Why People Do Not Like Church

Recently, I have talked with and read about a lot of people who do not like church but who deeply love Jesus and who would be qualified as ‘True Disciples or Revolutionary Christians’ by George Barna in at least two of his recent books. (Revolution and Growing True Disciples) I have been thinking and praying about writing this article for some time and a conversation yesterday sparked a fire to jump in and address this issue. Let me say that understanding what Jesus wants for His Church and the people he has called to lead it have been one my passions ever since I was a young believer.

In my 36 years as a Christian and 31 years of serving in various leadership roles I have read at least 50 books, 350 articles and attended 30 or more seminars, classes and conferences on various aspects of leadership and taken at least 12 different personality, behavioral, leadership style and spiritual gift test which were advertised as tools to ‘Understand, Develop and Implement Biblical Leadership’. I have also had the opportunity to serve with many ‘Leaders’ who were Christians in churches and other Christian organizations.

Many times we who lead want to blame ‘God’s people’, for the lack of growth or success in our ministries. If we do decide that perhaps we are at fault in some way we decide that we need to be ‘Better Leaders’. Let me say that there are many other issues that have to do with growth and success in ministry and we will discuss them a future article.

Success?
The first issue I want to address is this whole idea of ‘Leadership’. When faced with our own lack or perceived lack in the area of leadership we often run to the people who are successful in the eyes of people. They lead churches or companies which have grown or are identified as meeting certain needs with positive results. The results we often look for are more people or more money.

What Would Jesus Do?
Some time ago there was a popular movement that asked the question, “What would Jesus Do”? Perhaps leaders should ask that very same question or at least look at what Jesus did and how he did it!

The CEO and Survival of the Fittest Model vs. What Jesus Did and Taught
There is a great need for people who can get things done. Having said that, there is a tendency to get it done without paying attention to what Jesus demonstrated to be His and the Father’s priorities, the people he came to set free and bring life to. When success is the number of people we have attending and how much is given we are in danger of neglecting ‘The sheep of His flock’ which we are given care of. Too often, we who lead God’s people want them to survive on there own, be mature and do something to help our vision go forward. There was even a recent article in a leading Christian magazine which basically told believers that only the ‘Strongest and Best Survive’ in Church and they needed to get strong all by them selves or they were not measuring up.

Make Disciples of All Nations?
We often think that making disciples is the teaching of doctrine and a personal evangelism program. There is much we can learn from observing that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are One. They are distinct in person and in function but they are One. This oneness involves relationship even as Jesus leadership example does. The New testament Church was very relational in how it existed and we as believers are taught by example and teaching that our relationship to one another is important if we are to succeed at accomplishing what, Jesus came to do and teach! The Spiritual Gifts are operational in believers as a group as the Spirit works among us as well.

The Issue is ‘Training, Nurture and Release into Ministry of His People’!
One reason ‘People do not like Church’ is because we who are leaders are not doing ‘What Jesus Began to Do and Teach’.

It is not that the above mentioned principles of leadership are not important; it is however, that they need to be put in proper perspective.

Questions for Leaders?_____________________________________

1. When is the last time that the people who are in your immediate sphere of influence were nurtured by you? Say 12 to 36 people.
2. When was the last time you followed up with one of those people if they did not attend a regular gathering that they were usually at?
3. How long after they missed did you seek to contact them?
4. Was your follow-up out of obligation or rebuke or love and concern?
5. How often do you get your team together for relaxed fun and fellowship in which they feel like family and not workers or staff?

PS. These are not style issues! Please do not use your gift or personality profiles as an excuse to neglect the flock (those under your immediate care) those immediately under your authority.

Leaders, Let's be more like Jesus in how we lead and all we do! Do people find Jesus in you or are they only cannon fodder for them battle for your vision?

For another perspective on the issue of Success click here http://equippersnetwork.blogspot.com

Artwork from http://www.allposters.com/gallery.asp?aid=1592821654&c=c&search=14071

The Encampment of the Lord

I recently had the honor and delight of attending some meetings with a few hundred other believers in which a humble and wildly in love with Jesus women of God who has been used mightily by God in some of the most interesting places in the world led us into greater intimacy with God.

The points that follow are areas that need to be considered as a result of this fresh outpouring of God's presence and should lead us to a greater understanding and ability to yield to God's Spirit, whenever God is doing a fresh work or is manifesting Himself and His presence to His people.

1. There was a process over the course of three days.
2. The process led us to a point of a fresh committment and celebration the likes of which I have not experienced in more than 35 years of being a believer. In fact it was my early days as a believer during the Jesus movement when I last enjoy such a time of freedom, joy, commitment and celebration.
3. Many of us have experienced those times of soaring to great heights in God which we cherish and which are intended to lead us deeper and encourage us to go further in God.
4. There are issues that arise out of such experiences and that follow such experiences.


