31 Days on the Church
By Craig B. Cooper
All Rights Reserved © Copyright 2012 Craig B. Cooper
ISBN 978-1-4659-9621-3
www.craigbcooper.com
Published by Craig B. Cooper at Smashwords
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Why is the Church Here?
Culture or Christianity?
Why Do the 1st Century Get all the Good Stories?
What an Awesome Day
Our Standard – Making Disciples
What is a Disciple?
Are You a Disciple?
Is Completeness Possible?
I’m on a Highway to Hell
Is the American Church on Steroids?
Who Is in Control?
What a Difference 2000 Years Makes in a Word
What is a Balanced Christian? – Part 1
What is a Balanced Christian? – Part 2
Where’s The Passion?
Has God Become a Commodity?
Jesus, Inc.
McDonald’s Franchise or Specialty Restaurant?
Familiarity Can Be Dangerous
2 Things I Hunger For in a Church
4 Group Worship Principles
So You Want to Work in the Church?
Apostolic Pastors
Prophets - The Gift of a Voice
So Which Prophet Do I Invite for Dinner?
Maturing of the Prophetic Ministry
Who are You? Really.
Whose Work are you Doing? Really.
If You Are a Young Minister
How to Appoint Yourself Into Ministry Without God
5 Steps to Become a True Recognized Minister
Final Thoughts
RISK – Where the Church is Heading
HEAT – Where Leadership is Heading
Why are we in a Hurry?
Why is the Church Here?
I am a believer in the Church, matter of fact, I am 100% for the Church. I have given my life to see Jesus’ Church grow, become more mature, change culture, and to do what He has in mind to do with it. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Church is growing in it’s influence, intimacy with God, and in power.
I believe the Church is one of the greatest things Jesus set up to further His family and principles on earth after His resurrection. Without the Church the earth would be an entirely different place. A place without as much hope, progress, freedom, and truth. Let’s don’t forget that Jesus is the head of the Church and as a result it is an awesome thing.
I believe that the Church is not a end unto itself. It is the primary tool to bring the Kingdom of God into the earth. Jesus’ primary purpose was not to build a Church but the Kingdom of God. The Church is part of that Kingdom and it is the primary tool He uses to introduce the Kingdom to the World. So it is a necessary thing. For this reason, the Church needs to continually change as God’s Kingdom grows on the earth. The Church – which is of course in it’s simplest form Christians - needs to continually walk in more revelation and live out more of His principles in order to stay current with what Jesus is doing on the earth through the power of the Holy Spirit.
This booklet is a collection of 31 blogs out of 150 that I wrote over a 3 year period discussing where I think the Church is going, the types of leaders that are being raised up, on giving control back to Jesus, and other thoughts. This is not a book to be read in one sitting. I don’t think it will be very effective if you do that. I think it would be a much better exercise if you took no more than 1 article or blog a day and meditated on that thought out the day. The goal of this book is not information but transformation of our life into making us the best expression of Jesus on the earth as His body that is possible. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you as read as what your part in the Church is. Enjoy the month and may your perspective on the Church never be the same again,
Day 1 Culture or Christianity?
In America there is a very large influence over our country. It is consumerism. Consumerism is where we define ourselves by buying things. We are bombarded by approximately 3500 ads a day. These ads are enticing us all day long to buy. They are telling us that we will be better off by buying their ‘thing’.
Buying things is not bad. But at the core of consumerism is the message that it is about me. Trying to sell to me is everything. Trying to make me happy is the focus of advertiser’s efforts.
What does this blog have to do with God? Only this, I have seen over the last 10 years a definite shift in the church’s emphasis away from it’s about God to it’s about us. I have seen it become heavily influenced in how it ‘sells’ Christianity. In many ways the church has become just another one of the 3500 ads we see every day. We sell how Jesus will meet our desires. The Church often looks like another consumer product we are telling people they need and emphasizing how it will make them happy.
If this is true, it has huge ramifications. We have moved the focus of the gospel from following Jesus to Jesus following us.
Think about how we present the gospel these days or advertise a church? It often goes something like this: Come to our church and we will show you how God will meet all of your needs, give you a stable marriage, provide a steady income, and give you lifelong friendships. In many ways this is true. As you commit your life to God and apply His principles there are many of these consequences.
But what I am concerned about is who is at the center of our churches? Christianity is about Christ first. It is about following Him and doing His will. It is not about Him doing our will. Christianity is about the cross and taking it up to advance the gospel. We live for Him. He does not live for us. Have we, as consumers become the center of Christianity?
How do we pick a church? Many times it is the same way we pick a pair of jeans.
We ask questions like: What does the jeans/church do for my image? How will I look wearing/going to this church? Will these jeans/church meet my needs in life? Does the jeans/church have the correct number of pockets/programs?
Are we living out our culture or Christianity? May God grant us the wisdom to know. May we choose substance over style, reality over image, His presence over false perception.
“Jesus’ call to discipleship clashes with every culture and every human heart. In the West, it confronts our modern/postmodern individualism. We are uncomfortable with a God who makes demands of us. We are uncomfortable with the idea that the Creator of the universe might have an opinion on how we should conduct ourselves. We recognize no other authority than ourselves. We do not easily come under the authority of the Scriptures or accountability to the body of Christ.” – Skye Jethani, The Divine Commodity
Day 2 Why Does the 1st Century Have all the Good Stories?
