Just had lunch with a pastor who was is a retired special forces commander and just meeting with him eating some fantastic Korean food with chopsticks convinced me of something: Resistance to change is not a God thing. Here is a man of God not giving up, striving to change and fight for what God wants! I want to do that too! It may be natural it may be human, but it doesn’t mean it’s right. Getting old doesn’t mean you hang up your guns and never fight again. I get that we want to have some things normalized as we mature through life. We’d like to have more constants in our life. That’s normal even as a child. Our children grow best when there are constants around them and stability. Here’s the thing God has called into the process of sanctification which is all about change.
I was reminded of Joshua who at the age of 40 scouted out the promised land that God was going to give to the people of God. In Chapter 14 he remembers that time with vivid clarity even though he is now 85. Check out the story and I’ll tell you something powerful thought to wrap it up.
Joshua 14 6 Now the men of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. 7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, 8 but my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly. 9 So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.’ [a]10 “Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the desert. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! 11 I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. 12 Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.”
Joshua was just as vigorous to go out and chase God’s vision at 85 as he was at 40. His faith had not subsided. He didn’t say, no thanks I’m just going to retire. He didn’t say, no it’s time for the young ones to do it now and let me sit back and watch. He didn’t say, I’ll be glad to tell you what to do, but I’m not fighting. He didn’t say, I’m happy with where I am now. I chased after it and I’m now at a place where I want to stay. No, he said, “Give me this hill country that the Lord promised…. the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.” Joshua had a faith and passion for God at 85 that I wish I had every day. My prayer is, “Lord, make me that 85 year old today who will fight with you and not the 38 year old who at times wants to pick the wrong fights or at times run from the fights he is afraid of.”
All the Answers are True. See the True False Quiz here Now that you know that, what can you do to change the direction the American Church is heading? What can you do where you are, in the corner of the world God has placed you to raise biblical literacy? Who will you to tell more people about Christ, invite someone to church? Be ready to explain that the Holy Spirit is real and if someone is filled with the Holy Spirit they CAN’T also be possessed with a demon. Where will you find the resources and tools to do this? How are you going to encourage marriages who face divorce and encourage those who are going through divorce? How are you going to raise your game so we change trends that see more Christians and a stronger church by 2022 rather than a smaller shrinking church in a country that has become irreligious? We can be the change agents. We can make a difference. You can make a difference! True or False? TRUE!
In recent weeks I’ve preached on the role of elders, overseers and pastors. I’ve blogged on biblical expectations and job descriptions of our pastors, staff, Pastor’s counsel. So is it really so important that staff, pastor’s counsel, Pastors, Elders, Deacons and overseers of God’s church be mature and line up with biblical expectations? Does it really matter or is it enough to just have anybody who is willing or wants to have a say in such places of service and leadership? To answer the question let’s look at the soldier who guards the tomb of the unknown soldier: Every year we would go on the fourth of July to lay flowers on my wife’s father’s grave which is just several 100 yards away from the tomb of the unknown solder. We would stand in amazement as we would watch these men, with masterful precision, grace, strength and passion continue a mission that began in 1930.
The guard takes 21 steps during his walk across the tomb of The Unknowns, but do you know why? It alludes to the twenty-one gun salute, which is the highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary. The Soldier hesitates 21 seconds after his about face to begin his return walk again to show the highest honor given. His gloves are moistened to prevent his losing his grip on the rifle. He carries the rifle on the shoulder away from the tomb at all times. After his march across the path, he executes an about face and moves the rifle to the outside shoulder.
One of my favorite moments on Arlington is to watch the changing of the Guards. The guards are changed every thirty minutes, twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year. Every time I have watched this, there is always complete silence as you can hear every breath. You can hear the movement of the cloth uniforms and the crack of the rifles. You can see a focus in their eyes and know that they could go through this with their eyes closed because they seem to be one moving part.
Watching this display causes one to consider the physical traits of every guard, because each one seems to be a mirror of the other guard. For a person to apply for guard duty at the tomb, he must be between 5′ 10′ and 6′ 2′ tall and his waist size cannot exceed 30.’ Other requirements of the Guard: They must commit 2 years of life to guard the tomb, live in a barracks under the tomb, and cannot drink any alcohol on or off duty for the rest of their lives. They cannot swear in public for the rest of their lives and cannot disgrace the uniform {fighting} or the tomb in any way. After two years, the guard is given a wreath pin that is worn on their lapel signifying they served as guard of the tomb. There are only 400 presently worn. The guard must obey these rules for the rest of their lives or give up the wreath pin. This causes me ask why the church is filled with so many who don’t take on the characteristics of Christ when we are called to mirror Christ in all that we do.
