Category:

Faith

Faith

The Most Destructive Force Facing Christianity…And How To Fix It

by Frank Powell
written by Frank Powell

What if I know the reason lives are filled with stress and Christians are ineffective witnesses for Jesus? What if I told you correcting this one thing could alter the trajectory of your life? And what if I told you the answer to this problem isn’t complex.

We live in a fast-paced, super-charged culture. One that demands more. One that asks us to go in fifth gear. Pedal to the medal. Every minute of every day. I know you have felt this weight. It is expected of us. And this dangerous expectation drives us to the brink of exhaustion, then asks us to keep going. It asks us to juggle fifteen balls with only two arms.

So, what is the answer? Why are we overcome with stress and ineffective witnesses for Christ?

Margins.

“Margins? What are you talking about Frank?” This is how Richard Swenson defines it in his book, Margin.

[blockquote type=”left”]Margin is the space between our load and our limits. It is the gap between rest and exhaustion, the space between breathing freely and suffocating.[/blockquote]

And if you are a Christian, margin is the gap between properly and improperly stewarding the life and resources God has given you. Here is where “the rubber meets the road.” Margins are a stewardship issue. And if we are honest, we have been bad stewards. Our “marginless” lives are destroying our calling as followers of Jesus. They are preventing the world from seeing Jesus. And they are hindering us from growing into the image of God.

So, I want to highlight 4 ways margins impact our lives and finish with some tips for creating margins.

1.) Margins give us opportunities to steward our finances well.

Our country is in massive debt. According to one site, the average American adult has $4,878 in credit card debt. If you really want to be depressed, check out the National Debt Clock, which estimates each American’s share of the country’s debt to be $56,580.69 (as of this writing). We live in a culture that operates on debt.

But this is not God’s way. Look at this.

[blockquote cite=”Ephesians 4:28″ type=”left”]Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.[/blockquote]

Why should followers of Jesus make an honest living?…”To share with one who has need.” Now, contrast Paul’s words with the state of Christianity in America. In this country, Christians give an average of 2-3% of their income to a local church. I understand many Christians give to other non-profits and kingdom efforts. But don’t miss the point. If everything we have is from God, why is more not going back to his church? Why is more not being used “to share with one who has need”?

The answer…

No margins. What is the cultural expectation? Upgrade in salary = upgrade in standard of living. And we believe God would do the same in our shoes. He would buy a bigger house. He would buy a new car. He would buy a retreat house. But what if we have taken the God of the universe and painted him in American colors for our own justification?

I am not saying boats and cars are wrong. But they are wrong when having them erases the margin in our finances and resources. Those things are wrong when they put us in massive debt. Your finances often reveal the things most important to you. How important is God?

[tweet_box design=”default”]Your finances often reveal the things most important to you. How important is God?[/tweet_box]

2.) Margins allow us to steward our lives well. 

A “marginless” life equals a stressful life. I saw a statistic today stating approximately one out of five American adults suffers from some form of depression, anxiety, or other related illness. I understand chemical balances and legitimate health issues exist. I am not talking about those. I am talking about the cases of anxiety and depression that are a result of a life littered with events and busy schedules.

I am a great example. Two years ago, I reached a low point in my life. I was anxious. I was hopeless. I even considered suicide. But my problem wasn’t a chemical imbalance. My problem was I exchanged the truth of God for a lie. I believed rest was for the lazy and weak. I believed a schedule filled with events and activities was a life of productivity. The lie drove me to the edge…and eventually it pushed me over.

Come on guys. Really?

What happened to a night at home with the family? What happened to a weekend with nothing on the schedule? Even family vacations are considered a waste of time if they are not filled with stuff. No downtime. No stopping. Every hour of every day must be filled. It is madness.

We bought the lie that says busyness equals production and success. But God isn’t impressed with our busy schedule. He doesn’t sympathize with our busy lifestyle. It’s time to create margins. It will reduce stress. It will open up time to spend with God.

[tweet_box design=”default”]Margins reduce stress and open up time for God.[/tweet_box]

3.) Margins create opportunities to steward our mission well.

Let’s face it…Christians are ineffective because we are too busy. For many of us, it’s really not a lack of knowledge or even fear. We just don’t have time in our schedule for other people. We don’t even have time to breath. Ballgames. Dance lessons. Cheerleading practice. Sorority/fraternity events. Favorite tv shows. I am already exhausted.

How in the world are we going to evangelize, disciple, and pour into other people with all this stuff going on?

