What is Church?

Recently a pastor friend asked me to describe what is a church and what does it look like?  Sounds simple doesn't it?  All Christians know what a church is and what it looks like.  It is a place where believers gather in a building, say a prayer, sing some songs, listen to some announcements, place money in an offering plate, listen to sermon, sing one more song, and go home until next Sunday.  At least this is the definition that most Christians would give.  No wonder the church is in decline in America. 

So what is a church?  I know what it is not, it is not a building, it is not an order of service, it is not a few songs, and it's not about someone standing in a pulpit.  Church is much more than all of this.  Church is about two or three people gathering in the name of Jesus and the Holy Spirit being present.  This can occur anywhere at anytime.  Church happens wherever we invite the Holy Spirit to be present.

This weekend I had church at a KFC with Leon, a homeless guy.  Leon had asked for some money and I asked why and he said he had not eaten anything in three days.  I told him that I would meet him at KFC and buy his lunch.  As we were walking into KFC Leon asked me what I did and I told him that I did different things.  Unless I have to I rarely tell someone I am a minister.   Somehow he knew that I was a pastor even though I was wearing a flannel shirt, jeans, hiking boots, and a Mickey Mouse ball cap.  It is not what you have on the outside but what is radiating from the inside.  I ordered Leon what he wanted and carried the food over to him and sat down with him just to fellowship for a few minutes.   I prayed a blessing over the food and then church broke out.  As soon as I finished praying Leon grabbed my hands and started praying a prayer that opened the heavens.  Leon prayed some things over me that he could not have possibly known.  As Leon is praying my eyes are beginning to get watery and I have tears streaming down my face.  Church was taking place at KFC with a homeless man blessing me.  Jesus said whatever we do for the least of these we are doing for Him.  Jesus was blessing me with a Holy Spirit inspired prayer by a brother I never met before.

Church is wherever Jesus is present.  For the church to get out of the spiral of decline we must begin asking ourselves what is church and what does it look like.  I encourage you to search out scripture to define church, review early church history to see how church was done in the beginning, and finally ask the Holy Spirit to remove the blinders of traditionalism.  Traditionalism is the dead faith of the living and tradition is the living faith of the dead.

Just be You

A couple of years ago someone gave me some wonderful advice, just be you and minister the way God has made you.  These words of wisdom came from my beautiful wife and for once I actually listened.  Several years ago I met with a very godly priest by the name of Brother Louie who told me that God had blessed me with a wise woman and I should listen more often.  Ever since that day I have worked at talking less and listening more to one of the Father's gifts to me, my wife.

As I travel about the church and observe what is going I have noticed that we are more concerned about how we appear to others than just being ourselves in Christ.  For example, there is the attractional preacher.  This is the preacher who is eloquent and so moving that others are attracted to his local church just to hear him preach.  In other words, there is a spirit of entertainment and a tickling of the ears that is taking place from the pulpit.  It is more important to be charismatic than biblically sound.  All one has to do is watch "Christian" television and see the smiles, hairdos, and massive audiences to see folks who are being entertained and not discipled.  I would challenge everyone to listen intently to any sermon and check it against the Word of God.  That is what the Bereans (Acts 17:10-11) did and they were commended for being a people of the Word.  Unfortunately, many times there is more fluff that substance flowing from the platform.  Is this the case because we are ashamed of the gospel and how it challenges us to live our lives?  Are we more interested in having an audience or making disciples?  I was once told I never would grow a church preaching on holiness and righteousness.  This person was right because I was more interested in making disciples and expanding the kingdom than growing a church. 

Not only is the issue attractional preachers but attractional churches as well.  In these settings everything is geared towards the unbeliever and what they might think if they happen to walk into the service.  We cannot let the Holy Spirit get to far out of hand, what will people think?  If it is of God they know it is not contrived of men but something far more powerful, God Himself being present.  A wonderful example is when a message is given in tongues it is for the unbeliever not the believer (1Cor 14:22).  Yes everything is to be done in decency in order but not so much order than the Holy Spirit is limited in how He can move about a congregation.

Finally, heresy upon heresy, let us have worship services that reflect who we are and not be ashamed!  If you like Southern gospel do Southern gospel.  If you like gospel do gospel.  If you like traditional hymns do traditional hymns.  If it is contemporary do contemporary.  If you like to run and shout, run and shout.  We are so concerned about what others might think that we hold back on praise of God because someone might not understand or worse yet be offended.  David offended Micah when he was dancing before the LORD so we would be in good company if our praise led to a rebuke.  The beauty of the last 18 months is that I have experienced praise in many settings and often times it was of God.  It might not have been my cup of tea but I joined in because it was genuine praise.  Praise is like going into the closet and picking out the clothes you want to wear according to my mom, we put on the garment of praise that is comfortable for us.  Good teaching from the platform will educate new comers to what is happening and why it is biblical.

Let me encourage you to be you.  Since taking my wife's advice there has been a burdened lifted as I am who I am not trying to please anyone but my God.  I minister the way God has gifted me, I pray the way the Holy Spirit has taught me, and I serve the way Jesus has called me.  Just be you and serving the LORD will become much easier. 

Are You a Minister?

One day during a church fund raising event I asked someone to help me who was not doing anything and they responded, "that was not their ministry".  Yes, that's right, not their ministry.  One of the fallacies of the church today is that people say that they are "called" to such and such place or they are "called" to a particular type of ministry.  With much wisdom and experience my spiritual father would tell me my "calling" was always first and foremost to God and my assignment was wherever I was serving.  In other words, the church did not call me to pastor a particular church but God assigned me to that local body until the assignment was done.  Doesn't it make you wonder how the Father could make so many mistakes when people say that they are "called" to a ministry but a short time later it does not work out and they are moving on to their next "calling".  During a camp meeting Bill Wilson of Metro Ministries in New York said he was constantly being asked if was he called to New York and his response was no.  Wilson saw a need and responded to the need, now that is ministry.  This is really an important point for pastors and churches to get.  If God assigns a pastor to a church rather than one being 'called" by a church then the pastor works for and is responsible to the head of the church, Jesus Christ, rather than a church board or a congregation.  I would agree that there is always accountability to a church board but at the end of the day the senior pastor is first and foremost being held accountable to the Father.  This view diminishes the pressure to please men rather than seeking to please God.  Nearly 85% of pastors feel a disconnect from their congregations because what is expected of the pastor by the congregation is not the same expectations of the pastor leading to frustration by both parties. 

