John 10 speaks of "hirelings" or "substitutes for the real thing" who want to "climb up some other way." Where leaders get into trouble is with independent acting, outside of the confines of congregational life in love. When we step out alone in public ways (without our leaders or church members on board) we are endangering the fragile relationship between clergy and laity. Often church members won't understand what we are thinking since they are focused only on our independent (re:trouble-making) actions! Such independent action may be symptom of the sinful desire to be Pastor/leader outside of the congregational life, so that the church serves us and not we the church.
Servant leaders will lead from the heart if we are willing to exercise independent spiritual thinking. Following the ineffable lead of God's Holy Spirit, welling up from within, under the guidance of Scripture, we can lead with integrity. This is about conversation, about communication, about bringing people together with how God is leading the shepherd. It is about persuasion, convincing, and challenging within the church. For me, this is an implication of John's imagery of the good shepherd. In Baptist life much of leadership is about consultation and conversation, reaching understandings, and moving forward. It is about free pulpits and free people, but not clashing mavericks clamoring for attention with the trappings of the church but without its authority. Churches should not exist to validate pastors' desires or egos, but their callings. Is the calling to love and serve others who love Christ, or to be affirmed and served in one's own desires?
Monday, May 20, 2013
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Urgent: Ephesians 2:8-10 needed badly!
So people say, "we have a lot of churches needing pastors." And I say, "Well, ain't nern called me yet." Then they says, "Problem is ain't none them churches y'ed want no how."
This is coming from people and clergy who ought to know better, and is being repeated, sometimes meaner than others: "You wouldn't want to go there and pastor." [The meanest was, "They ought to close down and give their property to (local megachurch wannabe)."]
Well, call me dumb, but I think that attitude is a problem. It reveals an insanely unspiritual corporate job/career/professional viewpoint of Christianity that STILL creeps me out.
The issue has never been whether or not churches have problems. Or whether some got's more problems than others. Or whether Christians got problems. Or whether churches can sin like crazy.
The fact is Christians is people. And people in groups can sin much more efficiently than they can by themselves. Isn't it all about redemption and healing through dependence upon God? "...and that not of yourselves...."
How do I know this? Because I am one of em. Yep, ministers is people, too. And people sin, some more one day, some less the next day, some quite well, some with difficulty. Point is that there ain't no church more broken than I have been, or even am. Welcome to earth!
So what church is good enough for me?!? That is the criteria for a call in this modern megachurch goin' straight to h^ll, world loving man-centered religion?!?
Better this: What church am I good enough for? Now THAT question only God can answer, folks.
Our attitude ought to be one of dependence on God and not our own perfections. If churches have to be "good enough" to call a pastor, then God help us all. We all have to come to the end of ourselves spiritually, realize that we have a need for God as individuals and in community, humble ourselves, give over our sin to the power of God, and accept and receive his forgiveness and redemption. This is about love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. I hope.
Now, don't that sound better than "get your act together or die?" I'm telling you, there is no grace left in modern megachurch goin' straight to h^ll, world loving man-centered religion. It's all about performance, perfection, and spiritual self-sufficiency. "How do you stack up against the big dogs?" No one tells you that the "big dogs" got that way by...(the spiritual equivalent of free beer).
Here's to all them imperfect churches out there without perfect pastors, waiting for Superman. (He ain't coming, especially if he says he is.) "...we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we might walk in them..."
I just mean...dern y'all. Fix this attitude now and stop discouraging one another.
This is coming from people and clergy who ought to know better, and is being repeated, sometimes meaner than others: "You wouldn't want to go there and pastor." [The meanest was, "They ought to close down and give their property to (local megachurch wannabe)."]
Well, call me dumb, but I think that attitude is a problem. It reveals an insanely unspiritual corporate job/career/professional viewpoint of Christianity that STILL creeps me out.
The issue has never been whether or not churches have problems. Or whether some got's more problems than others. Or whether Christians got problems. Or whether churches can sin like crazy.
The fact is Christians is people. And people in groups can sin much more efficiently than they can by themselves. Isn't it all about redemption and healing through dependence upon God? "...and that not of yourselves...."
How do I know this? Because I am one of em. Yep, ministers is people, too. And people sin, some more one day, some less the next day, some quite well, some with difficulty. Point is that there ain't no church more broken than I have been, or even am. Welcome to earth!
So what church is good enough for me?!? That is the criteria for a call in this modern megachurch goin' straight to h^ll, world loving man-centered religion?!?
Better this: What church am I good enough for? Now THAT question only God can answer, folks.
Our attitude ought to be one of dependence on God and not our own perfections. If churches have to be "good enough" to call a pastor, then God help us all. We all have to come to the end of ourselves spiritually, realize that we have a need for God as individuals and in community, humble ourselves, give over our sin to the power of God, and accept and receive his forgiveness and redemption. This is about love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. I hope.
Now, don't that sound better than "get your act together or die?" I'm telling you, there is no grace left in modern megachurch goin' straight to h^ll, world loving man-centered religion. It's all about performance, perfection, and spiritual self-sufficiency. "How do you stack up against the big dogs?" No one tells you that the "big dogs" got that way by...(the spiritual equivalent of free beer).
Here's to all them imperfect churches out there without perfect pastors, waiting for Superman. (He ain't coming, especially if he says he is.) "...we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we might walk in them..."
I just mean...dern y'all. Fix this attitude now and stop discouraging one another.
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