Working through the Sermon on the Mount on Sunday mornings, a few weeks ago I preached from Matthew 5.13-16, the Salt & Light passage. What I explained to our congregation is that, after instrucitng us about what our attitude ought to be as citizens of the Kingdom, Jesus goes on to reveal the Influence he expects his people to have on the communites where we live, and on the world around us.
In this video Tim Keller offers his thoughts about being Salt & Light.
According to Peter Wagner:
Healthy churches build an immune system to resist disease. It is much more advisable to prevent an illness than to contract one and then have to cure it.
The following are the most common diseases that infect churches. By recognizing some of the symptoms my hope is that we will turn to the Great Physician, the Gentle Healer, and seek necessary medical attention.
I am using Wagner’s terms here, and have added my own commentary:
Ethnikitis
Ethnikitis is fear or disregard for others of different ethnicities and/or races. This disease is caused by contextual factors, usually revolving around a static church (in-grown and non-growing) in an ethnically transitioning neighborhood.
Ghost-Town Disease
Another contextual illness, this illness is found in communities where old residents are moving out, and no one is moving in.
People-Blindness
This malady is directly related to a lack of understanding of the significant differences between diverse people groups within the community. It occurs when churches fail to consider how those differences may impede evangelism efforts.
Hyper-Cooperativism
Wagner says: “When everyone is responsible for evangelism, no one is responsible for evangelism. Local-church evangelism is much more effective than city-wide cooperative efforts.”
This malady occurs when local congregations loose their distinct identity because the church is too committed to being part of something else. There is nothing wrong with partnering and cooperative ministries. But if the only ministry a church does is under the umbrella of others, and the church does not bring any distinct character to the joint-effort, it may be a sign that the church is not healthy.
The healthy alternative is not to forgo all partnerships and joint efforts, through isolationism or competition. Instead each church should develop its own distinct personality which it can then contribute to the community and cooperative efforts.
Koinonitis
Koinonia is the Greek word for fellowship. Koinonitis occurs when interpersonal relationships within the church become so deep and mutually absorbing that we ignore the needs of the community and world around us. When Koinonitis is present church programs tend to become centripetal rather than centrifugal; entirely attractional rather than missional and incarnational.
Sociological Strangulation
Wagner says: “This is a slowdown in the rate of church growth caused when the flow of people into a church begins to exceed the capacity of the facilities to accommodate it.”
In other words, this occurs when the building and sanctuary are too small to accomodate more people. The general rule here, in suburban communities is 80% capacity = FULL. In more rural communities, where people are used to having more elbow room, the rule may be as low as 50% = FULL.
Another aspect that George Barna deals with, more than Wagner, is when growth occurs at a rate too fast to effectively assimilate new people into an existing church community. Barna suggests that healthy churches grow at a rate of no more than 10% – 15% anually. Thus, if Barna is correct, a church with a 6% or 7% growth rate may be healthier than a church that is growing at 20% rate over an extended period of time.
Arrested Spiritual Development
Wagner: “When people in the church are not growing in the things of God or in their relationships with one another, the total health of the church deteriorates, and the church cannot grow.” To this I will add, if the church did grow, it really has nothing to offer those who come, nor to the community where God placed them.
St. John’s Syndrome
When Christians become Christians in name only; feel that their faith is only routine; when church involvement is largely going through the motions, and belonging to church is nothing more than a family tradition or social nicety, St. John’s Syndrome is likely at work.
Why is this called St John’s Syndrome? I have no idea. At least I do not recall off the top of my head. But I agree that the symptoms described are unhealthy, no matter what you want to call it.
Hypo-pneumia
Hypo-pneumia is a condition caused by a subnormal level of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the life and ministry of the church. This is a church that depends upon talent of the members and the resources on hand. It is a church that may pray, but is not depending upon prayer.
It is this type of church Francis Schaeffer had in mind when he asked his wife what she thought would happen if the Holy Spirit departed from the local church. Their joint conclusion was that in the vast majority of churches nothing would change, and few people would notice.