If we, men and women of God, do not create margins in our lives to fulfill the Great Commission, the church won’t be around after our departure. I contend busyness (resulting from a lack of margins) is one of the single greatest issue facing the church today.

The older generation is too inundated with job responsibilities, board meetings, and tv shows to pour into the younger generation. The younger generation is too busy watching Netflix, browsing all 70 social media platforms, and attending every social event on our respective high school or college campus to allow the older generation to invest in us.

And both generations are too busy to invest in those who don’t know Jesus. It is an act of God that we are able to fulfill every responsibility on the schedule. If Christians want to live counter-culturally, it needs to start with creating margins to invest in God’s work. Without this shift, the church will continue to disappear at an increasingly alarming rate.

[tweet_box design=”default”]Living counter-culturally starts with creating margins for God’s work in the world.[/tweet_box]

4.) Margins help us steward our relationship with God well. 

The amount of time Christians devote to God is alarming. Myself included. God often gets our leftovers. He gets the last part of our day (if we have time). Could it be that our ineffectiveness and distance from God are a result of the lack of time we spend with him?

If God really is the creator of the universe, should we not create margins for Him? If God is important, and we understand that he sustains us and is the source of our hope, joy, peace, salvation, we need to create space for Him.

We can say we are too busy for God. But really we aren’t. Other activities are simply more important.

Here are five tips to help you create more margins in your life: 

1.) Quit something.

Do it today. Author Bob Goff quits something every Thursday.

2.) Stop looking at social media so often.

One of the great uses of Twitter and Facebook will be to prove at the Last Day that prayerlessness was not from lack of time. -John Piper

Create boundaries for social media. Stick to them. You might be surprised how much time you free up by simply staying away from social media. You might also be surprised by how your anxiousness, sense of purpose, and general mood improve.

3.) Get up early in the morning. 

I wrote about that here. This really has changed my life. You have an opportunity to attack your day, and you set the stage for the rest of the day by starting it with God.

4.) Create 15 minutes of space for every activity and event on your schedule.

This might help you avoid the horn or the “wrong” finger while driving to work. It could help you avoid anxiousness and stress if you are hosting a dinner party. It could prevent you from looking like a monster as you show up for class. It could give you an opportunity to reach out to someone before or after your scheduled lunch. You get the idea.

5.) Make a category in your budget for “helping people.” 

My wife and I started doing this recently. We continue to give the same amount to our local church. But we have an additional budget item for any opportunity we see to help other people. This could be non-profits doing amazing work for God, people we pass on the street, or people God introduces to us.

______________________

Margins are important. No, they are essential. At least they are essential if we value a life of peace, a life on mission for God, and a life conformed into his image. I encourage you to begin creating margins in your life. “Marginless” living is dangerous. As men and women of God, we must see that he calls us to something different. God calls us to create margins for others. God calls us to create margins for ourselves. God calls us to margins for Him.

0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Faith

Honest And Raw…10 Things I Believe About the Church

by Frank Powell
written by Frank Powell

One of the first summer jobs I can remember was working on a bridge crew. It was a tough job. You know, the kind where you arrive before the sun comes up and leave as the sun sets. Exhausting. But I learned a lot about engineering bridges that summer.

Here’s what I learned the first day on the job…building bridges starts with driving pillars in the ground. No pillars = no bridge.

What is true of bridges is also true of the church. There are values and ideals that shape the culture of every church. Not all pillars are the same. But all churches have pillars.

Here are 10 (pillars) that are vital for a church culture to grow.

1.) Christ is more important than denominational allegiances. 

My denominational background is Church of Christ. I love the heritage and core principles of my fellowship. But my allegiance isn’t to the Church of Christ. My allegiance is to Jesus. The church isn’t a denomination. The church is the body of Jesus Christ. If a particular fellowship of Christians hinders you from maturing and sharing the gospel, abandon them.

 

[tweet_box design=”default”]Jesus trumps denominational ties.[/tweet_box]

2.) If the church isn’t a safe place for everyone, it’s not the church.

The church is a hospital. I heard this a gazillion times growing up. But is it, really? I have been in hospitals. And there is a consistent theme in every hospital I have seen…people are prepared to treat sick people. They look for sick people. They expect sick people to show up. Hospitals don’t turn people away.

But the church? Is the church really a hospital?

