O Pastor, Where Art Thou?

As a child, when I thought of pastors, I had an image of a gray haired man in a suit, standing behind some wooden box in the front of a big room. Basically, this:

Even as an adult in the ministry, I shuddered at the thought of ever becoming a pastor. It was too rigid, too stuffy. Too much responsibility. And years of youth ministry had created an aversion to wearing suits.

Yet, God called me to pastor anyway. But, and I am tirelessly grateful for this, it was to pastor a new church, a church that had no preconceived notions of what a pastor was, or how he dressed. And, to top it off, God called me to pastor a church in a bar, so my image of "pastor" could now be fully tossed out the window. Now, it looks like this:



The problem was, I still had no idea what the substance of the role of pastor was all about. I had served under some good pastors for too short a time, or some good men who were just plain tired and burned out, or some- well, let's just say some works in progress. And from my time as a youth, I knew that pastors needed to be good speakers and be nice to people, but other than that, not much.

I read some leadership books. They seemed to tell pastors to act like business men. I stopped reading them.

I tried being a hands off pastor, let things just flow. Nothing happened.

I tried to be a sterner leader. It alienated people.

Then it hit me: Pastoring has become about leadership alone, and forgotten the key characteristic of shepherding.

I looked at popular pastors- locally and nationally. The big guys were leaders, alpha-dogs. They conveyed concern and compassion and seemed genuine. They were good speakers. But everything the church did flowed from them- they were leaders, and they were the fount of inspiration for every major initiative of the church. If the pastor didn't create the idea- or at the very least massively endorse it- it didn't go far.

Just the other day, Chase, a new visitor to the Gate mentioned that the reason some people think church is boring is because it's the same old thing all the time. He went on to say that some people complain, just to complain, but that if there is a problem, the complainers need to offer a solution.

It was then that it hit me- again. The church needs leader/shepherds. See, the problem is that the pastor has become, in the minds of the modern church, much like the Old Testament Priest. He does it all. He is the visionary. He is the initiator. He is the chief prayer warrior. And the Leaders Only Model of pastoring has taken this bait hook, line and sinker.

Why? Because it's easier.

It is easier to lead the people and tell them what to do than it is to prepare and disciple and equip them to do it themselves. That's shepherding.

Shepherding is walking alongside the people, and guiding them gently. It's noticing their spiritual inclinations to do good and nudging them toward that. It's nurturing the natural gifts and talents of the individuals in the church and working with them to see those gifts used for God's glory. Shepherding is letting the people who make of the Body of Christ make choices for themselves, and only stepping in to keep them on the right course and away from danger.

I'm learning there is a balance that must be sought between leading and shepherding. The church is where all believers can come together and share ways to seek God, but the church must have a leader that brings it all together in a focus.

And, I believe, above all, the pastor must be allowed to be human. Too many times I've read about or seen pastors who become idols, or who suddenly fall to a "secret" sin that gets publicized. Pastors are not celebrities, and they do make mistakes.

A good pastor will have the grace to equip the church to make decisions, the strength to lead the church toward Christ, and the courage to share his failures.

Choose Wisely

Today is the first day of the Fall 2011 semester for THOUSANDS of students at Blinn and A&M here in Bryan/College Station.  For some the excitement is palpable, for others, it's more a sense of dread.  But mostly the excitement.

Especially for freshmen.  Today, it is official.  You are gaining independence.  Sure, Mom and Dad dropped you off sometime in the last week, stocked up your mini-fridge, cast a wary eye toward your roommate, and made sure you had all your supplies- then headed home to redecorate your room.  And you had a week of real freedom.  Today, you have class.  And no one is there to wake you up, make your breakfast and get you there.

Today is the first day of many choices you'll face.  Go to class, or sleep in.  Buy the books, or fake it and hope the tests are lecture based (if you choose to go to class, of course).  Stay out late, or get plenty of rest.  Can I beat that bus on my bike, or does a semester in traction sound good?

But there are more serious questions.  Questions like:  Who will I become now that I am gaining independence?  What are my limits?  Is this really the field of study I want to spend my life in?  What is my spiritual journey going to look like?

Joshua 24:14-15 is about choices.  In this speech, Joshua, the leader of Israel after Moses, gives a sort of commencement address, and concludes with this:

“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

Joshua gives the call: Choose to give God all of your faithfulness, or give it up. No room for wafflers, no room for indecision. You can worship these old-time gods, or defeated gods, or you can serve the Lord. Either way they chose, Joshua made it clear where he was going.

Now, I don't want to get all moralistic on you, but I want you to understand this basic ideal:

Just because it looks good, doesn't mean it is.