To read something I disagree with on the Internet is not an unusual thing. When what I disagree with comes from a source that I respect – highly respect – it makes me somewhat uncomfortable. When the source I respect seems to oppose what I hold, well that is just down-right disappointing.
But that is the experience I have had these past few days while reading 9 Marks January/February 2010 e-Journal.
As a pastor from a confessional denomination one of the more difficult tasks I regularly – even constantly – encounter is helping people past a distatse for doctrine.
I understand why so many are so often hesitant to embrace any system of doctrine. “Doctrine divides” is a commen lament. And, regretably, it is often an accurate one. I see many who are at odds with others over secondary principles. Another issue is that sometimes those who are the strongest proponents of sound theology carry rather “ugly” attitudes. Looking at life, and the church, with a singular perspective (as opposed to tri-perspectival) some assume that mere apprehension and submission to a system of doctrine is the only thing that matters. As one of my old pastors often said: “Their theology is dead right – but mostly dead.”
Of course there are other reasons to be considered.
The historical influence of the Second Great Awakening continues to infect large portions of the American church. One of the most significant effects is that many Christians, and a number of church traditions, are flarly anti-intellectual. Their faith is almost entirely “feelings” built aroud a few simple theological propositions.
And maybe the biggest hurdle is that developing a comprehensive understanding of a system of theology is, simply, hard work. Like learning anything, it is challenging and takes time and study.
Whatever the reasons for hesitancy, I maintain it is still important. In this brief video Tim Keller affirms the benefits of sound doctrine. In fact he asserts, I believe correctly, that everyone already lives out their theology…
If this so, it would seem important to think it all through.
At a time when potential epidemics may be on the horizon the wise person is on the lookout for the signs of disease. The hope is that early detection will enable more effective and less severe treatment.
Such a time surrounds the American church. It is widely reported that 85% of all churches are in a state of stagnation, if not serious decline.
Jeff Gauss, of Rurality Bytes, summarizes the Baker’s-Dirty-Dozen stagnant church types. At least one of these 13 types, taken from Ed Stetzer’s Comeback Churches, probably characterizes almost any struggling & stagnant church:
I suspect traces of most of these traits can be seen in almost any church, ailing or healthy. But a good prelimnay self diagnosis may hold the ecclesiastical undertaker at bay.
I’ve been listening to the audio of sessions from Acts 29 Network’s 2009 Bootcamp: Ambition. While not everyone will find these talks of interest, I think they are challenging and stimulating for those of us in ministry and church leadership.
Ministry for the Long Haul & Ambition (Matt Chandler)
Decoding Your City & Ambition (Kevin Cawley)
Discipleship & Ambition (Bob Thune)
Preaching as Expository Exorcism (Russell Moore)
Leadership & Ambition (Darrin Patrick)
The Church & Ambition (Steve Timmis)
Church Planting & Ambition (Ed Stetzer)
The Gospel & Ambition (Dave Harvey)
My thanks to the folks at Sojourn Community Church, who have made all the above sessions available to be listened to online and/or downloaded. Click: Ambition Conference.
Acts 29 is a missional church planting network of Reformed Evangelicals. Each year they hold Boot Camps to train and re-energize like minded church planters and church leaders. Many of these, and other, talks are available on the Resource section of thier web page.
The more things have changed, some things have remained the same. Such is the case for Christians in a typical church.
