If you talk to most people who know me they will tell you that I am quite competitive. Be it at board games, football, or a pizza eating competition with my teenage sons at a Pizza Hut buffet. I guess most of us are competitive at something, be it competing against ourselves to beat that time, be fitter, read more books than last year, or competing against others at any or everything.
But our competitiveness is deeply damaging when it comes to ministry and I know because I've felt the need to compete. 'How big is your church now?' is the question that most people who have planted churches face most regularly in some form or another. It is spectacularly unhelpful. It sets up an us and them. The successful versus unsuccessful. It brings a weight of expectation which can become a burden. It plays to all our competitive and comparative instincts and mitigates against partnership and gracious honesty and mutual care and prayer. And it totally ignores the different socio-economic, planting strategies, team strengths, environmental factors, geographical and demographic quirks which have a huge influence on those things.
As I've mused on this issue it strikes me that our competitiveness creates its own problems. It seems to me to be a clever ploy of Satan to keep us driven or proud or disappointed and disparate rather than united. Here are a number of areas which are impacted by competitive ministry:
1. My kingdom focus not big kingdom focus
Read through Acts and look for competitive evangelism or church growth and you won't find it. Instead theirs is a whole kingdom focus that frees resources, generously gives, and graciously and joyfully celebrates growth everywhere. Yet too often we are focused on my church, my numbers, my mission field, comparing and contrasting it with others and then feeling either proud or crushed. This simply shouldn't be.
2. Competition negates rejoicing
Too often we see ministry growth elsewhere as a threat or as highlighting deficiencies in ours. That simply is not so. And such thinking means we will not grow beyond being stunted spiritual pygmies. It means the gospel has not really penetrated our hearts and is not likely to. It also means we may take an unhealthy joy, though we'd never show it, in another ministries struggles.
3. Keeping our slice of the pie
There is only so much funding for ministry so if we are competitive we will jealously guard what funding we have access to; looking to ring fence and protect, or grow our revenue streams using a business model. We will want to invest in our ministry, our church, gain funding for our initiatives, ignoring the fact that it may be at the expense of others. The Biblical model seems to be a bit different. Funding flows where the need is greatest not where the wealth is. So initially most mission is funded by the Jerusalem church. But when the Gentile churches are healthy and well established and there is a famine in Jerusalem they gentile churches generously send money back to Jerusalem. They don't want to keep their slice of the pie, they don't hoard resources because they are concerned for the kingdom and their brothers and sisters and so they give.
4. Hoarding not providing
I've done a whole blog post on this but this is another area where competitiveness causes gospel blockage. If we're competitive we will focus on growing our ministry and our staff team rather than on providing workers for the kingdom where ever they are needed. Instead ought we to be training up leaders and preparing them for service in other parts of God's kingdom, rather than training up to hoard. When was the last time your church trained up a leader you would love to have kept but deliberately sent on somewhere else to serve?
5. Competition creates isolation
Let me speak personally to pastors. Many pastors are lonely. Not in the sense of having no friends but in terms of creating expectations of themselves that are unhealthy and lead to isolation. Admittedly some of those are caused by unhealthy church cultures, but increasingly I think that is a tiny minority. Our competitiveness means we don't want to show the very people who could most help us our vulnerabilities be it because of the fragility of our ego, fear of how other pastors may judge me, or simply because of pride. How many other pastors are you really honest with about how you are doing? Not in terms of your church but in terms of our own personal walk with Jesus, our love for God, our pastoring of our families, our theological doubts?
There are lots more ways our competitiveness hinders our ministries. I'm pretty sure than behind many pastoral burn-outs and moral crash and burns lies an unhealthy, gospel denying competitiveness. I'm also sure it is behind much of the pastoral loneliness and isolation people feel. Only in applying the gospel and fighting our sinful pride saturated competitiveness will we know the joy of gospel partnership, love and kingdom growth. It's a battle that I am increasingly aware I must fight to avoid all those dangers listed above and many others.
Showing posts with label fear. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fear. Show all posts
Monday, 9 April 2018
Monday, 16 October 2017
The sound of.... music?
Throughout time has God has been incredibly good to the church. One of his greatest gifts has been in the gift of music and musicians. Singing is powerful, it lifts our eyes, instills truth and provides a vehicle for our expressions of trust, fear, joy, and so on in response to God's word, our lives and our hope. A church without singing would be far poorer.
And yet I wonder if that is where we are heading. Not wishing to seem apocalyptic but musicianship is on the wane. If you're church has lots of gifted musicians my hunch is you are located in the city or in a locale with a university. Be thankful, even though at times there can be tensions with having lots of musicians.
