One Pastor's Perspective

It might be obvious that I haven’t blogged much lately.  Or posted to Twitter for that matter …  And, yes, there is a reason.

First of all, Dad seems to be doing a little better.  He was more alert this weekend than I’ve seen him in a long time.  And I was thankful he understood that he couldn’t go to Montgomery … It was also good for Mom to have a chance to get out of town, even if it was just for 30 hours.  I really appreciate my little sister and her husband for coming up and helping this happen by staying with Dad.

The Montgomery trip was … interesting.  But I really enjoyed getting to see my nephew and my niece.  They seemed to really appreciate it!  Jake reports today to Del Rio, Texas.  It will probably be a while before we see him again.

In the past few weeks, some good things have happened at Ebenezer and some hard things.  I guess you have to focus on the good things, and on where God is calling, and press on through the hard ones.  I never will understand the mentality that expects my family to be second-class citizens.  In an ideal world, they would just be seen as who they are!  Just regular church members!  That is one of the toughest things that a pastor ever faces.

This week, our new church administrator began her service to EBC.  And she is already making a difference!  One of the greatest things about this is it will free me up to actually do more MINISTRY!!

The Church … Not a church, but THE CHURCH.  The love of God.  Those for whom Jesus Christ died a cruel, inhumane death.  Those for whom He paid the price of salvation.  The church.

I believe with all of my heart the church is under attack.  From a variety of places.

Satan leads the attack.  Sometimes from outside, and sometimes from inside.  He attacks with pride.  He attacks with pop-culture references and public opinions.  It’s funny how the public can so readily form an opinion about things they really don’t understand.  YES, there are elements of the church and elements of living for Christ that can only be understood by those who have a relationship with Him.  And we are attacked for this.

There are others who attack.  Sometimes they don’t even realize it.  Those who bring their own agendas into the local church.  Those who refuse to listen to the Holy Spirit, or even frame their agendas in the frame of a call from God.  (If I walked up to you right now, punched you in the face, and then proclaimed that God called me to do it, would that make it acceptable???)

There are some who lead others in ways that are contrary to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Some who cause damage to the church family without even realize it.  I really believe some of them are NOT doing this intentionally, and would NEVER hurt the church if they realized it.  But they are so focussed on THEIR needs, on THEIR goals, on what THEY want, that they forget to stop and ask God what HE wants for them.  It hurts the church by misleading others, perhaps teaching them things that are contrary to the purpose of the church.  And this is VERY UNHEALTHY.

There are also some who do this quite purposefully.  It always amazes me that there are people on this planet who thrive on conflict.  They are not happy unless they are unhappy.  Some of them enjoy being the victim, and everything that happens in life is the fault of another.  Perhaps they enjoy the attention.  I like peace in life too much to live that way … but that is just me.  A church can be an easy target for controversy and “stirring things up.”  And this, again, is VERY UNHEALTHY.

The healthiest church member is one that treats the church like a family, not like the K&W Cafeteria, picking and choosing which part of God’s word to which they will listen.  The healthiest church member has read Paul’s many descriptions of a healthy church.  One of the things Paul believed in is the gifting of God to the local church.  God gives every church the gifts she needs to do what God calls her to do.  How can we be all God wants us to be if we are treating His church badly?  One of our responsibilities is to find our gift and EXERCISE IT as part of the bigger picture of our church.

Is your church a home??  A family??  Or something else?

THE CHURCH IS THE BRIDE OF CHRIST AND SHOULD BE TREATED WITH ALL OF THE RESPECT SHE DESERVES.

I’ve thought about it … Prayed about it … Know it needs to happen … so, HERE GOES:

I’m CALLIN YOU OUT, CHURCH!

Once I had a guy come to my office who thought I was mad at him.  He promptly invited me to step out into the parking lot to settle our differences.  (I never was mad at him, and to this day that one blows my mind)

I’m not mad at you … and, frankly my dear, I don’t care if you are mad at ME …  That’s not why I am calling you out.

God desires worshipers who worship Him in SPIRIT and in TRUTH.  NOT OUT OF OBLIGATION.  NOT OUT OF ROTE ACTIVITY.  NOT OUT OF COMFORT.  NOT OUT OF TRADITION.  NOT BECAUSE IT IS THE “THING TO DO.”  But because WE KNOW HIM TO BE GOD ALMIGHTY, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH.  AND OUT OF A HEART RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST.

(Enough of the yelling … my voice is already sore)

Specifically, if you call Ebenezer your church, I DARE YOU TO BE THERE THIS SUNDAY.

Are you stuck in a rut?

Sometimes we get stuck and don’t even realize it.  In fact, it becomes part of us, a comfortable part of us to which we become accustomed.  And in our “path of least resistance” mentality, we fight any change that threatens to pull us out of it.

Sometimes I wonder if we, as the church, are stuck in a rut.  Of our own invention.  We tend to formulize our worship and our behaviors about God.  That, friends, is a scary place to be.  I don’t want to be there anymore!!

I wonder about this:  If we started a new dynamic at Ebenezer, a new way of thinking about worship, how would people respond?  Some would be angered by even READING this statement, assuming I am bringing in dancers to stand by the pulpit or that I will start preaching in shorts and t-shirts.  And when we assume …. well, you know the rest.

No, I hope and pray a new dynamic will start in our hearts!!  I preached two Sundays ago about worship, citing the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman.  Jesus Himself said that true worship is not about a LOCATION, but is done in SPIRIT and in TRUTH.  True worship comes from the HEART.

Perhaps this “new dynamic” I’ve been thinking and praying about is not so new … but it is SO NEEDED TODAY.  I wonder how long it will take all of us to GET IT??