robsingleton.net

5 September 2007

It’s a Poor Trade Off

I’ve seen this before.

Several times actually.

Even been told to ‘expect it’ as a pastor of a thriving, growing church

I’m still not used to it though.

Recently I heard about a family that I really love moving back out into the church shopping arena.

Southbrook wasn’t meeting their needs.

They don’t know that I know, but I know more than they think. And it breaks my heart.

Not because I don’t think there are other good churches out there.

There are.

But because they used the line that is the kiss of death for any hope that they will ever find a fit.

What’s the line?

“Our needs are not being met.”

But how could they?

For example, I know they would not join a small group.

Too inconvenient.

They would not serve and attend a service.

It’s one or the other, they would say.

They Siskel and Eberted nearly everything to death—putting forth problem after problem, criticism after criticism, but offering no solutions.

They started to wish the music would be more of what they like.

They made it known that ‘other people’ constantly let them down whenever they tried to serve.

They wanted the sermons to be less evangelistic.

As I started hearing these phrases I prepared for the inevitable, so I’m not really surprised. When the focus begins to turn inward you have very little time.

In that small window of opportunity all you can do is keep casting the vision and hope that they will see the outward focus with fresh eyes.

A lot of times they do and you can see in their eyes and hear in their voices the renewed excitement of a fully devoted follower of Christ reactivated and moving full steam ahead.

But sometimes they don’t and my heart just sinks.

Mostly because I know that the journey inward is frustrating and lonely. It never delivers the satisfaction we long for.

I wish them the best.

But unless something changes, the best isn’t likely to happen.

Share and Enjoy:

5 Comments currently posted.

Tatiana Rojas says:

Pastor Rob, thank you for the message tonight, always i can feel the joy and glory of God in my heart and my mind when i’m in the church. Really i’m feeling the power of God in my life and i’m waiting the opportunity to serve to Christ in any ministery besides to reserve to Holy Spirit in the baptism.

Tom Bennett says:

Pastor Rob,
I always struggled to understand those who found Southbrook inadequate. I invited every person I could when I lived and worked in Charlotte. Some stayed - some did not. The ones that did not stay had similar concerns. They did not like to be challenged. They did not like to be made uncomfortable. They did not appreciate someone who called it like it was. They did not want to serve - be baptised - attend 101. They wanted to continue to do as they wished and have a pastor say it was alright to do just that. That doesn’t sound like you.

What a blessing it is to attend Southbrook - I carry a hole in my heart since I moved to Fl.

God came to earth and walked among His people. He performed incredible miracles. Yet there were still many who just could not see His vision either, and His resume was infinately better than yours. Skeptics and nay-sayers are not exclusive to this generation.

Chin up Rob.

I get a sinking feeling when I hear of people leaving Southbrook also. They leave, and I pray daily to return. I wish them the best also.
God Bless You and my Southbrook Family,
Tom Bennett

Dee Langley says:

Personally I have grown more in the past three years at Southbrook than I have my entire life! I am 33 years old and have been in EVERY kind of church there is since I was a fetus. I was raised in a baptist church and church shopped through high school (with every guy I dated). I finally picked a “type” I liked (church that is) and stuck with that but you would hear me say from time to time “the music didn’t fill me today” or ” I didn’t feel it today”. And I will admit that I would only go to a service when a certain pastor was there because the other ones didn’t met my needs or didn’t engage me like I should be. BUT SOMETHING CHANGED IN ME!!!! I finally realized that I HAVE A MAJOR PART IN ALL OF THIS! I can’t expect to “get fed” if I won’t open my mouth! I invite everyone to church. I haven’t seen many come but I still invite. I serve and am struggling to get my small group off the ground. I am even going WAY OUT of my comfort zone and teaching a class but I do this to be a small blessing of what Southbrook and God has blessed me with.

Matt and I are going through a “dry spell” right now but I have so much peace and comfort from God that wouldn’t have been and wasn’t here a year ago. I have to give back to such an AWESOME place. Rob I have said it before . . . If you ever doubt please know that God is using and moving Southbrook. We pray everyday for the awesome, amazing visionary power that Jesus has given to you guys.

I count myself most blessed among men to have a home in Southbrook! I may not be all God wants me to be right now but I know that I am on the road on the journey of a lifetime and I wouldn’t dream of getting off!

Not only is God moving in our lives but in the lives of our children! We have 3 kids ages 9, 7, and 5. The 9 yr old was baptized 2 years ago and our 7 year old went 2 weeks ago. When our 7 year old went my 5 year old asked “When is it my turn?!” Let the children come to me he said. WE ARE ALL THE CHILDREN OF GOD! We all need to come!

With everything that has been happening lately I have been holding onto God’s amazing peace and this was written in my daily calendar a couple of months back.

PEACE is the ability not to panic in the midst of uncertainty!

Steve and Janie says:

Beautifully said Dee.

It’s through testimonies shared by our brothers an sisters in Christ that we can learn from, relate too etc.

Thanks for sharing!

K says:

When those who heard Jesus in person walked away, it’s not always that they didn’t get His vision, but mostly they didn’t accept it.

Many walk away, but a seed it planted.

I’m always aware that the impact Rob’s messages have goes far beyond the growing numbers of attendance or baptism within this church..

It’s the hearts that Christ change over the long haul.

Let’s remember that Nicodemus walked away scratching his head at first.

For those not saved, the seed of salvation is planted, even when it’s not first accepted. For those saved but not walking with Christ, the seed of abundance is planted, and who knows how many have sprung already and in the church they finally settle into, perhaps these individuals will mature to transform other lives.