24 April 2007
We want you! Or maybe not!
Remember that old, ‘Uncle Sam’ add for the military? “WE WANT YOU!” it read. I’ll bet as we look back at draft dodgers, flag burners, military bashers, Quakers, conscientious objectors and a whole host of other “Anti-war for any reason’ folks we might want to rephrase that to, “We want you if you embrace this country, its vision, and the freedom it offers as things worth fighting for.’ Because, let’s face it, if you don’t get those types of soldiers what will be the result?
And I don’t mean OUR MILITARY. They are AWESOME! I’m talking about the Iraqi military (or lack of it).
I believe that freedom from a terrorist régime and a mass murderer like Saddam Hussein was reason enough to “go in and affect a change.” However, it appears the people of
Did you know this scenario happens in churches all over America with alarming regularity?
People have a consumer mentality toward church that didn’t exist 20 years ago.
What’s in it for me?
This church doesn’t meet all my needs!
I want hymns!
I don’t want to have to tithe.
The pastor works for me!!
I like a smaller church!
No one appreciates all I do!
The list is literally endless.
And if our list of demands are not met? We can always throw the ultimate trump card—the scary, intimidating. knee buckling, scream evoking, paralyzing…
“I’m leaving!”
“I’m serious! I’ll go right out the back door and find something better for ME!”
Hmm…
Not so scary really. I mean…
What’s a church back door even for?
· an emergency exit
· a discrete escape for counselees
· a necessary ejection seat for wolves in sheep’s clothing
· a transition point form a church that doesn’t fit to one that does
· a church discipline exit
A lot of things I suppose. So why do we even have it if we are so concerned with keeping it shut?!
If we just want every single person to stay, than put a wall there instead of a door (spiritually speaking).
But do we really want EVERYONE to stay?
I don’t think so.
That wouldn’t be healthy.
And it can be extremely disunifying.
What about those who only want to tear down instead of build up? What about those who only want a little fiefdom of their own rather than helping to build God’s kingdom? What about control freaks? What about those who are on a crusade to make the church the way THEY THINK IT OUGHT TO BE? What about those who think we ought to water down the truth? What about those who think sin is just low self esteem? What about those who believe the church ought to just be a place to make social contacts and nothing more?
By the way, those people are welcome. We’ll try to show them the way, but if they ever go on a mission to change the vision and purposes of God’s church?
I’ll show them the back door.
You know, the Bible has a lot of different words to describe the bride of Christ (there’s one right there).
We see it referred to as, a church, a fellowship, a local gathering, a flock, and my personal favorite, ‘a body.’
There are so many parallels to the local church and the human body.
We hear about the body working best when it’s in shape .
We read about all the parts of the body being necessary for a healthy, fully functioning body. See 1 Cor.
We learn that the tongue can be the most powerful and the most dangerous part of the body James 3:5 (NIV) Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.
We learn that the eyes are windows into the soul and heart of a person.
We begin to understand that our feet can lead us to do good or bad.
With our hands we steal or give, build or tear down.
The body has a lot of functions.
So does the church body.
One of them is this infamous back door.
Can I ask you a personal question?
What happens to your body if you try to keep the back door shut for too long?
That’s right.
You read it correctly.
And too many churches are suffering from spiritual constipation brought on by spending so much time keeping shut what needs to be left open.
Don’t shut the back door, regulate it (sorry, couldn’t resist). If it’s messed up, start with an enema and clean house. We did — a little over six years ago and went from a skinny, nerdy, non-athletic runt of a church to a community changing, world impacting force for Christ.
Back then we we’re called, Grace Community Church, but a lot of members knew nothing of ‘Grace.’ Back then we were about 200 and only occassionally saw people come to Chirst.
That church died.
It hurt.
But unless a seed dies…see this verse, http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=50&chapter=12&verse=24&version=31&context=verse for the painful truth.
What was holding us back?
Toxins.
Spiritual blockage.
God cleaned house and Southbrook took off!
If you’re church isn’t growing, shows signs of spiritual constipation and the leadership seems a little sickly. It might be a sign it’s time to check the back door.
