Making Sense or Making Sents?

Right up front I have to give credit to a couple of people. First to Dawn for drawing my attention back to the question, "How is this supposed to work?" How is it supposed to look serving others instead of leading (lording) them? What does it look like to "be the church" instead of just "going to church?" Those are great questions and they don't have easy answers, or at least they don't have one-size-fits-all answers. I also have to give credit to my friend Jason who has done are really good job expressing what I believe are the answers to many of those questions. Jason has written a book called "Live Sent" and I have mentioned him and his ministry many times before. If you are looking for a good book to plunge you into this discussion, then I recommend reading his book first.

I also need to say right up front that this is not the end of the discussion, but merely the beginning. This needs a lot more dialogue and fleshing out before we will see people in masses living this way. Jason has a section of his book near the end that I believe to be incredibly powerful. As I was reading it, a question grabbed ahold of my heart and and won't let go. When it comes to church planning (calendars, programs, ministries, services, etc.) are we doing what makes sense, or are we doing what makes sents? (Thanks Jason.) You see, the number of people that show up for any of our functions isn't nearly as important as the number of people who will take what they see and hear back to their homes, workplaces, and neighborhoods.

We do what makes sense to us (usually because it's what we've been doing for years and years), instead of doing what makes sents - people who are walking Jesus everywhere they go. Can they be the same thing? Sometimes, sure. But are we even asking the question, and really giving thought to the answer. Many times you just can't measure what makes sents. It is easy to count an offering, or attendance at an event, but how do you measure the impact of a neighbor who opens his house to his spiritually unsettled neighbors once a week for a meal and a blessing?

I believe that if those responsible for church calendars and budgets really gave thought to that question, "Are we doing what makes sense, or what makes sents?" there would be some serious changes to what gets added and what gets left off. And I'm not just saying that we should add more discipleship programs or more missions trips to the calendar, though for some churches that wouldn't be a bad idea. Let me share what Jason writes on this subject.

"It is great to serve the local community. I AM ALL FOR THAT!!! Our church family certainly tries to do that. But there is a difference in stressing the importance of signing up for a local missions service project and stressing the importance of people living as a letter of God's love to their family, their neighbor, in the marketplace, in a local and global community, and on the web everyday. The difference is that you don't have to sign up for the everyday. You don't add that to your schedule. It is your schedule. It is 'as you go' as Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:18-20... You simply BE THE CHURCH, be on mission, living sent every single day at every single moment to every single person you encounter. Loving them as Jesus loved and how the Spirit prompts you to love them."

As we ponder how to spend our time, energy and money within a local church body, we should consider how we can best spur one another on toward living that kind of life. Our church calendars and budgets should reflect a priority for making sents, not simply making sense.

Blessings,

Shiloh

PS - Let's begin talking about the how's for doing this. What can that look like in your context?

Thoughts on Leadership - Part 2

Well I didn't intend on waiting a month between these posts, but as you know, stuff happens. The good news is that I've had more time to think and reflect and learn new things about Leadership since the last post.

In the past few months I have had one particular statement and theme repeat itself quite a few times. Just a few days ago it was repeated again. Eric Voelz was a guest at our local Reproducing Churches gathering here in Ocala. Eric is a missionary Bible teacher who lives in Sweden. One statement he made was that we (church leaders) tend to find natural leaders and try to make them into servants, but what Jesus did was to call servants into leadership. Neil Cole said something very similar at the Live Sent Conversation. My paraphrase of what he said: We look for leaders who will serve, but God looks for servants who will lead.

Most church leaders put a high priority and strong emphasis on service and servanthood. Many of them also struggle with being treated like servants. Most local churches that I know treat their pastors and other leaders very well. Some even seem to be placed on pedestals, but I'm not so sure that's a good thing. I'm not saying that we should be cruel and disrespectful to our pastors and church leaders, but I think we treat them too much like CEO's of corporations and not enough like Shepherds and spiritual advisors.

I hope I'm not too bold in saying this, but I think there are plenty of pastors out there who shouldn't be, and plenty of invisible servants who ought to be leading and influencing others in their churches.