Whether your church accepts and treats the sick, the marginalized, the oppressed, here’s the reality. The moment any church stops accepting and treating the lowest of the low, that church ceases to be the body of Jesus Christ. If the church isn’t a place for the gay couple, the racist, the abused mother, then it’s not the church. Call it something else. Safe Houses For The Saved. Escape Rooms For The Already Equipped. Doesn’t matter what you call it. But don’t call it the body of Jesus Christ.

 

3.) Churches should do anything short of sin to spread the message of the gospel to the world. 

The message of the gospel is a message of life and death. And not just physical. Eternal. This is serious stuff.

Traditions, selfish ambitions, fears, and even our own earthly lives must take a back seat to the spreading of the gospel to every person. Until this shift in perspective happens, churches will fail to live out the purpose our Savior left for them in Matthew 28.

God won’t honor our attempts to fulfill the Great Commission if those attempts dishonor his name. But God will also not honor our attempts to hold tight our traditions and selfish desires at the expense of spreading his name.

4.) Churches that value evangelism and discipleship must value social media. 

If churches see evangelism and discipleship as important components of church mission and vision, they must engage on social media.

Social media gives churches a platform never imagined 20 years ago. Churches that don’t value social media and don’t see the enormous importance of reaching people through it aren’t doing everything they can to spread the gospel to the world.

5.) Churches should never settle for anything less than excellence. 

Growing up, my parents gave me the same speech every time I went out of town for a field trip or athletic event. “Now, Frank, remember, you are not just representing yourself. You are representing this family.” Anyone else get this speech?

Maybe my parents were overly concerned I would tarnish the Powell name. Anyway.

Every weekend, churches are representing God. This is a huge responsibility. And when church buildings are poorly maintained, worship and sermons are poorly presented, and programs are poorly thought out, what message is the world receiving about our God?

The standard is excellence. When those who don’t know Jesus step into our churches and pay attention to our lives, they should see something different.

6.) Discipleship and evangelism are ways of life, not programs. 

I am tired of hiding behind endless discipleship and evangelism programs. I fear they have crippled the church. Here’s why: when churches offers a “fill the streets for Jesus” program once a year, it allows Christians to use that event as their yearly evangelism effort.

I am not against these events. They can be a catalyst for something great. But the message must be that discipleship and evangelism are not events to be programmed, they are mindsets for the people of God to live out everyday, everywhere.

At work. School. Restaurants. The goal of church leaders should be to equip the saints for ministry (Eph. 4:12). And it is church leaders’ ability to do this that will determine the impact the church has on the world.

7.) Church growth means focusing on the next generation. 

Churches that focus time and energy on reaching the next generation will remain vibrant and growing in the years to come. This means pouring into children. It means valuing the opinion and insight of the teens and college age at your church. And, yes, it means re-orienting your philosophies and missions to reach the next generation. The men and women of the next generation are not the church of the future…they are the church of the present.

Carey Neiuwhof, a blogger focused on reaching the unchurched said this, “As a rule, if you can design services that engage teenagers, you’ve designed a church service that engages unchurched people.”

This is why focusing on the next generation is enormously important. Churches focused on the next generation = churches focused on non-Christians. Churches that value reaching the lost must value reaching the next generation.

8.) Church leaders should constantly raise the bar, not lower it. 

When I was in junior high, I often lowered my basketball goal to make playing more fun. I could dunk…backwards. I could alley-oop my friends. The goal was only 7 feet high. Who cares. It was awesome.

But lowering the goal didn’t help me become a better basketball player. It actually hindered my game. If I ever played competitively, the goal was going to be set at 10 feet. Period. Lowering the bar might have been fun. But it didn’t challenge me.

The same is true for the church. Churches are going to continue to lower the bar until the bar is resting on the ground. And when the bar rests on the ground we no longer need God. The church will be nothing more than a collection of feel good clubs with some “Jesus” principles.

And when I say churches should raise the bar, I don’t mean church leaders should use more Greek, Hebrew, and big “churchy” words in sermons. I mean the messages should be unapologetically centered on the offensive message of the cross and Christians should be challenged to live counter-culturally.

Christianity is not easy. And I am convinced “easy” is the only reason churches lower the bar for worship, christian living, etc.

“No offensive messages. Shorter sermons. More pizza…less Jesus.” Everybody stays happy.

Lowering the bar won’t transform lives. And as stubborn as I may appear, I will never let go of this truth. What God’s people need is an expanded, convicting view of Jesus. What the world needs is men and women that will constantly raise the bar and invite people to reach higher.

Lowering the bar might be easy, but it won’t transform. Which is more important?

9.) Growth should be measured by conversions to Christ, not transfers from another church. 

