CHURCH- Who For? What for? Why Now?

So I am hesitant to write the following but there comes a time to be a bit courageous and unashamed, that time is now. 

There are several enormous issues going through my head about faith, church, culture, and sin, all of which I can’t get into today but I can start with one; church. 

What and who is the (institutional) church for? Why does it exist? When did it begin? Is it effective? Is it useful? For those of you who just got all worked up b/c of my questions, please note the parenthetical word institutional. I am not talking about the biblical “church” or the “body of Christ,” I am referring to the contemporary church: buildings, programs, Sunday School, services, lights, coffee, pews, pulpits, altar services, membership seminars, etc.**

The quick (conditioned) response for most of us would be, “it is a place for me and other Christians to assemble together for fellowship and worship. A place to receive a blessing from God and a place for me to get my fill for the week” Others of you would say, “it is for the unsaved people in our community. It is a place where they can come see church done in an attractive way.” Few today say, “its a place where I can find help, love, forgiveness, money if I’m in need, prayer for the sick, instruction, discipleship, intimacy, dialogue, truth, and testimony.”

But really…..What are we doing and what biblical foundation can you give me for institutional church? Why Sunday and why once a week? Don’t get me wrong, I am ALL FOR the gathering of the saints. I believe it is paramount that we come together to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Col 3). I believe it is paramount that we come together to educate, train, and equip the followers of Jesus to go out into the world taking a message of rescue to those who are dying. I believe it is paramount that we lay hands on one another and pray for those who are sick and mourning. 

Again, don’t over react to my point, b/c I believe there are some descriptive (not prescriptive) church gatherings in the Bible and I don’t believe that everything we are doing is breaking God’s heart. BUT, can any Christian lay me a scriptural foundation of “the church” as we see it today? Can you tell me WHY we DO the things we DO in church? The question is more about how much we don’t know as Christians when it comes to the historical church and how much we don’t know what the Bible says about our gatherings. And PLEASE don’t just say, “well, my parents and grandparents always did church like this and it has worked just great so I’m gonna just keep on keepin’ on.” That’s good and well and I value tradition more than most around me, but if we don’t put tradition up against the truths of scripture then are we truly honoring God in every area of our lives? There are valuable traditions we ought to keep in our faith journey but if conviction of the Holy Spirit is EVER covered up by the tradition of men then we ought to immediately fall on our faces and repent.

By the way, the full Biblical definition of repentance is a change of mind that results in a change of action. So to say that you have repented without a change of mind and action is like someone saying, “I’m sorry for stealing a car,” while continuing to drive that car to the location of payoff for your payment. 

All of this said, I could and will list my understanding of the institutional church compared with scripture in a post this week. I am leaving Mississippi in 10 minutes to drive back to the Clevatican City so I cannot continue to make you mad. 

Final Thought: I am not remotely equating myself to Jesus, but before you get mad and go tell all of your religious friends that I am questioning the CHURCH and the Body of Christ (which I am perfectly OK with you starting a conversation with your friends about this topic) may I remind you that it wasn’t the sinners who paved the way for our Savior’s crucifixion…..it was the religious leaders of Jesus’ time. They were the one’s who understood the law the best (or so we thought). They were the one’s who saw him perform miracles. They were the ones who were MOST knowledgeable when it came to tradition. 

May we all ask ourselves: “what are we doing to Jesus today?” May we all pray: “God please break our heart for what breaks yours and do not let us be so deceived that we have it all figured out while ignoring your pleas.”

Threads

Well…. I don’t mean to start this out on a DOWN note but if you noticed and abrupt stoppage in my live catalyst blogging there was a reason. I did not include, in the last few lines of yesterday’s blog, that something was happening inside of my inner-most. I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening in other places. We’ll I’m back, about 24 hours later and I can see the light! My wife just sent me a text asking if I wanted something to eat and I (IN GREAT FEAR) said “yes, something light.” I won’t update you beyond this. 

