Experiences In Church Transformation

Not Separate But Equal

I just had lunch with some friends and a discussion ensued that caused me to take a step back.  During the course of the conversation we began talking about a local grocery store and their practices.  One member of the group made the observation that he wished this business was open on Sunday.  I indicated that I was thankful that they were not.  We then spent a good deal of time talking about different points of views in regards to businesses being open on Sundays.

The point which caused me to take a step back is when an individual made a statement along these lines, "Faith is a separate matter from other things in life."  I responded immediately that I felt that was one of the problems many Christians have.  I believe that faith in Jesus Christ should be a very integrated part of life.  As believers, our faith should guide and direct all other aspects of our life.  Too many people make a strong effort to separate faith from the other aspects of their life and this disconnect is the cause of many struggles in the life of the church and the individuals.  While I realize that this is a difficult reality to obtain at times.  I believe that it is a reality that everyone of us who claims Jesus Christ as Lord should always strive for.  If we fail to integrate our faith into our life, how can we have integrity in our witness to others?

So let me take a stand of not accepting a concept of separate but equal when it comes to the relationship of our faith with the other aspects of our lives!!!

Support Community

A few months ago the Winterset Ministerial Association adopted a new mission statement.  We made a definitive move from being an organization that was about "doing" programs and toward a support group for those who are in ministry in the area.  I was concerned that there would be a limited level of trust among the members of the association so that the level of support would be weak at best.  What I found was surprisingly different.  This is now one of my greatest support groups and I am excited about the opportunity to share and to listen to my colleagues.  We are finding how much we truly have in common and who each person truly is.

This has led me to once again ponder the importance of support networks for all Christians.  God designed the church to be exactly that --- a support network for believers.  Unfortunately, human sin has even tainted this perfect design of the Lord.  Many people have come to find the church anything but a safe haven.  Because of this reality, we have lost a very important tool that all believers truly need.  Following the Lord is far from easy, without a group of individuals to help us and to celebrate with us, we feel alone and often find ourselves turning away from the very things Christ calls us to be and do.

I want to urge all of you to be diligent about finding a group of individuals that you can openly, and safely, share your joys and struggles with.  If you are in leadership in the church and/or actively serving as a change agent in a congregation, this is a survival tool that is vital.  We need to have people that we can bounce ideas off of, and to share the realities of our lives with.

Planning For Success

Why is it that many Christian leaders seem programmed to expect failure?  If it were just Presbyterians that I have noticed this trend in, I would attribute it to our Calvin upbringing.  However, I do not feel that it is only limited to a denomination.  I believe that this trend can be seen any many Christian leaders.  Maybe this is a defense mechanism that has been ingrained because so many times we see our hopes and dreams dashed or falling short way too often.

Maybe the reason that we have experienced failure as Christian leaders is that we forget a primary reality of what it means to be a CHRISTIAN leader --- We follow the Lord's lead.  Maybe if we examined where we have found shortcomings, the key thread is that we have pursued our own dreams and plans rather than striving to follow the Lord's dream and plan.  This reminds us of the importance of spending the time to discern the Lord's will.  We must ask the question, "Lord, what would you have me (us) do?"  If we truly are listening for the Lord's voice, I believe that we would find ourselves achieving much more than we often do.

A good friend of mine, Phil Barrett, has on occasion reminded me and others that we need to plan for success within the church.  To me the starting point for this planning must be discerning the Lord's will.  It is great for us to have ideas, dreams, and hopes but if these are not in alignment with the timing and plan of the Lord, we will experience marginal success, or even failure.

Let's plan for success in the church..... always beginning with a dialog with the Lord!