Case in point, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade features the perfect example.  Choose the right Holy Grail, get eternal life.  Choose the wrong and you die.  Fast.  The Nazi picks a bejeweled golden chalice because "Jesus was the King of Kings."  Well, Nazis are bad guys, so you know how this ends:

So, Indy goes.  He picks a simple cup, not ornate, kinda ugly.  Because he reasoned, "Jesus was a carpenter."  So that result was better:

You will face countless choices that look good, say all the right things, give you lavish gifts, and have all the right moves.  But drinking from them leave will leave you hollow, empty, and potentially the spiritual equivalent of a dry, dusty old Nazi skeleton.  This is true of the day to day choices you'll face, as well as the moral, spiritual, and ethical choices.  

It is also true of the church and/or religious organization you choose.

Before I start- I am not bashing churches.  OK, well I am kinda bashing spiritually dead/misleading churches. But what I'm about to say applies to good churches as well- and in BCS, there are hundreds of those.  The point is this:  Don't get caught up in all the flashy, free-gift-giving, put-on-a-production stuff you'll see over the next month or so from a lot of churches.  Look past all that to the heart of the church.  Don't just listen to the things the church says, watch what it does.

And just because a church is feeding you tons of free food and has boatloads of money to spend on awesome programs doesn't mean they are a bad church.  Nor does it mean they are a good church.  Just because a church is small like you're used to, and comfortable with, doesn't mean it's the right church for you.  

Choose Wisely.

The key to living this way is in Joshua's words- "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness."  To find the right place to belong, to worship and to server, you have to trust God totally.  Honestly, to keep with Him throughout your life, you must trust Him fully.  Every choice you make needs to be made in light of Christ- what would He desire of you?  That's what 'serving with all faithfulness' is about.  It's not about sheltering yourself from the world, or denying yourself the experience of college, or choosing the hippest church.  It is about seeking God's wisdom first in all you do, and then following His words through to the end.

And when it comes to churches- seek the church that God is moving and working in, no matter what it looks like on the outside.  And if you belong to a church, then you need to make it your goal to aid in anyway to be the church God is moving and working in.  After all, this is not all there is to the church:

This is the church:

"How has attending this church changed you?"--Impact Questions

I just finished going to the Impact Ministry Fair- part of a incoming freshmen ministry (http://impactretreat.com/) that acts as a Christian Fish Camp (http://fishcamp.tamu.edu/) for students coming to A&M and Blinn.  Around 1500 students come seeking a connection with God, and through the ministry fair held on the third day, to connect with local churches and religious organizations.  There are three sessions, and I went to the first and third.

And met a lot of people.

One guy hugged me.

It was awkward.

But the most interesting thing, aside from seeing the student's faces grow with excitement the more they mingled the room, was the questions.  They ranged from practical, to theological, to (at least to me) funny.  Some of my favorites:

-Do you guys meet in a bar on purpose, or was there just nowhere else you could go?
-Do I have to be 18 to attend your church?  Cuz I'm only 17.
-Is your church only for people a certain age- cuz it's in a bar?
-So, are you a church or what?

But my favorite isn't really funny.  In fact, it caught me by surprise.  It took me a second to respond, because I had never had this question asked of me- ever.  Not about any church I'd attended or served at.  And it should be asked.  Often.

How has attending this church changed you?


Now, I'm pretty sure the student thought I was a student also- I get that sometimes- so my initial response was to clarify just who I was (yeah, that was kinda prideful, sorry).  "Well, I started the church, so that was kinda a big change."

Now, I realized that was a ridiculous non-answer, and would help this student nary a bit in his search for a church home.  So, I followed up with how God has taught me patience, perseverance and to trust in Him.  I related stories of how our initial expectations went unmet and we had to lean on God and His timing- which was much slower than we liked.  I told of how we were often surprised how God did work.  We talked for a few minutes, then he went on his way.  I was left thinking about that question.

How has attending this church changed you?


The more I've thought about it, the more I realized just how much the Gate has changed me.  It's made me more diplomatic in dealing with people, but also strengthened my desire to never compromise the Gospel.  It's made me realize how much I love getting one on one with people and really talking God and our lives-the personal, deeper stuff.  It has made me hate apathy in my own life and the lives of those I care about so much more.  I've changed the way I view church, and it seems year by year I shed old formulas and start approaching it more freely.

Now, I say it's the Gate that's made these changes- but the Gate and its people are merely the tools, the instruments God uses to mold me.  Just like any church.  But, the question is still a sound one, and one that we all need to ask ourselves about own church.