 

So, as I look back at Wednesday thru Friday at the Catalyst labs and conference I have to respond to the INCREDIBLE stories, instruction, disciplines, and passion given us attendees. I, more or less, brought about 12 people who are involved, in some way, with North Cleveland Church of God. This is an amazing fact knowing that we only had about 2 or 3 people there last year. I personally convinced Brew-ah, Waters, S-Love, Daniel Samuelson, my wife, and Design-o-freak Cutrell to join me in ATL for the best conference out there, IMO. There are many great and not-so-great conferences around our country but for some reason this has an amazing balance of faith/church issues (the SUPERNATURAL, discipline, management, systems, leadership, finances, WORSHIP, etc). I am aware that I may be criticized for separating the above issues but it is probably because I can’t accurately articulate the passion and vision that I walk away with each time I attend Catalyst. 

 

For those of you are wondering about my title I will explain. In conferences like Catalyst there are many communicators, friends, and organizations that spur deep passionate thoughts and conversations. In the blur of all of the sessions and the information that comes with, you have to catch the strands of thread that connect to your heart. Pardon the corny pun, but those threads are often the beginning of a beautiful piece of work when you allow God to develop them into vision and discipline. This year those threads for me were as follows: 

1. Pastor Matt Chandler- there are many examples in the Bible of people being obedient to God and NOT having great success. We as leaders cannot only look to the successful churches and pastors for direction. We never hear stories of people being obedient to God and their ministry declining. None of them have best selling books! 
2. Gabe Lyons- the age of facebook will soon backlash. Online networking is slowly ruining face to face community. (I heard Lenoard Sweet say this recently also.) So we need to be prepared as churches to address community and intimacy. 
3. Perry Noble- Am I more concerned with being DEVELOPED or DISCOVERED? I currently feel the pain of development. I currently do not wish to be discovered (at least I’m not motivated by discovery) but I have to be careful or I will soon be consumed by it, especially in the town that I live in. 
4. Mark Foreman- Do our students know that they are agents of life-change, transformation, and wholeness in our broken world? Or do they view Christianity as a list of do’s and don’ts? Have we so diluted our role in this world as Christians that we find ourselves lost in a world of religion or legalism? 

::Catalyst unwound:: Day 2

I’m trying something new today. I am blogging live from the Gwinnett Arena at Catalyst 2008. I’ll probably do a quick recap tonight. 

 

Session #1 Tim Sanders “Saving the World at Work”  Former CSO of Yahoo

Our love and creativity is MUCH great than Wall Street.

“something has been stirring for 8 years….values” 

“Good is the new great” 

Law 1- take values to work

“Don’t leave Christian values at home” Values are drawing people will like fresh water right now. 

Law 2- law of interdependence 

teachable moments tell us we live in a dependable world. (i.e. 911, hurricanes, floods, etc)

Law 3- law of contagious compassion

When you show someone love, the people that see it are changed, their faith is restored and they get hope.

“A leader gauges reality and gives hope”

If not you, then WHO? If not now then WHEN?

Worship is about to start! Then Dave Ramsey is NEXT! It’s going to be NUTS! Top rated Fox Business Show!

 

 

Session #2 Dave Ramsey “The Enemies of Unity”

Dave has taken the stage with authority and the crowd loves him!

Intro: God is still sovereign! The world is not coming to the end…

Now let’s talk about Leadership

The enemies of unity: if you want to win you’ve got to understand and defeat the enemy.

Genesis 11:5

Unity is an unbelievable power. “Unity is a spiritual happening”

“You have to be very intenetional to create unity” – Bill Hybels

He just showed a video clip from “Coach Carter” – Thank God we’re in a room of leaders who are big enough to get past the word “damn” being said in the video clip of a Christian Conference.  

5 enemies of unity:

1. Poor Communication
2. Gossip
3. Unresolved disagreements
4. lack of shared purpose
5. sanctioned incompetence

1. Poor COMMUNICATION can take many forms, but when the right hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing, strife sets in. You have to create communication. IT DOESN’T JUST HAPPEN!!!

