Recently I read an interesting article on the merits of small church. It was interesting as the author shared that despite the trend the last several years towards mega-churches, he contended (and put forth some really good research findings) that small churches are better positioned to reach out to the 21^st century mind.

Here’s some reasons:

1) Authenticity. This trait has become an important value. In a best selling book, the secular authors claim that people more and more today are buying products and services based not on hi-quality and value, but increasingly on how real or fake they perceive the offerings. One church study found that the number one reason people returned to churches after an initial visit is because they think the church is "authentic"...(Pastor’s preaching was #2..... church programs were only 5% of the reason). Other research turned up that the most effective churches reaching out to young people in the 20's and 30's had authenticity as one of their highest values. This was true in 100% of these churches.

Large churches often struggle with authenticity and genuiness simply because their size necessitate that they be run like a business. Worship and programs become professionalized and struggle to function like a family (with a family’s blessings and short comings!). This doesn't mean that they can't be genuine, but it's hard for them.

2) Focused. Face it...life is getting more and more complicated. Because of this people may yearn for more focus and intention in their church experience. Sure, large churches have a plethora of programs and some people are attracted to this, but increasingly I’m meeting people who are burned out on church. There were so many ministries and programs demanding attention in their church that they had no time for community involvement or finding personal emotional space. Small churches need to find just a few programs to which they can be truly committed and get everyone on board. In doing so everyone can get involved and really take ownership as they work together and provide a quality program. The energy, sense of mission and momentum generated by this is exciting and contagious!

More coming in the next post!

THE MOST TRUSTED PEOPLE IIN CANADA

This week a popular Canadian magazine revealed the 50 mosts trusted people in Canada. At the top of the list was David Suzuki. Now, I love his show, "The Nature of Things". It highlights the wonders of God's creation. Of course Mr Suzuki's evolutionary bias never mentions the Creator that real scientists like Einstein believed in. Interestingly, years ago I read a piece by the first phd. in climatology in Canada. You know, the guys that actually study the climate for their life's work....the people that really understand what's going on with the climate. Scientists that tell us that global warming peaked in 1998 and it's been getting cooler ever since. The people that don't fudge the data (a.l.a. United Nations) for their own nefarious purposes. He claimed that Suzuki hired a full time spin meister to present misleading climate data to Canadians with the purpose of perpetuating the global warming myth that provides the Suzuki foundation with loads of research cash and grants. He off handedly accused Suzuki of exploiting the environment more than oil companies.

So, this is the most trusted man in Canada. Did any religious or spiritual figures make the list? Nope. Wayne Gretzky came in a #14. I like Wayne. Even met him in the Nagano Olympics in '98. He seemed like a decent guy. But still I wonder...how come no religious figures? I guess too many clergy sex scandals along with the marginalizing of God in our society.

So who in Canadian society lights the path for us? Who shows us a higher road to live our lives on? 2000 years ago Jesus said the He was the light of the world and that whowever follows him will not walk in darkness. I can't help but believe that the answers for our world are in that light. And it sure seems like a lot of people have been walking in the dark groping around, looking for something.

Years ago Canadian music icon Neil Young sang, "I don't know who trust anymore, there's a shadow running through my veins like a beggar going from door to door."

Maybe God guys have something to say after all. Perhaps this light that Jesus talked about can be explained by pastors. Perhaps we should take a chance and trust them to bring us to this light. It couldn't be any darker around here anyway.

An Encouraging Pastor

After 18 years in para-church ministry, with a heavy emphasis on evangelism and discipleship I began a pastor position in my mountain community. One of the questions that I’d often ask myself was, "What kind of church are we going to be?" A seeker church, a bible teaching church, an outreach oriented church? The parallel question I really had to ask of myself was, "what kind of pastor am I going to be?" A hell-fire-brimstone preacher, grand fatherly affirming pastor, truth evading-but culturally relevant preacher, etc. You can imagine many categories and probably know of popular examples of each.

In the midst of this self evaluation a wise friend with whom I’d pastored said, "go with your strengths." During our conversation I’d already revealed to him what kind of preacher/pastor I wanted to be. But an additional driving desire burned within me.....to be an encouraging pastor. The greek word for encouragement is para-kaleo....literally meaning to call one alongside. That’s a great description of what a pastor...an encouraging pastor, should be doing. Calling people alongside. Of course this presumes that as a spiritual leader you’re already close to God, and as such you are then calling others alongside the both of you.

What does this look like? I thought about this long and hard, as this was something I really wanted to be....an encourager both in my personal interactions and the flavor of my Bible messages. I think it means to share the revealed truths from God in His Word, the Bible....but to do it in a way that draw people into a desire to obey and a hopeful expectation that they are capable of obeying. To hear examples of faith in action and think and trust that they too, with God’s empowerment could have similar faith and perform similar actions.

