Over the Top?
08/16/07 08:38 AM
People leave churches. That's a fact of life. Early
on in my ministry that was a harder fact to deal
with - I took it too personal. It was very painful.
"You've got to close the back door," people would
say. And so I would scramble around trying my best
to keep people from leaving the church. And if I'm
honest with myself I spent way too much time,
energy, and effort trying to keep people happy. And
little by little, the church gets off course - not
by huge leaps, but incrementally. Years later you
wonder what happened. And instead of walking by
faith and trusting God, you find yourself and the
church in survival mode - not following the vision
of God, but the feelings of people. Never again.
What I've been learning lately, from others much wiser than me, is that it's good to leave the back door cracked a little. All Pastors joke about ocassionally having, "blessed subtractions" - those times when people who need to leave the church finally move on. But the truth is, as churches grow and Pastors cast clear passionate vision, people leave. They get upset. They don't like change. So and so hurt their feelings. They don't agree with the vision. They care about their own needs more than the needs of others. On and on and on.
I had someone tell me this week they were leaving our church. They didn't like all this emphasis on inviting a friend. Yes, that's what they actually said. I was told that it began on Easter Sunday when I invited everyone to come back. It was just too "over the top." I said very little - it wasn't worth my time. I told them, "We'll have to agree to disagree. I hope you find another church." By the way, my sermon on Easter Sunday was, "He Came. He Died. He Conquered." And yes, I did invite our guests to come back. And yes, there is a renewed emphasis here at Coastal on our mission and vision to "share and experience life." And members of Coastal do make a commitment in our 101 Membership Class to, "share the responsibility of my church by praying for its growth, by inviting the unchurched to attend, and by warmly welcoming those who visit." So if any of that makes me "over the top," that's a badge of honor I'll wear proudly.
I am very open to input, suggestions, and ideas. But I am also very passionate about the vision God has given me for Coastal. And that is the vision we're going to follow. Don't mistake passion for being unapproachable or for being a dictator. If someone wants our church to become something it's not, they simply need to pursue that dream at another church. I tell people all the time, "There are many great churches in Charleston. We're one of them. We're not in competition with any of them." So find the one that you can serve and grow with, that you agree with it's essential beliefs, and you support it's mission and vision. If you can't do those things, you aren't doing yourself, that church, or the kingdom any good. And when we see each other at Wal-Mart or the Mall, I'll give you a hug and pray that you're fulfilling God's purpose in your life at your new church. By the way, if you're not "over the top," where are you?
What I've been learning lately, from others much wiser than me, is that it's good to leave the back door cracked a little. All Pastors joke about ocassionally having, "blessed subtractions" - those times when people who need to leave the church finally move on. But the truth is, as churches grow and Pastors cast clear passionate vision, people leave. They get upset. They don't like change. So and so hurt their feelings. They don't agree with the vision. They care about their own needs more than the needs of others. On and on and on.
I had someone tell me this week they were leaving our church. They didn't like all this emphasis on inviting a friend. Yes, that's what they actually said. I was told that it began on Easter Sunday when I invited everyone to come back. It was just too "over the top." I said very little - it wasn't worth my time. I told them, "We'll have to agree to disagree. I hope you find another church." By the way, my sermon on Easter Sunday was, "He Came. He Died. He Conquered." And yes, I did invite our guests to come back. And yes, there is a renewed emphasis here at Coastal on our mission and vision to "share and experience life." And members of Coastal do make a commitment in our 101 Membership Class to, "share the responsibility of my church by praying for its growth, by inviting the unchurched to attend, and by warmly welcoming those who visit." So if any of that makes me "over the top," that's a badge of honor I'll wear proudly.
I am very open to input, suggestions, and ideas. But I am also very passionate about the vision God has given me for Coastal. And that is the vision we're going to follow. Don't mistake passion for being unapproachable or for being a dictator. If someone wants our church to become something it's not, they simply need to pursue that dream at another church. I tell people all the time, "There are many great churches in Charleston. We're one of them. We're not in competition with any of them." So find the one that you can serve and grow with, that you agree with it's essential beliefs, and you support it's mission and vision. If you can't do those things, you aren't doing yourself, that church, or the kingdom any good. And when we see each other at Wal-Mart or the Mall, I'll give you a hug and pray that you're fulfilling God's purpose in your life at your new church. By the way, if you're not "over the top," where are you?
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