2. GOSSIP is degrading and will destroy a church or organization. A successful leader develops and maintains a culture in which NEGATIVES are handed up and positives are handed down. By definition,GOSSIP is when a negative is discussed with anyone who can’t help solve the problem.

3. Unresolved  disagreements happen when a leader doesn’t know they exist or what leader CONFRONTATION. A little confrontation CLEANSES the wound and allows the parties to go forward. You have to have respect and dignity for each person in your organization to keep unity, b/c we ALL have differences in practice and theory. When you are aware there are hurt feelings and/or disagreements, act quickly DECISIVELY. An indecisive leader looks like a squierl. DEAL WITH IT!

4. Lack of shared purpose is caused when a leader doesn’t RESTATE the goal, the vision, and the mission early and often. 

5. It has been often said that sanctioned incompetence DEMORALIZES. As Christians we should have STUNNING EXCELLENCE. Team members will eventually become demotivated when someone else on the team won’t do their job and a LEADER will not take action. For the sake of GROUP in the entire group, the leader must go to battle early and often with any of the enemies of unity. When unity is valued in the culture, the team will also act to keep these ENEMIES from the gate. 

**These 5 are too alive in the church! That is why our kids and ministries aren’t doing well. This is why we have such a disconnect with CULTURE. Lack of influence!**

Ramsey interview: Dave was afraid, and then he realized that the spirit of fear hit him. The media and washington have created a culture of fear. Fear is not a fruit of the spirit. The economic hardship we are in is an ARTIFICIAL low motivated by EMOTION. The media only reports the AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! never the good news or the whole report. Historically, when the market has plummeted before it has come back in style. CALM DOWN and BREATHE!

Gold has NO VALUE unless someone will accept it. MONEY IS AN IDEA! Dave owns NO gold except for cufflinks! 

Next: Compassion Children’s Choir sang and danced. It was nothing short of amazing. Especially when they sang “Might To Save.” They quoted scripture and introduced JEFF FOXWORTHY! Kristian Stanfill led worship

[insert thought] during the break and in the introduction to the next session God spoke some things to my heart thru the videos and Reggie Joyner. What if all of these people, leaders, pastors, volunteers, lay people, business men/women came TOGETHER as Christians (partnered with those outside the church who have similar desires) to each change their world. It’s happening on so many personal and some corporate levels already but what if we as the BODY of Christ could lock arms, come together, in UNITY? What if we could (or find a way to) massively connect with the mission projects, adoption programs, social justice organizations, and local bodies? How much more work could we do for the cause of Christ TOGETHER? We’ve been a somewhat dysfunctional body for TOO LONG on this planet. Competing, bitter, angry, prideful churches, denominations, and leaders have torn the body of the Lord Jesus Christ apart for too long. Let’s come TOGETHER.

Watching a video presentation honoring Rev Billy Graham. He is receiving the Life Time Achievement Award from Catalyst. WHAT A LIFE beginning as a farm boy and then speaking around the world with TRUTH and conviction. His son, Rev. Franklin Graham is here to receive the award. Rev. Billy Graham turns 90 in November. 

***If you received Christ as savior or you know a family or friend who received Christ please email Rev. Graham on billygraham90.com

Session #3 Rev Franklin Graham 

There is Holy Ghost power in the gospel. Without the power the words are dead but the power of God makes them alive and they work together to pain a HUGE picture! God uses His gospel to penetrate hearts and minds. 

::Catalyst unwound:: day 1

Today, as with all previous Catalyst conference experiences, was nothing short of transformational in mind and heart. From the the wisdom packed communicator Andy Stanley to the non-churched, best selling author, and top business blogger Seth Godin my day was filled with fascinating wonders of ministry and heart breaking honesty spoken bluntly in love. I will review all sessions from today below. Mostly for my own reflection and for your viewing pleasure. I also write/type as I continue downloading information and paradigms in my heart/brain knowing that it may take a full year to completely unpack. Enjoy! Some may be hard to chew on so I recommend utensils, a knife in particular, to help cut some of this up. (The theme/concept of this year’s conference is TOGETHER. So try to filter your thoughts through this mindset.)