Why do the 1st Century Christians get all the good stories? I love the stories in the book of Acts. But I am ready for some stories of my own. I am ready to hear your stories!
I am amazed that Christianity spread to all of the know world in one generation. They had no forms of modern communication like MySpace, Fox News Channel, Facebook, Text Messaging, or IM. They also had no New Testament, Charisma Magazine, Christianity Today, TBN or CBN.
I am provoked.
It only makes sense that God wants us to walk in the same power and character that the 1st Century did. They, along with the life of Jesus, showed us the model of how Christianity is to be lived. I believe that it was God’s will for each succeeding generation to take what the previous generation did to a higher level. I believe this was to continue until the Kingdom of Heaven was brought fully into the earth like Jesus prayed in the Lord ’s Prayer (Matthew 6:10).
We have acted like all of the good stories are over. We have become satisfied with telling stories from the past.
I want to create stories that my grandchildren will tell. I want them to read them at bedtime and be provoked to create their own stories in their life.
I want those who follow me in life to read of my courage, my faith, my commitment, my miracles, my love, the things that I took from the kingdom of darkness and brought into the light. I want them to read of stories that could only happen because the Holy Spirit partnered with a person to transform the area around them.
God wants to raise up another generation like the first century where every Christian is full of the Holy Spirit. Where they have made the Holy Spirit Lord and walk in His fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit. I want to see it everywhere and upon everyone. 200 decades between the first century and us is long enough.
There are four things that keep us from believing that we can write our own stories.
1. People - We tell ourselves, others tell us, religious well meaning people tells us that God doesn’t move that way anymore. Jesus said to go and I give you all authority.
2. Rough Times – When we encounter resistance we often believe that it is God’s will telling us to stop. No, it simply means that there is resistance and we have to fight to bring the Kingdom of Heaven into the earth. We continue fighting till our circumstances line up with our theology instead of lining up our theology with our circumstances. In Star Trek - The Next Generation, the Borg enemy had a phrase, “Resistance is futile, you will be assimilated.” Let’s adopt this phrase towards our enemy, “Resistance is futile, you will be assimilated.”
3. Offense – When rough times come, if we don’t realize that “God is good all the time and the devil is bad all of the time”, we will blame God for rough times. When we blame God we will then get offended and distance ourselves from Him. When we distance ourselves from Him, we will distance ourselves from the power and insight to change our rough times. Offense is a vicious circle.
4. Guilt & Shame – The devil will torment you with your past mistakes. This is a tactic of the devil to stop you. After you confess your sins, others may remember, you will remember, but God does not. You are forgiven. So partner with Him to change your future and tick off the enemy!
It’s time to create some stories. Resistance is futile.
Day 3 What an Awesome Day!
"Oh, darling, this place is wonderful!"
"Isn't it? It's the best restaurant in the city," the newly married bridegroom responded as he reached over and took his new bride's hand in his, "it's a great way to end an awesome day."
He continued, "You sure did look wonderful in your dress! I didn't think you could look any more beautiful but today you were stunning."
"Thank you," the bride said as she blushed. "Wasn't the wedding just lovely? And the amount of people that attended even surprised me. Every seat was taken."
"I can't imagine it going any better," answered the bridegroom.
There was an intimate moment as the two lovers looked into each other’s eyes. The bridegroom finally broke the silence and gently asked, "Are you ready to go to the hotel room for the night?"
"Yes, let's go. Do you have the keys Jesus," the bride asked?
"Yes, my dear bride - my dear Church - here is yours - room 2041. I will be staying in 2043. Can I expect to see you again at breakfast in the morning?"
Why does it seem so natural for the Church not to be intimate with Jesus?
"We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face...." 2 Corinthians 3:13a
Day 4 Our Standard – Making Disciples
Look at what Jesus said in Matthew 28:18-19 : Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
Definition of Disciple: “follower of person or idea: somebody who believes in and follows the teachings of a leader, a philosophy, or a religion”
Wow! Do I as a Pastor make disciples following the teachings of Jesus or just create loyal attendees on Sunday that believe in Jesus?
This command bothers me. I know how to create events to attract people. Make disciples? Not so sure.
I have been thinking about the difference between disciples and attendees for a long time now. I have a lot to learn. Unfortunately the more I learn the more I have to stop doing what I have already learned.
Here is some of what I have learned so far:
1. Jesus doesn’t have a perfect Church attendance program. I don’t think He cares.
2. Jesus was always running off crowds. If you don’t believe me check out John 6:66 & 67.
3. Attendance and discipleship are not the same. Crowds don’t mean depth. People listening to me teach don’t automatically translate to transformation.
4. Making disciples can only be done in a very small group, preferably one on one. Teaching - impartation of skills - can be done in mass, but transformation can only be done one on one where the teaching is applied to the specific strongholds, thought patterns, etc. of a person.
5. The commandment was to make disciples. Teaching was a part of it, but only as a support to what we were supposed to do in following Him.
