Comments on: what i’ve learned about [church]: part iii

By: Brian

Brian — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 01:39:09 +0000

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.

By: Scotty Dub

Scotty Dub — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:15:12 +0000

@ 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.

By: Mike Olbinski

Mike Olbinski — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:25:37 +0000

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.

By: Matt K

Matt K — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:10:31 +0000

@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.

By: tiffany pierce

tiffany pierce — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:36:52 +0000

Amen!

By: Scotty Dub

Scotty Dub — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:56:41 +0000

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.