Swapping Sheep

I've noticed lately that we're planting churches by filling up our plants with churched people. And, in case we've missed the memo, church planting is NOT about "swapping sheep" from the Kingdom fold. Church planting is about seeing goats (lost souls) converted into sheep (saved souls). The reality of this hit me as I began to examine how little our new churches are transforming and impacting culture. Recently I talked to a church planter from a southern state who was quick (and proud) to tell me that one of their church plants, which is only three years old, was running 1500 in attendance. He then began to relay the fact that this church plant was thriving and growing in a community of only 7-8000 people. As he shared this my first sarcastic reaction was of elation. I told him that it must be awesome to see this whole community turned upside down by all of those
people coming to faith in Christ. I then asked him if the crime, divorce, and abuse rates have declined drastically with such a phenomenal movement of God in this community. When the reality hit him that the growth of this plant wasn't really about transformational growth, but rather through sheep swapping, he quickly changed the subject. Now I'm sure the growth of the plant wasn't ALL from churched people, but it probably was the majority of the growth.

So where does "sheep swapping" get us today in impacting our culture with the good news of Jesus Christ? No where! As we produce more and more plants (3-4 per day), and as existing churches die (8-10 per day), what is spiritually taking place in our culture as it relates to transforming lives with the gospel of Jesus Christ? Not much at all! You see; it is much harder, time consuming, and bears limited success (numbers) for church planters to go after and focus all their energies on reaching the lost. Plainly said, it just easier to open the doors and let the disgruntled and disenfranchised "Christians" fill up the plant.  But, is easier really producing the results needed to change and impact the culture?

Where they find out about you

Today a church planter shared an amazing statistic that merits me sharing to you. In a recent media blitz of billboards, radio and TV ads, door hangers, etc. only 5% of recent visitors to his church plant responded to this type of invitation to the church. He communicated to me that 95% of his recent visitors over the last 6 weeks attended his church plant because they found their website on-line. Through conversations and relationships people chose to check out the church via their website before they attended the service. Amazing results for utilizing a simple tool. So, if you want to get your name out and let people know you exist make sure that one tool you have in your arsenal is a website; a usable, friendly, and inviting website. Matter of fact, I'd suggest you pay the money to create a good and functional website before you sent mailers, put up billboards, or paid for public advertising.

Please remember that a website isn't the end to all means in reaching out to people; relationships move and draw people. However, we now understand more than ever that people drawn into your church through relationships are now telling others to check out your church plant via your website. Church websites today are fastly becoming a necessary means to help draw and connect people into a relationship with you and the church plant. So, in today's economy if you want to let people know you exist, and help them understand what you're all about, creating a great website is a must.

Final thought. Everyone who has created their own website thinks that their site is good. I haven't heard one planter admit that their website looks like garbage; although some in my opinion do. Please take the time to first market your website through various generations of people, and then take their feedback and do something with what they give you. Most of the time church planters websites are nominal at best, and they do not motivate or encourage anyone to take the next step to checking you out. Remember, in today's world the web is a place "where they find out about you." If your website looks shabby and amateur, they will reserve the right to think that's really describes who and what you really are. And, who would blame them if they never bothered to check you out.

Cultural Christianity

One of the challenges a planter deals with in today's world is with cultural Christians. You know the one's. . .they're the one's who pull Jesus out of their box on Sunday and live the other 6 days the way that they think is best. They're the one's who want to be entertained and taught theology even though they have no intention to use what they've learned. They're the one's that show up to church plants and re-direct and mutilate a church planters vision. They're the one's that give enough money to cause a church planter to compromise his values and mission that God called him to fill. They're the one's giving Christianity a bad name because they do not look anything like Christ.

What is a planter to do with such people when they show up at your plant? Here are some suggestions:

1. Don't coddle them, teach them to grow up.

2. Don't promise anything to them (you'll regret it later).

3. Don't give them a ministry or assignment until they prove their serious about serving Christ.

4. Give them the truth, and do not apologize when they pout about how mean and unpastoral your being because you're giving them the truth.

5. Preach the gospel to them, a lot of them aren't even saved.

6. Don't accept gifts from them, they'll only want something in return from you later.

7. Teach them that Christianity is to be lived 7 days a week, and give them the opportunities to make this happen.

8. When they don't put up or they give up, move on and let them make their move to the next place that satisfies their itch.

Why am I writing this today? So many guys I've worked with in church planting are under constant stress and are being drained by these "so called" Christians. The worst thing a planter can do is to divert his ministry and energy trying to get these people to embrace and support the work within a new church plant. So, if you find yourself dealing with this element within your plant, I'd encourage to implement some of these suggestions and continue to put your effort and energy into impacting the lost around you. My feeling is let them go their way, I'm pretty sure that is what Jesus did, He didn't let them spoil his calling or mission, why should you.