I was thinking just the other day about how we focus so much time and energy recruiting people for positions in churches. It seems like there are never enough workers for all the ministries that the church wants to offer. We have spots to fill, so we offer leadership training, and classes and on and on. Could it be that we have to struggle so hard with this stuff because we are doing it all wrong? Maybe we shouldn't be looking for leaders at all.

Maybe we should each look for opportunities to serve others as God leads us. Some will feel called to serve a few, some will be called to serve many. Service inspired by our Savior is contagious. Followers of Jesus love to serve others, but they are very hesitant to lead, especially in areas where they aren't comfortable. Maybe churches should only offer ministries and services if and when they have servants who feel compelled by Jesus to serve others in that area. And if that means we don't have a particular ministry, then that's okay.

Leadership isn't about motivating (manipulating) people into doing things they don't want to do. Godly leadership is about serving others, no matter what the cost. Wouldn't you follow someone like that anywhere they asked you to go with them? I know I would.

Blessings,

Shiloh

Thoughts on Leadership

This entry is way overdue, but better late than never, right? The Live Sent Conversation was a great time of refreshing and recapturing my attention on issues relating to living our faith among the people we interact with daily.

One theme that was repeated by many speakers throughout the Conversation was Leadership, specifically within the church. For the sake of a shorter blog and limited time I am going to include some of the thoughts that I wrote down about leadership as I listened to various speakers. Then, in part 2, I will comment on some of those thoughts. Just in case it isn't clear, these are not quotes, but paraphrases.

Jason Dukes: As leaders, are we teaching others that their everyday lives are more important than our Sunday messages?

Alan Hirsch: Jesus has gone from the Lord of the church to the captive of it.

Damian Gerke:
· Most organizations look just like their leadership.
· Coaching is helping someone be in a position where they can succeed.
· We create environments that require leaders-in-training to look just like us.

Neil Cole:
· The greatest leadership trait is humility. Humility has nothing to lose because it is not trying to gain anything for itself.
· Insecurity in leadership is an ugly thing and causes us to do really stupid things.
· A true leader is someone who gives himself away.
· We look for leaders who will serve, but God looks for servants who will lead.
· Leadership is not a position or title. Leadership is influence.
· The key to profound leadership is transformation.
· Irresponsible leadership has created irresponsible, codependent churches who rely on their leaders to tell them what to do, what to watch, wear, eat, drink, etc.
· Self-preservation is a death sentence. Letting go will bring life, but it may come through death.

Slavery to Self

My personal time with the Lord this morning was dominated by one theme, slavery. I hate to admit it, but this summer has been a rough time for my personal times with God. I fell into a pattern of coasting by on second-hand intimacy and memories of past encounters. This morning the Lord emphatically chastized me for this and brought to my attention over and over again how this relates to slavery.

I spent some time in Galatians 4 where I was reminded that I am a child of the King and an heir to the Kingdom, but I was also reminded of how childish I was acting and that even royal children have less freedom than slaves. I am a victim of self-induced slavery. In spite of knowing my own limitations and knowing my Father's unlimited grace, I have chosen chains over His loving arms. I have chosen a cage over freedom.

I read a quote this morning from Miles J. Stanford that said, "Sad to say, the only believers who are interested in freedom are those who have come to the place of hating instead of hugging their chains." He goes on to say, "When the believer begins to really see the cross for what it is - a place of death - he is inclined to hesitate about choosing such fellowship." I know this summer has been a time where I have chosen to hug my chains and live independently of the Lord's freedom. I have not chosen to die to myself, to choose the fellowship of the cross, but He has not given up on me.

Stanford continues, "The old 'I' has no contribution he can make to the Christian life and service; he can never be harnessed to the purposes of God. Death is his decreed portion... We will be ready to take up our cross when self becomes intolerable to us, when we begin to 'hate our life' as spoken of in Luke 14:26. This deep burden of self and hunger to be like Him cause the function of the cross - crucifixion - to become attractive. The long devastating years of abject bondage make freedom in the Lord Jesus priceless - the cost becomes as nothing to us!"

In spite of the chastizing, I am encouraged this morning and feel ready to release my grip on my chains and embrace freedom again. I feel ready to walk in maturity as a child of the King and to embrace the cross as the place for my self. May we walk together toward the cross, and through the cross, toward freedom.

Blessings,

Shiloh