6. True disciples are made when we get to know one another without facades. You cannot help people find out who they are without first going through the slow process of getting to know them. A church can entertain or teach a lot of people. They cannot help people find their destiny as a disciple except through one on one encounters.
How does this work out in our modern day church institutions? I don’t really know. But we are commanded to find out.
One place to start is to stop asking how many people come to your church every week. This is in reality a worthless number. I bet you that if I advertised that I was going to have a giraffe and an elephant on stage this week at my church do the tango together that attendance would go up. So what?
Let’s start asking the question, how many disciples do you have at your church?
That’s a question that will get us focused in the right direction.
Day 5 What is a Disciple?
What is a disciple of Jesus? This is an important question because a disciple is different that a believer.
Jesus said in Matthew 28:19 go and make disciples of all nations. He did not say go and make believers of all nations.
If we are to make disciples and not believers then we need to know what is a disciple?
The definition of a disciple is usually one who believes like Jesus. The common way Christian leaders make a disciple is then to teach someone all about the Bible and ensure that they believe those teachings. I submit to you that this is wrong.
The Western culture believes that information is the key to everything - including making a disciple. This is a byproduct of the Enlightenment period of the 1700’s that has so heavily influenced the West. While this period did bring many remarkable changes, it also brought the primacy of knowledge above all else.
A disciple is not one who believes correctly.
James 2:19 says that demons believe correctly about God but they are obviously not disciples. Belief alone does not make a disciple. You can believe correctly about everything in the Bible and still not be a disciple. This may make you a great theologian or teacher, but not a disciple.
A disciple is one who loves and obeys their Master.
John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”
Luke 22:42 “…yet not my will, but yours be done.”
Love and obedience are the mark of a disciple.
A disciple is one who follows His Master trusting that His Master knows best.
A disciple is one who knows that as He follows His Master he will gain the knowledge he needs when he needs it.
A disciple is one who walks with His Master and as a result comes to know His Master.
Correct thinking is important. But when you love and obey the Master He has His own teacher to guide you into all of the truth – the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:27). As you walk with the Master you will learn how He thinks. But just as important you will learn to be and do as He is.
This simple distinction of what a disciple is needs to be filtered through out all of Western Christianity. Our current programs of making disciples are information based methods of making disciples. We enroll new Christians into programs that are primarily composed of getting as much information about the Bible, God, ministry, etc. into their skulls as quickly as possible. We then have them recite this knowledge back correctly in some form. We then “graduate” them based on correct recitation of this knowledge.
This style of making disciples also limits who can disciple others to those who are extremely knowledgeable about Christianity and are also good communicators or teachers of that knowledge.
Biblical Experts are not needed to disciple others. Teachers are very important but they play a supportive role in the discipleship process. Disciple making does not end with teaching. Disciple making does not begin with teaching. We must teach people to get to know and love the Master first. We then teach them how to walk with Him on a regular basis obeying all that He tells us. This is the mark of discipleship. Anyone who knows the Master and walks with Him can disciple others. When a person is taught to walk with, love and obey the Master they will have the basics they need to grow as a Christian for the rest of their lives.
Love and obedience are the mark of a disciple. These two characteristics will turn Christianity in the West from an intellectual pursuit to one of transformation.
Day 6 Are You a Disciple?
According to many different surveys in America, around 90% of Americans believe in God and 86% say they are Christians. I have to ask the question does anyone believe this? I'm not sure I do. I can't say who is a Christian or not - that is obviously God's role. But let's give the benefit of the doubt and say that almost everyone in America is a Christian. Why do we have such crime and immorality then? If there are that many Christians in our country then the problem in America is not evangelism it's discipleship. What is the difference? Everything. I like the definition of discipleship from Mike Breen.
"A disciple is someone who, with increased intentionality and passing time, has a life and ministry that looks more and more like the life and ministry of Jesus. They increasingly have his heart and character and are able to do the types of things we see Jesus doing." - Mike Breen
Evangelism gets people into the Kingdom but discipleship trains them how to live in it. It is quite obvious that if 86% of Americans were over time taking on the life and ministry of Jesus it would be a radically different place. Jesus said in Matthew 28:19 to make disciples not converts. How radical of a thought is this?
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit"
According to Matthew 18:19 the Great Commission is discipleship not conversion. Interesting. If we changed our focus from making converts to making disciples what are the ramifications, for our nation, for our church? I'm not sure. But this I know, America as a nation needs to be discipled.
Day 7 Is Completeness Possible?
I remember a time when my vision for Christianity was for everyone to become saved. It was a good vision.
Then my vision increased. I started dreaming of people becoming saved and becoming dedicated disciples. It was a very good vision.
My vision is increasing again. I am dreaming of people being complete. Absolutely, 100% complete in every way. It is now an outrageous vision. So outrageous it is probably lunacy.
Completeness definition: “the state of being complete and entire; having everything that is needed”
This dream started with two verses.
The Apostle Paul said in 1 Thess 5:23 (NASB), “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ”
The Apostle James said in James 1:2-4 (NASB) “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.“
Could it be possible for people's bodies to be disease free with no sickness, no mutilations, and no frailty?
