Team Ministries

In Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Patrick Lencioni provides a field guide for leaders and managers to develop teams that accomplish the goals it sets out to achieve. He suggests that in order for teams to be successful, facilitators or team leaders must get the rest of the team to buy into their vision and share in the commitment of seeing it through. From his experience as a consultant to executives, he points out that teamwork is usually absent in organizations that fail, and usually present in organizations that succeed. He says, “When it comes to helping people find fulfillment in their work, there is nothing more important than teamwork. It gives people a sense of connection and belonging, which ultimately makes them better parents, siblings, friends, and neighbors.”

He points out, however, that building successful teams is not easy and takes hard work, persistence, and perseverance. He maintains that one of the biggest obstacles to building successful teams is self-preservation. People like you and me do not like to make ourselves vulnerable to the rest of the team, and rather than admit our own faults and weaknesses, we masquerade ourselves as if everything is alright and pretend to know things that we really don’t. In essence, we don’t trust each other.

To illustrate this point, he described a situation about the CEO of a company that hired him as a consultant. The executive team completed a 360 degree survey and provided the CEO with the results. In the survey, the executives emphasized some of the CEO’s weaknesses. However, in a meeting with the same executives, the CEO confronted them and asked if the negative feedback was true. Every team member said that the criticism was unfair and that the opposite of the allegations were true. The CEO pressed a little further. Finally, one person admitted that the CEO could offer more praise for the team rather than address mistakes all the time. After he responded, another executive spoke up and said that was not true, and that the CEO offered more praise than any other leader with whom he worked. The rest of the team was silent. They were more interested in self-preservation, and you can only imagine what happened to the individual that stood alone against the CEO. Needless to say, the company, once an industry giant. became a mere shadow of its former status.

In recent years, team ministry has been the buzzword in many religious organizations. By developing successful teams, senior pastors are relieved of much of the work that was formerly delegated to the pastoral position only. In theory, the team design not only benefits pastors by reducing their workload, but the church leaders and elders as well by providing opportunities for growth and expression in what God has called them to do. In addition, the whole congregation benefits because they get their needs met more efficiently and are better equipped to serve in the church body.

Team ministries, however, are also susceptible to the same pitfalls of many teams in business organizations. Because pastors, elders, and church leaders are human beings, they too are reluctant to become vulnerable, especially in religious settings. The idea is to be Christlike, and anything not of Christ is sinful. For various reasons, religious people are reluctant to discuss their sins. For one, it would make them appear as is if they are not walking in the light of the truth. If they are exposed for not walking in the truth, then they could lose their position. For another, they are reluctant to give too much personal information because somewhere down the road, it can and will be used against them. So they too, like executives in the business world, put their masks on to save face – self-preservation takes precedence.

It is important for pastors to get feedback from their teams about their own performance and for assisting in decision making. Once again this sounds good in theory, but in practice it can be a different story. Far too often, scenarios like the one Lecioni described above take place in religious leadership meetings as well.  For example, a church with pluralistic leadership had instituted a guideline for making decisions. In order for the church to move forward with a decision, the whole team had to be in agreement.  Yet, during a moment of inspiration, the pastor of the church felt that the Lord had spoken to him to build a new educational wing for his congregation. He presented it to the elders and leadership team. He asked them to pray about it, and then discuss it at the next meeting. The team of elders felt that it was not a good time to build, and when the they gathered again to discuss the new building, the elders told the pastor that it was not wise to build at that particular time. The pastor responded by telling the elders the Lord spoke to him, and told him to build the building.  He pulled out the “I am the pastor” trump card and made an “executive decision”. The church built the building, and not long after, the team of elders disintegrated, and the church eventually closed.

In a similar situation, the pastor of a church decided to change directions with one of its ministries. Many of the elders and leaders did not agree with the decision as they discussed it among themselves. However, when it came time to make the decision in the joint meeting, only one person gave his reasons why the church should not change directions. Every one else agreed with the pastor. What happened to the direction of the church? You guessed it. It changed. This incident only added to the distrust that already existed within the leadership team.  To compound matters, well . . .  let’s just say you can only imagine what happened to the individual who stood against the pastor’s decision and the ripple effect it had on the rest of the team.

