Rants

Oct 13 2014

What I Did When I Couldn’t Take The Lies Anymore (Maybe You Can Relate)

I remember like it was yesterday. I felt that I had been lied to. To make matters worse, I felt that I was still being lied to. The frustration built as I continued to contemplate that, what I had thought to be the truth was actually something else. I can remember exactly where I was when I, as a newly minted church planter came to the realization that all of the things that I had been told about church planting failed to come close to the reality that I was now living. That is also the moment I knew that I needed to begin writing about my experiences, thoughts, and feelings as a church planter and church leader. [Read more…] about What I Did When I Couldn’t Take The Lies Anymore (Maybe You Can Relate)

Jan 04 2010

The Decade of Service

The second decade of the twenty-first century has officially begun. What a wonder it would be if, a decade from now, we looked back upon the next ten years as the “decade of service”. We, individual believers in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord as well as the Church catholic, have an opportunity to show that the previous decades of me-ism and decadent opulence within Western Christianity were an anomaly. We have an opportunity to return the servant and service to others first dynamic that has been a hallmark of the Church for centuries.

Listen, I am not naive enough to believe that the history of the Church hasn’t before been marred by TBN style self-indulgence, or that similar forays into prosperity focused gospel ramblings will not occur in the future. What I am saying is that the overwhelming intrusion of such teachings into the mainstream of the Church in recent history is alarming, and the tide must be stemmed.

Is the gospel message inward-focused? No. Is the gospel me-focused? No. The gospel calls me to deny my desires in order to be used to fulfill God’s ultimate desire, the redemption of his creation. The gospel compels me to think of myself after I have considered the needs of those around me, to love (actively) whenever the opportunity avails itself. Our Lord Jesus was the penultimate example of a servant and leader in action. We are called Christians because of our desire to emulate his faith and actions, and fulfill his mission. If these statements are true, and I believe them to be, then we should move to make ourselves stellar examples of what it means to “serve and not be served.”

Aug 19 2009

Courageous Leadership Needed

Let me state right here at the beginning that this is a rant. I believe that it is founded in fact and truth, but it is a rant nonetheless. The Christian Church in the U.S. is in need of more courageous leadership.

There was a time in the Church’s history in this country when it led the charge in many areas, both spiritually and culturally. For the most part, those times have passed. There are still ministries whose leaders are determined to stand with their integrity intact, while boldly advancing Christ’s mission and agenda. Sadly, the majority of Christian leaders are content to be cheap knock-offs of whatever leader or ministry seems to be the most popular at the time. This is not just sad, its dangerous.

Many of our burgeoning leaders are weaned in the vast wasteland of Christian television. Before you type in another web address and write me off, remember that this is a rant and hear me out. Not all Christian television is bad, but most only exemplifies the lack of courageous leadership that I am lamenting in this post.

Courageous leadership doesn’t follow the crowd, but stays on the path of righteousness. Courageous leadership has a clearly articulated set of beliefs to protect itself from being swayed by every wind of doctrine. Courageous leadership has God’s mission and vision as the only aim and measure of ministry success. Courageous leadership doesn’t equate the amassing of personal wealth, influence, or titles as the only measure of being in God’s will or favor. Courageous leadership is willing to make difficult decisions, to the detriment of oneself, to ensure the success of Christ’s mission.

I’m seeing too many clones of self-serving at best, heretical at worst leaders launching ministries these days. Glitz and glamour are not prerequisites to effectiveness in ministry. They may draw a crowd, but they won’t grow a people. A question that I asked many times prior to responding affirmatively to the urge to start a church was?”why does God need another Church?” What will the ministry of your church do differently from the thousands that exist, to advance his mission?

Some leaders need to find the courage to change and do ministry for God, not themselves. Some leaders need to find the courage to speak with the voice they feel inside, regardless of the crowd’s response. Some leaders need to find the courage to seek another vocation, and allow God to put a truly courageous leader in their place.

Stay blessed.

Sep 16 2008

The Flow of Service

just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

I recently had a conversation with a denominational leader who spoke words that articulated his heart as a servant leader. He said, “service doesn’t flow to me, service flows from me.” He, as a leader of over 70 churches and nearly 10,000 Christians, viewed himself as the servant of the local church. He believed that if military terminology were used, and he were a general (a district leader within a denomination), then his responsibility would be to ensure that the men and women at the front lines (the local church) were more than adequately equipped to fulfill their mission. “My role exists”, he said, “so that men like you can acheive the goal of Christ.”

