robsingleton.net

31 October 2007

Southbrook Urban Legends, Part 2

Urban Legend #2: The teaching just isn’t deep there anymore now that they’ve switched the focus to lost people.

This one would be funny if it wasn’t so sad.

About a year and a half ago I made the decision to go even deeper on the weekends, use more scripture and share more stories from the greatest book of real life dramas ever written…the Bible. And wouldn’t you know it, the deeper you go the more you hear the high chair (I chair) people crying out, “FEEEEED MEEEE!!!” They remind me of that man-eating plant from the movie, “Little Shop of Horrors.” Littleshop

Remember this guy? —>

He grew real big, but he never matured. It was like having a giant, reckless toddler around. I’m talking the size of Goliath but the coordination of an elephant blindfolded and walking on 2 legs!

Alas, this is what happens to a lot of “Christians” who fall into the “religious crowd” before ever learning that it’s really about “relationship.” They grow into 900 pound, pharisaical gorillas and never see it coming. Sadly, it’s very difficult to reverse this freakishly abnormal growth pattern.

I actually wrote about this a little while back (read that post here), and some good friends have written on it more recently as well. You can find one of those posts here. It was written by Perry Noble and it is well worth the read.

See you again tomorrow for the next installment of, “Southbrook Urban Legends.”

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7 Comments currently posted.

Chris Hogan says:

Perry Noble’s post definitely hits it right on the nose! You can see his heart clearly in this and it’s awesome. I think that there is a real need for people to stop looking at their own needs and to start looking around them and reaching out. Local missions is a great place to start.

Southbrook has their next Block Party (Outreach) in the Icemorlee neighborhood Saturday, December 15th. We meet at the church at 9:30am and are finished by 2:30pm. We will be doing a special Christmas message and handing out gifts to all of the children there. It would be great to see people from our church SIGN UP (in the cafe) and SHOW UP for this outreach!

If you want to go DEEP, all you have to do is start serving those in need around you! It’s that simple!

Lance Ratliff says:

Rob,
The only people I know who constantly request that someone feed them are infants! They are not capable of feeding themselves. We work with Infants handing them the spoon(NO SHARP FORKS AT FIRST) with food already on it teaching them how to feed themselves. Infants need believers support and encouragement to become capable of feeding themselves. Infants in my mind are the unchurched and tire kickers. These folks need to be fed and nourished in the word. But a 3 or 4 year old(THE URBAN MYTH CROWD) who has been coddled and throws temper tantrums everytime he o she does not get what he wants is just plain annoying!!! Brookies come to church, bring a fork, and help feed and infant. Feed yourself before you get there. It is not all about you!!

mommytofour says:

Unfortunately this happens to a lot of individuals and leads to ENDLESS “church shopping”. Which in the end is just a vicious cycle because you fail to realize it ISN”T about you. IT’s about going out and doing what Christ did…serving others.

You’re right Lance, if you are in the Word and praying Christ will lead you, than you will take away what he wants you to, while [you’re] at church, while you are serving those around you.

SCC has grown by leaps and bounds and I don’t think it has grown this much because our goal is in the wrong place. I believe it is by the Grace of God and the Holy Spirit that He has allowed us to reach so many people and hopefully the means to reach 100’s more.

Tim Irwin says:

Rob, After reading your July 3rd post, I was reminded of a couple who had two complaints about my preaching: 1) You’re not deep enough. 2) You preach over our heads like we’re college students or something.

Go figure.

Jay Foreman says:

Great stuff. I’m thinking of starting a few “Legends” my self, kinda see where they go. Meanwhile I’ll stick to confessions, it’s easier. As a matter a fact, you can read one of them here…

http://jayforeman.blogspot.com/2007/10/confessions-of-pwb.html

don’t ya love the viscous circle I create?

clayton king says:

In 20 years of itinerate (traveling) ministry, I have noticed numerous trends. One of them is this: if a person is constantly complaining about the teaching being too shallow, their need for deeper truth, or the influx of “new” methods and people into “the way things have always been at the church”, it is an outer sign of an inner, systemic immaturity.

What people really mean, whether they know it or not, when they complain about not being fed, is that they are offended or upset that they are not being catered to as the “target group” for the church. When a congregation decides to pursue reaching the unchurched, there will be, by default, groups that will not only feel left out, but also DISPLACED on the totem pole of importance. They see a pecking order in the church and want to be at the top, even when there is no pecking order to begin with.

And if there WAS a pecking order, no human being who had been redeemed from their sins would ever want to be at the top of it. By virtue of their salvation, they would want THE LOST to be the priority of the church.

It is ironic that when a church focuses on the GOSPEL and making that gospel real and authentic to others, dicipleship and spiritual formation begin to take shape in that community as it sets out to serve the lost.

Dang, Rob, I think I may just do this as my next guest blog. It is late and I am just flowing…at least I THINK I am. Who knows, I have been up since 5 AM. I could be wrong, and maybe we should just all sit around in small huddles for 8 hours talking about the multiple meanings of one verse in Amos.

Nevermind. Let’s reach the lost with those who are willing, and for the rest, there are more than enough churches to feed them til they are fat.