No one can argue the success that efficiently functioning teams can achieve in church ministries. Two are better than one, and a rope of three cords is hard to break. Yet I have experienced more instances like those mentioned above than I care to remember. In both cases, one of the main problems was a lack of trust. The pastors did not trust their leaders, the leaders did not trust their pastors, and the leaders did not trust each other. In both instances, the churches described themselves as a church with a plurality of leadership – a team if you will. But what team? A church may have the plurality of leadership structure in place. It may have all the positions filled with good-hearted people. But what good does a ministry team do if the pastor overrides the elders and leaders on critical decisions? What good is a ministry team if the elders and leaders won’t stick their necks out for fear they might get their heads chopped off? If the team lacks trust at any level, you don’t have a team at all. All you really have is a group of people masquerading as a unit acting as though everything is alright and pretending to know things they really don’t.

Real or Pretend?

A prominent pastor told of an experience with TV broadcasting. During the preliminary discussions with a public relations representative, the pastor discovered the only way to succeed in TV broadcasting was to include three areas of ministry. The rep told him that succesful television ministries must include an overseas mission, a healing ministry for all, and a last days agenda.

When I think about this even now, I am amazed how true this is in the religious world today. Surely you have seen these pleas from every major TV evangelist in America and many pastors from local churches as well. Spreading the Gospel over the world is, after all, the great commission. Most groups claim they are fulfilling the commission by taking the gospel to the world.

There is nothing like the picture of starving, homeless children to cause a person to open her purse. Drilling water wells for Africa and providing food for the hungry throughout the world are noble Christian causes. No one would even think to criticize these efforts.  If you watch any TV evangelists, you will find them targeting these causes as well as a number of others.

Now stop and think for a moment about the reality of these claims. Just in my lifetime alone, if all the alleged accomplishments were true, the entire world would be hunger free and completely healthy. All the money that has been raised, all the food that has been sent, and all the miraculous healings that have taken place would be more than enough to cover the globe. In addition to those claims, we would also be living in the glorious last days. Jesus would be the King of Israel reigning in Jerusalem, and all the Jews would have returned to live in that holy place.

Ministries make many assertions, however many of them are unsubstantiated.  Is this just pretence, or is it reality? I say it is make-believe.

Take a deeper look and you will find the American society is saturated with this premise. The political system has taken on the religious character. When the establishment wants to rally citizens around the flag, it creates an overseas calamity. These calamities may be real, imagined, or even manufactured.

Over the years, the U.S. involvement in Korea, Russia, Viet Nam, Iran, Iraq, and now Afghanistan has brought millions of citizens under the control of the establishment (government). It also creates a reason for unlimited spending.

Then there is the idea of healing for everyone. (Healthcare) The uproar over this issue is keeping America from looking at the moral decay taking place in our society. Healthcare is important, but it is not the real issue.  The real issue is developing a healthy lifestyle.  If Americans would discipline themselve to maintain a healthier life-style, then the need for healthcare would be minimized. However, few people are willing to make the changes necessary for healthy living.

Another similarity of politics and religion is the last days issues used to raise money and to control or manipulate others. Politics uses global warming, real or imagined, and religion uses daily newspaper headlines to tout the end of the world as we know it. Both of them magnify bits of truth in order to influence a certain populace.  Talks and arguments using facts and fiction are used by each to substantiate their views.  Much is just conversation with no real thought about it. Some believe global warming is inevitable while others are just as certain it is only make believe. The same can be said about the end of the world. This has been ongoing as long as I can remember, yet not a single so-called prediction has proven to be true. The bottom line for me is: both politicians and religionists will use any means possible, fact or fiction, to raid your bank account and your intelligence. Beware!

I hope that I have painted a picture for you that will cause you to think. I wrote in an earlier blog, God is the only thing completely dependable. Anything else is small talk – a smoke screen if you will – that keeps us from looking deep into the soul of America.

