what i’ve learned about [church]: part iii
So, before yesterday’s post settles too deep, I thought I should follow that idea up with this one:
…when the church becomes about you (or me, since i’m writing), it is not the church anymore…
This one can be a little confusing, because there will be times when the church, to be the church, must go above and beyond to serve you and give to you and to make you the priority… in times of need, mourning, hurting. But, if we begin to see this as the church’s obligation: they are here to meet my needs (read: selfish needs) then, well, you’ve just begun to see the church’s role through “greed-colored” glasses. Going back to Erwin McManus from yesterday, he wrote a great book on character development: Uprising: a revolution of the soul. He takes the reader on three journeys (he calls them “quests”) of character development, one being a quest for nobility or generosity. Erwin writes: “Greed is narcissistic. Generosity is Christ-like. Greed is the product of self-love. Generosity is the product of selfless love.”
When the church becomes about what it can or cannot do for you, you’re on the wrong quest. Now, looking for a place to worship that we fit into and a place where the vision and direction connects with us is not greedy. But taking, taking and taking from a [church] and then complaining when it doesn’t meet our needs is greedy and narcissistic. Period.
A few years ago, a little nugget of a thought dropped into my mind…I like to think that God breathed it into me. I was in a meeting about how pastors and [church] leaders can help others become more like Christ. (simple task, right?) Anyway, I thought of where we traditionally go to get training…and the university came to mind: k.s.U. (Kansas State); a.s.U. (Arizona State) and others. Then the thought came to me that if we want to become more like Christ then our lives have to become less about us. So, God’s university might be referred to as “Not.U.” because to live God’s life it cannot be about “u” but about loving, serving and leading others in a Christ-like way. Want to live like Christ? Attend “Not.U.” What to live a life worth living? Go to “Not.U.” It is my prayer that “not.U.” will be a vital part of day|xii’s ministry.
What’s the church all about?
Not.U.
Comments
Good stuff once again Brian. I esp agree with your thoughts around looking for a church to ‘fit into’ and where that leads. Many churches realize this and market themselves accordingly, recognizing that they are not for everyone, but trying be the right fit for some. My question is, then what? I fit in at ‘X’ Church, it’s comfortable, I like the music, the pastor is funny, yet challenging, etc. All good stuff, but I think the church needs to recognize that it cannot let the attendees get complacent. It must challenge them to be/live a Christ-like life and it must lead by example. LC on the whole does this well.
Bottom line, once the church gets the ‘butts in the seats’ it then to needs to figure how to get them back into the community to serve. It’s got to stop the ‘taking’ and keep the focus where it belongs.
One final thought here; in order to successfully accomplish these things the pastor must be available to lead. Not via satellite or video, but in the pulpit, at the door greeting. He/she must lead in person. Too many churches are missing this essential element. Christ told the disciples to go and spread the good news, in person, not by video. Just my two cents.
Amen!
@scotty dub
Complacency can be contageous if the leader’s themselves are complacent, but if a place is lead by example, if a pastor is constantly challenging the member’s of a church through his message and the application of God’s Word in his own life, yet the member remains complacent, is that the fault of the church leaders? Would that not be the fault of the complacent member in the face of all the challenging messages and humble leadership?
As the church, we come to hear the message, but if we do nothing on our own, if we do not live in the Word, if we do not let the Word change us, if we do not follow the prodding of the Spirit within and around us, then how can we call it faith? The task is not on those that lead us to get our butts off the chair and back in the community making a difference, that task if for us. We need to get up and let the Spirit shine in our lives.
We are the church, together with the leaders. So, to say that the church cannot let its members grow complacent is to say that we cannot let ourselves grow complacent. In that context, I would have to agree with you.
I think Matt hit the nail on the head…a church can be as challenging as possible, but the bottom line is that it is on “us” to follow-up.
I think most churches try to challenge us in many ways, but it’s my opinion that many people are just too lazy to accept them. Too lazy to try and hear what is being said and put it into practice. Instead, like Brian said, they just complain about “what the church isn’t doing for me…”
I dunno…I think there are churches that may not do enough, but I think the onus is on us to not sit on the sidelines and point out faults, but to get in the game and make our own complacency disappear.
@ Matt K
Agreed. I think what I’m trying to say, perhaps not clearly enough is that the pastor is the leader, the Sheppard. It’s his job to lead, of course it’s the flocks to follow. We have to take what we’re taught and apply it and hopefully be inspired to inspire others.
Scotty and Matt… i think you guys are both right…it is everyone fulfilling their role that makes the church what it should be…Paul writes that there are many parts, but only one body; each part doing its job makes the body function at its highest level. Imagine a church where everyone does their part, fully respecting everyone else’s roles….that would be amazingly powerful.
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