Sacred Cows in the Church?

 

I have spent much of my adult life in the church. I love the church, but it is not perfect because it is filled with people. People with faults, hangups and wrong thinking. As a pastor for 40+ years, one of the biggest challenges I faced was 'sacred cows' in the church. Not literal four-legged cud-chewing cows but traditions and even objects that people have elevated to Biblical status.

Here is a more technical definition. “The term 'sacred cow' is commonly used in Christian circles to describe those elements of church life that have been elevated to such a high level of importance that they cannot be touched, criticized, changed or removed. Above all, sacred cows are not essential to the fundamentals of Christianity, but people treat then as if they are.” (Source unknown)

Allow me to share just a couple I have encountered.

• Passing the offering plate. Many churches no longer use offering plates but have offering boxes/baskets at the doors of the sanctuary. If you stop that tradition, you may find stiff opposition.

• Worship style. This one of the biggest “sacred cows” in the church. If you want to start a 'war' in the church, try changing the worship.

• Dress standards. There was a time when people came to church in suits/ties and dresses. But today many don't even own a suit or a Sunday dress. Dressing up for church is not wrong but we cannot have a 'dress code' for people to attend our churches.

• Bible translations. There are many good translations to choose from, but we should not elevate ONE translation as THE only translation we should use.

One word of caution. If the health of the church is suffering and it is decided that a certain 'sacred cow' must be killed, make sure it's God's will and His timing. Killing a sacred cow could be messy!

We Are the Cavalry

If you love watching Westerns, I am sure you've seen where soldiers were surrounded by hostile Indians. They are outnumbered and their situation seems hopeless. A volunteer is sent out to another fort requesting enforcements. Just when all seems lost, the Cavalry arrives just in the nick of time! 

America (our fort) is surrounded by hostile forces. It would seem our values and way of life is being attacked on every side. Many people feel our situation is hopeless and they wonder if the Cavalry will arrive in time. 

 But who is the Cavalry? What I'm about to say doesn't seem realistic but I firmly believe that the only hope for America is the Church. I'm not talking about the anemic institution must of us are familiar with but with the strong, vibrant Church Jesus planned. Jesus said, "...I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:18 

The problem with America is not political, but spiritual. America is destroying itself from within and ceasing to be the “One Nation Under God” we knew. We the people must exercise our bestowed responsibilities and make our voices heard in the polling booths. The real tragedy would be that our constitutional rights be given away. 

Songwriter William Merrill wrote, " Rise up, O Church of God!

                                                          Have done with lesser things;
                                                          Give heart and mind and soul and strength
                                                          To serve the King of kings.

Why I Turned My Back on Religion

 

“...That day of the Lord will not come until the turning away from God ...” 

2 Thessalonians 2:3

One-fifth of Americans are religiously unaffiliated — higher than at any time in recent U.S. history — and those younger than 30 especially seem to be drifting from organized religion. A third of young Americans say they don't belong to any religion.

Voltaire, the 18th Century French cynic, wrote: “If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him.” This quip is often quoted cynically. But in fact, he was being perfectly sincere. He was arguing that belief in God is necessary for society to function, even if he didn’t approve of the monopoly the church held over that belief. From the earliest civilization, man has always been religious. He found the need to worship someone or something.

There are many reasons people are leaving organized religions. Here are some of the reasons young people gave:

• Hypocritical behavior in the lives of professing believers

• The problem of suffering in the world

• Mega churches have millions of dollars but they are not actively reaching the needy

• Probably the biggest reason is they do not believe religion is relevant today.

If the church is going to reach this generation, they must be willing to change. For change to occur, we must listen to this younger generation. We need to include them in making decisions to make decisions. One of the main reasons the church is unable to see any positive change is that they don’t allow room for younger members to have a part in the changes being made.

The biggest group that has faced holy discrimination is the LGBTQ community. The traditional church is totally against homosexuality. The church cannot expect the gay person to change BEFORE they are accepted into the church. We can love/accept the person without condemning them. Somehow the church is more willing to forgive the sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, thieves, the greedy, drunkards and swindlers before they would even consider forgiving the LGBTQ community even if they are not practicing homosexuality.

The church must teach/preach a message that is relevant. What millennials need are teachings that closely align with what they are experiencing. What millennials need are teachings that resonate with a young 35-year-old single mother. What millennials need are teachings that could be useful for a 20-year-old college student dealing with financial and personal stress.