Could it be possible for people's souls to be emotionally pain free, no torments, no addictions, restful, and healed from bad memories, with a bright outlook on the future?
Could it be possible for our human spirit to be at peace and have true communion with the Holy Spirit?
Paul and James asked for it. It’s obvious their vision was bigger than mine.
Have I dumbed down my vision of Christianity and its power for the world? I am thinking I have.
So I am going to start asking for it for my family, my fellow church friends, and myself. I am going to start seeking the Lord on what are His ideas for fulfilling His vision of completeness for the world.
Think what the church could offer the world if we could offer completeness in addition to salvation?
Do you want to be admitted to the lunatic asylum with me?
Day 8 I’m on a Highway to Hell
Have you ever heard the secular song Highway to Hell? It was considered one of the most demonic songs ever when it came out in 1979 sung by the rock band AC/DC. I was 19 then and the song went on to become a mega hit in the West.
Here is part of the song:
I'm on my way to the promised land
I'm on the highway to hell…
No stop signs, speed limit
Nobody's gonna slow me down
In all truth it was a very demonic song. But I am proposing that it become the theme song of Christians.
OK, I probably just lost half the subscribers to this blog with that statement. With the half that is left think about this.
We teach Christians that we are on a straight and narrow road to heaven. That is true. But before we die let’s do what Jesus said Peter was going to do in Matthew 16:18 – Storm the Gates of Hell!
Wouldn’t it be awesome to be a part of a group of radical, supernatural, bold, wise, passionate believers bringing the true Promised Land at full speed to people’s hell?
Just the thought makes me shudder.
Wait a minute, maybe that was hell shuddering.
Day 9 Is the American Church on Steroids?
Yes, this is an article about the American church and not baseball. But with all of the news about athletes taking steroids in the news, I seriously think the church might be taking steroids. Think about it.
Why would the church take steroids? Why do athletes take steroids? Self-promotion, ambition, to become big at all costs. Hmmmm......
As we know, the negative effects of steroids eventually catch up with the athlete.
Athletes that take steroids see their reproductive organs shrink. Hmmm... I'm thinking.
Athletes that take steroids do it to make their body – their outside - look good but their heart is developing major problems. Hmmm...What was the first commandment? I think I heard a sermon on that once.
Athletes that take steroids end up with damaged joints. Hmmm....who is that sitting in the pew beside me? What was their name?
Athletes that take steroids develop a mentality of unreasonable expectations. How many church leaders have heard this one, "I know there are 23 programs in the church but I need one more for my need"!
Athletes that take steroids damage their physical eyes. Have you heard this one in the church? We don’t want the prophetic gifts they run people off. Hmmm…no prophetic…no see into the future.
Athletes that take steroids focus mostly on the short term gain. Tomorrow? We will worry about that...well...tomorrow.
Strange blog, I know. Why did I write this? If you or your church feels the pressure to be big and good looking because the fans love big and good looking, get off the steroids.
That’s all for now, the pain is too much for me to continue writing. Going through withdrawal will do that to you.
Who Is in Control?
Jesus in Ephesians 5:23 says that He is the head of the Church. I know this intellectually but in practice I often take over and want my Church to be run how I want to see it run. In addition, I want to decide what is best as a leader and then get Jesus’ blessings on my plans. Am I the only one? Hopefully.
Jesus the last few years has been letting me know that if I want Him to show up at my Church then I have to let Him call the shots otherwise He won’t show up. He is wanting His church back. I can’t blame Him since He died for the Church and I didn’t.
When God started showing me all the ways I wanted to run the show – I mean Church – it was really brutal. I know about pruning but this was not clippers time but ax time. I am still very much in this process and hopefully you can learn some from my journey so that you can be spared the ax.
I am starting to realize that much of what I do is because of my ambition and not His. I am also starting to realize that Jesus’ vision of His Church is so much bigger and more powerful than I ever could do on my own. Slowly, I am becoming the junior partner and letting Him as the Senior Partner and Owner lead the Church.
Enjoy the blogs in this section and let Jesus show you how He wants His Church you are involved in to let Him lead.
Day 10 What a Difference 2000 Years Makes in a Word
What do you think of when I say the word order?
What do you think of when I say the word order in respect to your relationship with God?
There are two opposite ways to view the word order. It can have two directions in respect to a person. An order can come to you or an order can come from you.
In 2000 years the word order in respect to our relationship with God has taken a 180 degree turn. It has moved from a word that comes to us from God to a word that comes from us to God.
As Americans we are used to ordering things. We order food at a restaurant, we order prescriptions at the drive through line, we order our employees to do something, we order our children to behave, and we order clothes through the Internet. We are indeed a blessed society. We get to order a lot of things. We like ordering. We are good at ordering.
In many parts of American Christianity, Church and God is just another place we order things. Instead, of the Coca-Cola logo on the vending machine at the store the Church version of the vending machine has a picture of a dove coming out of a cloud on it.
The church has encouraged this vending machine mentality. Our auditoriums are full of the 'vending machines'. Matters of fact, the churches with the most vending machines have the biggest crowds. Most of our sermons and programs are describing our use of getting things out of the vending machines. We like ordering at church. We are also good at ordering at church.