One reason churches don’t have a greater sense of urgency towards non-Christians is because transfers and converts are seen as two sides of the same coin. In other words, attendance on Sunday is the primary metric for success. If Sunday morning attendance is growing, the church is healthy.

[tweet_box design=”default”]Church growth should be measured by converts not transfers.[/tweet_box]

But it is entirely possible for a church to be growing on Sunday while having no impact on the world. In today’s culture, people swap churches because the pastor wore a striped shirt instead of a solid one. The “hot” church often vultures Christians who want to follow the latest fad or cool thing. This is not growth. At least not Great Commission growth.

Churches must be focused on reaching the lost, not reaching a certain attendance on Sunday morning.

10.) The church should focus on pointing people to Jesus, not pointing out a list of sins. 

The traditional model for churches is behave-believe-belong. Here is why that model is flawed. It asks those who don’t know Jesus to magically transform their lives to fit a certain standard prescribed by the surrounding Christian community. God is capable of magical transformation, but Paul tells us transformation happens incrementally, over time (2 Cor. 3:18).

And when the church forces non-Christians to conform to a standard of living before being accepted, the church becomes a club.

The better model is belong-believe-behave. Here, the church becomes the hospital described above. A place where broken people (just like you and me) have a safe place. This model treats people as individuals, taking them where they are and placing them on a path towards Jesus.

________________

I am learning. I am growing. At no point will I ever know everything there is to know about God or his church. But these are some pillars I have. They are not the only 10. Yours might be different. Regardless, we must all agree Christ is the cornerstone. Without him, nothing is possible. With him, nothing is impossible.

I love you all. To God be the glory forever. Amen!

0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Faith

6 Ways To Lead When You Are Not In Charge

by Frank Powell
written by Frank Powell

How is it possible to lead when you are not in charge? This is a struggle I have everyday. As a young minister, I find myself trying to figuring out what it looks like to lead even though I am not in charge.

I know young leaders frustrated with their current position. They are not involved in decision-making, so their response is to give up or become stagnate.

And these are common responses to not being “the man.” But what if you could lead well now? What if you could lead even though you are not in charge? A few months ago, I attended a class at the Catalyst conference that addressed this topic. Clay Scroggins taught the class, and his thoughts lay the framework for most of the content below. Of course, I will mix in my thoughts as well.

If you are a young leader struggling to determine your role or if you are unclear how to lead when you aren’t involved in the decision-making or planning process, this post is for you.

Here are 6 ways to lead when you’re not in charge.

1.) Lead yourself well.

[pullquote cite=”Bishop Fulton Sheen” type=”left”]Civilization is always in danger when those who have never learned to obey are given the right to command.[/pullquote]The smallest crowd you will ever lead is yourself. But it is the most important crowd. If you desire to lead a church, business, or anything in between, you must learn how to lead yourself.

How do you lead yourself well? Practice self-discipline. Nurture patience. Hold yourself to a higher standard than you hold others. Read books. Hold yourself accountable. And learn how to be a follower.

Yes, a follower. Oh, I get it. You were born to be a leader. But every great leader was a great follower. Why? Great leaders understand the world followers live in. Great leaders know what it is like to be under authority. So they have a better idea of how authority should be exercised. Great leaders understand their staff and congregation because they have walked in their shoes.

So, learn the art of followership. It is essential for great leadership.

[tweet_box design=”default”]Nothing proves a man’s ability to lead others more than how he leads himself day to day.[/tweet_box]

Nothing proves a man’s ability to lead others more than how he leads himself day to day. Are you leading yourself well?

2.) Choose to be positive.

[pullquote cite=”Clay Scroggins” type=”right”]The greatest thing I bring to my team is not my gifts and talent, but my attitude.[/pullquote]You must choose to be positive. And I say “choose” because positivity is not something that flows from the heart naturally. We live in a cynical world filled with cynical people. And in this culture, positivity is an enormously important virtue to practice and grow.

When you are not in charge, the natural response is to be cynical. “I could do that better. They don’t know what they are doing.” You get the idea. This is why positivity is ultimately a fight for “we” over “me” and “us” over “them.”

Great leaders never draw battle lines by using this language. And, as someone not in charge, you have a decision to make. Regardless of the situation or circumstances, will you bring positivity to your church or organization? It might be the most important gift you can provide.

3.) Think critically.