Remember when Jesus said in John 14, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater {works} than these he will do; because I go to the Father."? Wow! What a promise! What a concept! I realized that Jesus was an encouraging pastor! He was telling His guys that with God’s power-assistance they were going to do more than even the Son of God Himself! Sometimes when we dream things all we need is someone to come alongside us and believe in that dream for us. To say, "You can do it, I believe in you." How many people have gone on to fulfill great things simply because one person said, "I believe in you."?

This is a great power that each of us possess. The power of encouragement. How many people have you been the person that said, "I believe in you. You can do it."? Do you have someone in your life that regularly tells you this? If not, find someone. If you can’t, at least be that person for someone else and get the chain going.

So that’s it. That’s the kind of person.....and pastor I want to be....an encouraging one. With every message I prepare I want to ask myself if I’m presenting these Godly truths in a way that people will feel encouraged and hopeful.

"Lord, thank you for the gift of encouragement that even your Son modeled to us during His time on earth. Thank you for your Holy Spirit that wisely leads us in dispensing these words. Amen"

Horticulture in the Millenium

Last week as we ended our family summer vacation we drove homeward from Southern California back to our cool mountain home in Canmore Alberta. As we motored along I-5 streaming past mile upon mile of fruit and nut orchards I found myself in wonder and amazement. My course of study while at the University of MN was horticulture. Seeing these absolutely spotless orchards with absolutely no cluttering weeds on the ground (the opposite of my families apple orchard in MN) made me daydream somewhat longingly at what my life would have been like had I continued on a horticultural path.

It wasn’t until a few days later that I had an interesting realization. It came as we were watching Lindsey Lohan’s first movie, The Parent Trap, which setting took place in one of these Northern California orchards. As I longingly looked at the beautiful vineyards on the screen I remembered what I’d recently been reading about the Millennial Kingdom of Christ. That the Earth would grow tremendous crops. We’d seemingly all be capable gardeners and because the soil would produce such a bounty, we’d easily be able to be self sufficient in growing our own food. So this means that even though my career choice went from harvesting fruit to harvesting souls via ministry...my days as a horticulturist most certainly aren’t over! It was also good news to know how easily the crops would grow. The last couple of years I’ve been a little embarrassed to let people know what my undergrad degree was in if they knew how brutal the turf in my small front yard looked!

There are some other interesting features about this 1000 year reign that comes immediately after the 7 year tribulation period. One of them is that scripture seems to indicate that the final earthquake of the tribulation levels all the mountains. That and the probable eradication of winter would surely end our skiing! Another is that the animals all live peacefully together...which likely means that they revert to an all plant diet as in the days before the flood. Does this mean that humans also will be vegetarians?

There are many fascinating aspects to this time, but the best for sure is that Jesus will be physically present and will be our ruler. Finally...face to face with our Saviour!!!

The Value of Friendship

The older I get the more I value good friendships. Perhaps as a young man engaged in achieving athletic and career success, I plowed forward and didn’t make time to develop quality relationships. I had a couple. And they meant a lot to me; yet I probably I didn’t see the value in them enough to prioritize them and intentionally deepen them.

Ironically, one of the things that started turning me more into this direction was an interview I read with Don Henley, one of the original founders of the rock band the Eagles. The way he spoke of the people he valued in his life made me want to have relationships like that. He described the guys that he wrote and played music with. The young men that he initially left his home in Texas to come further west to be with and embark on a career in music. It seemed like a fraternity of guys that banded together with a common dream of making it big. Even if the dream didn’t materialize (which of course it did...probably bigger than any of them could have imagined), they’d be pursuing it together, giving it their best shot and wouldn’t have to look back in mid life with regrets for failing to venture out onto the quest.

Maybe they accomplished so much because they did it together. Dreams that may have been too scary to pursue alone were now a little more attainable. When discouragement came knocking on the door and attempted to derail the dream, at least one the troubadours wouldn’t open that door and would keep the train on the tracks.

Often common interests and dreams bring people together, but it takes a commitment to engage in friendship building to deepen these connections and really make something out of them. Just like Don Henley, Jackson Browne, Glenn Frey, J.D. Souther, et.al, can look back and reminisce with each other on their incredible journey ...how rewarding in life to have close friends that have been with you. Encouraging each other and facing down whatever giants are out there together. It’s a well known statement, but still true: "Shared sorrow is half sorrow, shared joy is double joy."

