A New Scorecard

As a pastor, I’m always reading books. I try to read as much as possible about the church…new trends, what progressive churches are doing, and how the church can relate to our culture. Some folks don’t like that very much because they think people ought to relate to the church instead of the other way around but that’s a subject for another blog.

What I’ve noticed lately is that there’s a lot of talk about using a “new scorecard” in the church. In other words, the advice is to reevaluate how we measure success. I happen to agree with that because for too long we’ve been measuring the wrong things. For example, churches have measured things like how many people read their Bible each week, instead of evaluating how many lives are impacted by reading the Bible. In some ways we’ve measured how spiritually “sterile” we’ve been able to make the church by attracting other folks who are just like us. Perhaps we should be trying to spiritually diversify the church by reaching folks who aren’t quite as religious as we are, or at least as religious as we think we are. Leonard Sweet has suggested in his marvelous book, “So Beautiful” that we are making progress when we see more cigarette butts in the parking lot…not less!

As a matter of fact, I’ve been thinking that perhaps those of us who call ourselves “Christ-followers” should be thinking about a new scorecard too. I’ve been trying to figure out lately how I can impact more people who are in need, instead of how I can accumulate more stuff. Instead of a newer car, I’ve been trying to figure out how I can make a car I recently received from my dad last long enough to free up enough money to employ some homeless men to do work around my house. My wife and I have seriously been thinking about downsizing, maybe to the point of selling our home and using the equity to pay cash for a very small place so that we are not tied down with debt enabling us to be able to respond to God’s call whenever and whatever it is.

I think it’s important to reevaluate what we call success. It’s important to think eternally instead of temporally. I’m trying to reinvent my personal scorecard. What about you?

Can we really be the church?

Can we really be the church? I'm not trying to be a wise guy, although a lot of people think that. No, I really think it's a good question: Can we, given our culture and predetermined ideas about what church is, really be the Church that Jesus intended for us to be?

I used to be pretty sure we could, given the right group of people, favorable circumstances and godly motivation. That was when I was 25 years old. A lot has happened to me since then...and to our culture. I'm a little more skeptical now...jaded I think they call it.

I do think we can "have church." We can "do church." But when I read the last part of Acts chapter 2, I wonder if we can ever return to the kind of loving, self-sacrificing "all-for Jesus" kind of community that was present there.

They didn't worry about buildings and structures. Organizational stuff came later and wasn't about power, influence and restrictions. It was about setting God's children free to minister His love to others. I can't find a lot of stuff we do in church now in the Bible. I'm also pretty sure we've left a lot of good stuff out.

People have expectations now that might not be for the best. Some people blame it on the consumer mentality. I have my own theories but I probably shouldn't post them here. To be honest, I'm just not sure there are that many people interested in becoming an "honest-to-God" church.

It always amuses me when people talk about the "good ole' days." Of course what they usually mean is the 1940's or 1950's. When I talk about the good ole' days I'm talking about the 40's and 50's, like the first century. Most people I talk to don't really want to go back that far. I guess I don't blame them...it cost a lot to be a Christian back then...I think I read that some of them even got thrown to the lions.

So lately I've been trying to decide what to do. I'd like for the church I pastor to be more like Jesus wanted. I'm trying not to talk about it too much (you know, the lions and all), but something inside of me just can't seem to forget what we're called to be. I hope God gives me the courage to talk about it more. I'm pretty sure it's worth the risk.

I call myself an eternal optimist. I guess that's because part of me still thinks it's possible to be the church, the kind Jesus talked about and the kind I read about in Acts 2. I think, before I die, it would be really cool to be a part of a church like that.

What's Important Anyway?

When it comes to beliefs, doctrines and rules, especially in the church, what's really important? I mean what are the bottom-line essentials. Everybody has their own list of what they think is absolutely necessary to believe in order to be called a Christian. I've got a list too, but mine's pretty short.
Like this week, I was listening to Rob Bell on Good Morning America. There's a big controversy about Rob because he has a new book coming out. I haven't read it yet although I intend to. Some people who have read it say Rob Bell doesn't believe in hell anymore. I don't really know whether he does or not. I've been to Rob's church and heard him preach. He didn't say anything about hell one way or the other. He did say an awful lot of good things about Jesus though. I think most days I rather hear about Jesus than hell, but that's just me.
Then there's John Piper. A lot of people don't like him because he's a Calvinist. I'm not a Calvinist either, well maybe a one-pointer, but I still like John. I think he's a good man who's wrong about the first four points of five-point Calvinism, but I'm pretty sure he loves Jesus. I'm pretty sure he'll be in heaven too, probably with Rob Bell, if Rob believes in heaven.
But then I was talking to a woman today who I've been sharing my faith with for a couple of years. She told me that at this point in her spiritual journey she's decided to become something like a Druid. She said there's just one god and that he or she reveals himself to people differently. She said that this kind of religion makes sense to her. She said all religions are good and really all the same. This I'm pretty sure is wrong. Somewhere between Rob Bell, John Piper and this woman a line was crossed. It's the one I think IS essential. It's the line represented by Jesus.
I've thought a lot about this kind of stuff. I'm sold on Jesus...not so much on Buddha and Druids. I guess everyone has a dividing line. For some people it's about being Baptist or Methodist. For some folks it's about being American or not. For some it's probably even about being black or white or red or blue (smurfs). For me the essential is Jesus, how He came, what He did, and how I let Him live in me now. Everything else...