When Samuel Blair assumed the pulpit of Faggs Manor Presbyteran Church in 1740 he found a congregation in a spiritual condition not uncommon even in our day. Blair wrote that when he came to the church he found many good religious people who performed their religious obligation rather well. Yet they were, in his estimation, somewhat formal and unenthusiastic:
If they performed these duties pretty punctually in their seasons and, as they thought, with good meaning, out of conscience, and not just to obtain a name for religion among men, then they were ready to conclude that they were truly and sincerely religious. A very lamentable ignorance of the main essentials of true practical religion, and the doctrines nearly relating thereunto very generally prevailed. The nature and necessity of the new birth was but litle known or thought of, the necessity of a conviction of sin and misery, by the Holy Spirit’s opening and applying the law to the conscience, in order to a saving closure with Christ, was hardly known at all to most. It was thought, that if there was any need of a heart-distressing sight of the soul’s danger, and fear of divine wrath, it wa only needed for the grosser sort of sinners; and for any others to be deeply exercised this way (as might in some rare instances observable), this was generally looked upon to be a great evil and temptation that had befallen those persons. The common names for such soul-concern were, melancholy, trouble of mind, or despair. These terms were common, so far as I have been acquainted, indifferently used as synonymous; and trouble of mind was looked upon as a great evil, which all persons that made any sober profession and practice of religion ought carefully avoid. …There was scarcely any suspicion at all, in general, of any danger of depending upon self-righteousness, and not upon the righteousness of Christ alone for salvation. Papists [Roman Catholics) and Quakers would be readily acknowldeged guilty of this crime, but hardly any professed Presbyterian. The necessity of being first in Christ by a vital union, and in a justified state, before our religious services can be well pleasing and acceptable to God, was very little understood or thought of; but the common notion seemed to be, that if people were aiming to be in the way of duty as well as they could, at they imagined, there was no reason to be much afraid.
[Source: The Forming of an American Tradition: A Re-Examination of Colonial Presbyterianism, by Leonard J. Trinterud; Westminster Press, 1959; pp. 77-78]
A woman walked into our church building during the service this past Sunday morning. I did not see her, but reportedly she was rather rough looking, even intimidating. She was seeking financial assistance, and she was clear and determined in her objective.
The lady from our congregation who got up to greet her would not ordinarily be considered a timid soul. She is seasoned in ministry and has met all kinds of people. But she admitted later to feeling ill at ease with this stranger. Perhaps her discomfort was because of the woman’s gruff exterior and demeanor. Perhaps it was because she remembered that the writer of Hebrews tells us sometimes we entertain angels disguised as the poor. (Hebrews 13.2) But I suspect there may have been other factors at play.
I believe most of us want to be helpful, though we don’t always know how. This may be particularly true when we are dealing with the underprivileged. And I wonder if, because of both the renewed emphasis of the importance of mercy ministry and the proliferation of political exploitation of the poor, some of us are not prone to feel a twinge of guilt on occasions when we are not prepared to address a need.
In my opinion the incident at our church this past weekend was handled appropriately. The woman from our church invited our visitor to join us in worship, and told her that after the service she was sure one of our deacons would be happy to meet with her to discuss her situation. The woman declined and walked out of the building.
Why do I believe it was handled appropriately, when no assistance was given?
1. Those in Need will always be around.
Jesus told us: “You will always have the poor with you”. In other words, no matter how effective we are, individually and collectively, we will not entirely alleviate poverty. We may minimize it but we will not eliminate it.
Some have used this fact as an excuse to do little or nothing to address poverty and minister to the poor. And that is wrong.
But that is not the case for our church.
Our deacons regularly meet with people in need, both members of our church and people from outside it. We have budgeted a fair percentage of church income to be distributed for benevolence. Our deacons give toward needs as they are finanically able. Individual members of our church are known to give to others as they are aware of needs. Our church also partners with and supports other organizations, such as Bristol Faith in Action and Harbor of Light, who minister mercy to people who have had no contact with our church.
We have put structures in place to guide us in our benevolence. These structures and guidelines are not implemented to minimize what we give. They were designed to help us be more effective in our giving. They enable us to truly be more merciful because we are able to meet real needs. We are not just trying to make ourselves feel better by giving, but actually trying to provide help to those in need.
While we still have room to grow, charity and grace are characteristics of the congregation and leaders of Walnut Hill Church.
While we may be inclined to feel bad that we cannot meet all needs, if we are faithful in extending mercy we have no reason to feel ashamed or embarrassed on those occasions we truly are unable or when it would be unwise.
2. This was a Mary moment.
Solomon tells us: “For everything there is a season, and a time for ever matter under heaven.” (See Ecclesiastes 3.1-8)
Jesus adds another application to Solomon’s insight.
