Mountain View Christian Church where I pastor is an awesome place. It probably has one of the most loving, preach-the-Gospel focused atmospheres of any place I’ve been. Oh, it’s not a perfect place, but you truly get the feeling that the people here have a heart for their community and for reaching people with the message of Jesus Christ.
So this isn’t to complain about my church, or to point out any church in particular. This is maybe just a little bit of the secret that Mountain View Christian Church is starting to discover for itself…
For many people in this world, the question usually centers around meeting needs. Especially, where the church may be falling short when it comes to meeting our needs? C’mon you can think of something can’t you? Or if not your needs, someone else’s? Where is the problem in your in your life and in your community that your church should do something about? What about the preacher, or the youth minister, or the song leader, or the children’s minister, where are they falling short? How can they improve, what are they doing that you don’t agree with?
While we’re thinking about it, how do you find that perfect situation where the church is meeting your needs and doing something worthwhile for other people? Find a different church? Find the right pastor? Where do you go? How does a church accomplish all these things when it doesn’t have an unlimited budget, and when the pastors make too many mistakes?
You see, I understand many of those who voice concern DO have a point. I’m not making light of complaints or grumblings. The truth is, pastors at all levels are prone to failure, are still learning, and so are church members. Church members do complain about pastors and they often have a point. Pastors complain about church members and they often have a point.
All of us together complain about politics and we all have a point.
Yet, I read this in Romans…
“Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;” -Romans 12:10
And I thought… how does that look in real life? And again I read…
“Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life,” – Philippians 2:14-16a
And I thought… isn’t that easy to say?
I think if someone could write a book, detailing to churches how they could get rid of the internal strife, work out issues with staff members, and grow in love and harmony… that person would make serious money.
(Why is making “serious” money better than making “laughable” money? What’s wrong with laughing? And isn’t it a LITTLE disconcerting that making “insane” money means you’re making more than either? So laughing is bad, serious is good, and insane is the best??? That’s ridiculous. What’s ridiculous money??? oh nevermind….)
You see, there is a real lack of working together to do what Jesus called us to do in the Church. And that’s not a good thing. There IS however, a lot of evaluation going on. And that’s not really a good thing either. On what basis do I act surprised or disappointed when I discover a shortcoming in a member or a pastor? Was I previously not smart enough to know they had shortcomings?
That’s like buying a pet snake at the pet store and one day exclaiming “What in the world?!!! That thing bites!!”
derrrrrrr….. you think?
Church isn’t complicated. It’s Jesus living in me, living in you, and using both of us to advance his message and his love throughout the world, starting with our own. Along the way we will get in the way, we will make wrong decisions, and we may even stumble. Do we get annoyed and blame each other for not providing us with a rich and deep Christian environment? Do we call God’s customer service line and complain about the believers he put around us?
Well, actually, sometimes people do just that. And truthfully, all of the complaints have a point because the people they are directed toward are probably guilty of what they are being accused of. People don’t consider everything, don’t always lead well, aren’t always motivated by pure motives or the Holy Spirit, do snap at us, don’t listen to us, and don’t always pull their weight.
Does our love and care for one another depend upon our approval of their actions or abilities?
Thank God that’s NOT what Jesus would do.
Fortunately, when God sees a situation he rolls up his sleeves and gets to work out of love and care for us. He fights for us, bugs us, reminds us, and never gives up on us. Praise the Lord for his love!
So how much do we love? Do we also give ourselves for others? That IS the secret I believe.
God speaking from the burning bush told Moses:
Then the LORD said, “I have seen how cruelly my people are being treated in Egypt; I have heard them cry out to be rescued from their slave drivers. I know all about their sufferings, and so I have come down to rescue them from the Egyptians and to bring them out of Egypt to a spacious land, one which is rich and fertile… -Exodus 3:7-8
So God said “I have come down” and I’m sure Moses would have been excited to see what God was going to do. Those Egyptians were in trouble now…
Next verse:
I have indeed heard the cry of my people, and I see how the Egyptians are oppressing them. Now I am sending you to the king of Egypt so that you can lead my people out of his country. –Exodus 3:9-10
I have come down…
I am sending you…
Matthew Barnett, pastor of the Dream Center in Los Angeles, CA, related a story on the radio the other day about a woman from his church who came to him for counseling. She had struggled with stress, depression and needed strength to deal with life. Matt told her he would meet with her, but then asked if she could bake some cookies that week and take them to a Kid’s Ministry they had in the inner city and take some more cookies on a different day to another inner-city mission.
She was offended at the suggestion. As a successful businesswoman, she told him, her life was far too busy to just bake cookies anytime she wanted. He asked her to try anyway, and she skipped the counseling sessions the next couple of weeks.
Oh it’s not what you think.
She didn’t skip the sesssions because she was upset, but because she got so busy baking cookies and enjoying the fact she was giving to someone else, she forgot about the counseling sessions.
“I have come down,” God said, “Now I am sending you.”
You want more out of church? Challenge yourself and others to bake some cookies for someone less fortunate, or in some other way, to minister to someone else. Should the Church be witnessing more? Witness yourself and help others to do the same. You want that pastor or that member to do better in some area? Encourage them, work with them, challenge them in that area without ever leaving their side.
Think of it, every “Christian” you inspire, every “Christian” you wake up, every church you help transform, leaves a legacy of ministry that builds for you an eternal reward. And looking back on your life, you will see that you indeed left the place better, than when you found it.
Whoever wants to be first must be last.
Whoever loses their life for Jesus sake, will find it.
“I have come down,” said God, “and now I am sending you.”
Give more of yourself to others and you’ll get more out of church than ever before.
2 comments
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October 28, 2007 at 10:45 pm
shadoworsunshine
Brian,
I sit in church each week and wonder what I am missing. Although my family has been at the church for over 5 years, it never has quite felt like home. My family has tried to be involved and give, and give, and give…of time, money, and talent. Anyway, long story short—I believe in the Word you have shared and appreciate how much you give of yourself to help shed light in a place that can sometimes be darkened by the judgment people pass on one another and the imperfections that we all sometimes choose to carry instead of casting off that which so easily stands in our way. My prayers are with you, your family, and the church!
October 29, 2007 at 4:50 am
thecrazypastor
Thank you for the comment Shadoworsunshine. My heart goes out to you and your situation. I hope God will show you right where you are in His will. As you know, as a member of God’s family, what you are part of extends far beyond the reaches of a particular location, with brothers and sisters you’ve never met (but someday will) fighting the same fight for the Gospel message of Jesus Christ to a darkened world. God uses people like you not only to share Jesus with those outside the church, but often as a messenger to those inside, to spur them on and sometimes wake them up and other times, help them see the real meaning and purpose of what God is calling us to be. For as much as you are able to help someone inside the Church see and “get it,” or spur someone out of their doldrums, or share love and the Gospel message with someone outside the Church, you are doing the Lord’s work. Any time you point someone toward Christ, or show them a glimpse of it, you are building treasure in your eternal reward. But we are not rewarded only in eternity. Quite often you will receive a reward right here when the fruits of your efforts and love for others results in changed lives and a transformed group of believers. As the Bible says, don’t give up, and do everything as if working for the Lord himself. Take care.