The only way to stop the exodus from our churches is to be willing to change. Like how badly does the church want to attract a younger audience? What measures is the church willing to take to capture the millennial generation? What is the church willing to give up bringing more souls to Christ?

The Dying Church

 

There is no question that the last two years have been difficult on every front and nowhere is that seen more clearly that in our churches. Attendance in most churches has been declining for many years. Experts said in 2020 they expected 380,000 churches to close. Each month 250 pastors leave the ministry. The average time a pastor remains his church is 4 years.

I do not want to sound like a 'prophet of doom' but it is evident that the church is dying. Space does not allow me to explore all the reasons but allow me share a solution to keep churches from dying.

The Bible calls the Church the Body. Colossians 1:18 Romans 12:4-5 and as the human body has a life cycle, so does the Church. The churches the Apostle Paul started are no longer in existence. Most (if any) of the churches John Wesley started are in existence today. The church has a life-cycle: Birth. Growth. Stability. Decline. Death. A church left to itself will eventually die.

One church growth expert says for a church to keep from dying it must rediscover the purpose of the church. Many churches think their purpose is self-propagation; that is to maintain its existence. But Theology Professor Don Meeser rightly said. “I believe we need to rediscover that the purpose of the church is to increase the love of God and neighbor.”

Most churches see revival services as a means to convert unsaved people. But that is not true revival. True revival is the church recommitting itself to Christ and sharing His love.

Today's church most reinvent itself to reach this new generation. That doesn't mean changing our message but changing our methods. George Bernard Shaw once declared that "some [people] see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not."

The Good News is... I will build my church. The gates of hell will not be strong enough to destroy it. Matthew 16:18

For more insight see Reinventing the Church

A Naked Marriage

 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. Genesis 2:25

It is interesting that when God created Adam and Eve, He create them naked and without any shame related to it. The word “naked” in Genesis 2:25 means “to be exposed.” God created marriage to be a place you could totally expose yourself to each other – mentally, emotionally, spiritually, sexually, and physically – without shame.

This is what makes intimacy on every level possible in marriage. When you are truly “naked” without shame in marriage, you can share your lives with each other. You can talk about anything without fear. Adam and Eve were created naked without shame until sin entered into the relationship. Once they sinned, they could no longer trust each other. Paradise was lost and they now feared intimacy with God and each other and covered themselves with fig leaves. Genesis 3:7

The good news is that Paradise can be restored when couples take responsibility for their actions and apologize for any damaging behavior. There must be openness in our relationship. Nothing destroys intimacy more than secrets. Don't take your relationship for granted. Keep the lines of communication open. When you make a mistake, apologize quickly. This is the only way to create a “naked” marriage the way God intended.

People R Us

 

Years ago I pastored a small church and to supplement my salary, I took a second job with Publix Supermarket. ( Great company to work for.)

During orientation, we were taught that Publix was in the people business, not the food business. Great attention was given to customer service. When a customer entered the store, they were to be greeted within 45 seconds.

I think the local church sometimes forgets they are in the people business as well. The church must not look at people as a means to build a large church but rather as an opportunity to serve. Philippians 2.4

I have often heard people say they are looking for a church that would meet "their" needs. That's the wrong focus. Jesus came not to be served but to serve Mark 10.45 and we should have the same attitude.

Jesus the Magnet

 When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him... Matthew 8:1

We read throughout the New Testament that everywhere Jesus went He drew a crowd but He never intentionally drew people to Himself. In John 6 we have the account of Jesus attracting a crowd of over 5,000. I have been thinking a lot about why people are not drawn to me [or churches] like they were Jesus. Why are churches closing by the hundreds even though they are using a host of venues to attract people? What was Jesus 'secret' in drawing people?

• Jesus loved unbelievers People called Him the "Friend of Sinners."The command to love is the most repeated command in the Bible. We need to love people where they are.
• Jesus attracted people by meeting their needs. Jesus frequently asked, "What do you want me to do for you?" Many churches are more interested in meeting their own needs rather than meeting the needs of others. They need to know that they will be loved and accepted.
• Jesus' teachings were relevant. Jesus usually taught in response to a question or problem from someone in the crowd. Jesus' goal when teaching was to transform lives. We do not have to make the Bible relevant - it already is. When people understand how the Bible can affect and change their lives; they will be drawn to that church.

Some churches become like the world. Some isolate themselves from it. A third option is better - infiltrating the world! Jesus walked among people, in their world.

