Jul 21st, 2010 by Greg England
When I was preaching, hardly a week went by without some type of notice of the latest seminar or book on how to “do church” more effectively.
I attended classes at lectureships and listened to preachers talk about how their church is so much better than “my” church because they have finally figured out the missing piece to growth.
Just saw the latest book by a well-known ex-pastor on how to communicate more effectively. I’ve heard him speak on several occasions and he’s about as arrogant a person as I’ve ever come across.
Another book just published on getting beyond “noses and nickles” to help church leaders focus on discipleship and spiritual maturity….
I finally gave up reading all the books and stopped attending the seminars and lectureships. It all just seemed to complicate something that was never meant to be all that complicated. Imagine where we’d be if Jesus had listened to the religious experts of his day?
Come to think of it, we tend to look more like they looked than how He looked. Hmmm . . .
My close friend told me once, “If everything these guys are saying were true, the churches of Christ would be exploding in growth.”
Truth is, as hard as we try, we’ve never been able to “get it right” as to how to “do church” because we were never meant to “do church.” It was always God’s idea that we BE the church, regardless of what we happened to be “doing” at a given moment.
Here is an article that appeared last week in the Los Angeles Times newspaper regarding one of the shepherds at Chorus Church. That this would even appear in that newspaper is truly amazing. Dave is a humble guy who just happens to believe wholeheartedly in being God’s person in the context of the given moment.
He’s not slick. Not flashy. Not in your face. Just a servant-hearted guy who loves to see others come to know the Lord.
If you have time, it’s worth the read. What it doesn’t tell you is just how God is using this to speak to people all over the United States about faith and prayer!
I am blessed by Dave’s friendship and pastoral care as an elder at our church. Dave is blessed by the love, support, and encouragement of his wife, Dawn … every bit as servant-hearted.
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Greg England
“Truth is, as hard as we try, we’ve never been able to “get it right” as to how to “do church” because we were never meant to “do church.” It was always God’s idea that we BE the church, regardless of what we happened to be “doing” at a given moment.”
Amen, and amen.
What an incredible story! I love it and just wish David could have come out with his findings a bit sooner before the passing for the health care fiasco bill.
My grandson, Keegan (my daughter’s younger son), made a perfect score in math on the SAT and has just started college. He wants to be an actuary, he thinks, so I sent the link to the article to Rebecca to show Keegan. Keegan is pretty much a loner type and I can see him getting caught up in numbers and working like – apparently – your friend and elder does.
I agree with you and Mike (the eyeguy) that we ARE the church wherever we go and whatever we’re doing. Thanks for the reminder.
Dee
[I find it fascinating that anyone would want a career in numbers, but God has wired some people that way. I hope this article will inspire Keegan.]
I suspect that, in fact, there is no (and never has been) getting it “right”in terms of the church as an institution. However, there have always been (and I believe always will be) people who are Jesus to the world in any particular time and place. Rather than focusing on how the church can grow as an entity in and of itself, I think we might be better served to preach and share Jesus to our respective spheres of influence and let the Spirit add to the body. Just my two cents.
[Your two cents is (are??) always worth reading, my dear friend.]
What a great article and what an amazing man to be so focused on finding the problem and dealing with his own health issues at the same time. I would say he had some answered prayers.
I have to agree with Mike and Dee, we are the church, rough spots and all.
Thanks for sharing this good stuff!
[Thanks for reading it.]
Loved the article! Nothing better than a true-life story like that to motivate you at the start of the day!
Greg, I share your disillusionment with “church” as it’s done most places. Especially the following words: “It all just seemed to complicate something that was never meant to be all that complicated. Imagine where we’d be if Jesus had listened to the religious experts of his day?”
What I have puzzled over, growing up in a CoC, with a mom and dad who truly believed in the call to go back to NT Christianity, “WHY DIDN”T WE ACTUALLY DO THAT?” Why did the original people in the movement (Alexander Campbell and Barton W. Stone and all the rest) leave the clergy system intact and why have they continued to saddle themselves with “church buildings”?! Paying for the church building and paying the staff at most churches eats up most of the budget. Is that really what it’s all about?!
Oh, well. Great article! You are blessed to have him as your friend!
[I'm also blessed by YOUR friendship! Why didn't we do that? For the same reason we're still not doing it, I suppose. My opinion is we have a history of studying our history and a commitment to "us" rather than truly being committed to Jesus.]
I am reading some books by Frank Viola (Reimaging Church, Pagen Christianity, Organic Church, From Eternity to Here & his latest, Jesus Manifesto) that have me re-thinking a lot of things I grew up believing. God is really working on me right now, I hope I am listening…..
[Are you suggesting that preacher at Woodlawn didn't have it all just right? I'm a year or so behind, but I finally ordered three of Viola's books. Looking forward to reading them.]
Great story! I love it when using numbers makes a difference in the world. I love it even more when loving God makes a difference in lives.
[I'll forever remained confused about the numbers, but I love seeing people's faith shine!]
In “doing church,” I’m always reminded of the explosion of bus ministries…………and then the explosion of busses for sale by churches. However, one very good friend and preacher, whose initials are John Roberts, if I remember correctly, came to know the Lord because of a bus ministry. So it was worth it.
[John's a good guy ... regardless of how he "got in"!]
I’ll try to make time to read the article later. Just a quick comment – I heard a guy once say that we spend more time reading books (and going to seminars, etc.) about the Bible than we do reading the Bible. Since then, I’ve realized there are few books that really add anything to the Scripture. There are three, however, that I have on my shelf that I think have helped me tremendously, and are worth keeping. (Every Man’s Battle, Living God’s Love, and Crazy Love). And I’m realizing now that one reason I find them so powerful is that they speak nothing of how we “do church” – but about how to build relationship with God.
Oh, and I’m not a numbers guy, but I am a “safety geek” and I certainly get it that we’re all wired differently – I’ve convinced very few people to understand my safety ways