So what is ministry?  Since all believers are part of a royal priesthood, ministry has nothing to do with the recognition of status through man inspired traditions such as clergy or ordination; but rather ministry is about serving others as there is a need.  Some examples of ministry would include: giving someone an encouraging word, a hug, handing out water, vacuuming a church building, cleaning toilets, teaching, singing, preaching, answering the phone, opening a door, and my all time favorite-praying with someone.  What is so wonderful is that none of these ministry opportunities require a certificate or special training, anybody can do these things.  Jesus never meant there to be a divide in who does ministry, it is for all of us.  We may not be called to any of these things we just see the need and we respond.  One day I was in the same room with a woman who was homeless and I struck up a conversation with her.  As I talked with her about her she began to open up and shared with me her story and that she had HIV and no place to stay.  (Everyone has a story so our job is to ask them their story.)  I asked her if I could pray for her and she allowed me to hold her hand and pray.  For me this was just part of my regular day and I did not think twice about it.  Later I learned what this simple act of ministry meant to her.  She could not get over the fact that someone would take the time to talk to her then hold her hand and pray.  Three months later she is still talking about that simple act of ministry-to God be the glory. 

Every day I have the blessing of being able to minister to others not because I am called but because I see the need and respond.  At the same time I have been the beneficiary of ministry that others have provided to me by praying for me, listening to me, and caring enough to ask me how I am really doing, not being afraid of how I might answer.  You have the same opportunity to minister every day.  Pray as I pray each day, Father give me the opportunity to minister to at least one person today.  In the last nine months I have had the privilege of ministering to someone with a need each day. 

Go and be blessed, be a minister to someone today.

Personal Rant

This is something that I have wanted to get off of my proverbial chest for quite some time so please bear with me.  Since my walk with Christ I have noticed a disturbing attitude among some of the people who identify themselves as Christians.  It is an attitude of spiritual superiority, pretending to know the very mind of God, deciding which sins are worse than others on God's behalf, and judging who has been restored by grace and who has not.  One day Jesus was teaching in the temple and the Pharisees brought a woman in who had been caught in the act of adultery for they were wanting to trap Jesus (John 8).  By the law this adulterous woman, along with her lover who is conspicuously absent from this scene, should have been stoned to death.  Jesus' response caught them off-guard when He said that if there were any without sin they should cast the first stone.  Those that were ready to condemn the woman to death wisely dropped their stones and walked away.  The problem today is that wisdom is lacking.  Some within the church are ready to stone anybody and everybody even though they themselves have sin in their hearts.  Too often Christians rail against the sin that personally offends them, abortion, homosexual acts, pornography, adultery, etc.  All you have to do is watch "Christian television" to find out what the sin of the day is.  Yet, this same person has lust in their heart making them an adulterer, never passes up a buffet line resulting in gluttony, gossiping about others, coveting what belongs to another person, and on and on and on. If a person claims to be without sin they are deceiving themselves and are a liar (1John 1:8).     

Often it is claimed that Sodom was judged for homosexuality, therefore, we should judge homosexuals.  Before we start casting stones in this direction we should read Ezekiel 16:46-52.  This is the word of the LORD to Israel and can easily be applied to some in the church today, including pastors and preachers.  The sin of Sodom was that they were arrogant, overfed, and unconcerned, not helping the poor and needy and they did detestable things before the LORD.  These are the people who are often the first ones to pick-up a stone and begin throwing them at the one caught in sin.  The arrogant, overfed, apathetic, who are not doing anything to relieve the burden of the poor are often the first and loudest to condemn another's sin.  Recently it has been very strong in my heart that people who live in glass houses should not be picking-up any stones. Sin is sin and all of our righteousness is nothing more than filthy menstrual rags.  Each and every one of us has sinned and fallen short of God's glory, so let's get over ourselves and begin restoring the fallen sinner for love covers over a multitude of sins instead of condemning the one who is caught.  One day all of our own personal sins will be exposed in the light of His glory so we should be humbled by our own sin, recognizing that regardless of our sin or anyone elses', we are loved.

I have come to the place in my life where I want to love the sinner and let the Holy Spirit take care of the sin.  That person's sin is between them and God and really is none of my business except if somehow I can help them overcome their failings.

Next I will write about the restoration.

Sharing in Sufferings & the Resurrection

One day I was having a pity party complaining to the Father about life and things that had been happening to me as I was being obedient to Him.  (I am sure this doesn't sound very spiritual nor like I have much faith but I seek to have an honest and open relationship to my heavenly Father.)   Anyhow, I was complaining about being publicly humiliated by church leadership, being jeered at by pastors, someone yelling at me at church, betrayal by a friend, lies being told about me, and in general just how hard life was at the time.  Worst of all of these things happened because I had been obedient after fasting and prayer, being impressed by the Holy Spirit to do and say certain things.  As I am complaining I thought about how bumper sticker theology says that being in the center of God's will is the safest place to be, not in human terms!  Being obedient has led to more than one person's torture, humiliation, and death.  At the height of my selfish rant I heard this small voice say, "I wanted you to know just a sliver of my Son's suffering."  I fell to the floor weeping, repenting for selfishness and complaining.  My present troubles were nothing compared to what Jesus went through for me.  In my mind all of these things were terrible and not fair.  In the mind of Christ these things were for my benefit causing me to understand the benefit of suffering for His sake in this life. 

The Apostle Paul, who knew something about suffering, wrote these precious, encouraging words, "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." NIV
Easter weekend we remember the Passion of Christ for us.  As we reflect on the One without sin being made sin for our sake let us rejoice in our own sufferings since we will share in His resurrection.  You and I will never suffer to the extent Jesus did carrying the burdens of humanity to the Cross but we will suffer as we serve Him.  Our current troubles are but for a moment but the resurrection is for eternity.  There is joy in knowing that Jesus has overcome sin, disease, death, and finally the grave as we await His return, or even the possibility of our own stepping into glory at our last heart beat.

Once I was with an elderly saint who served the LORD as a pastor's wife, mother, and servant to others as she was living her last few days in a worn out body.  She kept repeating the same words over and over again and her daughter-in-law asked me if I could understand what she was saying.  Leaning over the bed rail, getting as close to her as I could I heard as she was reciting Psalm 150, "Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.  Praise ye the LORD!."  Let us praise the LORD as we share in His sufferings and resurrection. 

Have a blessed and wonderful resurrection Sunday.


  

What Do People See In You?

One of my favorite images in the Bible is in Isaiah 6:3 where the seraphim  are calling holy, holy, holy, to one another as they worship around the throne of God.  The word holy means different.  Since the beginning of time the seraphim have been crying different, different, different to one another as they look upon the character, personality,and glory of God since eternity.  I have often visualized God as this exquisitely cut diamond, where as the light hits it you are seeing something you have never seen before, a different facet of this precious gem as you look intently upon it.   This is what the seraphim experience each moment of each day. We as mere humans who have yet to view the Father in all of His glory.  Our view and image of God is obstructed by our carnality thus obscuring the different facets of a holy God.  In this life we have yet to see all of God's character, depth of His personality, or the fullness of His glory.  This is a humbling realization yet we know aspects of God's character from the scripture.  For example, we know that He is a jealous God, a just judge, a compassionate shepherd, and a God of love. 

