. Senior adults, who don't understand the cultural changes that have taken place in society, do not have to feel alienated and disoriented by what they see happening to the church that they love dearly and to which they have given so much of their lives. They should be honored and respected, as the scriptures instruct, and instead of being seen as obstacles to progress, they become partners in ministry. And the church, instead of fighting to stay alive through a slow decline, becomes a place of celebration and joy as people are brought into the Kingdom.
As always, it is a matter of listening to, and following, the Holy Spirit, and of not leaning on our own understanding. Sometimes, the ways of God are a mystery to us.
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Plaster, Paint Work Finished: Carpet Coming Saturday
The plastering and painting work in the sanctuary was completed today, and it looks great! The crew did an excellent job, and even added some decorative touches that were previously missing, including the outline of the trim on the platform, choir rail and the front of the sanctuary. The room looks new, aside from the bare concrete on the floor and the bare wood on the platform.
There is a list of names from the sanctuary renovation team from back in 1997 that was written on the plywood of the floor. Perhaps those names could be put on a plaque somewhere, since I can only imagine how difficult it must have been to pull all of that together the last time. It may not seem like it while you are sitting in one of the pews during worship, but the detail involved in painting was phenomenal. This particular paint contractor somehow managed to get it all done with razor straight lines, no drips or runs, and no brush marks.
Something else to look for. With the scaffolding in place, the painters were able to replace the bulbs in the light fixtures that backlight the round, stained-glass window at the back of the sanctuary that faces the street. Those lights are set on a timer, so we will once again have the window lit in the evening. We have not been able to replace those lights because we don't have a means of getting up there, so when they reached that part of the ceiling, they replaced the bulbs for us. We are modifying the pew arrangement in the balcony so that we can rent a scaffold when they need to be replaced again.
We may be just a week or two away from being able to worship in the sanctuary again. Sounds like a celebration may be coming our way.
There is a list of names from the sanctuary renovation team from back in 1997 that was written on the plywood of the floor. Perhaps those names could be put on a plaque somewhere, since I can only imagine how difficult it must have been to pull all of that together the last time. It may not seem like it while you are sitting in one of the pews during worship, but the detail involved in painting was phenomenal. This particular paint contractor somehow managed to get it all done with razor straight lines, no drips or runs, and no brush marks.
Something else to look for. With the scaffolding in place, the painters were able to replace the bulbs in the light fixtures that backlight the round, stained-glass window at the back of the sanctuary that faces the street. Those lights are set on a timer, so we will once again have the window lit in the evening. We have not been able to replace those lights because we don't have a means of getting up there, so when they reached that part of the ceiling, they replaced the bulbs for us. We are modifying the pew arrangement in the balcony so that we can rent a scaffold when they need to be replaced again.
We may be just a week or two away from being able to worship in the sanctuary again. Sounds like a celebration may be coming our way.
Saturday, January 03, 2009
More on Building Restoration
The painting and plastering in the sanctuary continues to move at a rapid pace, as does the work in the Serenity building. Though to us, sitting in the sanctuary, the amount of paint work required doesn't seem like a lot, there is a lot of space to cover, and a lot of detail to do.
Since the carpet and pews were removed, the H & P team thought it might be a good idea to install electrical circuitry downstairs to prepare for the eventual move of the sound booth. That way, the work can be done and not disturb the new carpet after it has been installed.
We are still aiming for an end of January return to the sanctuary.
Since the carpet and pews were removed, the H & P team thought it might be a good idea to install electrical circuitry downstairs to prepare for the eventual move of the sound booth. That way, the work can be done and not disturb the new carpet after it has been installed.
We are still aiming for an end of January return to the sanctuary.
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