I want to submit to you that 2000 years ago the Church did not know what it meant to order God. Instead, God ordered them.
Mark 16:15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.
Do you realize that the most common name of God in the Bible is the 'Captain of the Hosts (Army)'? Captains give orders, they don't take orders.
Now, I have done more than my fair share of giving orders to God. I have gotten some of the best ways to give orders to God from the Church. And you know, not once, did He ever obey. I even did it with faith, in accordance with His Word, with power, and might! He still didn't move. He usually waited for me to get through ranting, spitting, yelling, declaring, and then would say something like this, "You move with me, not the other way around, Private. The only orders I obey are the ones I give to you."
I have enjoyed life so much more since I have stopped giving orders to God. There is more peace since I started asking God what His orders are for me. He loves fulfilling my orders when they first come from Him. It's an amazing thing.
"God, one last request for the day, can I have a Big Mac, Fries, and a large Coke, with that better job"?
Day 11 What is a Balanced Christian – Part 1
I have said to myself numerous times as a Christian, “I need to ‘stay balanced, be careful, are you sure you should be expressing your Christianity that way’”. As a Pastor, I have had many people say that to me about our church.
Can I make a confession? I have grown to hate this statement. The Holy Spirit is showing me how it is just my excuse to not follow Him.
What does it mean to be a balanced Christian? Good question. If I am honest this is what it means to me: not doing something different from what I am doing now. I assume that I am either already a balanced Christian or pretty close to it so I don't venture out into new territory.
I hate to admit it but it’s true. How pitiful when I think this way. It's sad to think that I have reached the pinnacle of Christianity and understand it all.
As I look at the gospels and think about how Jesus modeled how a Christian walks I realize I am using the ‘balanced’ argument to justify my pathetic power and bashful boldness.
As I look at how God is moving in Christianity around the world I realize I am using the ‘balanced’ argument to justify the lack of God’s presence in my life.
As I look at the looks of horror on people’s face when I get passionate about God I realize my argument of ‘balanced’ justifies my cultural Christianity.
As I look at the circumstances that I must change if I ‘pick up my cross daily’ I say, “Craig, you had better watch out, keep things in balance.”
I have come to realize that “keeping things in balance” is simply a code word for status quo.
The devil is scared to death of change in our life. He has convinced me of the same by saying, “if you are not careful you may end up in error.”
The fact is I am already in error.
Jesus told me in His last statement before He ascended to Heaven in Matthew 28 & Mark 16 to heal the sick, cast out demons, speak in tongues, have no fear of poison or snakes, disciple nations, and exercise authority.
Jesus’ Great Commission is ridiculed as not balanced in most of Western Christianity. I would love to see Jesus’ face and remarks if a Western Christian told Him He just needed to be balanced or He may get off in error.
I have another confession to make. I am not balanced. In the scales of Christianity I am so weighed down by my thinking and way of life that I wonder if there is any of God’s way of thinking on the other side of the scale. I don’t have to worry about getting into error, I am already there.
I am no longer scared of becoming unbalanced; I am scared of never getting there.
Day 12 What is a Balanced Christian? – Part 2
Yesterday I confessed that I was unbalanced and in error as a Christian.
What would it look like if I was balanced?
I propose to you 2 ‘weights’ that are equal in importance, cost and value. When these two weights are put on each side of the scale they will cause the scale to be balanced. I will be balanced when I have the full portions of each weight.
Those weights are the two things the Holy Spirit brings when He comes inside of me when I am born again. These two ‘weights’ are the things He wants to teach me. These two weights are the things that gave the proper balance to Jesus as He walked with the Holy Spirit on earth.
These two things are the Holy Spirit’s fruits and gifts. The fruits are one side of the scale, the gifts are the other.
The fruits are (Galatians 5:22-23): Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control.
The gifts are (1 Corinthians 12:8-10): Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith, Healing, Miracles, Prophecy, Discernment, Speaking in Tongues, Interpretation of Tongues
9 Fruits. 9 Gifts. Perfect Balance.
If I flow in all of the gifts without the fruits I am unbalanced (1 Corinthians 13:1).
If I flow in all of the fruits without the gifts I am unbalanced (John 3:2).
If I flow in some of the gifts and some of the fruits I am becoming more balanced.
The Holy Spirit is working to get all of the fruits and all of the gifts active in my life.
Only then will I be balanced.
Until then, I am simply an unbalanced Christian seeking balance.
Until next time, seeking the scales of balance.
Day 13 Where’s The Passion?
'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' Matthew 22:37
I remember the first time I was challenged by this verse. I was 25 and the Lord asked me to raise my hand during the worship service at church.
Worship God with all my heart, soul, mind, and body? You have got to be kidding? That is not dignified. What will others think? What about my flesh getting out of control?
Truth be told, I was scared to death. My flesh didn't have to worry about getting out of control, it was firmly in control! Finally, I raised my hand.
After the initial wave of extreme self-consciousness passed I felt awesome! I felt free! I had never experienced worship like that before!
I have been thinking that one of the most damaging enemies to the Kingdom of God is not Satan, its Controlled Christianity. As a Church leader I ask myself, why I spend so much time organizing well run programs when what we really need is Matthew 22:37 encounters.