 Paul wrote in 2Corinthians 3:18 that we reflect the glory of the LORD to the world.  We are created in His image and we share a part of His personality and character.  There are times I wonder what aspect of God's personality and character do we reflect?  Based on my experience and my own sinful nature I am concerned how the world sees God through the church.  Do they see the God of compassion or apathy?  Do they see the God of love or hate?  Do they see the God of mercy or a vengeful God?  Do they see a God of grace or a God of judgement?  You get the idea, how are we reflecting God's character? 

As those that claim to be followers of Jesus we have to be on guard how we represent Him to the world.  There was a time in my life that I walked away from the church because grace and love were not exhibited.  While in college I would watch Christian television for a laugh because it was entertaining.  Walking around campus the only "Christians" I saw were Bible thumpers spewing hate and condemnation.  Going through a crisis moment in my life when life wasn't worth living anymore and searching for answers I found pastors more concerned about the law than grace and love.  Being in church I have found pettiness, selfishness, sin upon sin, betrayal, liars, thieves, you name it I have experienced it and so have you.  In fact, we probably have a name and a face we can match to this list. 

If our view of God were only though the lens of some in the church we would never want to have anything to do with Him or His church.  Yet, that is not the complete picture of God.  There are many who are reflecting the character and personality of God in how they serve Him and others.  When I see people being served and prayed with I am seeing God.  When I see individuals and families sacrificing to serve others I see Him.  When I am in a service and the congregation is engaged in worshipping in spirit and truth I see Him.  I have been blessed more by watching God's personality being revealed by those that are truly following Jesus than I can possibly put into words.  These followers will never receive fame or fortune, they will not have a TV ministry, nor will they write a best seller but one day Jesus will call out their name before the Father and proclaim this is my servant and I am well pleased.  (I might be able to preach that one).  So the question is this, which aspect of God's personality and character are you reflecting? 

Getting Along

There waa a gentleman who would ask me on occassion why couldn't Christians just get along?  What a great question. There must be some days that Jesus shakes His head and sighs and says what were they thinking?  He told us to love one another as He loved us.  Yet, there is strife in the church in most places that you look making us look bad before the world.  This strife is nothing new.  Paul and Barnabas had a falling out over Mark.  Two dear saints could not get along with one another and Paul encouraged others to work for their reconcilliation.  Some would fall away from the ministry and walk away from the apostles. 

Today the church is divided over style of worship, style of dress, style of ministry, Bible version, women in the pastorate, ad nauseum.  Why cannot we just get along?  The LORD's table is big enough for variety, diversity, and differing opinions.  Do we really believe that our opinion is infallible and everyone  else is wrong?  Does it always have to be our way?  Are we the only one's that have all the answers?  The answer must be yes because of the way we act towards one another. It's either my way or the highway.  (This might explain some of the church hopping going on today.)

Jesus gave us the answer to strife-love one another as He loves us.  What does that mean for the church today?  First, recognize that love is always a choice.  Second, we are to serve one another.  Third, we are to break bread together.  Finally, ask the LORD to show you what you have been forgiven of thus far and your view of others in the Body of Christ will change.  In this moment of spiritual clairty humility rises up because you have come face to face with the depravity of your own heart.  With this new sense of humitlity it is easier to love others, serve them, and fellowship with them.

The Journey

Ever since I had an encounter with the Father's love my life has not been the same.  It has been a life of change, trials, joy, and adventure.  I feel incredibly blessed for the times that individuals have followed the leading of the Holy Spirit.and have spoken into my life.  February 12th, 2002 was one of those times that a person was obedient to God and their obedience changed my life.  One of our staff members,Sharon, came into my office and told me that the Holy Spirit had told her that she needed to give me that day's devotional from a Max Lucado devotional she was reading.  Sharon gave me the following quote, "There is a rawness and a wonder to life.  Pursue it.  Hunt for it.  Sell out to get it.  Don't listen to the whines of those who have settled for a second-rate life and want you to do the same so they won't feel guilty.  Your goal is not to live long it's to live.  Jesus says the options are clear.  On one side there is the voice of safety.  You can build a fire in the hearth, stay inside, and stay warm and dry and safe.  Or you can hear the voice of adventure-God's adventure.  Instead of building a fire in your hearth, build a fire in your heart.  Follow God's impulses.  Adopt the child.  Move overseas. Teach the class.  Change careers.  Run for office.  Make a difference.  Sure it isn't safe, but what is."  "Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it."  (Luke 17:33 NIV)  I thanked Sharon, closed my door and prayed for forty-five minutes.  When I got off my knees I knew I would resign from my job leaving a job I had worked hard to get to become a full-time pastor of a small struggling church.  I was not  leaving a good job, a good salary, security, I was following a God.

For the next eight and a half years the God adventure was being a full-time pastor.  Then my wife Lisa spoke into my life and one more time God was building a fire in my heart for a greater adventure.  I did  not realize until the week after I announced my resignation that Lisa had told me that I would resign to do ministry in a different way four years to the day I decided to resign.  I was a year late leaving because of my fear of thinking I had failed God because the church did not grow and do all that I had prayed for.  I realize today I did not fail but was obedient to what God had assigned me.  In that time at FHO I learned a great deal and today I look upon that time as a time of training for even greater things.  One more time God would stir my heart for leaving the safe and secure for the unpredictable and unknown.

Today I am have a part-time job with a wonderful ministry using all of my non-profit, managerial, and pastoral experiences.  I have met several people who do not just talk about doing church but are the church.  They are touching the least of these and are making a difference for the kingdom.  Every day I am doing ministry just as my wife told me, by just being myself.  This is an exciting and challenging adventure and I am pumped about the possibilities. I don't know where it will lead or how long it will last but I like the adventure.

God never calls you to a boring adventure but one filled with the unknown with limitless possibilities.  Can you hear His voice?  How are you going to respond?  Will you build a fire in your heart or one in the hearth staying nice and warm and dry?  Will you follow after Jesus as He calls you?  I don't know about you but I want something more than the 'average' Christian Life I want to experience all that He has for my life.         

A Troubling Dream

Two years ago I had one of those dreams that bothered me in my spirit.  In this particular dream I was walking through the church parking lot with a friend and there were people all around the property and in the buildings talking, laughing, sharing life together.  As I looked up I saw four tornadoes to the north and I looked back to the south I saw the biggest blackest tornado I had ever seen.  I told my friend to save as many as he could (he has the call of an evangelist on his life).  I told the group walking behind us to hurry and run for shelter, they just kept walking at their slow, leisurely pace.  I ran to a group in one of the buildings and said they needed to run for shelter and their response was that there was a soccer game to get the kids to, laundry needed to be done, yard work was waiting, etc,.  A third group, who I pleaded with, responded that it was just Carl and just to ignore him.  Finally, there was a small group who heeded my warning and sought shelter.  After the tornado had blown over we left the church basement and nothing was left except this small group of people.  Destruction was all around us.  I awoke from the dream deeply troubled and sought understanding from the Holy Spirit.