Every guard spends five hours a day getting his uniforms ready for guard duty. The shoes are specially made with very thick soles to keep the heat and cold from their feet. There are metal heel plates that extend to the top of the shoe in order to make the loud click as they come to a halt. There are no wrinkles, folds or lint on the uniform. Guards dress for duty in front of a full-length mirror.
The first six months of duty a guard cannot talk to anyone, nor watch TV. All off duty time is spent studying the 175 notable people laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. A guard must memorize who they are and where they are interred. Among the notables are: President Taft, Joe E. Lewis {the boxer} and Medal of Honor winner Audie Murphy, {the most Decorated soldier of WWII} of Hollywood fame. Just pause and ask yourself the question how much time do you spend studying notable people in the Bible, memorizing Scripture, praying, fasting? How much of your free time is spent worshiping our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
So is it important for church leaders to meet such high expectations in the church? If it is so important for a soldier to meet such a high expectation to guard the tomb of the un-known dead, how much more vital is it to have soldiers such as you and I, Pastors, elders, deacons, church counsel meet the scriptural maturity in 1 Tim & 1 Peter who can point to an empty tomb not guard one that is full and are called to fight for a God who has done everything to make Himself known to us and through us? You say, yes the image stirs up patriotism, but why is it so important to meet such scriptural expectations? I’ll explain it with a true story about these soldiers.
I remember in 2003 as Hurricane Isabelle was approaching Washington , DC. I remember because winds took off half the siding on my home. Due to the storm he US Senate/House took 2 days off with anticipation of the storm. On the ABC evening news, it was reported that because of the dangers from the hurricane, the military members assigned the duty of guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were given permission to suspend the assignment. They respectfully declined the offer, ‘No way, Sir!’ Soaked to the skin, marching in the pelting rain of a tropical storm, they said that Guarding the Tomb was not just an assignment, it was the highest honor that can be afforded to a serviceperson. The tomb has been patrolled continuously, 24/7, since 1930.
You and I, this country and God’s Church are in a spiritual Hurricane of biblical proportions. We have been given the highest honor of serving Christ and leading His church. Without the right soldiers, without high expectations and high intentionality, without a commitment and passion to service and the task we are called to, we will have people listening to culture tell them it is ok to suspend our service, our witness, our walk, our prayers, our fasting, our faithfulness, our Bible reading, our devotions, our church services, our tithing, our trust in each other, our commitment, our communication with each other, when Christ and His Church need the right people leading, guarding and fighting for His church, setting an example and fighting for His kingdom more than ever.
The answer is yes. Yes it really is important that the pastor’s counsel,staff, Pastors, Elders, Deacons and overseers of God’s church be mature and line up with biblical expectations? The question is will you be one?
I’ll begin posting again soon. Got back from Vacation. Dealing with Chinese Dry Wall, had some brief health concerns with family over the vacation, Now we’re back home with no AC for the second time in 3 weeks. Nothing would be lovelier than to be back studying, writing, simply loving people into the kingdom. I would ask for your prayers for me and my family. Thanks!
The president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is calling the denomination to re-focus on the Great Commission. Here is my quick synopsis: What I see are three wise bullet points. People need to embrace biblical change that fits with progressional sanctification. Too many stopped in their progress and think they have landed. Second, you need strong biblical leadership. There might be pastors who think they are in God’s will and are not. Well, that one is pretty easy to sort out. Look and see if what he is doing lines up with Scripture, and meets the requirements in 1 tim and 1 peter, case closed. The Third is vision requires change. Joh Pollard says, “People underestimate their capacity for change. There is never a right time to do a difficult thing. A leader’s job is to help people have vision of their potential.”
Here are the three challenges. There are stalled Christians in their progressive sanctification not wanting to attain their potential. Second, their are pastors and leaders scared to follow through with the vision thing because of the waves it will create – the waves of change. Third, it is obvious that for decades based on the numbers leaving the church, based on the number of biblically illiterate in this country, based on the numbers of pastors leaving the ministry – churches have been led in the wrong direction by their leaders, and in many cases led by the people unwilling to change because of lack of vision on either side.