Think critically. But don’t be critical. Note the difference. Critical thinking is a skill. Being critical is a snare. And, yes, the line between the two is razor thin. The distinction lies in the heart. If you want to know whether you are being critical or thinking critically, ask yourself this question:

Do you want others to succeed?

Critical thinkers always want others to succeed. Cynics hope everyone fails. Everyone but #1, of course.

Critical thinkers take note of the decisions around them. They look at other ministries, programs, meetings, and ask this question…HOW CAN WE MAKE IT BETTER?

[tweet_box design=”default”]Leaders are always content. But they are never satisfied.[/tweet_box]

Leaders are always content. But they are never satisfied. And for those of us in ministry, we strive to reflect a perfect God. In our personal lives. In our ministries. In our churches. We should always ask, “How can we make it better?” God is the standard. And although reaching the goal is impossible, striving for it is not.

4.) Be collaborative, not competitive.

[pullquote cite=”Brad Lomenick” type=”left”]You don’t have to blow out someone else’s candle to make yours shine brighter.[/pullquote]Last week, a friend asked me if I would let my boys win in basketball when they were younger to give them some confidence? I can’t say what I was thinking, but my response? Absolutely not. I don’t like losing. Ever. I don’t care if I am playing my grandmother in bridge. I want to win.

And my competitive drive is from God. I believe that. But my competitive drive doesn’t translate well to everyday ministry. Here’s why. When you aren’t in charge and everything is a competition, you secretly hope those further up the ladder fail. Oh, you would never say it. But this is how competitions work. There is no collaboration. There is a winner. And in the words of the great philosopher Ricky Bobby, “Second place is the first loser.”

Use your competitive nature to drive you to be the best person and employee possible. But don’t compete against your staff. Great leaders are great collaborators. They don’t secretly hope others fail. They openly help others succeed. Because one day you will be in charge. And you will want collaborators working with you, not competitors.

[tweet_box design=”default”]Great leaders don’t secretly hope others fail. They openly help others succeed.[/tweet_box]

5.) Refuse to be passive.

There is nothing more crippling to an organization than passive leaders. And if you are not in charge, the default is to be passive.

But if you want to be a great leader, don’t buy into this non-sense. Get to work. Don’t wait on someone to give you orders. Take initiative. I have seen this working with young leaders and interns. The most productive leaders don’t need me to constantly tell them what to do. They don’t need checklists. They figure it out.

And remember this: if you are waiting on something to work on, you will not be trusted when there are things to do. If those in charge of you aren’t giving you tasks to complete, don’t be cynical. Look at the freedom as an opportunity to grow. Read. Study. Find mentors.

Don’t wait for others to tell you what to do. Be an initiator.

 6.) Understand power does not equal authority.

If you are a young leader and you believe you must be in a position of authority to have influence, you don’t understand leadership. Leadership is cultivating influence where you are. If you have to leverage positional authority to gain influence, you are not a good leader.

[tweet_box design=”default”]If you have to leverage positional authority to gain influence, you are not a good leader.[/tweet_box]

So, even though you are not in charge, you have the ability to influence. Don’t believe you must wait for a title to impact your church or organization. Lead now. Lead well.

_________________

Maybe you have some points I did not mention. Do you have experience leading young people? Maybe you have learned some things when you were not in charge that helped you become a great leader. Let’s keep the conversation going. Leave a comment below.

I love you all. To God be the glory forever. Amen!

0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
comfort more than Jesus
Faith

7 Signs You Love Comfort More Than Jesus

by Frank Powell
written by Frank Powell

This past weekend, while traveling home with my family, I narrowly avoided tragedy. I was changing lanes on a busy interstate. Nothing new there. I frequent busy interstates. But this time was different. As I eased over, I failed to see the car in my blind spot. Then came a loud horn followed by screeching brakes. Looking through the rear view mirror, I saw the inches that separated a safe return home from being a statistic. Talk about sobering.

And this terrifying moment reminded me of an important reality…failure to check a blind spot can be catastrophic.

Blind spots aren’t relegated to cars. Relationships. Jobs. Organizations. Blind spots are everywhere. Think about slavery. An enormous blind spot in American history. How could so many great leaders support such a despicable act? But it happened. And the fallout from the era of slavery is still felt today.

The church is not immune to blind spots either. And the greatest hole, the greatest blind spot, in American Christianity today is the widespread pursuit of comfort.

And if American Christians do not identify the blind spot, the results could be catastrophic. Comfort pulls us away from God. It clouds the truth of the gospel. It creates tension between the life God calls us to and the life we desire for ourselves. And ultimately, comfort prevents us from seeing the fullness of God in this life…and maybe the next.