Religions may claim they are taking Jesus to the world and saving it from sin.  Politicians may claim they are saving the world from terrorists and replacing oppressive governments with democracy. But there are those who see through the hypocrisy. Both American religion and government only make claims that have little validity. We are becoming the laughing stock of the world.

America is the greatest country in the world. I would not want to be anywhere else  just as I would never give up my relationship with God. Both God and country are precious to me. However, the need to be real is of utmost importance.

We cannot continue to pretend we are doing what in fact we are not. In both instances, government and religions today are self-indulgent. They are not concerned about others, but they are concerned about their own welfare.  A greedy and self-centered heart leads to selfish actions. Why pretend otherwise? Why make claims about how they are doing for others when actually they do things to benefit themselves.

All the talk, all the laws, all the money will not take the place of pure heart. Money cannot buy it.  Laws will not change it. Talk will not sway it. A Godly heart comes from God alone. Man is foolish in thinking he can create anything remotely as pure as a Godly heart in humanity.

We can create all the noble issues we want - democracy overseas, healthcare here at home, or a green society globally – but they will never replace what God wants. He desires a pure heart and clean hands. America has neither.

What could happen if we give to Him all the attention and resources we give to  false gods that bring no lasting relief to anyone?

Why do we continue to pretend reality is not real?

Religion and Politics

I just read an article in Newsweek about the “Nones”. The writer makes the statement:
 “Americans who don’t identify with any religion are now 15% of the USA, but trends in a new study shows they could one day surpass the nation’s largest denominations — including Catholics, now 24% of the nation.”  

I happen to be one of those “Nones” and have been for some time now. The article goes on to say these “Nones” still believe in God but they have lost faith in religion. Personally, I can relate to this. God is my only anchor in these times of difficulty. He is the only one who remains a constant. 

I hear there are two things that I must never discuss among friends or family. They are religion and politics. Yet these two establishments shaped my life more than any other associations I have. Today, I have no real confidence in either of them. Yet I have never lost my confidence in God, Jesus or Holy Spirit. 

God never changes. My relationship with Him may change but He does not. My relational change will come as I learn more and more about Him. The more I learn the more I want to please Him, thus I take on more and more of His ways. As these progresses, He shows me more of His ways yet the ways never change, I just see more of them often in a different light.

 Religion changes as often as a new preacher comes to church or a new congregation gets started. Political positions change each time a different party gains power. Religion and politics change when they learn what pleases people. Both learn to tell the people what they want to hear. Pleasing people bring followers and followers bring power. Power brings position and position brings pleasure. These are the very things the writer of 1John 2:16 warned against. Politicians want to please a segment of people so the party reflects that group’s character in order to become like them. However, when they do gain control, little if any thing changes. Yes a few changes are made, just enough to have boasting material. However, it is only pretend. Religion does the same thing. It finds what pleases a certain group and manufactures ways to sound spiritual while they please the group; they get their boasting material, but it is only pretend. They both gain power, position and all the pleasure that goes with it. 

Does it surprise you so many people do not want to identify with a religious group?   Why should they when religions are misleading so often in so many ways? 

Is it any wonder apathy is so rampant among our society about government? Why should we trust politicians to provide real concern for the American people? We have supported them repeatedly as they made promise after promise with no true results. This is not just about one party; it is the same for both.

Why start a new church?

Indeed why would anyone want to start another church in your city or mine? There are too many already, and most of them are not very well attended. Besides, if you look closely, you will see that most of them resemble each other in many ways. How about building a true Bible church where the Bible is the only model used? Wouldn’t that make it different? Surely God’s favor and anointing would be in order.  It certainly looks and sounds like a great idea,  but let us take a deeper look before we go rent a building.