Is there only one way to do church or is some sort of change needed? A resurgence in developing disciples seems to suggest church services are getting deeper, going a bit longer,with pastors & leaders having more accountability for starters, that’s hard to swallow for some on both sides. Churches like Mars Hill, Seacoast, New Spring, Elevation Church all fit this for sure and are growing disciples like crazy! The challenge is how will the church help people have vision for their potential when they seem content to stay where they are and when it requires more effort as Paul suggested it would, “work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” With that said, here is what Hunt had to say.
|
| Last Updated on Wednesday, 24 June 2009 15:19 |
To be sure your team will operate in biblical parameters, it’s a good idea to develop biblical staff values that they can go to. How to handle leadership, the expectations for a given moment, how to handle gossip, emphasize priorities, etc. This is a great starting point for your team. I’d encourage you to review your Staff Values with your staff and anyone functioning as staff. It’s also important for those who are not staff to know these values so you team can be held accountable.
For instance if a staff person or team member in your business begins to shut down communication or begins to spread gossip about another team member or maybe they suggesting the leadership or direction of the company is in error to partners, clients or other members that the vision or leadership, you have recourse to sit down with that staff person or co-worker and discuss what they are doing doesn’t fit your values or Scripture. It can be a great tool if it is used
Ten Staff Values
ONE
Walk with Christ in a spiritually surrendered life
(Colossians 2:6-7; 1Timothy 4:7)
TWO
Never lose sight of the mission
(Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 15, 19:10)
THREE
Work with intensity
(1 Corinthians 15:58; Colossians 3:23-24)
FOUR
Maintain an infectious, optimistic, and enthusiastic attitude
(Deuteronomy 20:8; 1Thessalonians 5:11)
FIVE
Demonstrate a commitment to excellence
(1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:23)
SIX
Exhibit a servant’s heart
(Matthew 20:25-28; Ephesians 6:7; Philippians 2:5-8)
SEVEN
Practice unity and honest communication
(Psalm 133:1; John 17:23; Romans 15:5,6; Ephesians 4:3, 25)
EIGHT
Manifest credibility
(Matthew 23:3-4; 1 Corinthians 4:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:10)
NINE
Honor and value volunteers
(Romans 12:10; Philippians 2:29-30; 1 Peter 2:17)
TEN
Pray, pray, pray
(1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 Peter 5:6-7)
We have other leadership teams that are also called to live by Team values, but they are only as good as you live by them and use them. So remember keep these in front of your team. In time it will be come natural to those who want to play fair. For others you’ll see they have their own rules to playing the game. Don’t give up. Godly and biblical values will set the tone for your team, but you as the leader will be responsible for keeping them accountable for them.
A team member:
- meets the Scriptural qualification, exhibits and models Scriptural leadership according to Acts 20:28-31, 1 Tim. 3:2-7; Titus 1:6-9, 1 Pet. 5:1-4, etc.
- has a significant level of experience in situations that have demonstrated his/her character.
- is God-oriented-with their life and sense of purpose (focused more on God than on personal achievements.)
- will hold each other, the Lead pastor and executive staff in high accountability.
- is motivated by faith in the supernatural work of God.
- is a person of prayer.
- is able to make decisive and difficult decisions.
- understands/discerns God’s hand and direction for The North Pointe Church and can help achieve it.
- is positive and focused on the future, yet realistic and aware of reality.
- wants to win, not just get by.
- thinks critically-yet without a critical attitude.
- is a natural encourager-a cheerleader for the whole group, including the Lead Pastor, staff and Leadership Team members.
- believes strongly in the mission, vision and values of the church.
- feels at ease in an advising relationship with the Lead Pastor.
- “fits” with current Leadership Team members.
- demonstrates a positive mental attitude and a strong self-esteem.
- uses a Biblical grid for decision-making.
- is committed to our philosophy of ministry- cgs2/b
- is not a rubber stamp – giving an automatic “yes”; nor a devil’s advocate-with an automatic “No”.
- thinks independently without insisting on “my way”.
- shows a willingness to adapt a program to meet needs.
- demonstrates an ability to delegate effectively.
- has their spouse’s support (if married)
- has a servant-leader attitude—“How can I serve you?” vs “How can I be served?”
- is willing to work, do homework and serve.
- brings a wide variety of successful experiences to the team.
- demonstrates the importance of confidentiality on sensitive information.
- shows a desire to grow and learn.
- has no significant personal (hidden) agenda.
- is a faithful steward of God’s money (must lead the church in giving).
- demonstrates an ability to discern truth.
True or False – Answer the following Questions based on your true or false answer.