After a few weeks of prayer and sharing this dream with those I trust I shared the dream with the congregation from the pulpit with my understanding of the interpretation which follows.  There is a group within the church that is satisfied and complacent. This group does not understand the urgency of the time.  They are content with their walk and have no desire to go any deeper any time soon.  The second group are those that have idols in their heart. As I have thought about this, activity is an idol in our culture.   Everything else is more important than the Father.  The third group are those that do not honor the prophet and are not hearing what the Holy Spirit is saying through the prophetic voice.  Finally, the fourth group is the remnant that God has graciously placed within the Church.  

This prophetic word, I believe, is for the whole Body of Christ.  If we are honest, each of these four groups are in our churches.  The numbers may vary from church to church but these four groups are normally present in the local assembly.  This may be discouraging to some but I am encouraged that there is, at least, a remnant within the Body.  Let us pray for that remnant to begin coming forth and taking it's place in the church and that it would become the majority.  Let us pray that the first two groups fall in love with Jesus all over again and their hearts burn with passion for Him.  That they would repent of their complacency and for the idols of their hearts.  For those not listening to the voice of the prophets let us pray that their ears would be open to what God is speaking through His prophets.

Not only should we pray for each of these groups but we should take time and allow the Holy Spirit to show us which group we belong in.  Honest self-examination is an important part of our walk and should be done on a regular basis.   

I always appreciate feedback but I would especially like your views on this dream  The prophets are to test the prophets.   

So What?

One of my concerns for the Church is about the generation that is being raised-up today and the generations that will follow them.  I wonder if in our selfishness that we are really looking out for the best interest of those that will follow us.  Are we willing to learn their language, the forms of communication they use, the style of teaching that works best, etc.  Or, is our attitude that of, if it was good enough for me and my parents then it is good enough for them.  Once, I was in a setting with pastors and future church leaders and I heard a conversation taking place between two older women.  The conversation went something like this, 'Can you believe that churches are allowed to have dance in their services?  Why doesn't someone in authority put an end to such worldly practices.  I know, and what about those churches that are doing this contemporary music instead of using the old hymns just to attract these younger people.  They let them come in with tattoos, piercings, not dressed right for church, and long hair.  Somebody needs to do something about these pastors who aren't following the old ways.'  As I was listening to this conversation a righteous indignation began to rise up in me and I could not remain silent.  As I began to address these two women in love and grace the room got very quiet.  I addressed all of their complaints about pastors like me.  We are trying to touch this younger generation for Jesus.  As for me I did not care how they came dressed for church I just wanted them there so they could hear the Word of God.  It was not my job to get the outward appearance right my job was to wash them with the Word, to love them, lead them to Christ and disciple them.  If that meant dance could be used as a form of worship so be it, David danced.  If that meant that we used more contemporary songs great,  I was for all that.  As long as we never compromised the Gospel we should do whatever it takes to reach these young people.  I will admit I could not resist one last zing, a lot of the songs that are in the old hymn books are not scripturally correct and many of them are not glorifying to God but about what we got, that many of the more contemporary songs are using scripture in their chorus.     

The other thing that concerns me for future generations is, are we leaving them a biblical model to follow when it comes to loving the Father, and following Jesus?  We have not shared the full counsel of God.  So often times we only teach on aspect of the truth of God's Word.  What we teach often times is more about what makes us feel good about ourselves rather than where we fall short and how do we, through the Holy Spirit, go to the next level.  Are we teaching them that we are truly a priesthood of believers serving both God and others?  Or are we more concerned about how God and others can serve us meeting our needs?  Are we concerned about the consequences of our actions on future generations?

One of the most selfish examples statements in the Bible belongs to a good king, Hezekiah.  In Isaiah 39 Hezekiah shows the Babylonian envoys all of his riches and armament. Isaiah goes to him and declares to him that all of these treasures will be carried to Babylon along with his sons who will be made eunuchs in the king of Babylon's palace.  His response is very telling, "At least there will be peace and truth in my days."  In other words, so what.  No repentance, no sorrow, no contrition just, so what, I have had mine.  I am afraid that is the attitude of some in the church towards younger generations, I have had mine and I am not concerned for their future.  Paul said there were many teachers but few fathers, let the fathers and mothers of this generation rise up and declare that we are concerned for future generations and we will do what is necessary to see the kingdom of God expand through prayers and ministry.

What Will You Do?

Many in the Church are praying for our pews to be full and that there will be a great revival in the Church.  Believers are praying for all types of people to begin filling the Church including those that are poor, hurting, broken, addicted, spiritually blind, in other words, people like those in our community.  My question to the Church is, what are we going to do when those that we have been praying for begin to show up at our place of worship?  Yes, we say that are churches are open to everyone but do we really mean it?  What if they have a bad odor about them, have spent time in prison, been a prostitute, or God forbid, are involved in homosexuality?  What will our reaction be?  Will it be Christ like or will it be like some folks who told me I had a choice between them or mentally and physically challenged men from a group home? 

If the disciples are any example of how we will do with the multitude then we might not fare well when the least of these are among us.  Jesus had been preaching to the five thousand (sounds like a successful evangelistic event) and the day was done with no food or lodging in the immediate area.  The disciples told Jesus to send the multitude away.  Imagine, telling Jesus what to do.  (I might be guilty of that one on occasion.)   It can be argued that the disciples just did not have enough faith to feed the five thousand but I would like for us to consider another plausible explanation.  What if they just did not want to bothered with the responsibility of meeting the needs of the multitude?  They would have been inconvenienced, it had been a long day and they were tired, they might have had to give out of their own pockets, and maybe they were satisfied that they and their family had what they needed from Jesus.  In other words, my four and no more.  In many ways the modern day church in the United States has abdicated its' responsibilities to the least of the these and put the responsibility on the shoulders of the government.  It is easier to pay taxes or give to those serving the poor rather than getting directly involved with those that are not like us.  We might even be spiritually righteous and say that they got in to that position because of bad choices so let them get out of it.  If I can make it so can they mentality.  One of my all time favorite reasons for not helping the poor is that it is not my calling.  I even once had someone say to me, brother Carl, (watch out) you will be giving out more in resources than you will be bringing in and you cannot grow a church like that.  We have all kinds of reasons, just like the disciples, to send the multitude away.  I would argue that Church is anointed for this very thing (Luke 4:18-19).  As we are open to this anointing we will have the opportunity to meet needs of those that Jesus went to the cross for so that they may have life and life abundantly.  No more excuses, what will you do when the multitude is before you.  So you will know, I did enjoy worshipping with my friends and brothers from the group home for a long time until they moved to the other side of town.

The Imperfect Church

I always like to read church signs because it is a way of gauging where a church might be on some issues.  Some churches post the same tried and true messages while others might be a little bit more daring in their messages.  I have always viewed the church sign as a way to communicate with the community and possibly challenge someone's thinking.  Based on the positive and negative feedback received we did succeed at challenging people to think about the message. 