Much of what follows is a personal confession from a comfortable Christian. I fight a battle everyday with comfort. So, I ask you to pray for me before you read any further…And as you move forward, I ask you to consider how my personal confession parallels your journey. Maybe there is an area you haven’t given to God. Maybe comfort is driving the train of your life.

How would you know? Here are 7 signs of a Christian that loves comfort more than Jesus.

1.) You are a referee not a player.

When comfort trumps Jesus, cynicism and judgmentalism are soon to follow. Comfortable Christians move from a player on the field to a referee on the sidelines. Think about it. Players are too busy to investigate holding or lining up illegally. But referees? This is their only purpose. Referees watch every player on every play. And when someone commits a penalty, a flag is thrown.

“Foul! She did something in children’s ministry I don’t agree with.”

“Foul! I didn’t like what the preacher said today.”

Active Christians don’t have time for this nonsense. They are serving and building the kingdom. The church should ignore referees. They don’t understand the game…they aren’t on the team.

2.) Your desire and passion for God are stagnant.

If you’re not uncomfortable, then you’re probably stuck at an acceptable level.

-Cal Newport

Christians should live with a healthy discomfort. Always. You should welcome preachers who push you and challenge you to explore deeper levels of God’s nature and character. You should constantly push to know and understand more of God. Every part of your life should awaken you to God’s unfailing love, infinite grace, and immeasurable power.

The process of God molding you into his image is a lifelong pursuit. You don’t “arrive.” God is infinite. And stretching towards an infinite God requires growing pains. Comfortable Christians don’t like pain.

But if the goal is to know God more intimately, you must live with a healthy discomfort.

3.) You talk like an atheist.

When God is over-shadowed by comfort, he rarely comes out of your mouth during conversation. How often does God cross your mind in a 24-hour period? At work, do you look for opportunities to inject God’s name into conversations? At school, does God shape your encounters with friends and teachers?

Whatever you are passionate about you will talk about. Write that down. When I met my wife, I called all my friends. I even called people I didn’t know. I wanted the world to know this beautiful, amazing woman actually liked me.

What about God? Are you passionate about him? Would any of your co-workers or classmates know you are a Christian? When comfort drives the train, God takes a back seat.

4.) You keep God on a leash. 

“You stay right there, God. And don’t do anything crazy.” This is the implicit mantra of comfortable Christians. God is confined to a box. Answers rarely fall in the gray area. God rarely operates beyond human understanding. Miracles. Healing. Demons. None of these filter through the box well.

So, they are out.

Comfortable Christians often use phrases like “God doesn’t work that way” and “God can’t do that” because God isn’t all-powerful…he is “most of the time” powerful.

A God without a leash is a God who will act in ways man can’t understand. That’s uncomfortable. But if God is not all-powerful, he is not a God worth serving. So, we must make a decision. Let go of the leash or follow a false god.

5.) You begin to compromise your morals. 

Yesterday I ran across the first few chapters of Judges. It was around Judges 2:12 God started doing work on my heart. This is what the Spirit awakened in me: when comfort sets in, morals are compromised. The Israelites entered the Promised Land, conquered the nations in their path, settled into their new home, and…started serving other gods? Anyone else find this baffling?

How could they desert God so easily? The answer…comfort. The Israelites needed God to conquer the nations. They couldn’t do it without him. Once the conquering was over, the need for God dissipated. And when the need for God subsides, morals follow closely behind.

Here is where God split open my heart…I am no different from the Israelites. Every day, I allow the god of comfort to shackle me. I take my eyes off him and justify actions God clearly condemns.

Think about your life. Are you lowering the moral bar? Do you value holiness? This is not about legalism. This is about your heart. A heart desperate for God is a heart dedicated to thinking and acting in ways that reveal your love for him.

6.) You view Christian living as a list of “don’ts.” 

Comfort-driven Christians have a laundry list of “don’ts.” They believe in righteousness by subtraction. So, you won’t catch them drinking or cursing…at least not in public.

But righteousness by subtraction is one-sided righteousness. It’s half truth.

The whole truth is your heart should grieve as much when you fail to live out the “dos” as it does when you fail to refrain from the “don’ts.” But comfortable Christians don’t like the “dos.” It involves them getting out of their comfort zone. It involves them taking the message of the gospel to their neighbor. It involves them feeding the poor and correcting injustices.