This is a Quiz I came up with to test our current knowledge on the current photo of the Bride.
I’ll post the True Answers in a couple weeks. I hope you will really try to answer these.
You may be the one God uses to bring back the bride to himself.
(True or False) 85% of church plants don’t succeed beyond their first year.
Why do you think so many church plants fail and what would you do to see more success?
Or why do you believe so many church plants are succeeding?
(True or False) 85 % of North American churches are stagnant or declining 3,500-4,000 U.S. churches close each year.
What’s your game plan to turn that number around?
Or what are churches doing so right to see numerical and spiritual growth?
(True or False) Of the 15 % of churches growing, 14 percent are growing from transfer growth.
Why do you think that is and what would you do personally to change that number locally?
Or Why do you believe there is not evidence to such numbers?
(True or False) Over 95% of church splits fail.
Why do you think that number is so high? What would you do to stimulate church health?
Or if you disagree explain why you would encourage a church split. Can you support 1 family leaving a church is like a mini split to prove a larger spit?
What issue would justify a macro or mini split?
(True or False) Less than 10% of the people who are in the church tithe to their local church.
Why do you think more or less people are tithing? Is giving tithes and offerings a biblical concept?
Do you tithe to your local church? Why or why not?
How would you encourage others to tithe?
(True or False) The average church attender, over 65% have never invited anyone to church.
How many people do you invite to church every week? Is it your responsibility to invite people?
Or if you disagree, share why you believe there are others like your self inviting people they just don’t come because they don’t like your church or some other reason.
(True or False) The percentage of people who identified themselves as having no religion has almost doubled since 1990, from 8.2 % of the population to 15 % today.
Why do you think that number has grown so quickly?
Do you see it getting better or worse in 10 yrs?
Or why is that number exaggerated and why do you feel that way?
(True or False) More than 20 % of the population has no overt religious identity. Statistics suggest we will be an irreligious country by 2022.
Would you say you are A) actively contributing to an irreligious nation B) Don’t care C) Working very actively to promote biblical literacy in my own life and by teaching others D) Neutral
Or explain why you see this country being more Christian by 2022.
(True or False) 1,700 pastors resign each month from churches.
Do you believe this number is true?
Why or why not?
(True or False) 1,300 pastors are let go each month most often for no reason and no warning.
Why do you think this is the case?
Or do you think such numbers are justified because democratic choices are always better for a church?
(True or False) 3,500 people leave church every day.
Why or why not is this number so large?
How can we reduce the numbers of people leaving every day?
What are you willing to do?
Have you considered leaving the church?
(True or False) Four out of ten Christians (40%) strongly agreed that Satan “is not a living being but is a symbol of evil.” An additional two out of ten Christians (19%) said they “agree somewhat” with that perspective.
Do you believe Satan is real?
Support your answer?
(True or False) Tens of millions of Christians do not accept the divinity and perfection of Jesus Christ.
What evidence do you have that proves or disproves Christ’s divinity?
Does it matter?
(True or False) Most Christians do not believe that the Holy Spirit is a living force.
Does it matter whether the Holy Spirit is real or not?
(True or False) A majority of Christians believe that a person can be under the influence of spiritual forces, such as demons or evil spirits.
Can a Christian be under the control of an evil spirit?
Why or why not?
(True or False) Among all Americans 18 years of age or older, whether they have been married or not at least 25% have gone through a marital split.
Is divorce affecting the church in a negative way?
Is the church influencing marital divorce?
Is divorce affecting church disloyalty?
(True or False) 33% of Christian marriages end in divorce and 33% of Non-Christian end in divorce.
Why do you think there is no difference between the two groups?
What’s your suggestion to improve marriages and reduce the divorce rate beginning with Christians?
(True or False) Just 29% of professing Christians strongly endorse sharing their faith.
Would you say you regularly share your faith? Define regularly…
How many people have you led to Christ?
How many people have you baptized yourself?
(True or False) Levels of distrust toward churches continue to increase. Distrust toward Church leaders and organized Christianity have been growing over the past two decades leading 71% of Americans to say they are “more likely to develop my religious beliefs on my own, rather than to accept an entire set of beliefs that a particular church teaches.”
Why do you think such distrust is growing? Do you trust church leadership?
(True or False) Two out of five church attenders were not able to identify how their church defines spiritual maturity.
Would you say it matters or doesn’t matter?
How would you define Spiritual maturity?
How does your church define it?