No wonder the wisest man of all, Solomon, declared, "a friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity" Pr. 17:17. And "... there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother" Pr. 18:24

There are a few guys in my life now that I won’t let a couple weeks go by without checking in with them. There are more of them out there too. Maybe for you as well...go ahead pick up the phone...

What is a Church?

In 2 Timothy 4 (vv. 6-16), the elder spiritual statesman Paul, imparts several important instructions for the younger leader, Timothy. One of the first and most important was to warn those under his charge concerning false doctrines and error. From the very beginning erroneous ideas crept into the church (either nefariously or innocuously by those just either prone to wrong thinking or easily swayed). The importance of keeping God’s message true and pure should be obvious. A little error up front can soon lead to a lot later on and severely missing the mark. This is why so much of the N.T. seems to be combating ideas and teachings that are contrary to God’s ways.

Funny, things don’t seem to change much. Even in our day...actually, especially in our day. Of late one of the issues several pastors I’ve known have had to deal with is break off home groups that want to separate from the existing church, call themselves a church and do their own thing. While the idea of meeting in a home is not contrary to Biblical practice, however what these "wanna be" churches are doing is anything but church.

Here’s why... 7 reasons:

1) The home church movement has been a magnet for counter culture rebellious types of individuals that don’t like to submit to anyone or anybody. There’s a reason why Paul appointed certain individuals to lead the church. He also gave several qualifications for these leaders. This apostle spent a lot of time undoing damage to susceptible young Christians that were easily led astray by self appointed, self styled preachers that weren’t qualified to lead. And this is what we often find in HCM’s assembly’s. Which leads to #2...

2) False Doctrines and erroneous ideas run wild in these forums. In this supposed post modern age, anyone’s opinion is just as valid as anyone else’s. Even though a person may be totally uneducated, inexperienced and absolutely unaware of anything historical. What they have to say is just as meaningful, informed and authoritative as let’s say a pastor who studied the Bible formally in Grad school seminary....knows the original languages of the Bible and owns a plethora of exegesis tools and is skilled in using them. (And this doesn’t even take into account varying levels of spiritual maturity).

3) Accountability. Most home groups don’t have any. Formal/normal churches are set up to have a balance in leadership. So let’s say even if the pastor mentioned in above #2 starts to sway off course a little in his theology and doctrine, the church has mature, godly, biblically insightful leadership in place that can steer him back on course or in severe cases, protect the flock from being led astray.

4) Teaching and preaching of God’s word has always taken primacy in church gatherings. This does not seem a value in these home meetings. Even before New Testament times in the Old Covenant, those that knew the Torah instructed the faithful in God’s word. The written word has always been highly esteemed and taught by those dedicated and ordained for this purpose. In the New Testament it’s the same thing. The gathering would worship in song, etc., then be taught the word. In fact it was so important that the Apostles were relieved of the ministry to the community so they dedicate themselves "to prayer and the ministry of the word" (Acts 6:1-5). And this function was so valued to the point that they were financially provided for so they could continue in this skillfully. Jesus himself said that the workers are worthy of their wages. A fact that Paul later affirmed and even claimed that those who teach and lead well are actually worthy of double wages!! (1 Tim. 5:17-18).

5) Home fellowship groups don’t fulfill the great commission. Jesus left the church with one great mission. And it’s called the great commission (Mt. 28:18-20). And that is....to make disciples. Now it’s one thing to gather around guitar, sing and share, but it’s not making disciples. Without the teaching and guided application of God’s word, growth and maturity don’t take place. Granted, some churches are better than others at making disciples. And there should be an intentional plan for the production of disciples. The successful disciple-making church employs’ many methods in this work...small group fellowship is but one of them.

6) Home fellowship groups don’t have effective organized outreaches and ministry. Taking part in a formal/normal church is better way to organizationally reach out to your community whether it is providing physical needs or evangelization. They’re better equipped with leadership, structure for getting it done, resources (financial, networking, manpower, etc.). And when that church is a part of a larger denomination it greatly enhances their opportunities to be a part of world evangelization.

7) Home fellowship groups are greatly limited in their spiritual gifts inventory. The bible makes it very clear that each one of us has a spiritual gift. This gift is to be used to build up the body of Christ. The wider the range of gifting, the more opportunity there is for the body to be made complete, and be equipped. A church gives more occasion to use your gift and to be blessed and equipped by other’s gifts.


Finally, I would like to say that I have nothing against home churches in the proper context. If they effectively fulfill the above scriptural mandates, then go for it. In fact there are many places in the world today where home churches are flourishing, but this is mainly a cultural specific situation and usually involves persecution (i.e. Cuba, China).