Why do we as Ministers focus on perfect services instead of creating encounters? I know one excuse I use is that God wants us to be excellent. The problem is that I don't think He means the same thing as we do by this phrase. I believe excellence of spirit is what He wants and not a perfectly timed production.
Another excuse is let's not be too weird or we will offend the visitors. So instead of mirroring the amazing passion Jesus has for His bride the service mirrors the controlled love for God I have. Visitors get enough productions from Hollywood. I think what they really want is something real and worth being passionate about.
A Matthew 22:37 encounter takes all I have. Passion is raw. Passion is exhilarating. Passion is not perfect. I will sacrifice anything for what I am passionate about. I think that is why Satan talks me out of it.
I am learning that Christian performance drains me and perfection kills me.
When I see someone spiritually naked before the Lord in worship it makes my flesh uncomfortable, so I keep my clothes on. Meanwhile, I don't realize I have become spiritually barren like Michal who was embarrassed by her husband David's nakedness as a result of passion (2 Samuel 6:16). It offended her.
I can offend others or I can offend God with my lack of passion towards Him. I can look good or I can become intimate with God.
I want to see a whole church full of passion! Not an individual but a whole church! When that happens something is going to be birthed! The world is looking for something to believe in that's real.
In the natural you can't reproduce without intimacy and it's not fun without passion.
So who cares who is watching anymore?
It's time to take the spiritual condom off our spiritual lives.
Day 14 Has God Become a Commodity?
Definition of Commodity: “useful thing: something that people value or find useful”.
We have figured out Christianity in America. The book stores, blogs, and sermons are filled with titles like ‘3 Ways to Hear God’s Voice’, ‘5 Keys to a Successful Marriage’, ‘Understanding the Holy Spirit in 5 Steps’, ‘Being a Better Parent within the Week’, and ’10 Steps to a Successful Ministry’. I myself just recently spoke on ‘3 Things That Compete Against God’s Voice’.
We in Christianity read just like the ‘Self Help’ aisles in the book store or sound like the Motivational CD’s they sell in the early morning hours on TV.
What I want is a God I can’t figure out.
What I want is a God where I don’t always get the answers I want.
What I want is a God that is so big that I experience the infinite.
What I want is a God that is so large that it causes my imagination to run wild.
Yes, I want principles and 7 steps to success. But more than that, I want a God that causes me to experience wonder and awe.
I don’t want a God whose only value to me is His usefulness to me. He is not a commodity I use like salt, copper, gas, or food. He is to be revered not used like a vending machine.
We need imagination. We need transcendence. We need the unknown in Christianity. Why do we feel we have to explain everything? He is not a calculation that we perform when we need something. He is more than a grocery store and pithy proverbs.
We are so good at distilling everything down to a formula. But sometimes I don’t need a formula. I need power that blows my formula apart. We have removed the unknown from God and replaced it with security in statements. Unfortunately, I think we have taken away the power and presence of God in the process. We have many of His principles but little of His presence.
Where is the mystery? Why pursue mystery when it is easier to have a genie in the bottle.
Just a thought…
Day 15 Jesus, Inc.
If Jesus had been an American He would have trademarked, copyrighted, patented, branded, and incorporated Himself.
If Jesus had been an American He would own the domain www.jesus.com, I AM TV Channel, Fly to the Skies Airlines, Miracle Vitamins, and Whole Healing Food Stores.
If Jesus had been an American He would have written How to Ascend in Power in 3 Days, How to Grow Rich through Fishing, and How to Start A Catering Business with 5 Loaves and Two Fishes.
If Jesus had been an American think how much more He could have changed the world!
“In the beginning the church was a fellowship of men and women centered on the living Christ. Then the church moved to Greece, where it became a philosophy, Then it moved to Rome, where it became an institution. Next, it moved to Europe, where it became a culture. And, finally, it moved to America, where it became an enterprise.“ - Richard Halverson, former chaplain of the United States Senate
Day 16 McDonald’s Franchise or Speciality Restaurant?
I am finding that Churches are rapidly becoming 1 of 2 types - either a McDonald’s type of franchise or a specialty restaurant.
McDonald’s is the largest restaurant chain in the world. It is very desirable to be this big to a lot of people. Nobody would say their food is at the top of the review charts but big is always good isn’t it? McDonald’s got big because of the franchise concept. The franchise concept is where other people own the restaurant besides McDonald’s but they have to follow strict systems and procedures to insure consistency of experience. Go to any McDonald’s restaurants in the world and they are basically all the same.
I am seeing this same philosophy in the Church world. There are many conferences, denominations, and individual Churches telling us the franchise formula for how the biggest Churches in America does things. So since they are big we assume that it is the way to go. Our success depends almost solely on being big. Right?
We are told there is a formula of ‘rightness’ in America that if you follow it you will be big like the biggest churches. We don’t ever stop to evaluate whether our criteria for success is even right. We just go to more conferences and read more books hoping to find the next thing to ‘tweak’ in the system that will ensure lots of people come in the door to get another Big Sermon or Quarter Pounder Youth program.