Today, I saw a sign that tells me that a church and or pastor is honest about where they are as a body.  The sign said, "If you are looking for a perfect church keep driving!"  This church is being honest about not being perfect, how refreshing.  While pastors are generally honest about their church not being perfect, I am not sure that others really believe that there is not a perfect church out there, somewhere, just waiting to be discovered.  The reason for this belief is that people seem to be going from church to church, never settling down, rarely making a committment to the pastor or the church, always looking for the newest, latest, greatest church in town.  Today's Christian seem to be like the ones that Jesus was speaking about when He referred to the ministry of John the Baptist, "John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light." (John 5:35 NIV)   For a time John drew large crowds but when the message confronted the hearers in their own sin then his popularity began to wane.  Like a great preacher John  always pointed towards Jesus, even at the cost of his popularity. 

When expectations are not met, roaming Christians move on to the next fad in the Christian community, leaving behind a bewildered pastor wondering what happened.  Often times the newness and excitement of a ministry wears off, the light is not shining as brightly, the honeymoon is over, and it is time to find a new ministry where we can achieve another spiritual high.  There are millions of reasons why people move from place to place but unless there is heresy, the Word is not being preached, immorality in the church or God says you are done and you are sent out, there are very few legitimate reasons to leave a local body.  (The one exception would be if the environment of a church is toxic and your spiritual well being is at risk then run, telling the pastor why.)  One of the flimsiest excuses for a church member is the tried and true, I am not being fed.  I once heard a young man say that about our pastor and I told him that if he wanted to be fed he needed to pull a chair up to the table and eat because it was being served.  I could go on and on with the excuses for leaving a ministry because I have heard so many over the years but you get the idea. 

Because so many are moving from church to church we are fooled into believing that we are growing the church when in reality we are just swapping members.  Until we are honest with each other about the imperfections of the church nothing will change.  Until the roaming stops it is difficult to develop mature believers leaving the church weak and ineffective.  Let us be in honest is stating that there is no perfect church just imperfect people trying to serve a perfect God. 



        

Merry Christmas

During these festive days people glibly say Merry Christmas with little thought of the true meaning of Christmas.  In our materialistic society these words often mean I sure hope you get alot of stuff or hope your Christmas is fun and full of joy.  Yet, for many, Christmas is just another day on the calendar with little in the way of possessions or fun and joy.  It is another day to survive the best that one can.  It is for this reason that I have had mixed emotions about Christmas and at times even dreaded the holiday season.  I see the hurt of parents or grandparents who cannot give anything to those that they love or the pain of Christmases past that are a reminder of hurt and abandonment.  Many people struggle with depression and rejection as carollers sing about a Silent Night because they don't know the peace of Jesus and they have not experienced God's love for mankind.    To me this is what Christmas is all about-the gift of a loving God, the very best gift possible, His own Son, who would forever remain with mere mortals as Immanuel, God with us.  There is no greater gift known to mankind than Jesus and the celebration of His birth is not limited to one day on the calendar but is to be celebrated every day.  Jesus truly is the gift that keeps on giving.  

I feel I am the most blessed man possible because I get to see God being revealed before my very eyes nearly every day.  This is living that abundant life Jesus talked about, this is kingdom living.  Each time I see Jesus show up I get to celebrate Christmas all over again.  While volunteering at Helping Hands this week I got to see Immanuel.  This wonderful ministry provided groceries, a meal, and gifts for seniors and children who would not have much this year.  What I love about ministries like Helping Hands is that their ministry takes place every day and is not limited to one or two dates on a calendar.  Hunger and desperation never take a day off and neither do they, nor should the Church!  So far the best present I have had  for Christmas is the hug of a grandfather named Mike.  Mike and his wife are raising their two grandsons and they were not going to be able to do much for Christmas.  To see Mike's eyes as I carried a box of toys towards their table was Christmas for me.  To have the blessing of hugging this man and pray for him, to see the kingdom of God being manifested before my eyes was the best Christmas possible.  It put all of my troubles and heartache in the rear view mirror.  It was like that each time I prayed or talked with someone Tuesday.  On Wednesday I took some cakes and cranberries to Open Door Ministry in High Point.  This ministry provides groceries, a shelter, and warm food to those in need.  Again, I got to see Immanuel in action and felt Him when I was hugged by a staff member.  Those that were there were very thankful of our small contribution to those in need.  When they said Merry Christmas they understood the meaning of their words.  Friday I met Chris who leads West End Ministry in High Point and again I got to see Immanuel in action.  They to do a great work for the least of these.  They feed 60-70 children a warm meal three days a week, hand out groceries, provide housing  for homeless women, operate a  thrift store and provide many other services to the community.

Jesus said, the kingdom of God is within us (Luke 17:21).  Each time we serve someone else, pray with them, love them, and give them hope the kingdom of God is manifested, Immanuel.  We can have Christmas 365 days a year if we choose.  There is a world of hurting people within our reach and within us is the hope of Christmas.  May God bless you as you bless others, Merry Christmas

             

Honesty, the best policy?

When I was growing-up we were taught honesty is the best policy.  My father is a man of integrity and he would be honest with a person regardless of the consequences.  This is the model that I have tried to follow but it doesn't always work out so great, especially in church. When I was in the corporate setting I would say or ask what everyone else was thinking but wouldn't.  I got in trouble then and I still get in trouble now.  Once a friend told me I would have a hard time being a pastor because I walked in the office of the prophet, I just told it the way it is.  He was right, except I love people and love shares the truth in love and grace because truth sets you free.  This same truth telling will get you awkward looks and even some criticism.

Once when preaching I talked about being a sinner saved by grace but continuing to struggle with sin because deep down in my carnal nature, I am a sinner.  Some of the seasoned saints rebuked me because followers of Jesus are not sinners.  My personal view is that sanctification is a process and I am a work in progress that still messes up.  This is an honest statement.  I have heard people say that they are saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Spirit and have not sinned since that wonderful day.  I also am saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Spirit but I continue to struggle with sin.  Sometimes I win the battle sometimes I lose.  I can relate to Paul in Romans 7 about his own struggle with the sinful nature.  The wonderful thing is that my battle with sin is not what it used to be.  Today, the battle is more over the matters of the heart that are hidden to men but open to the eyes of God instead of the more obvious short comings that others can see or hear.  The bad news is that matters of the heart are still sin before God.  It seems that I have come to the place in my own life where I am grasping just how dark my heart can be at times.  I am not proud of this revelation but darkness is only revealed as the Holy Spirit is working within the heart.  It is understandable to me that Paul can write that he is the chief of all sinners.  It was not a past tense word but present tense.  Even the great Paul struggled even though he was a man of faith, insight, obedience, and contentment.  What makes me think that I am even less of a sinner than Paul?  The best news of all though, is that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  In other words, we are not condemned because Jesus understands the struggles of the flesh.  He knows our hearts are for Him and we are doing our best to follow Him but sometimes that sinful nature pokes through.  My body might be dead to sin but my spirit is alive because of His righteousness.  This is not permission to live sinfully because there should be an earnest desire to live free from sin through the Holy Spirit.