I am very grateful to God for the gifted musicians he has provided for us as a church over the last ten years. Their faithful service has been of great benefit to us. Yet here is my fear looking around about me and into the future about music and musicians in the church. A fear that is especially true if you are not a university town/city church and that is exacerbated even more if you are in working class or deprived area.
Put simply there aren't many musicians and there is little prospect of there being lots of musicians n the future. There are a number of reasons for this, one is that young people who head off to uni rarely return home. But secondly and perhaps a greater cause for concern in the future is the sheer cost of music lessons. Due to budget constraints our local school music service has put the cost of lessons up from £160 a year to over £400! That puts music out of the reach of so many families. It limits music and musicianship to the wealthy, because that is without the add on cost of instruments, music, etc... And that will impact our churches, maybe not yours because you're church is largely middle class and fairly affluent, and so music will be an affordable priority, we ought to be thankful for that if that's us. But for those in working class and deprived areas I wonder if it means many more churches without musicians. There are ways around it, there are a growing range of apps, but we lose the sense of someone willingly serving the body of Christ, someone who has taken hours to craft and hone their skills. It also means the next generation don't grow up to aspire to play and so the cycle perpetuates itself.
So what? Ought we to be encouraging musicians to think about moving and serving in other churches, if we have a glut of them? Could your musicians help another local church out by training their young, or not so young, people? Are there musicians in your church who could provide free lessons to the next generation either in your church or in another to fill this void?
And yet I wonder if that is where we are heading. Not wishing to seem apocalyptic but musicianship is on the wane. If you're church has lots of gifted musicians my hunch is you are located in the city or in a locale with a university. Be thankful, even though at times there can be tensions with having lots of musicians.
I am very grateful to God for the gifted musicians he has provided for us as a church over the last ten years. Their faithful service has been of great benefit to us. Yet here is my fear looking around about me and into the future about music and musicians in the church. A fear that is especially true if you are not a university town/city church and that is exacerbated even more if you are in working class or deprived area.
Put simply there aren't many musicians and there is little prospect of there being lots of musicians n the future. There are a number of reasons for this, one is that young people who head off to uni rarely return home. But secondly and perhaps a greater cause for concern in the future is the sheer cost of music lessons. Due to budget constraints our local school music service has put the cost of lessons up from £160 a year to over £400! That puts music out of the reach of so many families. It limits music and musicianship to the wealthy, because that is without the add on cost of instruments, music, etc... And that will impact our churches, maybe not yours because you're church is largely middle class and fairly affluent, and so music will be an affordable priority, we ought to be thankful for that if that's us. But for those in working class and deprived areas I wonder if it means many more churches without musicians. There are ways around it, there are a growing range of apps, but we lose the sense of someone willingly serving the body of Christ, someone who has taken hours to craft and hone their skills. It also means the next generation don't grow up to aspire to play and so the cycle perpetuates itself.
So what? Ought we to be encouraging musicians to think about moving and serving in other churches, if we have a glut of them? Could your musicians help another local church out by training their young, or not so young, people? Are there musicians in your church who could provide free lessons to the next generation either in your church or in another to fill this void?
Thursday, 9 June 2016
The danger of the relentless drip, drip, drip of opposition
We often listen to stories of people facing intense persecution, or hear of the 50-70,000 believers estimated to be in labour camps in North Korea and wonder how they manage to stay strong in their faith. Wonder if we would have their courage in the face of physical persecution. At the same time we tend to downplay the relentless drip, drip, drip of secularism that we face in our society, almost as if we believe the lie we tell our children "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me." And yet when you study the Bible you can't help but notice how often it is through weasel words that Satan attacks God's people.
In Nehemiah 6 as the people near completion of the walls of Jerusalem it is not a direct physical assault that poses a threat to them, it is the relentless wearing war of words. (v2-4)Four times the surrounding governors send messages to Nehemiah seeking to distract him from the work and potentially lure him away from the security of Jerusalem. When that fails they send the same message but with an open letter falsely claiming that Nehemiah is leading a rebellion. To what end? To create fear with their words as the people hear of it so that they are paralysed and stop work. When that fails they recruit an insider, a double agent who tries with his honeyed words to entrap Nehemiah in cowardice and sin. And after all that is overcome we read that this is just the tip of the iceberg because others have been trying to intimidate Nehemiah with words. Words are weapons and can be as effective at intimidating us as swords, clubs or jail bars.
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus says "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Jesus identifies words as weapons of mass persecution. We need to recognise that the words of our society, it's unassailable truths, it's repeated mantras which go against the gospel and fuel words, insults, and falsely saying evil things against Christians are persecution. Because if we don't recognise it we will simply fall prey to the fear it generates and not speak up for the gospel but withdraw into the Christian ghetto or whither in our faith.
