September 24, 2007, 12:50 pm Joe McKeever accurately identifies a root cause difference between an “upswing” and “downswing” church, having visited both types recently. It’s leadership, or lack of it. He penned a description of a desired leader as follows:
“WANTED: a man or a woman who is solidly Christian with excellent mental health, who thinks clearly, listens well, speaks carefully, loves the Lord, knows his Bible, and wants the people of the Lord to do well. He supports his pastor until the day he does something unethical, unbiblical, or immoral. He seeks no glory for himself, does not need to chair a committee to be an effective member of it, and is as faithful a follower as he is leader. His personal life is beyond reproach, although he is thoroughly human and enjoys telling a great joke or funny story. His family is a reflection of his godly values. The bulk of his spiritual life is lived in private, with the part seen in public only the tip of the iceberg.”
I have two comments about this description. First, since George Barna notes in his book “Habits of Highly Effective Churches” that few pastors are effective leaders, I would want a lay leader who fully supports his effective pastor/leader, or supports the pastor to move into a role where his skills are more effectively used.
Second, I would add the necessity of a lay leader to have a passion for being transformed into Christ-likeness, for themselves and for those they lead.
September 23, 2007, 12:36 pm Perhaps the title of this article should more accurately be, “What is a Christian to be?” It’s easy to see that in American culture, the definition of a Christian is very broad. As I read the historical accounts in the Bible of life transformation of people as they became followers of Jesus Christ, I realize that many professing Christians today do not display the same transformation. In fact, an honest appraisal of the membership of my church leads to the same conclusion—in some there is no evidence of difference from those who do not profess Christ as Lord. Most disturbing of all, the question of my life transformation often falls short of the Biblical descriptions.
Dr. John Johnson writes about this in “Where are the Radically Changed Lives?”.
It’s rare to see dramatic change. We tend to see lives that reflect a superficial change of mind, lives that have not been seriously altered, lives that do not evidence miraculous change. Marriages look little different than those of the world; pornography and its addictive behavior tends to be as problematic in the church as outside the church; gracelessness can be as pervasive in a Christian culture as outside. Something is wrong. In my darker moments, I wonder if coming to Christ truly makes a significant difference.
Johnson notes that George Barna’s research led him to conclude (reported in the book “Revolution”) that churches are not intentional in either becoming or measuring spiritual transformation. Dr. Johnson concludes with the advice,
Find what it is that more than inspires—find what transforms people, what transforms all of their being, and give your best ministry to that.
Interestingly, Dan Kimball at Vintage Faith Church makes transformation a central part of their vision/mission and is currently doing a sermon series focused on this very subject. He describes it in “‘Don’t be a “Christian’: Exchanging Religion for the Mission of God.” I like the sermon topics he has chosen.
Worshiping: Don’t be a consumer – Be a worshiper
Community: Don’t go to church – Be the church
Missional: Don’t exist in the bubble – Be in the world
Theologians: Don’t close your mind – Be a theologian
Communion Sunday – “Asking God to transform us”
Dr. Johnson suggests we fall short of demonstrating a truly transformed life because we accept beliefs that are theologically anemic; we don’t apply the vigilance, self discipline, rigorous thought, and repentance necessary for transformation; we refuse to pay the price. He concludes,
But here’s what we are missing. We have failed to realize that the grace that pardons is the same grace that is able to transform. This is grace we are not taking advantage of.
September 19, 2007, 12:32 pm  Our hiking in North Carolina intersected with the Appalachian Trail in a couple of different locations. In Hot Springs, NC we started a hike to Lover’s Leap by walking on the AT along the French Broad River. The southeast is suffering from a drought; the river is popular with white water rafters, but there is not enough water to float anybody’s boat right now.
 In the Great Smoky Mountains we also wandered onto the AT unintentionally. We started to hike a ridge trail away from Clingman’s Dome, but missed a the trail turn-off. Along the way we met a most interesting hiker. As we chatted he mentioned that he had hiked all the trails in the park. I remembered reading that there were several hundred miles of trails, so I asked him about that. Yes, it’s true, but he had hiked over 1400 miles because of the need to hike out to some of the trails he hadn’t done before. But, I’ve done one thing he hasn’t—summit Mt. Whitney. He made it to Trail Camp earlier this summer and felt ill, so didn’t go on to the summit. (A fluke, I think. He looked in excellent physical condition.) In this location, the AT runs along the ridgeline, which also is the boundary between North Carolina and Tennessee.
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Consider this:“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Romans 15:7 |