Now for one moment imagine what would happen to the church if we would admit that we struggle with a sinful nature.  People could actually relate to us.  We would no longer be viewed as saved, sanctified, and petrified. Possibly we could be seen by others as followers that have struggles in life who sometimes we  miss the mark, that we are actually human.  Those watching a life lived honestly will see the times that Jesus picks us up and helps us along the road of life.  A policy of honesty will also enable us to help those who have sinned and to love on them because we will see them as we are seen by Jesus.  Love covers over a multitude of sins (1Peter 4:8).  Let us begin first by loving the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Then loving ourselves and our neighbors.  This love would begin a reformation in the church that would turn the world upside down one more time.

When I was younger I thought you had to be perfect, sin free, to serve God.  No, you just have to know Jesus!  Until we are honest we will be viewed by the world as the frozen chosen and few want to be with us because of our lack of humanity.          

Redistributing Church Wealth

Depending upon which side of the political aisle you sit either you hate the idea of wealth redistribution or you love it.  Fortunately we are not dealing with governmental politics but with church ethics and responsibility.  As a pastor I would often hear the words, "Where there is a vision God makes a provision."  If the church was struggling financially then either the vision was wrong or you were outside of the will of God.  Either way, you the pastor, were doing something wrong.  What if a struggling church is not doing anything wrong but rather they are inside the will of God and having to depend on others in the Body to supply the need?  Maybe the problem is not the church that is struggling but churches and denominations that are not stewarding the resources of God biblically.  This a thought provoking proposition and one that could cause some controversy in many circles.  But far too many churches and ministries that are in the will of God, doing the work, are struggling to keep the doors open while others are hoarding money in savings, sitting on massive assets, acting as if the money is theirs and not God's.

There are some pastors and leaders who have a kingdom mentality and understand the biblical model that was set before us in the early church.  In Greensboro a church took up an offering for another, larger church that was in need.  In  areas like Detroit, Fort Worth, and Little Rock there are stories of churches collaborating together for the good of the community, going far beyond the four walls and denominational boundaries.  These are examples of the church being the church.  Even though I pastored a church that struggled financially, the leadership understood the need to bless other ministries in our community each month and to consistently give to ministries that had a similar mindset.  On occasion we would receive a phone call thanking us or asking why we would give to another church but those calls were rare.  Our purpose in giving was to be sowing into ministries that were kingdom minded.  At the same time we honored our denominational obligations and supported missionaries.  The attitude of the leadership was to honor the LORD and to sow into His kingdom, it was never for the recognition of men or to reap our own rewards.

There are many New Testament scriptures to support the idea that churches are to be sharing their wealth and supporting those in need. In  Acts 11:28-30, the prophets prophesied that there would be a famine in the land and each disciple responded by giving to those in need as they were able.  (It is interesting to note that it was disciples providing support and not those sitting on the sidelines.)  Paul exhorted the church in Rome to, "Share with God's people who are in need." (Rom 12:13 NIV)  As Paul writes to the church in Rome he says that he is on the way to Jerusalem  carrying an offering from the churches in Macedonia and Achaia for the "poor among the saints in Jerusalem." These churches were pleased to give an offering to their brothers and sisters in Christ who had a need.  (Rom 15:25-27 NIV)  There are several other exhortations to help those in need; 1Cor 16, Gal 2:10, 1John 3:17, James, and the very words of Jesus, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."  (Matt 25:40 NIV)  Finally, Paul penned these words of instruction to the church, "Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.  At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need.  Then there will be equality, as it is written:  "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little."  (2Cor 8-15 NIV)

The church in America is great at responding to disasters that may strike a community.  They are generous with their time and resources.  For any of us that have had the blessing of serving in a relief role following a disaster we have seen the kingdom of heaven kissing the earth as we are the hands and feet of Jesus.  Yet, every day a church will close it's doors because it did not have the financial resources to minister to the needs of those in their community.  These are disasters in the making because lives hang in the balance and it could be that this church or ministry is the only one able to meet the need.  These disasters could be avoided if we would follow the model set before in the New Testament.  We should consider the parable of the talents in Matthew 25.   One day each church leader will be held accountable for the financial resources for which they were responsible.  How will we respond to the King when He asks how did you steward the money I left in your care?  Will we hear the words, "well done, good and faithful servant! or "...throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matt 25:21, 30 NIV)  The choice is ours.  Let us pray that no more ministries in the will of God be shuttered because of an unbiblical view of sharing the wealth or disobedience to the exhortation of scripture. 

Note-after writing this I thought there might be some who would argue that if we were in the will of God then the finances would be available because God's plan can never be stopped.  I agree with this position but what if God's is speaking to a heart and that heart is in disobedience? Just a thought.

               

Save Yourself

One of the things I have always wrestled with is, why can I pray with people and see the answer to their prayer needs, yet, in my own life I don't see the same thing happening?  Over the years I have seen  people healed, families reconciled, financial blessings coming forth, etc.  At the same time I pray for the healing of myself or family members, praying for family relations or tight finances and the answer seems slow in coming or non-existent.  In those moments it is easy to begin to doubt your own faith or anointing and questioning  God .  Inevitably someone will come along saying if you just had enough faith or if you prayed more or if you spent time fasting, whatever it may be that you are not doing enough of,  putting the burden on your lack of spirituality.  Doubt begins to creep in and the questioning of self as you wrestle in prayer and nothing seems to be happening .  Ministers are especially prone to this because they will stand before the people encouraging faith, trust, and prayer and yet they are not seeing the results in their own lives.  We cry out why not me Father what is wrong with me, where are you?

This morning as I was pondering this mystery I began to think back to when Jesus was on the cross and the mockers yelled at him saying, "He saved others; let Him Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God." (Luke 23:35 NKJV)  Friend can you hear the cry of the mocker who says, if he truly is the anointed of God, the servant of the LORD, then let his prayers save him.  Let his body be healed, let his financial need be met, let his family live in peace, if he is truly a follower of Christ.  Can you hear the seed of doubt being planted in the mind and soul of the believer?  This seed of doubt could cause one to question their anointing, their hearing the voice of God, their faith, and tragically for some, even their belief in Jesus.