How has attending this church changed you?


If you can't answer that- it's time to evaluate.  Churches exist to worship and spread the message of God.  Inherent in the message of Christ is that we grow and we change.  This change is facilitated primarily by the work of the Holy Spirit, but also by the work of the church and our own realizations and acceptance of what God is doing.  If you honestly can't say how attending your church has changed you- you need ask two questions:  1) What's wrong with me?   And 2) What's wrong with my church?  The follow up to both of those is What can I do to change the problem?  If it's you- seek God for His insight on what's wrong with you- your failings you can't see.  If it's the church, seek God's wisdom on how to lead out in fixing the situation.  And with the church- exhaust every effort to reconcile and heal the church- leaving is a last resort.  It is because it will do just as much damage to you as it will the church.  Churches- even broken ones- need people who are seeking God to make it all right.

So, I leave you with the question- and I hope you can answer it:

How has attending your church changed you?

Building a Better Church

A friend was recently telling me that his church just announced that they'd be building a new building, a bigger building to fit their growth.  While it is great that a church is growing so much it needs more space, issues arise.  Not everyone will like it, being the key one.  But there are costs to be assessed, logistics to be worked out, and, hopefully, much prayer to engage in.

            Now, I've been in a few churches that go through building projects.  Some were to construct all new facilities, some were simply renovations.  All of them paid close attention to the things it needs to make a good building- in other words, the right materials and a good blueprint.  As a I listened to my friend talk about his church's plan, it got me thinking about a different kind of church construction, the spiritual kind.  See, my current church in a building plan, but we have no desire to invest in bricks and mortar, steel and wood.  No, we are at a juncture where we must become very intentional about how we build our church.  Here are a few of the things we need to make the structure sound.

Foundation

            It may sound like a cliché, but the foundation of a church is the most important thing we do.  It must be planted in Christ, His life, death, and resurrection, and His teaching, including the taking part of ordinances (baptism and Lord Supper- the act of doing them, not the manner in which they are done, that comes later).  This is non-negotiable.  This must be rock solid.  A crack here will destroy everything that comes after.  Think of Jesus' own parable of the builders who built on sand and who built on rock.  The solid foundation is the clear winner.

            The problem I find in a lot of churches is that they try to put too much in the foundation.  They fill this base not just with Christ, but with denominational history, with tradition, and with preferences that have become dogma without being necessary to identifying with Christ.  These things are important, but they are not foundational.  The reason is that they are not eternal, unchanging things.  Christ alone is.  If you put something in the foundation that you later regret, you have to destroy the building to get it out.  So keep the foundation simple.

Framework

            Once the foundation is laid, you build on it.  Several things go into this:  Those beliefs that shape the core culture of the church beyond the foundation and the leaders. 

            These beliefs (probably called doctrine and/or policies by some) are important, but they are not foundational.  Baptism provides a great example of how these separate from the foundation.  Jesus teaching on baptism as a symbol of salvation- not the actual act of salvation- is foundational.  Whether that baptism is by sprinkling, immersion or another means is vitally important to the structure of the church, but it is not foundational.  You need to know where you stand as a church on issues like these, but they are not what makes or breaks you in the body of Christ.

            Now the leaders.  Leaders, as much as the doctrine, give shape to the church.  And I'm sure you'd agree when you look at the rise of the 'celebrity' pastor of today.  Major mega-church leaders shape so much of the views of their church. 

            But I'm not just talking about the pastors who lead.

            A church cannot survive or really even be healthy if the only leaders are the staff.  As a pastor, I'm begging you, if you are so called, to lead out in your church.  There are many non-clergy who are as much or more of a leader than the pastor.  You lead with your influence, with your skills, with your attitude.  If something comes up in church and people come to you- congratulations, you're a leader.  And you are part of the framework of the church.  Be active, be strong, and be careful.  Not all the framework is as important as others- support beams carry the bulk of the weight in a building and are more important than the smaller 2x4s that are also necessary to good construction.  Basically, be a leader, but don't overstep your bounds- for your sake and the church's.

            And the clergy- they better be solid or their failings and faults- as those support beams carrying so much weight- with bring the church down quickly.

Bricks

            The rest of the people in the church who are not leaders are the bricks.  They are what the rest of the world sees most often and therefore judges the church by.  A house with cracked, dingy brick is judged unappealing by the world.  As the bricks, you are the representative of the Framework and the Foundation.  You also protect and give strength to the church.  You may feel that you are not needed from time to time, but you need to realize that if even one brick were to leave it's place, the whole structure is weakened. 

