Friday, July 27, 2007
Junky Cars and Cranky Complainers
It's Friday and I'm putting the final touches on another print issue of Ministry Today. Translation: I'm beat, so these are my scattered thoughts.
•Unless you're an Internet addict continually scouring sites for up-to-the-second news, there's always an element of the online world that makes you feel as if you're arriving late to the party. That's the sense I have in mentioning the Junky Car Club, which launched last year. By now the online community of socially active automotive rebels is old news, in the far recesses of cyberarchiveland I'm sure. But what I found recently that sparked my interest was the inclusion of pastors such as our friend Mark Batterson among this group.
What a great statement. As a fellow junky-car driver (a '95 Nissan Sentra my wife loathes) I applaud those willing to take a more "beaten" path for the sake of a selfless cause. But beyond that, I'm thrilled when I see pastors unabashedly taking this kind of stance. We lead by example. And though driving a beat-up bruiser doesn't make you any more of a spiritual leader, in this case I believe it does indicate a degree of pointing people toward more selfless, proactive thought. (JCC's mantra is to live with less so you can give more to those in need, and the club links people with Compassion International to sponsor children in poverty.)
•Again, old news, but for those who hadn't heard about Sprint dumping 1,000 customers who complained too much, I think it's worth a couple of, um, lines. My first thought? I know more than a few pastors who'd just love to be this blunt. "Uh, yeah, I'm sorry Mr. and Mrs. Brown. I've really appreciated your rants, complaints, personal insults and oh-so-public uninvited criticisms over the past—well, how many years has it been now?—but I'm afraid the church has finally decided to dump you. You've simply exceeded your quota and, in the process, crossed the line between a recovering sinner who's committed to the body and a—how did Paul so eloquently put it?—'resounding gong or clanging cymbal.' Goodbye."
Click.
Thank you, Lord, for grace. :)
•Finally ... according to the latest Barna study released this week, almost three-fourths of American adults see themselves as leaders. Great news for every pastor in this country needing a helping hand, right? Not necessarily, as the report also shows an increase of hyper-individualistic thought—not a compatible trait for shepherds trying to lead their sheep. Ninety-five percent of Americans consider themselves as independent thinkers, while two out of three prefer to be in control of situations. Meanwhile, only 25 percent of the general population are concerned enough about this country's shifting morals to attempt to sway others' opinions and views. (Thankfully for pastors, this percentage is higher among evangelicals.)
YOUR TURN: What do you make of these findings? How does this affect ministry? More specifically, how have you seen our country's tendency toward hyper-individualism affect your church?
•Unless you're an Internet addict continually scouring sites for up-to-the-second news, there's always an element of the online world that makes you feel as if you're arriving late to the party. That's the sense I have in mentioning the Junky Car Club, which launched last year. By now the online community of socially active automotive rebels is old news, in the far recesses of cyberarchiveland I'm sure. But what I found recently that sparked my interest was the inclusion of pastors such as our friend Mark Batterson among this group.
What a great statement. As a fellow junky-car driver (a '95 Nissan Sentra my wife loathes) I applaud those willing to take a more "beaten" path for the sake of a selfless cause. But beyond that, I'm thrilled when I see pastors unabashedly taking this kind of stance. We lead by example. And though driving a beat-up bruiser doesn't make you any more of a spiritual leader, in this case I believe it does indicate a degree of pointing people toward more selfless, proactive thought. (JCC's mantra is to live with less so you can give more to those in need, and the club links people with Compassion International to sponsor children in poverty.)
•Again, old news, but for those who hadn't heard about Sprint dumping 1,000 customers who complained too much, I think it's worth a couple of, um, lines. My first thought? I know more than a few pastors who'd just love to be this blunt. "Uh, yeah, I'm sorry Mr. and Mrs. Brown. I've really appreciated your rants, complaints, personal insults and oh-so-public uninvited criticisms over the past—well, how many years has it been now?—but I'm afraid the church has finally decided to dump you. You've simply exceeded your quota and, in the process, crossed the line between a recovering sinner who's committed to the body and a—how did Paul so eloquently put it?—'resounding gong or clanging cymbal.' Goodbye."
Click.
Thank you, Lord, for grace. :)
•Finally ... according to the latest Barna study released this week, almost three-fourths of American adults see themselves as leaders. Great news for every pastor in this country needing a helping hand, right? Not necessarily, as the report also shows an increase of hyper-individualistic thought—not a compatible trait for shepherds trying to lead their sheep. Ninety-five percent of Americans consider themselves as independent thinkers, while two out of three prefer to be in control of situations. Meanwhile, only 25 percent of the general population are concerned enough about this country's shifting morals to attempt to sway others' opinions and views. (Thankfully for pastors, this percentage is higher among evangelicals.)
YOUR TURN: What do you make of these findings? How does this affect ministry? More specifically, how have you seen our country's tendency toward hyper-individualism affect your church?
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My comments refer to the Barna Report. I have no quarrel with the standardized-organized church. My difficulty is with that of being a spectator for several years. Yes, I've been faithful & submitted to pastoral authority for close to 40 years. I've joined in with as many of the 'programs' in which we believers were expected to participate. Yes, I've vacuumed; cleaned toilets, etc., with much, much joy. And why not? Isn't that part of our responsibility in a ministry of helps?
Pot-lucks; yard sales and more notwithstanding, it doesn't seem to be the manner in which church is to be conducted. Furthermore, church is not supposed to be SPECTATORS ONLY. Many churches in the 20th century seem to have become CORPORATIONS rather than a gathering of believers in Christ Jesus, each one fulfilling His calling upon their lives.
Don't misconstrue that I'm speaking about PULPIT MINISTRY either. That is NOT what I'm referring to. I can almost hear the criticism in the posted comments now.....'It's just so much sour grapes!' No. Nothing could be further from the truth OR from my heart. I, like you, love Jesus with everything within me. And, no, I've not backslidden. I HAVE been accused of being DEAD WOOD, etc., but I figure that those barbs just 'take the heat off of someone else.'
So, contrary to much judgment from brothers & sisters in the Lord of many years, I've opted to participate in a House Church where Holy Spirit has freedom and isn't programmed out of 'worship services.'
Whether or not anyone understands my comments and the stand I've taken, I look forward to spending eternity with our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit AND ALL OF YOU.
En Agape
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Pot-lucks; yard sales and more notwithstanding, it doesn't seem to be the manner in which church is to be conducted. Furthermore, church is not supposed to be SPECTATORS ONLY. Many churches in the 20th century seem to have become CORPORATIONS rather than a gathering of believers in Christ Jesus, each one fulfilling His calling upon their lives.
Don't misconstrue that I'm speaking about PULPIT MINISTRY either. That is NOT what I'm referring to. I can almost hear the criticism in the posted comments now.....'It's just so much sour grapes!' No. Nothing could be further from the truth OR from my heart. I, like you, love Jesus with everything within me. And, no, I've not backslidden. I HAVE been accused of being DEAD WOOD, etc., but I figure that those barbs just 'take the heat off of someone else.'
So, contrary to much judgment from brothers & sisters in the Lord of many years, I've opted to participate in a House Church where Holy Spirit has freedom and isn't programmed out of 'worship services.'
Whether or not anyone understands my comments and the stand I've taken, I look forward to spending eternity with our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit AND ALL OF YOU.
En Agape
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