Remember these warnings from God's Word:

2 Tim 3: 1-7 -- "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them."

2 Tim 4:3 -- "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."

One life can make a difference

I like this day. . . St. Patricks Day. As many choose to where green, eat Corn Beef and Cabbage and drink their favorite Irish Beer ( I prefer Root Beer), I enjoy thinking of the man to whom this day is set aside to honor, St. Patrick (Maewyn Succat). St. Patrick was a church planting machine, it is said that he was responsible for starting over 200 churches. His ministry to the Pagans of Ireland is a remarkable story of forgiveness and faithfulness. At the age of 16 he was sold into slavery to Irish Raiders. He remained a slave until he escaped at the age of 22. After his conversion he was compelled by God to return to the people who once held him as a slave. Through his life and work one of the greatest Spiritual Awakenings took place in the world. In George Hunter's book; "The Celtic Way of Evangelism", it is noted that perhaps several million people within 5 countries were touched by the gospel because of the influence of Maewyn Succat's ministry. Historians tell us that he baptized over 100,000 new Christians himself, I cannot even imagine doing that today (you''d need a strong back, but I would love to have the opportunity). His methodology for reaching people with the gospel was very unorthodox during his time. The Roman Church's method of reaching people was to convince people to believe in Christ in order to be accepted in the church. Maewyn Succat's approach was to provide venues and places for people to see and experience Christ. He believed that if pagans could see and be touched by the genuine love of Christ they would be convinced of their need to make a commitment to Christ as well. So, Patrick created monasteries that allowed the people to hang out with God's people. What he essentially did was provide people who were disconnected from Christ the opportunity to rub shoulders and experience Christianity before they ever made a commitment to follow Christ. The results were explosive, and unfortunately became a threat to the established Roman Church of that day.

St. Patrick I believe, was used mightily by God because he believed that people's lives needed to be transformed with gospel of Christ. He obviously saw the value of making sure he modeled (along with others) what a life transformed by Christ looks like. The modeling of genuine love and devotion created an explosion of new disciples being born again into God's Kingdom.

I wonder today if it is possible for God to use this same approach to reaching people in a culture that is turning more and more pagan everyday? And, is it possible that God can still use one man (or woman) to begin a fire that burns the chaff of religion and opens the door of helping people transform their lives as they connect to Christ? I know the answer and I'm sure you do as well. To quote our new President; "Yes He can!"

So, if you ever wonder if your life could make a "huge" difference in changing a culture for Christ, look at St. Patrick and believe that "all things are possible through Christ." Maewyn Succat obviously did!

BTW: Why is the Shamrock so big on this day? Legend has it that Maewyn Succat used the "three leaf" clover to communicate the Trinity.

Storms

I've learned lately that storms in life can be very good. I was at my
dentist yesterday and we were reviewing my latest surgical procedure that I endured. When he asked me how I was doing I told him great, the whole situation turned out to be the "perfect storm" in my life. Although I hated having a surgical procedure done on me, the outcome couldn't have been any better. Going through this season and enduring this storm has almost ended up in perfection. First, let me say I'm grateful to God for all He has done the last 6 weeks of my life; He has been gracious to me. Why I chose to call this a "perfect storm" is because of the bunch of good things has happened since I was diagnosed with a large cyst that had to be removed from my jaw. Through recovery, a changed diet (very soft), exercising, and developing better eating habits I've been able to lose 23 pounds and gain some extraordinary energy that I didn't know existed. And, I'm praying that as a result of weight loss, dieting, and exercise I may be able to throw away the dreaded cholesterol medicine that I've been on for 7 years. In January I didn't know what good was going to come out of all that I was going to face, but today I recognize and praise God for His promise that "all things work together for good to those who love God (Rom. 8:28)." I now see the value of a perfect storm blowing in and out of our lives. Sometimes we need something to take place to sail us on to a new and refreshing destination in life.

What I learned from this in the last 6 weeks is this; when things look bad (and you're feeling bad) it doesn't always mean that it is going to last or get worse. Actually it may be the opposite. Sometimes something has to be purged or pruned to give new energy and life. My experience has brought this to me at this time. When it all took place, I couldn't see the horizon because I was in the midst of the storm. But as I rode out the storm with God, He moved me into a position that allowed me to experience refreshment, vigor, and a new perspective on life. So, here is some advice. When it all feels like it is tumbling in around you, hold on to the promises that God has given you, ride it out with Him to the end. If you do, you might experience the "perfect storm" your life needs at that time. Storms aren't bad at all, they are many times useful to blow in new and fresh things. I pray the next time you're caught in a storm, you'll hold on and wait for the Master to show you a new horizon in your life.

New Wine

I'm back after a time of recovering from having surgery on my jaw, and it is good to be back. God is good and faithful!