During a time when he was visiting his dear friends, Martha and Mary, Martha was acting the busy homemaker while Mary was just visiting with the company. Martha, frustrated by the lack of help her sister was providing, complained to Jesus in an attempt to get him to get Mary to kick in instead of continuing to kick back.
Jesus said to Martha: “Martha, Martha… You are uptight and worried about so many things. But only one thing is worth concerning yourself like that; only one thing is really necessary. Mary has chosen wisely. What she has chosen cannot be taken away from her.” (See Luke 10.38-42)
What Jesus tells us, essentially, is that there is a time to work and a time to worship; a time to serve and a time to enjoy God.
When we are gathered for worship it is not a time to deal with ordinary demands and needs. It is not that those needs are not important. It is just that worship is a priority that ought not be neglected nor interupted, even for important things.
So, in short, while the lady from our congregation may have second guessed herself and felt a little guilty, I don’t think she has any need to feel that way. She acted wisely. Our church is committed to extending compassion and mercy. But when it is time to worship… everything else gets put on the back burners.
I don’t know Francis Chan, but I think I like him. I know I like what I see so far.
A friend, who is also an Elder in our church, introduced me to Chan a few months ago. He had just finished reading Chan’s book, Crazy Love, and said that Chan was teaching the same things I had been introducing to Walnut Hill Church – namely a Gospel-driven, missional approach to living. He wanted to know if I was familiar with Chan, and what my thoughts were. At the time I had none. But obviously I was curious. I was curious to see what this guy was saying, if indeed we were teaching similarly. I was curious to see what my friend and colleague percieved I was teaching, since he thought we were teaching the same things.
I did some investigation on the Internet. The only negatives I found, or rather the only criticisms of Chan I found, were a couple of Asian-American bloggers who thought Chan acted too “White” or Anglo; and someone who seemed put off by Chan’s frequent application of the Gospel to the use of money. I didn’t find either of these charges to be anything to discredit Chan, so I conintued with my investigation.
Now, a few months after first hearing Chan’s name, I find myself impressed. I don’t know all he has said or written, so the day may come when I find myself disagreeing with Chan about something. But that day is not today. And even if, or when, it does come I suspect it won’t be too big a deal. It’ll only be a matter of degree. Francis Chan is a man who loves God, who loves people, and who knows how God has loved His people. He is passionate about telling people about God’s Crazy Love. He is faithful to call people to love God and each other in tangible ways, in seemingly crazy ways.
So not only has my friend stumbled upon a faithful teacher, I have become a student as well.
To get acqauinted with Francis Chan, check out the above video, and the related website, Just Stop and Think.
As our church begins to explore what it means to be a missional church, it might be helpful to hear the insights of one of the most effective practitioners and proponents of the missional approach to ministry. In the above video Tim Keller, of Redeemer Church in Manhattan, explains some of the key characteristics of a missional church.
Some might ask: What’s the difference between a Missional Church and an Evangelistic Church? Is this just a new label?
The answer to the latter question is “No. It’s not just a label.” It is a different way of thinking about the church. Rooted in the understanding that God is himself on mission (missio dei) a missional church seeks to become engaged in God’s mission in the very place(s) God has sovereignly placed the church and the church members.
Reggie McNeal, in his book, The Present Future, provides some insights about the differences between a Missional Church and an Evangelistic Church that will help answer the former question. McNeal says a missional church stresses:
> community transformation over growing the church
> turning members into missionaries over turning members into ministers
> recovering Christian mission over doing church better
The gospel is always conveyed through the medium of culture. It becomes good news to lost and broken humanity as it is incarnated in the world through God’s sent people, the church. To be faithful to its calling, the church must be contextual, that is, it must be culturally relevant within a specific setting. The church relates constantly and dynamically both to the Gospel and to its contextual reality. …In order to contextualize responsibly, the church must assess its culture critically, discerning and unmasking its philosophical foundations and values.
– Craig Van Gelder, in Missional Church
Today is Maundy Thursday. It is a special day on the Christian calendar. But many Christians don’t know what maundy means. I imagine for some this day could easily fall just after Manic Monday, Ruby Tuesday… You get the idea. So if the term Maundy Thursday sounds foreign to you, relax, you are far from alone.