            This doesn't mean that your only job is to be there.  You must be involved, engaged with the rest of the church.  Serve, don't just sit.  Find the spot you fit best and do the most and do it.  With all your heart.  With passion.

Mortar

            Without a bonding agent, bricks will eventually fall apart, no matter how good they are.  Mortar bonds bricks.  In the church, mortar is a combination of love and community.  And it is vital that both are present.  You can love people from a distance, and you can have community with people you don't really care about. 

            When love and community come together, you get groups of people who actually want to hear what your prayer needs are.  People want to help you through your struggles.  People want to share their lives- good and bad.  There are many churches out that that have good foundations, good framework, and good bricks.  But they fall apart because they don't connect to each other.  So, be attentive and eager to reach out to the people around you, whether they are new or old.

Doors and Decor

            Remember all those things in the foundation section like denominational history and preferences?  They are the doors and décor.  They give the church it's atmosphere, it's personality.  And they act as doors to allow people in or keep them out.  They are aesthetics.  Important to the overall finished product, but easily changed if needed.  The truth is, some people will “Love what you've done  with the place,” while others will hold their nose.  If these things become so off-putting, you might want to consider redecorating, as long as the redecorating doesn't damage the rest of the structure, especially the foundation.

Roof

            And over all this, must be prayer.  Simply put, prayer is the protection that puts the church 'in the dry.'  Without it, you are exposed, you are weak, and you will be destroyed.  Honestly, this section really ought to be included closer to the beginning of this little 'construction,' but it's here because it needs to be what we're left with.  Many churches try to make prayer part of the décor, but it is what encloses and holds together all that has come before:  foundation, framework, bricks, mortar, and doors and décor.         

            Pray for your church, and all the beliefs, people, and actions that make it what it is.  Cover each other in prayer.  Weather the storms that rise.

            My friend's church that is beginning a Church Construction phase has been blessed with growth in numbers.  There are many churches that have been down that road- and that is great.  But unless they properly construct the spiritual church- the physical building will itself become abandoned and decrepit. 

            Be wise builders, fellow Christ Followers.  Build not with the easy way, the palatable way, or the common way.  Build with the blueprint God enlightens you to.

Pastor =/= Celebrity

Kristin and I were in town to meet the church I was about to join as Youth Minister. Everyone knew we were coming, its a small town and all, but I thought we could slip down to the Festival going on in the park unnoticed and check things out. Almost immediately, we felt eyes on us. The people were sort of subtle about it, but it was clear, they kinda knew who we were. Finally, someone asked if I was the new youth minister. Then people started talking to us.

I felt,for the first time, like a celebrity.

I don't think we set out to be 'celebrities' to our churches, but it often happens. Pastors who are loved become special people in the community. They get good seats at events, special parking, and lots of invites to cool stuff. People begin to talk like they talk, dress like they dress, and name drop them in conversations to feel important. Don't get me wrong- pastors should be loved and appreciated, but caution must be taken.

Pastors Are People
Something begins to happen in and around Celebrity Pastors. People begin to think they can do no wrong. They take their words as gospel, and their actions as saintly offerings. But pastors are people. They are fallible. They are given to fits of stupidity and error just like everyone else. They have affairs, struggle with alcoholism, have tempers, and occasionally lie (and not just in those cheesy 'pastor stories that sometimes get told from the pulpit to make a humorous point). Not just in their sins, pastors are people in their needs. They need friends they can vent to, cry with, laugh with and bounce ideas off of. They need friends. But Celebrity Pastors find friends hard to come by. The power they wield puts up a wall between the people and them, a sort of "I wanna talk to him, but he's so important and I'm not" vibe sets in. And the more distance between Pastor as Person and Pastor as Celebrity, the more it becomes about the power of the position and not the people they serve.

Power Corrupts
When people view their pastors as celebrities, eventually it can go to their head. They begin to get beyond the checks and balances of the people because no one would dare question their word. If it goes on long enough, even if someone does confront an error the pastor will refuse to see it. This is how bad theology becomes common theology. No matter how good the intent of the man setting out to lead, too much power will corrupt. You've seen it in nationally known pastors like Swaggart and Haggard, leading powerful churches while living a lie and believing their power strong enough to keep it hidden. But it happens on smaller levels, and without such blatant sin. Sometimes, a pastor becomes so powerful that the church can't function without him. He retires and the replacement is a sacrificial lamb because he's never good enough, and never will be. Or the church just dies, because the life of it was in that one man.

