Month: August 2019

How do you assess a church?

Assessment, Evaluation, Re-calibration / By

As I have observed churches over the years I find myself continually asking, “Why do they do what they do?” “Does what they do align with Scripture? and sometimes “Why don’t they reflect Christ more?”

I have found that one or more of the following often explains why churches are the way they are:

  1. Their theological foundation and understanding.

Some churches are clearly seeking to live out their understanding of New Testament. It is clear that they have a solid Biblical and theological foundation for who they are.

Other churches are clearly lacking this. There foundation is more likely to be their heritage or personal preference, with little genuine thought of what God’s Word says. They are more than likely focusing on superficial forms and actions.

My understanding of the church in scripture is “Christian people demonstrating life under the Lordship of Christ.”

Some churches are built more on tradition and preference than the guidance of God through His word.

  1. Their contextual understanding of the people who make up their ministry area.

Some churches are real missionaries. They understand the people in their area: what their real and felt needs are, what the relate to, what has meaning to them. They understand the language of their community. Then they build bridges to the people in their area.

Others act as if everyone in their community is like them and they make no effort to understand or relate to those who might be different than they are. They do not take the time to learn the language or the culture.

We serve a missionary God who expects us to be missionaries.

Some churches are more like the castles of old with the draw bridges drawn up to keep out the outsiders.

  1. Their understanding of the needed systems to be a healthy missional church.

Some churches have identified the systems needed to be a Biblical church and have developed process to help them achieve desired outcomes.

Other churches are built on programs and events that may or may not be producing the desired result. But the sad thing is they are more committed to the programs than the results and outcomes.

The church needs to have processes and systems in place that lead people into Christ like living.

Some churches are busy running program, but seeing very little transformation in the people attending.

If the church is to represent Christ, it needs to:

  • Have a clear Biblical and theological understanding of what the church is to be and do
  • Understand the people that comprise their community
  • Have systems in place to ensure that they desire process and outcomes are happening.

Which of these does your church need to strengthen to reach your full kingdom potential?

 

 

Why is it so easy to over correct?

Leadership, Strategy / , , / By

As someone who has been observing and analyzing the church for most of my adult life, I find that whenever you find an excess, the next generation tends to over correct, much like a pendulum corrects to the opposite direction.

Let me share a few examples:

When the church became so focused on its liturgy, the next generation throughout all liturgy and became the Free Church. Both sides lost. The high church lost out on the vitality of the Spirit’s presence and the free church lost the depth of worship reflect in the liturgy.

When many in the American builder and boomer generations went to excess focusing on individualism to the exclusion of community, the next generation has swung the pendulum so much to community that they have excluded individual roles and responsibilities. I see this really come out in how each generation exegetes Biblical texts. Many in the Boomer/Builder generations read all scripture as if it only applied to the individual. Many in the Xer/ Millennial generations read all texts as if it were only understood in community. Each generation lost something in the over reaction to the previous generation.

While many in the Builder generation emphasized Bible knowledge/theology and the first commandment (Love God). Many in the Xer/Millennial generations emphasize living the life of compassion and the second commandment (Loving others). The older generation missed the importance of compassion and relationships and the younger is missing the strength of orthodox beliefs. I am afraid there are very many in our churches that no longer have a belief system based on Scripture, therefore they fall into relativism.

Many in the older generations tied God to County, sometimes losing sight that our primary citizenship is in heaven and that countries can and do become evil.  Some in the younger generation almost make it God against country. Both miss out of scriptural insights. We are to prayer for and honor our leaders, yet at the same time we have loyalties that supersede where we now live. Daniel in the Bible I think reflects this balance.

Finding the appropriate tension between ways of thinking has always been more difficult than just letting ourselves continue to over correct. I pray the church has the strength to not settle for over-reaction and over correction. The over corrections leave the church continually out of balance.

Developing others

Leadership / / By

I believe one of the most important roles and responsibilities of a leader is to develop their followers and others God brings them into relationship with.

As I look around I see many leaders who are glad to use people, but see no responsibility for developing them. It seems the roles described in Ephesians 4 and II Timothy 2 are forgotten.

Here are a few functions I believe are part of being a Christian leader:

  1. Look for and discover potential leaders.
    • Potential leaders often do not know their abilities, what they are capable of, or where they would best fit. They need someone to help them develop a clear self-perception.
    • Potential leaders need someone who sees in them what they can become. Someone with discernment and understanding.
    • Potential leader need a leader who will mentor them, not just in how to do what they are now doing, but how to become something more.
  1. Develop potential leaders for the Kingdom of God, not just your ministry.

I find many people in positions of leadership are so consumed with their own church or ministry, they do not take the time to develop potential leaders who don’t fit their pressing needs. This is a shortsighted and selfish perspective. The mission of God needs more leaders, so think God’s Kingdom, not my kingdom. I see many leaders who are so focused on themselves, they miss wonderful opportunities to make Kingdom impact. A healthy church or organization should be producing more leaders than they can use.

  1. When you see leaders with great potential, help them develop for the long haul, not just quick success.

Churches and leaders have a tendency to encourage high potential leaders to skip important developmental steps. They see someone who seems to be a natural leader, so they immediately make them a youth pastor before they have developed spiritual depth and Biblical knowledge and wisdom. This is why I highly recommend churches, when they see a young person with high potential, to provide scholarships for these leaders to get solid academic degrees. Be willing to give up three or four years, to get a solid leader.

  1. Potential leader need someone to help them navigate the organizations structure and culture.

Some churches and organizations are toxic. True leaders help potential leaders navigate landmines and politics, and keep their heart and mind focused on the mission of God and His values and attitudes.

I am sure there are many other principles, but these are a beginning.

Who are you and your church developing?