The term Maundy is generally held to be derived through Middle English and old French, mande’; which comes from the Latin mandatum, meaning mandate or command. This is the first word of the Latin phrase:
“Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos.”
Or more familiar:
“A new command I give to you: Love one another. As I have loved you so you must love one another.” (John 13.34)
This is a special day in the life of Christ’s People. It is a day when we remember that Jesus has commissioned us, not only to believe the Gospel of his life which was to be – and has been – given for the redemption of all who believe, but to live out the Gospel in relation to one another. We are to love one another in the same tangible way, and to the same extent, as Jesus has loved us.
This is what Jesus commanded of his believers only hours before he willingly gave his life for ours. (John 15.12-14)
This had to be one of the more irritating telemarketing calls I can recall.
Some guy cold-called me at my church office yesterday and wanted me to give him a blow-by-blow of our Outreach strategy. He had a service to sell that would “enhance” our attractiveness to the community. To listen to him it sounded like a can’t miss thing. One problem with that ‘can’t miss program’… I had used similar services in past churches, and my present church had used it prior to my arrival. All previous tries were whiffs. We attracted ZERO. And we blessed no one – except, maybe, the sellers of the service.
But the “selling” of the church is not the only thing that gauled me.
One thing that rubbed me the wrong way was the pretense of selling this service, not for the money but for the benefit of the Church. What c-#-@-p!; err, what a joke. Who did he think he’s kidding? (Or, is he kidding himself?) I have no objection to people being in business to make money. There is nothing wrong with that. Even in the church supply business there is nothing wrong with profit. Scripture speaks against dishonest gain, not against legitimate gains. So this guy had no reason to hide the fact that he is in business. Just own up to it. To deny it leads me to mistrust him even more.
A second thing, and what probably bugged me most, was that he had the audacity to demand that I explain to him about our Outreach program. He really insisted. Ordinarily I am happy to share our vision. But this was a cold-call telemarketer. I don’t have time for that. Trying to get off the phone, I simply expressed: “We’re doing fine.” Yet, he kept pushing, even asking sarcasitcally: “Doesn’t your church want new people to come?” Since when did I, or our church, become accountable to this guy?
Finally, in retrospect, I am also a little disappointed. I finally gave the guy a brief synopsis of our Outreach strategy. Our plan is simply: “To Bless the community where God has sovereignly placed us.” Though we are happy our church has grown significantly in both members and attendance over the past two years, that’s not what we want to be about. It is not about us. It is about God’s glory & grace. It is about loving our neighbors. We are intentionally becoming more Incarnational than Attractional. In other words we are measuring our health more-and-more by the way we go out into the community to serve those around us than by the number of people we put on our rolls. Therefore we are engaging in things like Prayerwalking, Servant Evangelism, and equipping and unleashing our members to serve in a number of ways throughout the Mountain Empire. We are learning to express the love of Christ in practical ways to our neighbors. Eventually we hope to be able to express the love of Christ in significant ways…
But marketing, while it may have a place for the church, will never of itself help us meet those objectives. Marketing by it’s very nature is about selling of self. Marketing is about “US”.
What was disappointing is that this guy didn’t comprehend what I was telling him. Not at all. His paradigm only allowed him to digest the work of the church in one way – mere numbers attending our church.
What is more disappointing is that I suspect this guy reflects the majority understanding of mission permeating American Evangelicalism: “It’s All About Us.” And with that perspective – even when we sincerely think we are doing God a favor when our churches grow – our influence has steadily diminished throughout our society.
We have ignored the covenant mandate made with Abram in Genesis 12, that the Lord’s plan is to bless all Peoples through us; we have neglected Christ’s madate to love our neighbors (Mark 12); and have have forgotten the example of the early church (Acts 2). How else can we explain this narcissistic myopia in Evangleicalism?