Session #1 Andy Stanley “Louder Than Words”

His text was Nehemiah 5:6-18. Astonishing to see the parallels between today’s economic bailout plan and Nehemiah’s bailout plan! Read for yourself. Which is what I need to do for the entire book. EVERYWHERE I go someone either tells me to read Nehemiah or I hear a sermon on it. I think God is saying something to the CHURCH and to me. 

His main concept was MORAL AUTHORITY. Nehemiah had MORAL AUTHORITY and that’s why the nobles and authorities agreed to stop charging interest on their own people without ANY QUESTIONS ASKED!!! WHAT!?! Could you imagine president Bush sitting down with the banking and financial leaders and telling them to stop charging interest AND they did it without arguing!?! Sadly, most leaders today do not have moral authority like Nehemiah so instruction and discipline falls on deaf/stubborn ears.

He hit on three key areas of our lives where we need MORAL AUTHORITY

1. Forgiveness

      a. We must lead the way, as ministers, in forgiveness

      b. the boldest move as a leader is to get on your knees daily and forgive those who have wronged us

2. Family

      a. if your wife feels like the church is your mistress then you are part of the problem

      b. why sacrifice what’s permanent (family) for what’s temporary (job) ouch!!!

3. Finances

      a. every dollar in our paycheck is a gift/donation from someone who chose to give. Shouldn’t this make us (salaried) ministers take our finances MUCH MORE SERIOUSLY??? Going into debt, spending above our means…. ouch…

     b. Principal of tithing to God and to ourself. He took out 10 $1 bills. Gave one to God, one to ourselves (savings) and the rest to spend… I’ve said this and believe this but I haven’t applied it effectively. (Give, save, live on the rest)

Session #2 William Paul Young “The Shack”

This was an interview session. It was good. Interesting to hear how this guy was a janitor, wrote a book for his kids, had some friends help him publish it (by starting a publishing company) and now the book has been on NYT #1 best seller list for 20 weeks!!! What!?!?!

 

Session #3 Jim Collins “Good to Great”

This one was overwhelming but the guy is a genius! Here’s a few (still) scattered thoughts:

“Good is the ENEMY of Great”

Work = infinite           Time = finite

Discipline of the FLY WHEEL. If we would use this as our system of leadership we would be more likely to change the world. 

Over reaching is how the GREAT fall. 

Signs of over reaching: 1. when you compromise the abilities of the people on your bus. 2. When growth gets ahead of you. 3. undisciplined pursuit of more

“If you have more than 3 priorities then you don’t have ANY priorities. OUCH!!!

“In your organization, if you get better WHOs you’ll get better WHATs”

“The signature mark of Good to Great companies is HUMILITY”

“Churches are dependent on POWERFUL PERSONALITIES” this is BAD! Will the work go on even if I am not there?

“Trouble = confusing values w/priorities.

“a TO DO list without a STOP DOING list is b/c of a lack of discipline.” OUCH!!!!

“It may take 30 years to build a reputation but don’t forget it takes 30 seconds to destroy it…”

Quote of the day: “Every generation needs to develop new practices to passionately exemplify external values that cross generational lines.” think about it….

 

Session #4 Brenda Salter McNeil “Shake it Up”

First woman leader I’ve heard/seen speak at catalyst. So refreshing!! She spoke on Acts 2. That God loves to SHAKE THINGS UP. He doesn’t typically lay low. She seemed to be Pentecostal and the conference attendees LOVED her! Standing O!

 

Session #5 Steven Furtick “From the Promise to the Payoff”

Pretty incredible session. A 28 year old pastor with a church that started with 8 families and grew to 3500 people in 2 years….. WHAT?!?! Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC. He spoke about not being impatient when waiting for God to fulfill the promises He’s made you. Very interesting session. He had the same shirt on as Craig Groschel, HA!!