You may ask why I would be so cautious about starting a Bible believing church. My answer is take a look at how many others have started a new affiliation over the last decade? All began with the idea that they would  be different.  They began with the intention of preaching and practicing what the Bible teaches and nothing else. They were determined to avoid becoming a dry, stagnant congregation. Look in your phone directory and see how many new churches are listed along with the traditional group of denominations. Too many already, right? Most of the traditional churches are dry and stagnant, and many new ones soon lose their Biblical direction and become much of the same.  Why indeed do we need another?

Recently I did some research for my local Chamber of Commerce. I discovered there are some 154 churches with perhaps a dozen different traditional denominational titles, and a relative number of non-denominational institutions. All are located within a 25-mile radius of the small town where I live, and few of them have more than 100 regular members.

In another instance, a city of approximately 11000 residents sported 45 different churches. These findings were not scientifically gathered, but I believe this to be typical in many areas of the U.S. The problem is not that there are too few churches. The real problem is there are too many churches competing for the same population base. In most cases, they provide many of the same services; however, few, if any are Spirit led. The community winds up with another stagnant impotent church.

Actually, we do need another church! Yes, I said another church. We need the church Jesus told us about. What I really mean is you are to BE the church; I am to BE the church. We need to BE the Church and not just attend a church. We must remove ourselves from an institution that calls itself God’s church, when in fact, it is only man’s church masquerading as God’s — most of which has little to do with the true meaning of “church” and more to do with man’s ego or pride.

I am not saying those churches have no value. Most of them provide some positive service even though they are self-centered. Most of us have spent some time in one of these churches at one point or another. This was what we needed at that time or place in our lives.  For that particular part of our life’s journey, it was a good thing. However, when the Holy Spirit speaks to us  about a more excellent way and we  feel boxed in with no room for growth or action, then it is time to really examine our church. Does it allow for Holy Spirit living in the truest sense? Does it allow us to exercise our spiritual gifts? Is it actually making the difference in the community that it claims? If we find it is forcing us to remain in a specified area and cannot live out the Spirit’s leading, we must move on.

This is where the rub comes in for me. I don’t want to attend or start another cloned church. But even when I want to BE God’s Church, I must re-educate myself in the things of God, or I will likely return to the vomit of the traditions I have been taught most of my childhood and adult Christian life.  I have grown sick of these customs on more than one occasion. The spirit within me cries out for a real Jesus church. How am I to find it? I have come to the conclusion the real Church Jesus and Paul talked about is not found in a beautifully assembled building with all the lustrous and fine tuned programs  and ornamentation, but rather it is within each of us. God made it that way; man has tried his best to change it. What God does on His own and what he does through man is far different from what man does on his own and claims it is from God.

I find the only way I have peace within my spirit is to allow the Holy Spirit to lead me, educate me, empower me, train me, and provide for me those who need my attention. True church is only the “Church” when the Spirit is in perfect control. Anything else is just pretending.

We do not need another church! Please do not even think of starting one. Please allow God to build it within you! Allow His Spirit to lead!

Help!…………My Church Has Disappeared!

I want to paraphrase a portion of Galatians 3:3. It goes like this:
Oh foolish people…why are you so foolish? You started out in the Spirit but now to try to meet goals by human plans. Have you learned nothing? Did the Spirit work among you because you made and enforced rules or because you believed what you heard from the Holy Spirit and followed His leading? 

In the late 1980’s and early ‘90s because of so much disappointment and pain in the traditional church, I decided to remove my family and me from any activity connected to it.  I was tired of hearing how successful the church was and how they were going  to reach the world for Jesus. If  the church was as successful as it claimed,  I would have had no problem.  The sad truth was, the church did not live up to its affirmations. What looked like a solid foundation was merely a facad, and I could no longer be a part of it.  God and His Spirit were my leader. No more institutional boxes for me.

For a period of time, I did not have a congregatoin to call home.   Although I missed it, I wanted  no part of playing church. 