I've been thinking a lot lately how Jesus admonished his followers not to place anything new into anything old. He communicated these words to His followers; "Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved." (Matt. 9:17). His words were interesting because they came after He was asked a question about why His own disciples were not practicing a religious ritual. As I pondered His response to the religious zealots of His day, I was quickly reminded how much church planters and pastors face this same type of question each and every day (well, some church planters and pastors, especially those who are committed to changing and transforming lives with the gospel). Jesus in this encounter heralded a biblical principle that still stands today; you cannot put something new from God into a vessel that is unable and unwilling to be used by God. He further explained that when you violate this biblical principle, the results will be waste and devastation. In my journey in ministry I've seen this happen more than I can count. So many times we as Christians are constantly trying to place some new thing into something that is unwilling and unable to absorb it. And, when we attempt to do this I'm afraid we stand in the midst of being disobedient to the very principle Jesus shared for us to be careful of doing. In the midst of our disobedience the results are wasteful and many times devastating. So, what is a church planter to do with this principle, and why am I bringing this up today?

Church plants and church planters are "new wine." God's call to a church planter is to provide something fresh and new to a community that is disconnected from Him. He calls you because He was wanting you to do something fresh and new that hasn't been done before. He isn't calling you to clone and practice what you already know and are comfortable with, He's calling you to be fresh, new, and alive with His ideas and tools to engage people who have and will not be engaged by a religious community. Many times a church planter loses heart quickly because they do not see immediately and tangible results for trying to engage people in a fresh and new way. I've learned over the years that you need to be very careful and cautious when someone or something is persuading you to move to a place that is comfortable and ideal for them. God's work is fresh and alive! When His principles and methods are used according to His design, the result will always be His preservation. His preservation means that He is in control of the circumstances, using it for His benefit and glory.

So. the reason I felt compelled to write this today is because God has shown me what is the greatest challenge and temptation in church planting. Failing to be new wine in a new wine skin is the biggest reason church plants do not transform communities and fail. Today, in America we see this happening by the thousands. Many church plants are framing their ministry into something that is old, antiquated, and dying. What we've basically done is tell people were new while we "tweak" the methods of old, the methods that the culture has rejected as something they do not want or need. Church planters have sold themselves short of having all of God's best for the sake of preaching behind a "pulpit", in a "church building", to a bunch of dysfunctional and disenfranchised Christians. Shame on us! Shame on us from hiding behind this religious cloak when are Lord told us to be "new wine" in "new wineskins." I pray that if you're a church planter or pastor that you will fully embrace the fact that God has called you to be "new wine" in "new wineskins." If you found this to be offensive and uncomfortable to read today, that's good. I'm sure God is more offended by our compromising than I ever will be. May God help us to be "new wine" in "new wineskins" so that through Him we might be used as a preservative in the world today.

The planters menace, part 2

Another menace the church planter faces is dealing with the challenge of Christian people compartmentalizing their Christian lives. What do I mean by compartmentalizing their lives? Through religion (see previous menace), Christians have been taught that their Christian faith is separate to every other part of their lives. As the old saying goes; Christians are great at "doing church" on Sunday, and even greater at "practicing carnality" all the rest of the week. Recently I ran across a church planter that was frustrated to how people were not picking up and living the principles of discipleship. I raised this menace factor to him by explaining how people in the church have been taught through religion how to compartmentalize their lives. I further explained that the church over the last 50 years taught people how to save themselves from "hell-fire and damnation," but never really expounded on the fact that the complete salvation experience means that we die to self so that we can live for Christ. When people learned (through preaching and teaching) that all they needed was to be saved, they logically understood that they were covered from going to hell. And, as this is true, it is also is an incomplete message. Jesus said, "if anyone chooses to come after me, they must deny themselves, and take up their cross and follow Him." The result of this incomplete message is an incomplete group of saved people. Christianity at this point of incompletion is very much self-serving, which gives way for the "Christian" not to incorporate Christ in all aspects of their lives. Their marriages, homes, work place, recreation, education, and sometimes ethics are separated from the reality that "Christ is all and in all."

So, what is a planter to do with this menace that surrounds them? Do what Paul said; "preach and teach the whole counsel of God." Tell and show Christians how to allow and incorporate Christ into each segment of their lives. Guide them to experience Christianity at its fullest. If you will do this you will find more people becoming disciplined in their walk with Christ. These people will find that their "personal faith" is to be intertwined into every arena of their lives. Plan your sermons and Bible studies to help people to completely incorporate Jesus into every part of their lives. If your going to let people live out of religion, your bi-product will be Jesus for one day a week. If you guide people to dive wholeheartedly into Jesus, your bi-product will be a life that is surrendered seven days a week. My prayer for you today is that you will commit yourself to helping people break out of their religious and carnal compartments, by helping guide them to a full understanding of what it means to follow Christ.

Warning: Breaking Christians from religious and carnal habits takes time and is never easy. The odds of a mega- church being produced from this philosophy of ministry is between slim and none. The probability of experiencing real life transformation in marriages, families, and communities are great.