Are you minimizing righteousness to a list of “don’ts”? Does your heart break for those who don’t know Jesus? Do you grieve when you pass over an opportunity to plead the cause of the poor and oppressed? Is your heart desensitized to the orphans and widows?

If not, maybe it’s time to ask whether you follow comfort or Jesus.

7.) Every person in your circle looks and acts like you. 

[pullquote cite=”Francis Chan” type=”left”]Christians are like manure: spread them out and they help everything grow better. Keep them in one big pile and they stink horribly.[/pullquote]A few weeks ago, God introduced me to a young man. It was obvious this guy had a tough life. But I was drawn to him immediately. I invited him to our college ministry events and introduced him to a few of our leaders. Then, we had a phone conversation. And in this conversation he informed me he was a homosexual who recently spent time in prison for arson and attempted murder. What I thought next is the same thing some of you are probably thinking. What if he hurts someone? What if he steals something? What was I doing?

See the problem?

The old demon comfort reared its ugly head. When he explained all the “bad” sins he committed, I immediately felt my comfort violated. I threw up walls. I labeled him.

And this is what comfort says. The gospel is not good news for everyone. It’s good news for those in your circle. Instead of a message for the world, the gospel is a message for “your people.”

When comfort is more important than Jesus, small groups become country clubs and churches become barricaded forts. The very ones we should be reaching for Jesus are the ones not allowed to enter.

__________________________

I am excited about the future. God is working. I believe in the church because I believe in the king who reigns over her. This is not a call to self-pity. This is a call to revival. A call to action. We must tear down the wall of comfort so God can flood our heart and allow his transforming power to spill onto the darkness in this world.

If you have some thoughts, I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment below!

I love you all. To God be the glory forever. Amen!

0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Faith

10 Signs Of a Healthy Church

by Frank Powell
written by Frank Powell

Every year 4,000 churches close their doors. Compare that with only 1,000 new churches opening every year. What does that equal? A problem. 

Churches are dying every day in this country, and it is alarming. Some deaths are unavoidable. Like the man diagnosed with an incurable disease while working out everyday and eating the right foods. But many deaths are preventable. Not that any person is immune from death. There are, however, steps that promote an extended life. Eating right. Exercising. Thinking positive. The list goes on.

The same is true for the church. A healthy church has healthy values and habits. And identifying these might mean the difference between life and death. 

What is the difference between a thriving church and a stagnant or dying one? Here are 10 signs of a healthy church.

1.) God is glorified above everything.

[blockquote cite=”1 Peter 4:11″ type=”left”]If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.[/blockquote]

This is the most important value of a healthy church. More than anything else, a church must seek to glorify God. God’s love, grace, and mercy are the reason the church exists. Without God being central to every decision, action, event, and conversation, it is impossible to maintain health. 

There are certain essentials for the human body. Water and food immediately come to mind. God is water and food for the church. Make a church about personal satisfaction or relegate God to a spectator, your church will die. What water and food are to the human body God is to the church.

[tweet_box design=”default”]What water and food are to the human body God is to the church.[/tweet_box]

2.) Discipleship is present and important.

[blockquote cite=”Matthew 28:19″ type=”left”]Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.[/blockquote]

A healthy church makes discipleship a core value. It is essential. Discipleship is preached from the pulpit. It is taught in classrooms. It is modeled in homes, small groups, coffee shops, and any other arena where members gather.

The older men disciple younger men on marriage, masculinity, integrity, and everything in between. The younger women do the same. The seasoned Christians disciple the new Christians. From 90 to 15, every person is looking to pour back into those behind them. 

Find me a healthy church, I will show you discipleship as a core value of every member.

3.) The church is full of messy people.

[blockquote cite=”Proverbs 14:4″ type=”left”]Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.[/blockquote]

How is a church full of messy people a healthy church? Think The Stepford Wives. If you walk into a church and it looks like a weird church remake of The Stepford Wives…run fast. A church should be a safe place for every person, not just people who “have it together.” Addicts, former convicts, the poor and homeless. 

And a messy church culture doesn’t just happen. It is counter-intuitive and counter-cultural. Healthy churches are intentional about creating a messy church. They value reaching lost people, and they don’t expect new Christians to act like robots. Behavioral transformation happens over time. Healthy churches understand this. 

[tweet_box design=”default”]Healthy churches understand behavioral transformation happens over time.[/tweet_box]

The Stepford Wives might be a compelling storyline for Hollywood…It is a sad and dangerous storyline for churches. 

4.) Vision is large and clear.