During that time a very special friend of mine kept telling me about a group of people who were meeting on the square in a small Texas town. I  never gave it much thought.  I knew there was no way I would go there. Yet every time my friend and I got together,  he would talk about the evemts that he experienced with that small group. His accounts were intriguing. Eventually I pushed aside my skepticism and made my way to the square. How awful it was! The music was long and loud. What they called worship time went on and on. People were moving about, even lifting their hands in the air and clapping to the beat of the music. I was appalled. I just wanted to get out of there. Never in my church life had I witnessed such strange behavior. The group was Charismatic, something I had spoken out against on more than one occasion. I just wanted to leave and never return! 

Finally, after what seemed like hours, the speaker got up to speak. As he spoke, all the negative emotions that had risen within me quietly disappeared. This young man was preaching everything I had believed for so long, but I had never heard it from a pulpit. I was spellbound by his insight into the Scriptures. I was completely captivated.  When the service ended, I knew I wanted to go back even though I did not want to sit through that awful period of “worship” again.   That was my first introduction to the church I had longed for all my Christian life. 

I did return to this strange group week after week. I learned to appreciate the “wild” happenings. People would rise and give a word of knowledge; others present would tell how it was meant especially for them and were encouraged. People would stand up and utter strange unintelligible words and someone else would tell what it meant. Prophetic words would come forth and they had meaning for someone for that day. Sometimes crying was heard throughout the building, sometimes laughter rang out. Sometime the preacher never spoke at all; we just remained silent until we heard from the Spirit. Sometimes we just worshipped for the entire meeting. Often during those times a spontaneous song would burst forth. No one knew the words,  but everyone seemed to join in as they allowed the Spirit to flow through the music. I even learned to join in the worship time. Eventually, the worship time which I originally despised, became the best portion of the weekly service for me. 

Even though I was apprehensive of this strange behavior, I noticed the people who attended there were real. They exuded joy and excitement!  If someone had a need, they  prayed out loud right there in front of God and everybody. I was more than impressed, and I was so intrigued by it all I could not stay away.  As time went on, I became less and less anxious about the strangeness of it all and I began to accept portions of it. As I listened to the Holy Spirit, He began to remove all the old belief system and install a new one. I eventually bought into the total program. It was the greatest time of my life. I had found what I was looking for. God is great! I found a permanent church home! 

I wasn’t the only one who found this strange place. More and more people came. Some like me came to investigate and stayed. Others came but could not get beyond their former teachings and they moved on. Never-the-less the group grew and grew and grew. There was no evangelistic ministry, there were no visitation nights, no special events designed to bring people in. We had no Sunday or Wednesday night services. No claims of success were made. It was just one person telling another about this wonderful, spirit filled place of worship. God was working miracles, lives were being transformed, service was being rendered to others, and everyone was delighted to be involved.

This was the Kingdom Church I had always read about in the Bible but never experienced.  It was a great time of spiritual prosperity and one hoped it would only get stronger and never end. If it all seemed too good to be true, sad to say it was.

Eventually structure began to form. Now, if someone had a word from the Lord, it had to be filtered through an elder. If someone had a topic or issue to deal with during the Sunday School hour, it had to be clarified through a diferent elder. Spontaneous songs were diminishing during the Sunday morning worship service.  Less and less prophetic words came forth and those that did now had to be censored. Seldom, if ever, did anyone laugh or cry. Spirit led dancing had all but disappeared. Eventually, it became mandatory for youth and church leaders to assemble in front of the congregation to dance in order to set a good example for the congregation. The home groups became more and more structured and less spirit led. Formats had to be followed, and every one had to be on the same page. All the groups looked the same. A new building had to be built to accommodate the large following. New organizational personnel were added. Loyal and time tried personnel were replaced with newcomers who barely knew the policy of the church. 

What happened? For me I lost the church I had coveted for so long. It disappeared right before my very eyes. The last straw came the night of the dedication of the new building.

During all the pomp and ceremony of the dedication program, that now familiar voice from the Holy Spirit said to me, “You don’t belong here, this is not for you.” I left the building immediately. As I drove home, I literally wept because I could not believe I was no longer a part of my church. At first I refused to believe it. I asked the Lord if He was sure He wanted me to depart. This was a Kingdom church; why must I leave. In actuality the church I loved so much was gone; its disappearance was already completed.