I have studied this model quite extensively. It’s not bad. The biggest Churches in America implements this franchise formula. I can within about 5 minutes of visiting a Church tell you if they are following the franchise formula. Again this isn’t necessarily wrong, but surely God has something better in mind than all of us trying to copy the few successful Churches in America. The fact is that most Churches that implement the franchise formula never see the success they desire.
The Church franchise system imitates the same 4 core principles that McDonald’s uses. They are: Predictable (No Surprises), Fast, Convenient, and My Way. My Way means that while you can’t order Spaghetti you can order a standard product like a Big Mac without pickles.
We can build a Church with these 4 core principles but the problem is that God doesn’t live by these principles. If we insist on a Christianity with these 4 core principles we will get some American hybridized version of Christianity that the original Apostles would never recognize.
Jesus the head of the Church is not predictable. He never did a prayer or miracle or healing the same way twice, creation is incredibly varied; even people are quite different all over the earth with different personalities. Here are the McDonald’s values being adopted by Churches vs. God’s model for Churches (in my opinion).
McDONALD’S VALUES GOD’S VALUES
Franchise Church Creative Church
Predictable Orderly - But Not Predictable
Fast Slow Cooker vs. Microwave
Convenient God’s Time Table Not Ours
My Way His Way vs. My Way
What would Christianity in America look like if we did away with the Franchise mentality and asked Jesus how He wanted to build each individual Church? What would they look like if they were orderly but not predictable, events happened on His time schedule, and we adjusted our lives according to His timetable?
It is much harder to do it this way but you will get a better meal. Don’t you like visiting those out of the way restaurants that the locals rave about? I know I do. But it will take creativity, risk, and breaking out of what is the definition of success.
Day 17 Familiarity Can Be Dangerous
I go to a great church and I am involved with a great group of people. I am sure you do too. Many times we experience God and His presence in a wonderful way. It's fantastic and I don't want to be doing anything else.
But the other day I found myself being bored in one of our church services. This bothered me because I knew God was manifesting Himself but I was still bored.
Later on in the week the Lord spoke this simple word to me through another brother, "Familiarity can lead to apathy."
I immediately knew that was true in my life. Fortunately, I have come to experience God's presence quite often, so often, I was taking Him for granted.
I often do this with the Bible. Have you ever read a passage so many times you don’t pay attention to it anymore?
When you know a part of God or His Word so well that He doesn't fascinate you anymore it should scare us. It means our familiarity with Him is leading us into apathy.
Has your wonderment left? Has boredom set in? It happens to me. Step back at those times, repent and ask God to give you a fascination with Him again like it's the first time. Pretend like you are a little child seeing some new part of the world for the first time. I guarantee you that the fascination will return.
Familiarity can be dangerous, but it doesn't have too. It should lead us to greater intimacy.
Day 18 2 Things I Hunger For in a Church
I live in a part of the world where Churches are expected to be a cross somewhere between an Activities Center, Theater, and School. While all of these things have their benefits in the end what do I want in a Church?
I do want a church with good teaching, wonderful music, and programs for my kids. But if I had to distill down what I would die without these would not be it.
There are 2 things I hunger for: the Presence of God and a sense of Family among my brothers.
These 2 things are the only things I cannot do without.
These 2 things are the only things that last forever.
These 2 things are about relationship.
These 2 things cannot be created by a great organizer.
These 2 things are not an event.
These 2 things require humility and the supernatural.
These 2 things give meaning to life.
What do I remember as the high points in my 51 years of life? Almost entirely they are memories with people and God – not a movie or an event I saw. I want to create more memories with God and with people.
As a Church leader how can I do this? I am not totally sure, but I know that humility and the priority of relationships over time and events is a place to start. I long for upper room experiences like were found in Acts 2. I long for encounters with God and with others like the 120 who were in the upper room together.
I am convinced that few Christians in America have ever truly been in the presence of God. I have not met Him enough myself but I desire to change that for me and for others. This is a value we often say in phrases like “I am going to go to Church to meet God.” But most of the time I find myself hearing about God and not meeting Him. I know it can only happen if we are not in a hurry to go somewhere else and give true opportunities to encounter Him.
How do you describe God’s presence? It’s hard. It’s not a meeting as we typically define it but a meeting with an awesome, loving, holy Person. When you leave God’s presence you can’t really describe it. But once you have been in His presence you want nothing else from then on. You are spoiled as to what ‘meeting with God’ means.
The other thing I hunger for is family, true family as described in the Bible. Have you noticed that the concept of family with brothers and sisters is all through the Bible? Even in the New Testament where we get a glimpse of what the early Church was like it was often best understood in family terms. God is a family God! What does Biblical family mean? Here are some ideas.
Family is where we don’t have to pretend we are anything other than what we are.
Family is where we don’t have to worry about whether we will ever see each other again. We know we will, for better or for worse!
Family is where each member’s joys and pain are shared.
Family is where we are free enough to admit we need help and we receive it.
Family is where we are a member no matter how we act.
Family is people that we enjoy hanging out with and expect to at all major events!
The presence of God and a sense of family – these are the things I hunger for in a Church. How do we make that happen? I am on a journey to find out but I have experienced it enough to know that I will never be satisfied with anything else. This is why I am still involved in the Church as a leader. I want to see these two things I hunger for be satisfied in me and my family.