Home fellowship groups are an important part of church life. Much ministry takes place there... care for one another, encouragement, and maybe even the occasional rebuke and correcting. However, let’s not make the mistake of replacing the church with something new and different simply because it seems cool. Jesus was the one that said HE would build the church. Because people are involved the whole process may not be perfect (and there certainly have been some corrections along the way), but to radically change what has been done for 2000 years is to tell Jesus He hasn’t been doing it right all along.

Ironmans and Ministry

Ministry can learn a lot from Ironman triathlon. I still remember the first of my (to this point) four Ironmans. I’d had a rough go, over pacing on the bike leg turned my run into something less than spectacular (to put it very mildly). From the very beginning of the run my leg muscles were on the edge of cramping.... and this persisted the entire 26.2 miles. Needless to say when I finally made it to Lakeshore Dr. in Penticton it was a major relief. Even though the winners had crossed the finish line over 2 hours earlier, the last mile was absolutely lined with people cheering wildly. It’s an experience I’ll never forget. Then I got to hear those magical words by the famous Ironman announcer Steve King, "Steve Sellers, you’re an Ironman!!!" It still makes me emotional thinking about it today!

The thing that amazes me about Ironman is what people will do to hear those words I got to hear that day. Friends and family members will come to Penticton to cheer their loved ones on in Ironman Canada and get so caught up in the experience that the very next day they’ll place themselves in the long line to register for next year’s event. Many of whom weren’t even training or racing to that point. They’ll put down their Visa or MC (b/c Ironman doesn’t take American Express), be 600$ poorer, and then the training begins (after they get themselves the bike, maybe a coach, pool membership, etc.... it’s a major expense and time commitment!).

Did I say why they registered a full year in advance? Because the event sells out the very next day for the succeeding event. People clamour all over each other to get into these torturous races. Why? I’ll leave that one for the sport psychologists to figure out. But let’s just imagine that the powers that be at Ironman Corp. feared that registrations would be low because not enough people would be willing to commit to this kind of rigorous preparation and competition. They could charge a more reasonable 100$ (people would pay that to be called an "Ironman". And suppose they make the event easier. Of course you couldn’t change the distances (3.85km swim, 180 km bike, 42 km run) because then you wouldn’t legitimately be an Iroman. But maybe we could have some motor boats with ropes behind to pull athletes in case they get tired. For the bike they’ll allow motorized 2 wheelers and for the run, well it’s hard to run the full 26.2 miles after being out in the sun all day so they would permit roller blades, which would certainly speed things up a bit. A great advantage to all this is that spectators wouldn’t have to wait until midnight to cheer on their slower loved ones!

Do you think this would go over? Not on your life!! It’s the challenge that brings people out. The mentality that says, "I need a challenge worthy of me!" If it was easier, so that just about anyone could do it, people wouldn’t bother. It’d be a nowhere event instead of the yearly sell out with thousands of spectators also taking part in the day.

I fear that a lot of churches take this second approach to ministry. They figure that people today in this unbelieving, un-truth affirming, non-committal age can’t really digest what God has to clearly say in His Word....the Bible. So messages are shared that have lots of relevance to our lives today, but virtually no Scriptural truth. Great music....everyone likes good music. Creative community building gimmicks, because community is important... especially to young people. But community built around what? Certainly not truth..... post moderns don’t believe truth exists. "How dare we tell anyone what to believe!!!"

Whether you call a ministry like this "emergent"or "seeker friendly" or whatever moniker the church growth gurus are calling it these days, in the end all you’ve got is something that resembles a Seinfeld episode... "A church about nothin’" (Ok, I’m giving away my age group demographic here, but do you remember that episode?).

2000 years ago Jesus gave us a little command which we call the "Great Commission". Its mission is to make disciples. The Greek word means, "learners". So how are we going to do this unless we teach? Teach what? Clearly, God’s message to us.... His Word.

But you say, "What about the seekers, pre-Christians and unchurched that we want to attract?"
Let me put it this way... if I was considering buying into Islam I’d want to know what was expected of me. I’d also want to know what the benefits are once I’d bought in. Would I have to blow up a building? Take part in Jihad? If I was a woman, would I be required to wear a Gurkha all my life? Etc. Etc. Tell me straight. Don’t play games with me. I really want to know. Perhaps you are hiding the real truth because you’re either ashamed of it, or you really don’t think it’s that great and I wouldn’t want to be a part of it. So now you’ll try to fool me into joining up.

What we have in Christ is amazing. It’ll take us a lifetime of Bible study to even begin to grasp the treasures that have been given to us by God. It makes me want to immodestly join with the Ap. Paul in his personal proclamation in the first chapter of Romans where he exults, "for I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation. To everyone who believes..."

Wonderful stuff!