Keepin’ it real

12 02 2008

So, I’m accelerating on the highway on-ramp today with my 39-week pregnant wife and this guy whips around me into the right lane of the on-ramp and punches his truck to get around me. Now, for those who know me or my driving style, you know I’m no wallflower. Probably has something to do with the fact that my mom would have chosen “race car driver” for her profession, if she’d had her druthers, and I have those same genes. So, I’m immediately ticked off and thinking, “Who the heck is this guy and where’s the fire?”.

And then I recognized it! That little spot in my heart where I pass judgment on anything that doesn’t jibe with what I think is right or appropriate. That’s exactly the spot where all the venom from the conversation on “franchise” church spews forth. I just needed to be transparent and fess up when I saw it in myself. The difference I think though, is being aware enough to recognize it and check yourself before spewing off at the mouth, ESPECIALLY in the name of Christ and within the Church.

It’s far too simple to use the pulpit, blogs, billboards and whatever else to communicate condemnation, judgment, etc. and springboard it all from a little verse that seems to illustrate the point. You know why that’s so easy? Because it originates from us, in our sinfulness. It comes naturally, and it’s not from God. You know why it’s so prevalent? Because it makes all the attenders feel a little bit better than all the “lost folks” who didn’t make it to church that day. And the pastor gets a handshake and “nice message, pastor” on the way out the door. Really? Seriously? Is that all church is supposed to be? Jesus went to the cross for that?

I don’t think so and it pains me when we get so off-mission within the Church. There are enough people and resources within the Church today to affect real change on a national and global level. But, we won’t get there when we keep backbiting at ourselves within the Chuch and spewing forth judgment on those outside of it. Leave the judging to God and recognize like I did in myself today that there’s a part of my heart that wants to justify my right to do that and act out of it. Nothing good will come from that. All the divisive issues within the Church, witness our little discussion about franchise over the last week :-), and the way we in the Church have polarized ourselves against those outside of it, should melt away if just recall our true standing before God without Christ and His grace and mercy - lost, hopeless, and justifiably condemned. When we realize the depth of the forgiveness we’ve received, why would we ever quibble over whether large church or small church is right? Whether Sunday School or small groups are correct? Which discipleship study is best? Who cares! Are you moving people towards God and finding ways to connect the lost to their Heavenly Father? That’s it! Keep doing that by whatever methods or systems help that happen. Go get ‘em Church!


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And we’re representing Christ?

11 02 2008

I was third-party to a passionate discussion last week over the use of the word “franchise” and church. Eddie Johnson, who leads our partner church in Nashville, was using the word to paint an analogy of how systems can benefit the Church. He’s stated before that he proudly runs the North Point franchise in Nashville. And I’ve told him how the word always makes me shudder because it brings all the wrong connotations to mind. Like we’re just opening up little outlets to “sell” Jesus, promulgate Andy and send profits back to headquarters. I stated in an earlier post that I’d quit if there was any semblance of that around me. That’s not what Eddie is about either.

What’s most troubling though is looking at the comments people from the Church have posted in various threads as the discussion moved around the Web. Aside from not taking the time to actually consider the analogy - that systems are great ways to produce intended results, in this case introducing people to God, life change, discipleship, evangelism, etc., people inside the Body once again took the bait this world offers and came down in judgment upon Eddie personally and North Point as a church.

COME ON PEOPLE! With reactions like that, you really wonder why there are such large factions of culture arrayed against us? Unfortunately, there’s such a pervasive subculture within the Church that has been around since, oh, the days of Jesus himself, that has crowned itself the “Church Intelligencia”, destined to sit and pass judgment on all those who rankle the court. They are experts in quoting the Word, yet affect almost no lives positively. They can readily respond with biting commentary, yet have encouraged no one in long time. They claim to be close to Christ, yet probably have no friends outside the faith, lest they mingle with “sinners”. P-R-I-D-E abounds!

It’s really pretty disgusting to see the condemnation, judgment and personal attacks in their language. Why are you so threatened? Afraid someone will pierce the veil and discover there’s not a whole lot going on upstairs or in your heart? Oh, and why is every church that attracts people lambasted for being “consumerist”. Hmm, for some reason I remember great crowds following Jesus around to hear what he had to say. If consumerism, is week after week of people re-ordering their lives to live for Christ not themselves, people seeing past religion to discover that their Heavenly Father desires relationship with them, and the hopeless finding hope, go ahead and indict me because that’s what we’re “selling”.

Thanks to those of you who investigated what Eddie actually meant, and even in disagreement, engaged in healthy conversation on the topic. Gee, I wonder how the cause of Christ could be furthered if the Church were known more for its ability to actually welcome conversation and invite detractors into the discussion? Folks remember, we have TRUTH on our side and we know how the story ends. What can threaten that? Lay down the small-mindedness.


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Yee Haw!

10 02 2008

My sister called me late Saturday night.  Scares you when you get those late-night calls from family, doesn’t it.  I was thinking, “Uh oh.  What’s gone wrong?”  Well, this was a dramatic call of another nature.  She called to let me know my brother-in-law, Pat, had prayed to receive Christ Saturday night.  I’m ecstatic!  It hasn’t been easy for Pat over the last few years.  His brother was murdered in a robbery a few years ago, and he’s held on to that anger tightly.  Unfortunately, when you hang on to it, you and everyone around you loses, and whoever actually caused the anger seemingly wins over and over again as it wells up and you lash out.  It had greatly affected his marriage and relationships.  Living several states away, I typically only see my sister and her family a couple of times a year.  Pat was always “up” whenever I saw him, but I knew that wasn’t always the norm.  I also knew that like most Americans, and especially we Southerners, he was fine with all the “God-stuff”, but had never acquiesced  to actually inviting Christ into his life and knowing him personally.  I’m so excited because Pat can actually lay things down now at the feet of the only One who can do anything about it.  Pat, way to go!  I’m so proud of you.  I hope you richly experience God’s pleasure with you.  You were created for Him.  You are more whole now than you’ve ever been.   Breathe it in richly and discover how much He’s wanted you to come home.


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Categories : Life Change

“Franchising” Church

4 02 2008

My friend, Eddie Johnson, who’s Lead Pastor at our partner in Nashville - Cumberland Church, has blogged a few times about being a “franchise” of North Point. His latest comments just got picked up for discussion by Monday Morning Insights. Makes me cringe and smile every time he uses that word. It makes me cringe because franchise sounds so soul-less. Makes me smile because I know Eddie’s heart and his motives are nothing but noble and God-honoring. Oh yeah, and when you get beyond the initial aversion to a church being like a franchise, he’s right.

Believe me, if we were simply “franchising” North Point, I couldn’t do this job. I couldn’t stand before God and be a part of something that was only replicating systems for systems’ sake. We are, however, trying to export principles that have been shown to reach people and bring them closer to God. In that regard, we are very intentional. Eddie’s written about this much more than I have. Check out the link above and see his comments. Let me know what you think.


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Categories : church structure