Biblically speaking we can gain the wisdom needed to deal with such high times in God by examining three such experiences in scripture.
A. Israel following the 'Pillar of cloud by day and fire by night.'
B. Isaiah in the Temple, 'In the year that King Uziah died.'
C. Jesus, and the Disciples on, 'The mount of transfiguration.'
A study of the principles in these three Biblical examples of God's manifest presence among His people will follow in the next part of this article. For now let's continue our current line of thinking.

5. Throughout history we have been faced with the challenge of what to do when God moves upon His people in power and majesty.
There are dangers that lie in:
A. Trying to repeat in the flesh what God did in the Spirit
B. Not remembering that it took several days and steps to get to the high point or climax of the
experience.
C. Establishing a formula based on what occurred or how we felt.
D. Not realizing that the timing, circumstances and events preceding the current work of God can not be duplicated and therefore the resulting work or move of God will be unique and not a clone or repetition of any other previous one.

There are elements of each move or fresh outpouring of God's presence which pertain to the character and nature of God.

6. We should ask ourselves these questions as we reflect on a specific fresh move or outpouring of God's presence:
A. What should our attitude be about what God is doing?
B. What should we have gained from what God was doing?
C. What should we expect now and as we move ahead after the experience?
D. How do we go forward, honoring what the Lord has done while not attempting to build a shrine on the experience or it's location?

The question arises,"What next" and "What are we to do in the meantime or with the results of the work of God both personally and as a group of believers who have shared in the experience?"

Leadership Issues ____________________________________
For pastors and leaders these times create a unique set of challenges as well. We must lead others through the high waters of the River of Life, and because of this we face additional challenges as we lead.
Among them are:
A. Honoring what God has done without enshrining it into some new FORM.
(Or Lets do this everytime we think God is really working)
B. Avoiding the tendency to explain away the parts we do not understand.
(Trying to make others or ourselves think we did not buy into everything that happended to protect ourselves from appearing foolish)
C. Making the Apparent Excesses of some whose responded to the Presence of God in ways we would find unpleasant or extreme and appear to others as not of God.
( It has been said that Revivals can be messy as imperfect people respond to the power of God)(Church history is full of stories of the extreme actions of people when they encounter the power of God and His Glory)
I believe the answers to these questions are in the three passages listed above and truths that will give us wisdom as we help others navigate the Flood waters of the River of Life. I will examine these in part two of this article.

Artwork by John Campbell http://www.jrbell.com/cgi-bin/pics.cgi/204

Prepare for a Season of Growth and Fulfillment

The Times and the Seasons of the Expansion of God's Work are beginning to be poured out!
I am expecting a fresh outpouring of God's Spirit for each person and ministry that is willing to recieve it. We experienced the beginning of this out pouring as we went to Him with humble and expecting hearts in our December gatherings. The Fresh flow of the River of Life, that flows out from under His thrown is flowing to bring all we need to walk in "The Times and Seasons He is Unfolding for Each of Us."


Below are the notes from our December gathering. We began by asking each one present to ask themselves these questions.

1. Is your Vision Big Enough to Fulfill God’s Call on your Life for the year ahead?


2. Are you ready to let God extend the stakes or expand the borders of His work in you?

3. God wants to Expand the Territory of His Spirit's work through you, are you willing?

4. Do you have God’s Perspective on His calling on your life?

5. Is your perspective limited by what He has done so far in your life?

6. Do you think the time for Him to work is latter but not now?

In Job and in Isaiah we find examples of two people who were serving God and even declared to be righteous by God, but when they had a fresh encounter with God they realized that in comparison to God's glory and holiness they were unclean and did not grasp the wonder and awesomeness of who God is and the scope of His majesty.
Job 38-42 Isa. 6:1-12

The results of these experiences was for them to humble themselves before God again. God in response blessed them both and renewed His work through them.

Today God is looking for people He can pour out His river of life through, people who will once again humble themselves and cry out to Him. People who are willing to allow His Spirit to work and who will not let their own understanding of things limit what He wants to do.

Today He is ready to expand the working of His Spirit in and through you!

ARE YOU WILLING?

Get Ready by pressing into Him now! Prepare yourself for the next Season of His mighty work in the Earth.

It is closer than you may have thought or hoped!

HE IS READY TO CHART YOUR COURSE TO GREATER OUTPOURINGS OF HIS SPIRIT IN 2006.

Artwork: The might Herald http://christian-art.biz/ID11herald.htm