Not to make sure it’s shut.
To make sure it’s open!
5 Comments currently posted.
Christopher Wall says:
rick says:
That’s it! I’m leaving. Well, actually, I’m gonna stay, but now you’re on probation. Next time, let’s make it a little more “feel good”, or I might really start to think about considering the thought of leaving….maybe.
Matt Langley says:
We moved to Charlotte almost 3 years ago and were very active in our church in Raleigh for over 4 years prior. It was very much like Southbrook as it was “seeker friendly” with good worship, relevant messages, and a dynamic pastorial staff. I looked around the net before we moved here to scope our some churches in the Charlotte area and I found Southbrook’s website. After we moved here, the first church we visited on the first weekend we were here was SCC. (it was the first week in the new building too!) Not to knock our last church but it was like Rob and company had found 11 on the amplifier that we were used to being set at 10ish and it has just exploded from there. With that being said we have grown so much more in the past three years than we have ever grown in our walk with Christ.
What an awesome, powerful, loving, providing, and infinitely huge God we serve. There are so many other great things that have happened in our lives as well. Sorry for the cliché but it is definitely a “God thing” going on up in here, no one could ever dispute or question that.
In closing and back on Rob’s post I had a though that we are all in need of some tree shaking from time to time, it keeps all of us reflecting on where we are and thinking and learning more about how to be representatives of His Kingdom.
I too honor, respect, and deeply thank or military for their service. I pray for them every day. I think that we as a body can take some words from the taglines of the various branches of military and apply them to our service for His glory.
Marines - The few, the humble.
Army - An Army for One.
Navy - Accelerate His life.
Air Force - Aim Higher.
Have a great day and a victorious week!
dana says:
you brought up some great points about church these days! all so true…
JT says:
I’ll never look at the back doors in the auditorium the same way again! On a serious note, thanks for the great analogy. If Southbrook isn’t for some why would we want them to stay? There are many different churches for a reason. There isn’t going to be one church that can make everybody happy. Just because we are growing and just because people enjoy coming here doesn’t mean that it is for everyone. It sounds like you and the staff realize that. It’s nothing to get worked up over and I hope that isn’t happening.
As always great insight. Keep on keeping on!
My wife and I almost did not make Southbrook our home because we thought “this place is just growing way too fast”. We thought “we wanted / needed” a typical mid-sized Church where everyone knows everyone and it was deeper in dedicated members than it was wide in overall attendance.
We Were Wrong………
Sure we love the music, the modern way Pastor Rob and the worship teams deliver the message, etc…, but we thought we did not want to be lost and just another face in the crowd.
We Were Wrong………
We “kicked the tires” at Southbrook for almost 7 months before we accepted that Southbrook was the place for us. By letting God lead our hearts and not listening to just our personal desires, we came to the understanding and reality that Southbrook is exactly the place God wants us to be. It is NOT about how many people at Church we know or how many know us, how much we know about everyone at Church, or how many people see and acknowledge what we are doing for or giving to the Church. It is first and foremost that God is first in our lives and the fact so many people are coming to Southbrook and getting the opportunity to now Jesus Christ so we all can grow deeper in him and live the life he intends for us.
We understand that we will never be just a number no matter where we are. God knows us, he knows what we do and do not do, and as long as we are living our lives for him, that is teh most important thing. Yes, we have started to form new friendships at Southbrook just as we would have at any Church and every person we have come to know at Southbrook is just so so awesome. The great thing is that with every new person that comes to Southbrook, there is a new opportunity for greater fellowship and personal friendships.
Does it help that Pastor Rob and Southbrook as a whole is a “just the facts” kind of place? You bet it does. A healthy dose of reality in this hype it up for good press or water it down so we do not offend people world we seem to live in.
Just as we have a First Impressions Team aka “Fruit”, maybe we need a Last Impressions Team aka “Fiber” for those that need that back exit held open. They can be there so those that just do not get it today, can go search for whatever it is they “think” they need, but remind them that when they finally let God lead their life, and if they want to come back for all the “Right Reasons”, the First Impressions Team will be there holding the front doors open for them.