Eventually, as time passed, my spiritual eyes were opened and I could see things clearly. Before, I had seen dimly and I refused to acknowledge what had taken place.  I didn’t want to believe my church and its leaders were changing into just another church making claims with little evidence to back them up.  (Note) Am I the only person who finds it strange  when a group is truly led by the Spirit it makes no claims, but when claims are being made it is usually to cover a negative? 

Thankfully false claims or not, it was shortly afterward the Lord moved me out of there and onward to a place where I could be the church, rather than just attending a church. 

Oh foolish people…why are you so foolish? You started out in the Spirit but now you try to meet goals by human plans. The question begs to be answered.

Integrity in the Pulpit III

A story written by Hans Christian Andersen in the 1800’s reminds me of many religious organizations of today especially those with long traditions, however not just limited to them. I know of some fairly new groups with the same mentality.

The story is about an emperor of a prosperous city who cares more about looks and clothes than military pursuits or accomplishments. The emperor hires two men, who unbeknownst to him, are con artists. The con men promise him the finest suit of clothes from the most beautiful cloth. This cloth, they tell him, is invisible to anyone who was either stupid or unfit for his position. The Emperor cannot see the (non-existent) cloth, but pretends that he can for fear of appearing stupid; his ministers do the same. When the swindlers report that the suit is finished, they dress him up and the Emperor then goes on a procession through the capital showing off his new “clothes”. During the course of the procession, everyone pretends to be in awe of them because none wanted to seem stupid until a small child cries out, “But he has nothing on!” The crowd realizes the child is telling the truth but no one would speak out. The Emperor, however, holds his head high and continues the procession through the city all the while relishing the accolades of the people who did not want to look stupid either.

Perhaps you are aware of or even participating in this deception in your church. A leader stands before the congregation and declares how wonderfully successful all the programs are. You sit there and wonder within your own mind; how can this be because you have not seen the results being spoken about? Sometimes you even question your own sanity. Sometimes you ask yourself; am I in the same organization this guy is talking about. Other times you question your spirituality. Have lost my spiritual insights? Yes you know the program is in effect, but you see no affects of it.

You are hearing others making the same boasting remarks as the leader. It would seem you are the only one who can see the “naked program” and you don’t want to look stupid, (unspiritual) so you go along with it. Inside your spirit is in turmoil because you cannot fathom how such show can be made when little or nothing is being accomplished.

If this is another one of those catechisms “speak things aren’t as they were” it serves to confuse and deceive more than bring about the objective. It is one thing to employ faith to living in the spiritual world but quite another to ignore reality.

For the blind man Jesus healed, his was reality. “I was blind but now I see” is a statement of reality. No one could question his healing, it was evident. He could declare it everywhere and anywhere.

A church program that goes on and on, year after year with the same meaningless results cannot honestly be declared wonderfully successful by anyone.

Any leader who continues to proclaim such is unreliable or deceptive. They are deceptive to the point soon enough, no one would believe any report from them. Yet if you attend a church on a regular basis you know someone like that.

We all know of many such church programs that continue to function, using valuable resources and manpower yet remain impotent. They have been in place so long most everyone considers them sacred and to remove them would mean blasphemy even though they are “naked”.

It is a responsible leader who will see and accept the malfunction and make changes. It is not acceptable for the leader to continue to parade the “naked” program through the church community. Someone must stand up and say, “But it has no clothes”.

Integrity in the Pulpit II

Using the statement: “The Bible says to speak of things that aren’t as though they were” is often used to inspire others to speak into existence things they may or may not need, but something they want. This is the kind of jargon that delivers nothing but disappointment and ridicule.

Romans 4:17 NIV reads; As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed — the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.

I have no problem with God making something from nothing. That is who He is; that is what He does! He speaks into existence anything He desires.

But I do have a problem with those using that statement that have ulterior motives, such as getting rich, gaining power over others and such things that are self-serving. No real man of God would make claims and also urge others to make claims that bring self-gratification using Romans 4:17 as basis for their claims.