(True or False) A majority of Pastors are surprisingly vague about the biblical references they use to chart spiritual maturity for people.
What verses, Bible stories, books of the Bible has your pastor related to biblical maturity and literacy?
(True or False) 8,000 SBC churches in the U.S. baptized no one last year in 2009.
How many people has your church baptized in the last year?
How many have accepted Christ through your church in the last year?
Do you think this number is accurate and growing?
What would you do to dramatically change this number in a positive direction?
I finished my morning reading. A good friend today pointed out something regarding the Bride in the book The Shack. I got page 177-178 and it was affirming and left me with a question I’ll ask at the end of this.
Well Mack, our final destiny is not the picture of Heaven that you have stuck in your head–you know, the image of pearly gates and streets of gold. Instead it’s a new cleansing of this universe, so it will indeed look a lot like here.” ”Then what’s with the pearly gates and gold stuff?” “that stuff, my brother.” Jesus began, lying back on the dock and closing his eyes against the warmth and brightness of the day, ” is a picture of me and the woman I’m in love with.” Mack looked at himto see if he was joking, but it was obvious he wasn’t. “It is a picture of my bride, the Chruch: individuals who together form a spiritual city with a living river flowing through the middle, and on both shores trees growing with fruit that will heal the hurt and sorrows of the nations. And this city is always open, and each gate into it is made of a single pearl…” He opened one eye and looked at Mack. “That would be me!” He saw Mack’s question and explained, “Pearls, Mack the only precious stone made by pain, suffering and –finally–death.”
“I get it. You are the way in, but–” Mack paused, searching for the right words. “you’re talking about the church as this woman you’re in love with; I’m pretty sure I haven’t met her.” He turned away slightly. “She’s not the place I go on Sundays,” Mack said more to himself, unsure if that was safe to say out loud.
“Mack, that’s because you’re only seeing the institution, a man-made system. That’s not what I came to build. What I see are people and their lives, a living breathing community of all those who love me, not buildings and programs… It’s all about relationships and simply sharing life…Just doing church is all about people and life is all about relationships. You can’t build it. It’s my job and I’m actually pretty good at it,”
The question it raised for me is have I seen it. It’s like the feeling you get when you’re asked, ” have you ever seen a dinosaur? Well, I’ve seen pictures.” The Bible is full of pictures and I still believe I’ll see it. How about you?
I have a hand full of people who I count on daily to help me walk my talk and live for Jesus. These are people who can give an account of me. I was talking to one of my accountability partners who happens to be out of state. (I’ve had accountability partners everywhere I go. In my last church plant, my elder team was also my accountability partners. Rare to find that). I had a good conversation with him. He’s one of the men in my life who has held me accountable on the covenant I made with my eyes, anger, forgiveness resolution, my marriage, being a father, etc. You can’t replace men like this. We got to talking about tools that we have to help hold each other accountable. For instance there are web tools that help hold men accountable for the sites they visit. My friend and I have used them for years. I’ve added more men to this group of men over the years. The curious thing is, this seems to create a stigma that we need a software product to track this because this is the worst sin out there, but sin is sin.
My friend and I talked about all of the other products that could be out on the market for accountability partners. Local GPS for tracking them to the casino. Auto twitter when their credit card is being used for those addicted to spending. An Email ping set up on the cookie jar or better yet the scale when it goes unused or over or under depending on your particular addiction. We could set up our phones to auto record key phrases to catch gossip that would auto beam them to their accountability partner’s phone then they would forward it to the person you were speaking about. So you get it, there is market out there and a product could be invented to get us to sin less just as there seems to a product to help us sin more.
The bottom line is we have God’s word and we desperately need relationships getting involved and in faces. Not texting, not emailing, but real voices and real faces being truthful and sincere in helping each other look more like Christ. I’m going to say something quite strong, so don’t take it wrong, but if you don’t have that person in your life, you will never look like Christ as much as you would with that person in your life. You are going to be prone to giving into sin. You are going to be prone to plateau and sliding backwards in your daily walk. If you’re also not reading the Bible daily seeking the wisdom of God to engage the Holy Spirit inside you then you are baiting Satan to use you. Don’t give him that sort of footing. Don’t give him that. There is someone else who needs you in their life to reign in sin and help Christ reign in both of your lives. Who do you count on? Who can give an account of you? Find that person. Pray for that person to come into your life. It’s not about a product line to stop sin, it’s about us doing everything we can to look like Christ as the final product in our lives. W