 

Session #6 Seth Godin “Tribes”

Very intriguing session. T-H-E leading business blogger and best selling author has some AMAZING insight into the drastically changing marketing strategies in our world. Marketing USED to be: let’s pay big bucks to annoy the crap out of people until they are brainwashed to buy our product. It is now: lets invest in one person and let them spread our product name by word of mouth. This is a TRIBAL instinct and this is what he talked about the entire time. He probably had 2,000 power point slides during his 40 min talk. He also just finished a book called “Tribes” and he gave a free copy to all 12,400 attendees!!! UNBELIEVABLE, the book hasn’t even been released… 

 

Session #7 Craig Groeschel “Finding ‘it’ when you’ve Lost ‘it’”

Craig’s talk last year was probably one of the most influential sermons in last 5 years of my life. It was titled “Disturb Me.” This year’s title was different but the content, outside of scripture, was fairly similar. This would probably make most people fall asleep but it was a much needed punch in the gut for my current life status. Craig’s scripture text for the session was Joel 2:12 (see tag)

His sermon was STRETCH ME. But first HEAL ME. But first RUIN ME. It was like mouth wash in your mouth for over a minute. It burned like FIRE but it felt so good afterwards. Thanks Craig for being so honest. 

**Worship Leaders Steve Fee, Todd Fields, and Eddie Kirkland were amazing**

**Jon Foreman sand several tunes that made me smile and cringe. Download his EP immediately if you haven’t already**

Well, that’ll be enough for tonight. We’ve go a WHOLE other day to work through. Can’t wait to tell you about Matt Chandler and Franklin Graham. 

Pray that we would not get so consumed in Leadership Principles/Practices that we would forget or neglect the power of God in our everyday lives!

Dear pathetic Congressional Leaders…

Really?  Could either side be any more RIDICULOUS while ‘we the people’ sit ON THE VERGE of possibly the darkest moment in our nations history? I’m not taking either side, I’m objective enough to understand that ONLY TIME WILL TELL who was right in voting for or against this bailout or rescue bill (depending on how you look at it). I am enraged at how our so-called leaders acted under pressure today. I embrace my lack of financial knowledge but I’ve watched and read enough over the last few days to see through the CRAP. So here are the facts and frustrations. Facts first:

228 voted against the bill (95 Democrats and 133 Republicans)

I’m not opposed to voting against this bill but I find it interesting that the far left and the far right agreed that this bill is fundamentally wrong ….or…. maybe some voted against it b/c they are up for re-election and most americans HATE the bill…..

The center of both parties agreed upon and voted FOR the bill. 

The vote failed and the DOW plummeted 778 or 777.68 (if you are Perry Stone) which is the biggest one day point drop in HISTORY. (Not the biggest percentage drop, see 1987 crash)

frustrations:

What could prove to be the end of America as a super power (according to some), some dirty and immature politicians broke the legs off the wobbly chair-of-a-bill. Maybe things will settle and the market will prove resilience. 

Pelosi should be dropped off for a 6 month torture swim in the icy-cold atlantic because she spewed her partisan vomit all over the halls of congress which then in turn, some (12-15 republicans) tasted the vomit and reacted like children who need diapers and a lesson in growing up. Some knee jerk republicans voted against the bill which may have assisted Pelosi’s torpedo aimed to sink America’s financial ship. 

So we, hard working Americans, have to sit and watch this economy either hold on for dear life until Thursday when congress re-convenes or we just may watch the implosion of a global economy at which point a bill/vote may not even matter. 

All of the blame can’t be fully placed on today’s vile actions. But these actions accurately portray a incompetent government to prevent such a disaster and it also accurately portrays a greedy system of people who brought an economical giant to her knees with a gun to her head.

Hello world!

Hello world, or better yet, hello to the 3 people who are reading these words. I want to write so badly but I need to go take a shower. If you are interested in reading more give me a few hours/days. I have a lot of good/bad/ugly/pretty thoughts built up in my brain and I have come to the conclusion that I’m going to DUMP them in the blog titled: Get off the TRAIN and into the BOAT. I may even explain what I mean by that if I get around to it. Or I may leave it opened ended and let you the reader listen for the explanation through my writing. We’ll see what kind of mood I’m in!