As you can read for yourself, this text is talking about God’s actions, not actions of every person who enters the pulpit area. While some do live in a close relationship with the Lord and are privileged to share a portion of His power at different times in their life, most do not. Certainly not those who are seeking solely to benefit themselves.

We often hear claims like we are taking this city, county, country or the world for Jesus. Those claims are noble and perhaps worthy of notice, yet  is something that seldom takes place. Of course there is no way to substantiate the facts but  it would be  rare indeed  if these claims ever come to fruition. Common logic tells me if all the claims made were true, the world would be a totally Kingdom of God world. Everyone would be “saved”. 

I was involved with a particular church for more years than I now like to admit. This pastor kept telling us God wanted him to build assisted-living quarters for the elderly. He went into great detail of what is should be like. I and others of like mind and spirit bought into this and waited. We waited, we waited, we worked, we prayed, we gave, we waited and we prayed. Nothing ever materialized because there was no money.

He spoke a word that wasn’t as though it were. (Ro. 4:17)  Two years, three, four turned into seven and still nothing. I was even willing to borrow money to help out. It was when I went to visit my banker it hit me. As I sat there trying to explain why I needed the loan, and he laughed at me, I finally saw how ridiculous I sounded. I don’t know what would have happened if I had secured that loan and we had gotten that senior center, but I do know that pastor went off the deep end and took many others with him. I was spared that burden because my banker laughed at me. Thank You Lord.

It was not long after that I studied this scripture and came to the conclusion; just because I say it does not always mean God agrees with me. He may but it is His decision, not mine. I cannot construct a formula that causes God to act at my discretion. If my will is His will; then things may happen.

When you stop to think seriously about it, what a blessing it is when we don’t get all we ask for. If we got everything we wanted or asked for, what kind of person would we be? I think we would be arrogant spoiled brats.

If only we could put a stop to such useless claims coming from pulpits around the country the Kingdom and God’s people would not be ridiculed at every turn.

Integrity in the Pulpit

Integrity in the Pulpit

Have you ever wondered why comedians, media and other medium find so much amusement in poking fun at the pulpit preacher, especially the fundamentalist? Why the TV preacher is so vulnerable to mockery? Did you listen to any of them long enough to truly realize what is being said? Have you taken the time to really evaluate their message?

How about your local pastor can he/she stand the scrutiny of a mistrustful society? Does it disturb you if what is being said is more fiction than fact?

All these questions and more have haunted me for years. How can I trust any of what is being said when I know positively some portions are false?

Having attended many, many conferences and meetings within different denominational settings, I have heard many of the same stories with a slightly different twist. Usually these are stated as “true stories” and are told in a way to compel you to move into or to accept some kind of discipline urged by the speaker. You are told these disciplines will get you what you want. They will make your life better and you will be rewarded with a supernatural bonus of some kind. Most of them deliver nothing but disappointment. Some call it the name and claim game. This in essence allows you to begin making a claim on that big new Cadillac and as you continue to claim it in Jesus name you will get it. Of course this is also practiced with other areas of your life. Your spouse will become what you want. Your dream job will open up for you.  Your bank account will increase with no input from you. Just name and claim it.

I am one who believes very strongly in the power of God. I trust Him to keep His word to me in all ways. I have experienced His power in my life and in the lives of family members and acquaintances. I know how to seek His ways in times of hardship and times of great bliss. I have experienced His divine intervention in my life on more than one ocassion. I know He can make the unbelivable come true.

I am also one who is troubled by all the religious jargon that takes place every time a meeting is held whether it is in the local church, the scheduled week-end conference, or the local TV station. Jargon does not tell the Kingdom story. Jargon does not help me to grow in Spiritual matters. When I take the time to dissect what is being said and compare it with what Jesus said I find very few comparisons and many times I fine none at all. Jargon is just so much gobbledygook.

I have heard a tremendous amount of sermons that brought me to tears, sometimes tears of joy, sometimes of remorse, but when I pondered them in a more serene atmosphere I found them to be empty and void of God’s true love. They were just a vehicle to move me from one box to another.