So what is a possible explanation of why the prayers of the anointed are at times seemingly bouncing off of  heavens of brass, getting nowhere?  Maybe, just maybe, God is using this time of  struggle as an example to others of perseverance, faith, and obedience regardless of the outcome of prayer.  Jesus set before us the model that we should follow because we are to imitate him.  Jesus could have saved Himself but He chose to hang on the cross for our sake.  He was being obedient to the Father.  An African American pastor by the name of Curtis in Hamlet impacted my life by what he modelled.  He is one of the reasons that I preach and teach with passion.  I heard Curtis preach his mother's funeral the same day he got out of the hospital after having surgery for cancer.  I cannot always remember the titles of my sermons but I will never forget the message Curtis brought forth, "What Time Is It?"  I told the Father I wanted to be that kind of preacher, just like Curtis.  One day as I was sitting with Curtis as he was having a blood transfusion.   During that time, as we shared together, he told me that he knew he was going to die but that he was going to teach his church how to die with dignity, with joy in his heart, and praising God until he went home.  Curtis did not lack faith, he was a righteous man and his prayers were powerful, availing much, yet he died.  Jesus said of the apostle Paul that he would suffer much for the name of Jesus.  Paul a man of faith, prayer, and obedience, set before us an example of rejoicing in the midst of the trial.  Consider for a moment that the reason for the lack of answered prayer has nothing to do with us but this is God's good and perfect plan that we might not be able to comprehend.  God turns everything to good.  Let me challenge you a little more, maybe God has faith in us that  we will get through to the other side of the trial in victory.  In the story of Job God asked satan, have you considered My servant Job?  God knew Job would get through his long dark night of the soul without cursing God or denying His existence.  Curtis endured his cancer with joy, completing the assignment God had thrust upon him, now standing before the throne of Jesus. 

Our unanswered prayers are not a sign of failure but rather an opportunity to walk out life before others with joy in our hearts, completely trusting in the promises of God.   These times of tribulation will pass and our hearts purified as we trust and believe.  It is in the midst of wrestling with God that the mysteries of heaven are revealed.

May God bless you and if you find yourself in this season of wrestling with God be encouraged, God is preparing you for the next level.

Where's the Honesty?

One of the things I most appreciate about the Word of God is the honesty of the various authors.  No one tried to hide the truth; David was an adulterer, murderer, a lousy father, and struggled with the events surrounding his life.  Elijah was so depressed that he wanted to die under a broom tree.  Paul struggled with sin, doing things he knew he should not do and not doing what he was supposed to do.  Job had his trials and questioned God.  Even Jesus cried out from the cross about being forsaken by the Father.  (I recognize that these words were for those within ear shot so that they would finish the Messianic 22nd Psalm).   Still the writers of the gospels shared the sighs of Jesus, his frustration at times with the people, and even asking God to take away the cup of affliction.  The psalmist share their struggles with God and life's deepest questions.  Jonah complained about the mission field to which God sent him.  Nothing is hidden from our sight because God is the God of truth.  The people of the Bible had real struggles and real doubts.  While in prison John the Baptist asked  if Jesus were truly the promised one, that is real life.  You get the idea, the Bible is honest about life and our relationship with God.

 Yet, in the church today we put on fake smiles and tell others how blessed and highly favored we are when in actuality we are hurting, struggling, and unsure where God is in the midst of our storm.   Unfortunately, today honesty is missing in many of our churches.  Job's friends are quick to show up in the form of well meaning saints who instead of bearing with us in our time of need are quick to point out all that we have done wrong.  If we share our concerns, struggles, and even doubts someone will tell us if we just had faith or if we would just pray more or if we would just sow more than we could reap more things and life would go better for us.  I believe all of these things because I have seen them in action but it does not make the struggle any easier.  We live by pithy idioms or as I call them, bumper sticker theology. Life is more than about easy words or catchy phrases.  You cannot just smile your troubles away.  Life is about a relationship with a Heavenly Father and in any relationship there will be some struggles.  Even Jacob wrestled with God.  Because we cannot be honest with one another little true ministry is actually being done in our churches.  People are afraid of being honest in the one place that it should be safe to be honest, the church.   We are afraid of what people will think or say about our struggle or even our questioning of God.  We are worried that we will be thought less of because of our struggles.  Yet, it is in the midst of the struggle that we often find God.  It as we are crying out to Him that He will answer.  It is in the midst of the dark night that we discover the truths of God's Word.  It is as if the deep calls unto the deep and God will once again assure of His sovereignty and love for us.  Let us be honest with one another as we walk in grace and truth with one another, loving each as a fellow traveller along the road of life.

Yet, it is in these places of strife that we truly encounter the living God.  God showed up to answer Job and explained his actions to Jonah.  Again, it is about the relationship.  Struggle brings us closer to God because we are being honest about where we are and what we wrestling with. God knows our thoughts so we just need to be honest with ourselves and others.  So many struggling people are being pushed out of the church because there must be something wrong with them if they are questioning or having difficulties.  There is nothing wrong with these people, they are just being honest in where they are with God.  I am like the man in the book of Mark, Lord I believe but help me in my unbelief. 

May we bear with one another in love and grace as we struggle with the things of life.

Maintaining Balance

Throughout the Bible you notice balance in the counsel of Scripture.  God worked six days and rested one.  There is balance between ceremonial laws and social justice.  Jesus exhibited balance in that He came in the fullness of grace and truth.  Even the earth is perfectly balanced, tilted at just the right angle, at just the right distance from the sun, with just the right mass so that it stays in the proper orbit.  Whole ecosystems must be in balance or they will collapse.  Yet, balance is often missing in the church and in the lives of believers.  I have always struggled with trying to maintain balance in my own life.  Even before ministry the balance of career and family was a weakness on my part.  In the beginning of my time as a pastor the Holy Spirit strongly impressed upon my heart that I had forsaken the two I loved the most, the Father and my wife.  I was so busy doing ministry and working that I was not spending the time I should have with either God or my wife and my relationship with both suffered.  My life was out of balance diminishing my effectiveness for the kingdom, harming my family, and effecting my health.

In the church today there is a lack of balance in the teaching and ministry emphasis of many churches.  It is as if the church has developed the corporate mentality of specialization or worse, marketing a product.  If you are into faith then this is the church for you.  If you are more into grace then this church is for you.  The church down the street is really into social justice but rarely teaches on repentance.  This church is known for it's music but does little or no outreach so you won't be made to feel uncomfortable.  Choose the church which fits your individual preferences and if you cannot find just the right church, just wait and one will started with you in mind. While I am being somewhat facetious, there is a lot of truth in this observation.  Early in my ministry I had a person tell me the best services took place when the preacher never preached and people just praised God in song (lack of balance).  Somewhere along the way we have forgotten about the whole counsel of God.  Yet, Paul told the elders of Ephesus that he had shared with them the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27). 

In order for disciples to be raised-up and communities transformed we need for the church to be balanced in all of it's teaching.  Yes, there are different gifts and different anointings but they should be working together and not competing against one another through specialization and marketing.  With balance comes the tools for a person to develop from being an infant believer to being a disciple of Jesus.  The full counsel of God will challenge how we view ourselves and others.  The whole counsel of God is a must as we seek to see lives transformed and communities won over to Christ.  Let us pray for more wisdom and greater revelation in this time of turmoil and uncertainty in our land.  The church and the world will need the full counsel of God in the days ahead. 

Market Place Ministry

Recently I was blessed with a temporary job for which I was very thankful.  The job itself was very menial and required no skills because all I had to do was scan badges.  For a period of eight very chilly days I stood at the back of two buildings greeting people as they came and went scanning their badges.  All types of people attend this event from all over the world and the experience was wonderful because during that time the Holy Spirit either taught me something or reminded me of a truth.