We Can Be Better

Sometimes I become disillusioned with people, most particularly church people. I am a church person, so I include myself in the disappointment...I sometimes become frustrated with all of us. I wonder why we try to make church all about ourselves instead of about others. I question our motives sometimes. I'm not sure we're really in this to build up God's kingdom as much as we are to build up our own. We seldom consult God about what He wants and generally settle for striving to accomplish our own goals and wish lists.
If it weren't so sad to listen to us talk it would be humorous. We say one thing and mean another. For example, we say we want all viewpoints represented but what we really mean is that we want our viewpoint represented. We say we're concerned about some people having too much power, but what we really mean is that we want more power. We hide behind saying that people are complaining and concerned but what we really mean is that we're complaining but don't want it charged to our account.
When I think about it honestly, it's no wonder lots of people don't want anything to do with the church. I read a book recently entitled, "They love Jesus, but not the church." I think that's pretty much right, because even as a pastor, that's how I feel sometimes.
My guess is that Jesus doesn't like the church very much sometimes either...but whether He likes us very much or not...He does love the church. You see, the Bible says, "He loved the church and gave Himself for it." Wow...even though He could see all of our faults and could tell how far off track we'd get, He still loved us...those of us who are the church.
So even though it's easy to find fault with the church, it's also important to remember how important it is to Christ. I guess that means we should also commit ourselves to trying to make it the best it can be, even though it's made up of some seriously flawed people. I'm one of those flawed human beings, but I'm going to re-commit myself to making the church a better place. How about you?

Just Thinking

It's been nearly a year since I blogged. People don't seem very interested in blogs...at least not my blogs. Some people say they make money by writing blogs, but I think I'd get pretty hungry counting on blogs for my living. I try to be thought provoking, but perhaps my mind is the only one which is processing the information that stirs me to blog. I haven't really thought about blogging much lately, I've been kind of busy. This morning while updating the website I saw the link for blogs and thought, "You know, I probably should take that off the site. I don't really blog anymore."

But then, it was kind of like a voice from cyberspace said, "Try again." I didn't really want to. I have a lot to do today, but perhaps blogging is more for me than others. Maybe from time to time it just helps me to put my thoughts out there where I know I'm accountable for what I'm thinking and feeling. Maybe it's cathartic. I don't really know but today I feel compelled to write..so here goes.

If you know me at all, you know I love to preach. I'd rather preach than almost anything. When God made me, He put something in me that drives me to study, prepare, create and then deliver what I hope are encouraging, spiritually uplifting and challenging words. Perhaps one of the things I love most about preaching is when I have kind of an "out of body" experience. It's hard to explain but there are many times I feel like God has taken over, not in a scary way, but directing my thoughts and words. When this happens I usually feel like I'm watching myself preach. I find myself thinking, "where did that come from, I didn't plan to say that!" I'm not one of those preachers who doesn't prepare and then hopes God will come through. It's not like that at all. I'm always prepared. I'm always ready. Yet, I always find myself thinking, "Lord I hope you take over today and preach through me." Most of the time, I feel like He does, to one degree or another, and I never feel jealous or cheated because He took center stage. I'm always grateful that He allowed me to be part of the process.

But here is what I'm wondering about today. That process is so natural when it comes to preaching and teaching. Why is it so rare in my everyday life? I have to believe this is what Paul was talking about when he said in Galatians 2:20, "it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me." Shouldn't my life exemplify a pattern of living which reflects the nature of Christ rather than mine? Shouldn't my life represent His love, compassion for people and acceptance of all? Shouldn't I be moved to meet the needs of people around me? What about putting others before me, not worrying about the inconvenience of ministering to others at awkward times, or breaking with religious traditions that keep me bound to legalism and unable to see past the end of my self-righteous nose? Why are those attitudes so hard to adopt as my own? Why do I struggle with allowing Him to take over the other parts of my life, like He takes over on Sunday morning?

I'm not sure I have the answer...but I do have a goal. I am going to make a conscious decision each day to let Him have control of my words, thoughts and deeds. I really do want my life to look more and more like His and less and less like mine. I pray that is your desire as well.

Just thinking...
Pastor Rick