No successful churches?

The Biblical fact is that there are no successful churches.

There are, instead,  communities of sinners, gathered before God week after week in towns and villages all over the world. The Holy Spirit gathers them and does his work in them.

In these communities of sinners, one of the sinners is called pastor and given a designated responsibility in the community. The pastor's designated responsibility is to keep the community attentive to God.

~ Eugene Peterson, from WORKING THE ANGLES.

We, the Pharisees -- Better than You!

For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been sharing some nuggets of spiritual truth from Pete Wilson’s book:  Plan B:  What do you do when God doesn’t show up the way you thought He would?  The title of chapter 9 comes from Ann Lamott’s assertion that the most powerful sermon in the world consists of two words:  me too.

… when you’re struggling with a Plan B circumstance, when you are dealing with unmet expectations, when you’re hurt or doubting, questioning and crying, there’s nothing more healing than knowing someone else has been there.  When you’re hurt or doubting, there’s nothing more comforting than hearing someone say, “I know what you’re going through.”  When you’re questioning and crying, there’s nothing that helps more than being told, “I’m in it with you, too.”

Me too.  (p. 121)

Sharing with each other in the middle of the struggle is where we find Christian community.  But we think we have to get all prettied up to go to church.  Growing up I hated going back to church on Sunday nights because back in the late 60’s and early 70’s it meant that I had to put back on those painful dress shoes and those itchy “nice” clothes.  Even though the acceptable modes of dress have relaxed since then (and thank God they have), we still think we have to make our insides more presentable to go to church.  In Luke 18 we see Jesus comparing the prayers of a tax collector and a Pharisee.  Wilson unpacks it this way:

You see, it doesn’t take long in this story to figure out that the Pharisee hasn’t really come to the temple to pray.  He’s actually come to inform God and everyone gathered that particular day of how good he is.  He isn’t there to seek help and community with other sinners, but to remind them all how self-sufficient he is. (p. 132).

Previously he wrote:

So here’s the thing.  We’re a lot more likely to encounter community in the circle of people who have been broken.  But unless we can get the idea out of our heads that winning is the goal of life or the only thing that counts, we’re apt to miss the community it offers.  Unless we can admit to ourselves that we, too, haven’t made it, we’re apt to miss the community. (p. 127)

I might also add that we’re also apt to deprive someone else of the community that they so desperately need. 

That’s enough to think about for now.  The peace of Christ to you.

If You Want Me To

We recently hosted singer/songwriter/teacher Kyle Matthews (http://www.kylematthews.com) for a multi-session event at my church. I've known Kyle for close to 20 years and continue to be a huge fan of his music and teaching.My pastor made fun of me for being such a fan, but I think as he listened to Kyle speak and sing the songs he has written, he came to understand a little more about what makes me such a fan. That is until Kyle made the comment about him taking a cigarette break (when he was actually serving his congregation by washing dishes after supper).

I've just finished pastor Pete Wilson’s book: Plan B: What do you do when God doesn’t show up the way you thought He would? As I was reading a few days ago, I was reminded of a song Kyle sang while he was with us. It’s all about Plan B moments in life.

If You Want Me To (Ginny Owens & Kyle Matthews).

1
The pathway is broken and the signs are unclear
And I don't know the reason why You brought me here
But just because You love me the way that You do
I'm gonna walk through the valley if You want me to

2
No I'm not who I was when I took my first step
And I'm clingin' to the promise you're not through with me yet
So if all of these trials bring me closer to You
Then I will go through the fire If You want me to

It may not be the way I would have chosen
When You lead me through a world that's not my home
But You never said it would be easy
You only said I'll never go alone

3
So when the whole world turns against me and I'm all by myself
And I can't hear You answer my cries for help
I'll remember the suff'ring that Your love put You through
And I will walk through the darkness if You want me to

4
'Cause when I cross over Jordan I'm gonna sing, gonna shout
I'm gonna look into Your eyes and see You never let me down
So take me on the pathway that leads me home to You
And I will walk through the valley if You want me to

© 1999 Above The Rim Music | BMG Songs, Inc.

All rights Reserved. Used by permission. CCLI License No. 1357134

Contrary to what we might think, doubt is a sign of belief, not unbelief. Wilson writes, “Actually, if you think about it, an unbeliever doesn’t have to wrestle with doubt anyway. He can’t really doubt something he doesn’t believe in the first place.”
That’s enough to think about for now. The peace of Christ to you.