Day 19 4 Group Worship Principles
Worship is such a big subject. Think about it, if someone asked you to define worship what would you say? If you started asking people what their definition of worship was you would probably get a different definition from every person you asked! The interesting thing is that every one of those people would have a part of what worship is. Worship is something we are to do in every area of our life.
At Relationship Church one of the unique things about our Sunday morning gatherings is our worship. Why do I say this? Every newcomer mentions this as the most unique thing about our Church. Hopefully that is a good thing and not just a ‘different’ thing.
Last Sunday I shared with the Dalton congregation 4 guiding principles of our worship on Sunday. I wanted to share them with you too in case you weren’t there.
1. Prophetic Not Predictable
Prophetic is a word I use to mean listening to what the Holy Spirit is saying. We want our music – as well as the message – to be prophetic. That means if the Holy Spirit decides to change up a song, add a new song, move into freestyle worship we are open to that. That means that the song list could change which would mean that our worship would not always be predictable. We don’t want to change for the purpose of change. But we also don’t want to follow a song list no matter what!
What does that mean for the worshipper in the audience? If a new song or a spontaneous song is being played the words will not be on the projector. There may be times when there are no words as the musicians just play allowing our thoughts to dwell on God in whatever matter works best for us.
What does that mean for the musicians/worship leaders? They have to stay flexible and listen to the Holy Spirit for modifications while they are playing.
For all involved it means a higher level of grace, flexibility, and maturity.
2. Excellent Not Professional
We want to be excellent in all that we do. That means for musicians/singers they are the best musicians/singers they can be. Their instruments/voices are in tune; their timing is correct, etc. When I say professional I am not talking about people getting paid for what they are doing. Professional to me is someone who considers the actual act of performance as the main thing. The main thing is to bring the people into the presence of God. That means the worship team has to truly worship God themselves as they play they can’t just have a great performance. If that is the case we end up watching them and not meeting God.
3. Messy is OK
When people actually worship and not just watch it is often messy. Messy means people may cry, dance, shout, etc. When you truly meet God different things can happen to different people. We are not advocating a behavior that draws attention to ourselves but at the same time meeting God doesn’t always fit into a nice ‘right behavior’ package. When Mary poured out her expensive bottle of perfume on Jesus’ feet it was different, expensive, and definitely messy.
4. Purpose of Worship is His Presence
Our pursuit is not worship. Our pursuit is His presence. All worship’s goal is to end up face to face with Him! Admittedly we don’t always get there but our criterion for a good worship time is not how well everyone played or sang or whether we liked the songs. Those things are important but the judge of how well a worship time was did the Presence of God come into the building and our lives.
Worship On!
So You Want to Work in the Church?
For change to be lasting it needs to flow down from the leaders and not upwards from the members. This is true for any organization including the Church. So guess what? Jesus is shaking and shaping the leaders that report to Him. These leaders go by many titles in the modern Church but include Pastor, Senior Leader, Bishop, Deacons, Elders, Evangelist, Teacher, etc. There is nothing wrong with these titles but Ephesians 4:11-13 shares with us the names of the leaders who are directly accountable to Jesus. These names and their functions are new to many people but here is a list of them.
Epesians 4:11-13 “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”
Part of what Jesus is doing is redefining these positions according to His insight and subsequently giving us increased insight. It is a privilege to follow Jesus but keep in mind that the Leaders have to change the most since they are the ones that have to lead the Church in that change. With the added insight given by Jesus much responsibility is required.
The next few blogs gives some thoughts on some of these positions and how to become a leader in God’s timing.
Day 20 Apostolic Pastors
What do you think of when I say the word Pastor?
It's often warm thoughts about comfort. I hope so any way. Pastors are to be comforting.
But I am afraid some American pastors have put all of their emphasis on comforting and not much else.
Many Americans think their pastor's main job is to make them comfortable and well fed. If they don't do it...well...as the saying goes, "it was nice knowing you."
As a result, American sheep don't ever stop getting fed and rarely get any exercise. So we end up with extremely fat sheep. So fat they often can't move when God tells them too.
God is raising up a new type of Pastor with an apostolic anointing. In layman’s terms that means they work with an Apostle who rubs off on them.
The word apostolic means building for a purpose. Apostolic pastors are going to be different than a traditional pastor because they have a purpose in mind - for you.
Apostolic Pastors are more than paid adult baby sitters.
Whoaaa. There I said it. I feel better. Good thing you can't fire me. Don’t put this book down either. You are pumping soul iron right now.
Sheep that are used to the traditional American pastor are going through some good changes as God releases the new breed of apostolic Pastors. Here are some:
They will not change your diapers forever. They will help you learn how to do it yourself by passing you the diaper to put on when you need them.
Help you develop muscle by finding and exercising your gift. When you hit the playing field, they will be your biggest cheerleader.
Help you tackle root causes of problems in your life and not just your felt needs. They are looking for lifetime solutions.
Teach you to prophecy and not just phone 1-800-PROPHECY.
Bring you into true maturity and not just give you enough to maintain.
Download this book for your ebook reader.
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