The words of Christ, quoted at the beginning of this post are profound. So too, are the words of the quoted denominational leader. Unfortunatley, these words seem to have fallen upon deaf ears among the current crop of church leaders. Glancing at the charismatic leaders of this generations model churches give one the distinct impression that service is to be rendered to the leaders, rather than by the leaders. Many of today’s leaders believe that a sign of their success is the number of persons who are “called” to serve as their personal adjutants or armorbearers; many of these well meaning men and women being taught a perverted meaning of these ministries of service.

Let me cut to the point. It is not designed by God that service flow to church leaders, but that it flow from them to those they lead. This is the essence of servant leadership. I know that some reading this will immediately desire to quote every known verse in Scripture that you believe justifies the extravagance, and over the top lifestyles of many leaders today. Let me say, without being harsh, save it! For every verse that you quote, I will give one that demonstrates the leader’s call to give their life for others. I don’t begrudge anyone the opportunity to provide food, clothing, and shelter for their family. However, being sober adults, we must realize that much of what is being done in Christendom today is at best selfish.

Excuse the rant, but I have grow weary of men who have not resisted to the point of shedding blood in their striving against sin continually lifting up their “inheritance and kingly anointing.” We, the Church, have allowed the name of Christ to be hijacked by those who are in it to make a name for themselves and find fortune. These twenty-first century soothsayers promise much and deliver little, while making sure that their ‘cover charge’ is paid in advance. Enough ranting, back to the point. Christ makes a clear case for what the life of a servant leaders is to be.

A leader is not called in order to be served

Our call and station as leaders, while a high calling, is not one that gives us an exalted position over others. In Matthew 20:25, Jesus makes this point clear. The secular leaders in His day practiced this type of leadership, a leadership where they lorded their position over others. Christ plainly told the disciples that it was not to be that way among us.

A Christian leader is called to serve others

We are called to be servants. This means that our primary duty as leaders is to do what other persons need done to aid, benefit, or assist them. Seeing ourselves, while fulfilling these duties, as living a life like our Savior should bring us great joy.

Too many leaders see this model of leadership as being weak, soft, or allowing oneself to be taken advantage of. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you have ever been in a restaurant, a good waitperson can be an excellent illustration of a servant. This person looks forward to, takes pride in, and strives to do whatever is asked of them by the person being served. They will take your order, make sure the order is filled, exchange the order if incorrect, and generally see to it that your dining experience is an enjoyable one. In their eyes they cannot be taken advantage of because they have chosen to serve. This means that whatever they are asked to do, is what they are there for in the first place. So it is with the leader serving in the mold of Christ. If God has called me to lead as a servant, then whatever I am called to do is what I will do. This remains true because I remember that service flows from me, and not to me.

A Christian leader’s life is meant to be given

The servant leader finds joy in giving of themself, because that is their purpose. The servant leader who doesn’t give their life in service to others feels like a dinner plate that is used like a chair; out of place. As a servant leader you are fulfilled in giving yourself to other people. Christ knew that even above the miracles, teachings, and fulfilling of the Law there was the purpose for which He came; to give His life. If He had only healed the sick, raised the dead, taught the ignorant, and fed the hungry, then He would have been incomplete. A servant must give themeselves.

In sowing their life a Christian leader blessed many

Jesus said, in John 12:24, “…unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” When we willing sow our lives unselfishly into the lives of the people we are called to lead, then we bear much fruit. Believe me when I say that this is much more than the fruit that is borne when we reverse the flow of service.

Bottom line

My beginning rant aside, we need to drastically revise our view of leadership in the Western church. We need to stop following the “flavor of the month” prophet/apostle/bishop who has a “fresh word” that is guaranteed to bless our lives, and go back to following Jesus. We need to remember the admonitions of Christ in Matthew 23. In this text He rebukes the double-standard laden living of the Pharisees and scribes. He says that these men lay heavy burdens upon men, burdens that they are unwilling to lift themselves. They say things (for others to do), but do not do them themselves. They love the best seats and the exalted titles, but ultimatley the one who will be exalted will be the servant. Stay blessed.