The first lesson was to learn to be content in everything.  Because I viewed this job as a blessing it kept me from thinking, "here I am with all this education doing a job anyone could do." Someone made the comment to me about how boring the job must be and I responded it was like watching paint dry except for the people.   As I stood at my post for those eight days I watched the world walk by me.  There were those that were obviously affluent, others just getting by, and others were very poor looking for help.  This is a reminder that Jesus came for all people and not just some.  For eight days I had the opportunity to truly watch the leaves of the trees across the street change colors which was a reminder of how everything praises God and daily his paint brush is actively at work in creation.  For eight days I was content because God's hand was in that place.

Second, I had the blessing of seeing the goodness of people in action towards me.  On one particularly chilly morning one gentleman offered me his overcoat because he thought I looked cold.  Each day one of the ladies who was working would bring me pecan pastries from her company to drink with the coffee that a caterer would give me to warm me up.  If there was left over food the same caterer would bring me a plate that had been served to customers and sales staff.   Different ones offered to get me a drink or told me to help myself to a cup of coffee or water any time I wanted.  Most people are good hearted.

Even though it was a temporary job this place where God placed me turned into a ministry.  It was not a matter of telling anyone that I was a minister or a follower of Jesus, it was just loving and respecting each person regardless of their station in life or even their lifestyle.  We do not have to be religious, yuck, we just have to follow Jesus and love people.  People will know that you are different not because of a cross you wear but because of the peace, joy, and love they see in you.  As I was standing there each day the Holy Spirit would whisper, "I want you to pray this way for this person or this is the need in that person's life".  Nothing more profound other than listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit and being obedient.  In that time God even would give me a word for someone that I was able to bring forth in a non-threatening over spiritualized way that was accurate and received, that brought glory to God.  There were others that I would have the opportunity to pray with as I developed relationships by being friendly, holding doors, and being of help beyond what the job required.  As I was being friendly every day and just being me, finding common ground with different people regardless of position, from janitors to company owners and presidents, it created an opportunity for me to share my story, not because I forced it because they asked.  There were multiple people who would share the problems their pastor or church faced and I was able to share some wisdom and suggest ways how they could help their church or pastor.  This only happened after a number of days of being friendly and helpful to every person I saw.   By the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony Satan is overcome (Rev 12:11 my translation).  I found that my story ministered to individuals and often times would bless them.  One gentleman after hearing my story and heart for those in need gave me a check to be used as I saw fit. This money was forwarded to a local ministry that feeds the hungry.  I share this because each of us have a story and ministry is far beyond the walls of the church. 

Finally, this job was a reminder that there are no insignificant people in God's kingdom.  I had no authority, no title, and no status.  Some people would look past me as if I did not exist, did not matter, and they wanted to act if I was a non-entity, ignoring me.  This did not keep me from speaking to them or being helpful each time I saw them but rather gave me the opportunity to pray blessings for them in my spirit.  These folks were definitely in the minority and need a touch of heaven.  In the Father's world everyone is significant and is created in His image.  There is no one who should be ignored and brushed past.  How easy is it in the church to ignore the least of these?  Scripture exhorts us time and time again to treat each person with dignity and respect, to submit to one another, and to love each person.  Yet, even in the church, we show preferential treatment.  Let us begin to have the eyes of Jesus and the heart of the Father to see each person as special in God's sight.

Pastor Appreciation-Beyond Pastor Appreciation Month

Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:41 that we will receive a prophet's reward when we receive the prophet and we will receive the righteous man's reward when we receive a righteous man.  These are powerful words for the church to live by in regard to their pastor.  If a pastor is seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit in his ministry and is sharing the Word of God as directed by the Spirit then he is a prophet, revealing the things of God.  If this same pastor is walking in the way of righteousness then he is a righteous man.  So often churches are bankrupt spiritually and financially because they are not receiving-honoring-the prophet that Jesus has placed before them in the person of their pastor.  Below are some suggestions on how to honor and support your pastor.

First and foremost, pray for your pastor, his ministry, his marriage, his family, and his health.  Pastors are under constant spiritual attack by the enemy.  Scripture tells us that if you strike the pastor the sheep will flee (Mark 14:27).  Pastors are very human with feet of clay and have the same struggles as everyone else.  No, their marriages are not perfect and they have rough times like others sitting in the pew.  Statistics show that 50% of all pastors marriages will end in divorce with approximately 40% of them having an affair at some point in their ministry.  A pastor's child/PK will get in trouble and will not always be the little angel that everyone dreams of having.  Often times they get in trouble because of the youth in their own church.  Pray against discouragement and that you pastor will be filled with joy and wisdom.  Pray for your pastor's health and well being.  Just as you are praying blessings there are others praying curses upon the pastor.

Second, honor your pastor's time as he prepares for Sunday and spends time with his family.  Many pastoral families miss their dad or mom being at events or even family meals because of emergencies and church obligations. The time with family is precious because children spell love-TIME.  Encourage your pastor to take vacations and time off from ministry obligations.  As a bi-vocational pastor my average week between my work and the church was ninety hours a week.  Even after leaving my career I would average over sixty hours per week doing ministry.  To prepare a good sermon can take as much time as twenty hours a week by the time you consider the prayer time, research, preparation, and more time of prayer.  Once while at another church I heard someone tell their pastor that all they had to do was work three hours a week what was the big deal.  Being a pastor goes way beyond the Sunday morning service into the dark hours of the laboring in prayer for the flock.  Pastors are on call twenty-four hours a day every day.

Third, honor your commitments to the church and the pastor.  If you say that you are going to do something then follow through and do not leave the pastor holding the bag.  One of the things I have noticed as a follower of Jesus is that promises are often hollow and of little value among believers.  Let your yes be yes and your no be no.

Fourth, submit to your pastor so that his work may not be a burden but rather a joy (Heb 13:17).  None of us agree totally with those that are over us yet we are to submit to their leadership.  If you have a problem with something your pastor is doing or has said, then go and talk with him.  We may not agree with their rational or methods but we are to support them unless it is against Scripture.  Then, if it is a matter of Scripture, then we deal with the issue with grace and love.  Too often we share our discontent with others instead of going to the source, which leads to seeds of strife being sown.   The lack of submission is one reason we have so many church splits and we are not one as Jesus prayed we should be (John 17).

Finally, be that mighty person of valor for your pastor.  Stand in the gap when they are weary and discouraged.  Protect them from the daggers of hurtful words.  Rebuke those that speak ill of the pastor and his family.  Above all love them and show them the same grace Jesus has shown towards each of us.  They are men and women that Jesus has given as a gift to the local church, honor them  

There are many other things I could write about how to honor and support your pastor.  Most of all love them, show grace at all times, pray for them, and stand with them as they participate with you in the expansion of God's kingdom.  

If you would like more information on how to honor your pastor please feel free to contact me.