There is an interesting twist in v16 of Nehemiah 6, the people who intended to sow fear and discouragement by their words end up discouraged and fearful why? Because they recognise "this work had been done with the help of our God." When they see that their words failed to induce fear and stop the work but that a fear of God motivate the people to serve and love they are fearful because God's people and God's plans are unstoppable. As we overcome fear of man with fear of God and God's kingdom advances those who seek to sow fear instead find themselves fearful because they see the futility of fighting God as they oppose us.
In Nehemiah 6 as the people near completion of the walls of Jerusalem it is not a direct physical assault that poses a threat to them, it is the relentless wearing war of words. (v2-4)Four times the surrounding governors send messages to Nehemiah seeking to distract him from the work and potentially lure him away from the security of Jerusalem. When that fails they send the same message but with an open letter falsely claiming that Nehemiah is leading a rebellion. To what end? To create fear with their words as the people hear of it so that they are paralysed and stop work. When that fails they recruit an insider, a double agent who tries with his honeyed words to entrap Nehemiah in cowardice and sin. And after all that is overcome we read that this is just the tip of the iceberg because others have been trying to intimidate Nehemiah with words. Words are weapons and can be as effective at intimidating us as swords, clubs or jail bars.
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus says "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Jesus identifies words as weapons of mass persecution. We need to recognise that the words of our society, it's unassailable truths, it's repeated mantras which go against the gospel and fuel words, insults, and falsely saying evil things against Christians are persecution. Because if we don't recognise it we will simply fall prey to the fear it generates and not speak up for the gospel but withdraw into the Christian ghetto or whither in our faith.
There is an interesting twist in v16 of Nehemiah 6, the people who intended to sow fear and discouragement by their words end up discouraged and fearful why? Because they recognise "this work had been done with the help of our God." When they see that their words failed to induce fear and stop the work but that a fear of God motivate the people to serve and love they are fearful because God's people and God's plans are unstoppable. As we overcome fear of man with fear of God and God's kingdom advances those who seek to sow fear instead find themselves fearful because they see the futility of fighting God as they oppose us.
Thursday, 12 April 2012
In Time
I sat and watched the film 'In Time' on Tuesday night, it's an OK film based on a very clever premise. The premise is that money has been replaced by time as the new currency, everybody is given a timer in their arm and once they are 25 their timer starts. Initially they have one year to live, though they can add time through work, or by borrowing time at interest, by inheritance or even theft of time from others. Medical science has also meant that people don't age any more once they are 25, no matter how old they get.
The film isn't brilliantly executed though it does make you think about some of societies preoccupations:
Our fear of death - the greatest driver in the movie is the fear of death. People work, steal, cheat, etc all so that they can have more time, so that they can live. Some (the wealthy) deliberate perpetuate the system because for the few to be immortal many will have to die. Others are so afraid of dying before they have used up their hard won time that they avoid anything that may be viewed as potentially risky but in the process never really live.
Our obsession with looking young - the idea that you stay how you looked at 25 brilliantly reveals our societies rejection of ageing and love of youth and looking young. Though in the film it makes it impossible to know anyone, or even to guess if someone is someones grandmother, mum, wife or daughter, a very clever and thought provoking idea.
Whilst not a brilliantly executed film it is an interesting watch and one which reveals our societies fear of death and obsession with overcoming it. It is fascinating having watched it as I prepared to preach Luke 24v36-53 this week where we see Jesus resurrection body and the hope it brings for his followers - death is conquered for them and resurrection is assured by Jesus and it liberates them and us to really live, risking all to tell others the great news that death has been defeated and sin overcome by Jesus the suffering, risen, reigning Messiah.
The film isn't brilliantly executed though it does make you think about some of societies preoccupations:
Our fear of death - the greatest driver in the movie is the fear of death. People work, steal, cheat, etc all so that they can have more time, so that they can live. Some (the wealthy) deliberate perpetuate the system because for the few to be immortal many will have to die. Others are so afraid of dying before they have used up their hard won time that they avoid anything that may be viewed as potentially risky but in the process never really live.
Our obsession with looking young - the idea that you stay how you looked at 25 brilliantly reveals our societies rejection of ageing and love of youth and looking young. Though in the film it makes it impossible to know anyone, or even to guess if someone is someones grandmother, mum, wife or daughter, a very clever and thought provoking idea.
Whilst not a brilliantly executed film it is an interesting watch and one which reveals our societies fear of death and obsession with overcoming it. It is fascinating having watched it as I prepared to preach Luke 24v36-53 this week where we see Jesus resurrection body and the hope it brings for his followers - death is conquered for them and resurrection is assured by Jesus and it liberates them and us to really live, risking all to tell others the great news that death has been defeated and sin overcome by Jesus the suffering, risen, reigning Messiah.