 

BAR SUES CHURCH

 

 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. Acts 4:31 

A bar called Drummond's, in Mt Vernon, Texas began construction on an expansion of their building, hoping to "grow" their business. In response, the local Southern Baptist Church started a campaign to block the bar from expanding - petitions, prayers, etc.

About a week before the bar's grand reopening, a bolt of lightning struck the bar and burned it to the ground! Afterward, the church folks were rather smug - bragging about "the power of prayer". The angry bar owner eventually sued the church on grounds that the church ... "was ultimately responsible for the demise of his building, through direct actions or indirect means." Of course, the church vehemently denied all responsibility or any connection to the building's demise.

The judge read carefully through the plaintiff's complaint and the defendant's reply. He then opened the hearing by saying: "I don't know how I'm going to decide this, but it appears from the paperwork that what we have here is a bar owner who now believes in the power of prayer and the entire church congregation that does not."

Be careful for what you pray for!!!

Back To The Future

 

I recently spoke with a pastor who was experiencing was difficulties with several "senior saints" in his congregation. They were very upset with the music and the style of worship in their church. While the church was growing and new people were visiting each week, they wanted to return back to the '70s when they felt God was "moving" on their services. I am not belittling the past for I too have fond memories of the past but it is impossible to resurrect those times.

In Isaiah 43:19 God says "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?" Thank God for what He has done in the past but God calls us to live in the present. God calls us to reach this present generation, which means we need to incorporate music and worship style that appeals to those we are trying to reach.

The church must change its thinking that the church is not about them but those outside the church. Luke 19:10 I am not saying the church should not attempt to meet the needs of its congregation but the church will die if it is not reaching new people for the Kingdom.

Care Central

 Be kindly affectionate to one another...distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Romans 12;10, 13

From 1986 to 1990, Frank Reed was hostage by Lebanese terrorists. He was beaten and tormented and kept in total darkness but the worst thing was the feeling that no one cared. In Time magazine he said, "I began to realize how withering it s to exist with not a single expression of caring around me...I learned one overruling fact; caring is a powerful force. If no cares, you are truly alone."

God instituted two social systems so that no one would ever feel alone: the family and the church. In a day when even Christian families are failing to care for their own, the church must step in be a community of care - a place where love, healing and acceptance can be found. The New Testament is filled with the command to care for those in need, both within the church and those without. Proverbs 3:27 Ephesians 4:28

If you are in need of care, begin by caring for others. If you are "healthy' to see whom God has put in your path that needs His love.

--taken from Pathways-- David Jeremiah

Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States said , ""People do not care how much of know until they know how much you care."

Does My Life Matter?

 People often ask a common question when it looks like their time on earth is drawing to a close - "Did my life matter?" Have you ever wondered that? I have. We all dream of being a great success. Children playing football dream of making it pro. Musicians dream of themselves on a massive stage in front of thousands of scream fans. We all have a desire to make an impact in this world. We all desire to make a difference to the degree that we will be remembered when we are gone.

Success is solely defined by God and solely achieved by your faithfulness to whatever He has called you to. The Bible clearly defines success as being faithful to what God has spoken. Matthew 25:21 His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’  Your desire to make an will only be satisfied by living in obedience to God's will for you.

Choose to live a life of significance for eternity today. You have a chance today to lead people into eternal life. You have a chance today to store up your treasure in heaven. Matthew 6:19-20 Allow God to define your identity and purpose. Experience the joy that can only be found in communion with youtr heavenly Father.

Sitting? or Sent?

 When pastors get together, it isn't long until they ask how their home church is doing. Nothing wrong with the question but is interesting how pastors answer the question. The majority will answer something like, "We had 260 in attendance!" But do numbers actually tell how a church is doing or how healthy the church is? 

Most of the churches I have pastored were small churches and I have to admit I sometimes felt intimated when in a social gathering with pastors with larger churches.

Many churches think in terms of sitting capacity. How many people can fit inside the building. But churches also need to ask about their sending capacity. How many people are leaving Sunday, heading into Monday sent on a mission?

Being a Christ-follower means we are also fishers of men (Matthew 4:19) but that does not mean we just invite the fish [people] to come to the aquarium [church building] where the chief fisherman [the pastor] casts the bait [the gospel] and lands the fish [conversion]. 

The church I was raised in was small but it sent out several people: Pastors, missionaries, and Christian School teachers.

God is sending each of us to reach someone with the Good News that Jesus Christ came to earth to provide a way to heaven and provide eternal life.