Let me finish with this: I’m not opposed to church growth. I agree that healthy churches do grow; and that ‘non-growth’ is nothing to take pride in. But I have learned that not all growth is healthy; and that sometimes a period of stagnation or even decline may in reality be an opportunity for a chrysalis period. Again, I have the privilege to pastor a church that is showing growth. But either way, when our focus is primarily on ourselves it is not where it needs to be: first, on God; and second, significantly on blessing our neighbors. (Mark 12.28-31)
When we learn to effectively place the emphasis in the proper order, God is glorified, our neighbors are blessed, and we are all better off.
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!
Did you know that Patrick of Ireland was, in fact, what we would today call an Evangelical? Despite the tradition that links him to the Roman Catholic Church, Patrick was not part of the church of Rome. Long after his death Patrick was “adopted” by the Roman church. Instead, Patrick was British. We can’t call him a protestant, because the ‘protests’ were still centuries away. But his faith was thoroughly Evangelical.
More than that, Patrick was the embodiment of Missional. He literally sold himself into slavery in order to reach a people he had come to love. And that itself is amazing.
I can’t do the story justice, but I’ll give a brief overview:
When Patrick was a young teenager he and a group of friends were horsing around in their native Briton. Out of nowhere came a band of savage Celts, capturing Patrick and his friends, taking them to Ireland, and putting them into slavery. For decades Patrick lived as a slave in Ireland. But the Lord got hold of his heart and his life during this time.
When Patrick finally escaped – or was he released? I cannot remember – he returned home to a well-to-do family that long presumed him dead. But rather than settling into a life of ease and prosperity, Patrick began to prepare himself for a life of ministry among the very people who had once captured and enslaved him…
The rest, as they say is history – though much surrounding the story is legend. Nevertheless, Patrick was God’s vessel to reach an Unreached Pagan people group with the Gospel…
If you want to know more about Patrick, let me commend to you T.M. Moore’s The Legacy of Patrick. T.M. tells this fascinating story, clarifies some of the myths, and weaves significant spiritual insights gained from Patrick into this book.
But as I think about Patrick I see a man who lived out the Gospel. I see a man who, by is very life, embodied what it means to live in the Missio Dei (Mission of God). His purpose was God’s glory to be recognized by a people, a place (Ireland), and a culture (Celt/Druid).
In recognition of this day that honors Patrick let me encourage you to reflect upon the prayer attributed to him. Whether Patrick is the actual author seems doubtful. But I think it captures the essence of who Patrick was. And it is a beautiful prayer and song.
I arise today Through a Mighty Strength, the Invocation of the Trinity, through the belief in the Threeness, and the confession of the Oneness of the Creator of Creation.
(Click above to read the entire prayer.)
First among the Core Values at Walnut Hill Church is God’s Global Glory. This is the recognition that we do not exist, as a church or as individuals, primarily for ourselves, but for God and for his glory.
Expressing this as a platitude is one thing. Getting newcomers to agree with this premise is something else. And getting people to embrace it as an actual value that is lived out in their lives, and in the life of our church, is something else altogether.
How do we get people to reorient their thinking and make corresponding changes in their lives? That’s the question the leaders of the church have to wrestle with. Making it all the more difficult is our own inconsistency. We are the living embodiment of the words from the old hymn: “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it… Prone to leave the God I love…” And so are the people we are called to lead. (And, most likely, so are you.)
One of the most effetive tools I am aware of regarding the teaching of this value is Cat & Dog Theology developed by UnveilinGlory. (See video above.)
I introduced Cat & Dog Theology to our church about a year ago, at our first missions conference at Walnut Hill. We had Gerald Robison, vice president of UnveilinGlory as the keynote speaker. From time to time church members still talk about both the conference and, more importantly, what they learned through the messages.
But how do we build on that?
UnvelinGlory has now developed a series of web-based instructional videos that makes Cat & Dog Theology, along with other resources, available online. So far I’ve only had opportunity glance through a few of the videos, but it looks promising. Each of the videos is relatively short – 20 minutes, more or less. But the videos I’ve seen contain both the substance and style that makes the seminar interesting and instructive.
I encourage you to check out: Our Journey With Him.
While there is an opportunity to sign up for a Premium membership, all the videos are available for free if you sign in as a guest.
GRACE & PEACE 