Jesus in all His teachings always motivated me to move on to a higher spiritual plane; a continued upward spiral. His teaching was one that went to the heart rather than the emotion. Emotions may play a part in movement for a moment, but it is the heart that changes a lifestyle forever.

Please Reverend Goodpreacher, don’t tell me another fictitious story to move me up to the front of the building, tell me what Jesus did or said, and tell it in a truthful manner that I can understand. Tell me something I can take home with me to study, explore and apply to my life.

Boxes……Are you In or Out?

Each one of us live within boundaries. We have educational boundaries, wealth boundaries, geographical; vocational; race; nationality; religious and so many others it would take up far too much space to list them all.

My thought today is about spiritual boundaries or “boxes” as they are often called.

Many teachings or sermons have been spoken about boundaries with in the organized church. Invariably the message urges you and I to get out of the box we live in and live free in the spirit. What a wonderful thought. But is it really possible or even desired in a traditional institution?  I think not! I find if I truly want to live in the spirit I must remove myself from the boundaries within the institution. Of course that cannot be allowed. Hierarchical order must be maintained  in the church even at the risk of resisting divine leadership.

What I find most amusing is usually getting out of the box  means; get out of your box and get into mine. My boundaries are right  with the Holy Spirit and yours may be a bit off center.

What I find even more amusing or perhaps more sad than amusing, if and when I truly get out of the box and allow the Holy Spirit lead me; it is then I become a nuisance to the establishment and its leaders.

Another interesting thought is: most of the people advocating box removal for others are in fact putting themselves and God in a very small box. Example: The only place to serve the Lord with any power or purpose is to serve Him at My Place or My Church. I know this personally because at one time I truly believed and promoted such folly. Since then I have learned God is many places at any times and not limited to a special group, building or belief system. God is!! That says it all. Boxes and boundaries cannot restrain Him.

You and I may be contained in any number of boxes in practical living but we never need be kept in a spiritual box; Jesus died to free us from those kinds of restraints. Because of Him we are free to operate anywhere any time in the Spirit under His control rather some man made boundary or Box.

Serving God or an Institution

Serving God vs. serving an institution. I have a long-time friend who serves in a religious institution faithfully.

He is the pastor’s dream come true. My friend spends 4-6 days or evenings each week in faithful service to the church he attends. When I asked why he would spend so much time away from his family, his children and grand children, without even thinking, he stated. “I am serving God.”

I didn’t want to embarrass him so I never voiced the questions that immediately came to my mind. Is this why your daughter rebelled and lived out so much of what your church preached against? Or does your continued absence from the home have anything to do with the negative outlook I gleaned from your spouse as I visited with you in your home?

The wife was telling how Sam, (not real name) either is at work or at church. He is seldom home to care for the emotional needs of her or his children and now his grandchildren. It has been that way for many years. For her this is not what God expects from His servants. I can’t say I disagree with her. For him he fully believes he is serving God to his greatest ability.

At one time I was just like that. My wife and children were left to themselves, in a sense, while I was away from them doing the Lord’s work. For a greater portion of my life, that was who I was. However today I have found a greater truth, one that does not lie to me.

This thing about the necessity of attending church, using all your natural talents or gifts for its disposition, is one of the greatest lying truths still being promoted today across religious boundaries. Being a part of a congregation is wonderful; it affords so many positive results and I would not advise against it. This is a truth. But the lie comes in when this truth is used to manipulate you into giving your everything to the group. That kind of giving is reserved for God, by God.

There must be a balance between serving God and any organization. True, God wants us to promote the advancement of His Kingdom. Lie is; the only place or way it can be accomplished is to give your all to some group who happens to own a building.

So many other opportunities are out there for the “giving-to” and many of them have a greater impact on the Kingdom of God than do self-centered churches who require so much and do so little good.

How many churches in your community could close the doors and not very many would even notice outside those who are obligated to attend because of the manipulation force. Perhaps even the one you are attending today.