Pastor Worship is Idolatry
Paul told us to imitate him as he imitated Christ. Paul wanted us to look at Paul and see Jesus. The problem we have today is that we can come to get lost in the charisma and words of the man serving God, and so forget to see the God who sent the man. I dare say there are people more loyal to their pastor than to Jesus. After all, you can see him, and converse with him, and be near him- you know, the same things the Israelites said about the golden calf they made while God chatted with Moses on the mountain.

The Answer
So, here is how we can avoid setting our churches, and our pastors, up for failure:

Churches: Remember the pastor is human. He makes mistakes. Even in his teaching. So check what he says with Scripture and prayer. NEVER take him just at his word, because his best intentions will still fall short of God. Allow him to admit his faults, and encourage him to do so- and if he asks for help, give it. He needs your help in walking with Christ, even as he is called to lead you to walk with Christ. Pray for him. Question him. And never feel afraid to approach him. He may be the guy speaking each week, leading everyone, but he is still one of you. Don't forget that. And don't let him forget it either. But when he takes a stand that stands with God (and God backs that choice in Scripture)- back him with all you have.

Pastors: Remember you are human. You rely on God for the same grace you extol your church to seek and live in. Be real with the people, and never pretend you have it all together. Take time to be with them more than just a greeting as they enter or leave church. Share your sins and failures, and ask for their help. Do what you do for the Name of Christ, above doing it for the love of the church. Don't be afraid to take a stand- one that comes from Christ, not your views- and be willing to lose popularity over it. Make it clear with words AND actions that Christ leads you, Christ is your Lord, and that you merely lead the church where Christ leads you. Don't let people make you into more than you are.

That church that made me feel like a celebrity also taught me the dangers that come with it. It taught me how to be a pastor, not a celebrity. How to care for the people more than the position. They taught me that a real pastor will lead the people where they don't want to go, even if it costs him greatly- and he'll lead them there because that dangerous and lonely place is where Jesus is.

Engaging

How often has this happened to you? You're in mid conversation with someone, maybe over coffee, or in front of the TV, or just in the hall, when you reach a threshold. Do I want to continue the small talk, or do I go deeper? Is this person worth my time, or, more importantly, am I worth theirs?

We spend so much of our time skimming the surface of our relationships, and so little time getting out the scuba gear and going deep. Truth be told, not every relationship can be ocean floor deep, nor should they be. But what of the relationships that matter? Would you really want to marry someone that you only knew a few general things about, none of which were anything close to personal? Would you enter into a business deal with only the barest of details and hint of what is to come?

Some relationships must go deeper- they must be engaged. I strongly believe that the group of people you call your church needs to be a people you engage. Again, depending on the size of you church, depth can't be achieved with everyone, but there needs to be people, fellow beleivers, that know your secrets. They need to know your strengths and your weakness, your struggles and your victories. Not just so they can pray for you, but so they can celebrate with you. I can get excited when 'my team' wins the game, but when I know a person on that team, know their story, I am all the more excited.

Now, there are different levels of engagement, some folks you can tell them when you're having a tough day, some folks you can tell them the specifics, and some folks you call the second things go south.

The "It's Been a Tough Day" Group
These people are in your life, not on the periphery, but actually people you talk with and care about. You are honest with them, and you need to be. If they ask how things are, you know better than to give them a half-hearted "Fine" if they are in fact, crappy. They don't want deep details, but they care enough to pray. This is ideally where the bulk of your fellow Christ Followers will fall.

The "Specifics"
You can be brutally honest with them. You tell them exactly why your day has tanked, and the conversation is deep enough and long enough that you might want to sit down for it. These folks tend to crop up in your smaller circles, like a small group or a class. They expect and will probably ask for what is really going on with you. There is an expectation of, for lack of a better word, confrontation. You are in their life and they are in yours.

The "Callers"
Very rarely, these people come along. If they aren't there physically with you, you contact them ASAP. They are in your top five speed dial positions. They may be family, a lifelong friend, or they may just be that deep, deep connection in your life. Sadly, we most often don't have these. The level of engagement it takes to get to this depth takes a long time and it is not easy or safe to get there. You have let them so far into your life, that they know things few, if any, others know. You've risked a lot in trusting anyone this deep, and they have returned the favor.

The key to engaging others is to be willing to be open, and to be willing to wait and listen until they feel open. We desperately need deeper community within our churches, the kind of 'fellowship' that the latter verses of Acts 2 talk about. Where we, despite our differences, truly engage each other in life. We need that connection to others, and they need us.

In order to grow in faith and maturity, we need to engage each other, and we need to engage God in a similar way- but thats another post for another day.