Monday, 20 October 2008
The Big Picture
Having broken up Luke 8 into little bits it can be hard to get over the big idea week by week. It is amazing to see just the sheer grandeur and scope of Jesus authority as he calms the storm, commands the evil spirit, and the exercises his mastery of sickness and death.
Each threat is mastered, each fear is overcome and Jesus utter authority is established.
Each threat is mastered, each fear is overcome and Jesus utter authority is established.
Monday, 20 August 2007
Change
How are you with change? Do you look forward to it? Do you dread it? Or do you take the ostrich approach and bury your head in the sand until the change has happened. This next couple of weeks is a time of lasts. Yesterday was my last morning preach at BEC before we start South Doncaster Community Church. This Tuesday is the last home group before we relaunch as an SDCC home group on a different night with some different people. Then next Sunday is our last Sunday at BEC.
It is exciting to be involved in starting a new church as well as scary, talk about taking risks is fine when everything is a long way away but now we are well into the reality. Leaving a church of 180-200 to go with about 30 adults to start a new church, leaving youth work our youngsters all love for something new, which I'm sure will be good, leaving friends and family you see every Sunday, leaving the comfort and support network that has built up over 4 and a bit years.
But God is good and the uncertainty is to drive us to pray, not Father God make it a success, though that would be nice, but Father may we bring you glory and make the good news about Jesus known. There are loads of encouragements and things to praise God for and well as people we have met and come to know better.
The last passage I am preaching on at BEC next Sunday evening is all about seeking God's kingdom first above comfort, security, and wealth. God is good even in the terms of preparation he knows what we need to be thinking about and putting into practice.
It is exciting to be involved in starting a new church as well as scary, talk about taking risks is fine when everything is a long way away but now we are well into the reality. Leaving a church of 180-200 to go with about 30 adults to start a new church, leaving youth work our youngsters all love for something new, which I'm sure will be good, leaving friends and family you see every Sunday, leaving the comfort and support network that has built up over 4 and a bit years.
But God is good and the uncertainty is to drive us to pray, not Father God make it a success, though that would be nice, but Father may we bring you glory and make the good news about Jesus known. There are loads of encouragements and things to praise God for and well as people we have met and come to know better.
The last passage I am preaching on at BEC next Sunday evening is all about seeking God's kingdom first above comfort, security, and wealth. God is good even in the terms of preparation he knows what we need to be thinking about and putting into practice.
Monday, 18 June 2007
Can Christianity be moderately important?
I guess we prioritise lots of things in life, some are the most important things some are less so and some are moderately so. Where does Christianity rank?
Christianity is either true and the most important thing in the world, or it is rubbish and should be totally rejected, the one thing it cannot be is moderately important. The message of Christianity is actually astounding, it is unlike any other news you will here; that God sent his Son to die in our place so that we could be with him face to face without fear of judgement, that having died in our place God raised him from the dead as a sign that death is defeated. That is a phenomenal statement, and it either has to be true and the most important thing you ever hear or it has to be dismissed as rubbish.
At the end of Luke 5:1-11 as Simon, James and John have met Jesus they show us that actually they believed it was THE MOST IMPORTANT thing they had ever heard as "they left everything and followed him." Why? Because they recognised in Jesus someone who could remove their fear of judgement from God for rebelling against him. Simon goes from terrified to leaving everything because of the wonder of such great news.
Can you be a nominal Christian? The Bible says not. Can you be a lukewarm Christian? The Bible says look out if you become lukewarm. Why? Because the gospel, the good news of what Jesus has done is so amazing that it should be the dominant feature of your life. It is not news you can respond to moderately it is news of eternal consequence that is life changing.
Christianity is either true and the most important thing in the world, or it is rubbish and should be totally rejected, the one thing it cannot be is moderately important. The message of Christianity is actually astounding, it is unlike any other news you will here; that God sent his Son to die in our place so that we could be with him face to face without fear of judgement, that having died in our place God raised him from the dead as a sign that death is defeated. That is a phenomenal statement, and it either has to be true and the most important thing you ever hear or it has to be dismissed as rubbish.
At the end of Luke 5:1-11 as Simon, James and John have met Jesus they show us that actually they believed it was THE MOST IMPORTANT thing they had ever heard as "they left everything and followed him." Why? Because they recognised in Jesus someone who could remove their fear of judgement from God for rebelling against him. Simon goes from terrified to leaving everything because of the wonder of such great news.
Can you be a nominal Christian? The Bible says not. Can you be a lukewarm Christian? The Bible says look out if you become lukewarm. Why? Because the gospel, the good news of what Jesus has done is so amazing that it should be the dominant feature of your life. It is not news you can respond to moderately it is news of eternal consequence that is life changing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)