[blockquote cite=”Proverbs 29:18″ type=”left”]Where there is no vision, the people will perish.[/blockquote]

God is a vision caster. He starts in the Garden with a vision for the coming of a Savior (Gen 3:15). God casts a vision for Abraham (Gen. 17). Jesus casts a vision for Peter and the church (Matt. 16:18-19). Vision reflects God. Vision glorifies God.

[tweet_box design=”default”]There is no such thing as a healthy church with no vision.[/tweet_box]

There is no such thing as a healthy church with no vision. Vision keeps a church focused and moving forward. Vision sets every member on the same course with God as the leader. A healthy church not only casts vision, but the leadership has a plan for carrying out the vision. There are specific dates and benchmarks.

And, most importantly, the vision is saturated in prayer.

5.) There is freedom to speak openly and honestly.

[blockquote cite=”2 Corinthians 2:17″ type=”left”]Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.[/blockquote]

Ever been to a church where you felt scared to express your true feelings or opinions? 

A healthy church is one that allows freedom. Freedom to disagree. Freedom to think openly. Freedom to worship freely. All these without fear of being judged or labeled.

A healthy church is not scared or fearful of differing viewpoints because its leaders understand they do not have all the answers. They are human and are open to rebuke and correction.

6.) Relevance is a priority.

[blockquote cite=”1 Corinthians 9:23″ type=”left”]To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.[/blockquote]

A healthy church is a growing church. A healthy church, therefore, values numeric and spiritual growth. And this means the church is willing to adapt and change to remain relevant. Don’t confuse this with compromising the gospel. Healthy churches value the purity of the gospel but never allow pride, arrogance, or fear to prevent them from transforming lives. 

A church stuck in its ways and constantly yelling at the culture will never reach people for Jesus. Healthy churches know this. They do what they have to do to adapt. Reaching the lost is far more important than keeping traditions.

7.) Gluttonous Christians do not exist.

[blockquote cite=”Philippians 2:7″ type=”left”]He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant.[/blockquote]

Healthy churches don’t allow members to fill pews every Sunday and gorge themselves. Healthy churches call out gluttonous Christians who believe the church exists to feed them. 

Walk into a healthy church and you will find servants. And this starts at the top. Serving is a way of life. Too many dead churches are the result of Christians who fattened themselves on sermons and classes. 

Healthy churches don’t allow this to happen. 

8.) Leadership does not allow the loud voices of a few to derail the vision and mission.

[blockquote cite=”John 6:61-62″ type=”left”]Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before?[/blockquote]

Thriving churches do not allow that piece of strawberry cake to derail the healthy lifestyle. They are focused. They are determined. They set their minds on fulfilling the calling God has given them.

Unhealthy churches, however, are like the guy constantly saying he is on a diet. But when the donut or cake crosses his line of sight, he grabs two pieces. Unhealthy churches allow a few loud cynical voices to derail the mission and vision. When change is implemented, the same voices come calling. You know the ones. They are usually loud. And they usually have selfish ambitions in mind, not the good of the church. 

Healthy churches allow the loud voices to say their piece. They respectfully ask them to jump on board with the vision. And if they refuse, leaders aren’t scared to discard the cake. The health of the church is more important.

9.) Community is central to personal growth.

[blockquote cite=”Psalms 133:1″ type=”left”]How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity![/blockquote]

Healthy churches value community. They challenge every person to plug into a smaller community of believers. They don’t see Sunday morning as the pinnacle of church growth. Communities are where transformation occurs. Small groups of men and women that meet consistently and talk openly. They are transparent and authentic. They express problems and pray for one another. 

Healthy churches see individual and collective growth as impossible without Christ-centered, vibrant community. 

10.) A deep longing for the poor and marginalized is present.

[blockquote cite=”Galatians 2:10″ type=”left”]All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.[/blockquote]

Healthy churches are sacrificial. They give money to the poor and marginalized. They give sacrificially of their time to those less fortunate. Healthy churches see worship and justice as two sides of the same coin. 

These churches do not fall into the trap of becoming insider-focused because they know an insider-focused church can’t have justice as a priority. 

Unhealthy churches, however, spend a lot of time and resources on themselves. Programs, events, and even worship are very insider-focused. Rarely is injustice seen as an important value. It might be an event on the calendar. But it is not ingrained in the life of the church. 

_______________________

Maybe your church is healthy and growing. This would be a good space for you to leave a comment. I would love see my list of 10 supplemented by other comments from you.

If your church is stagnant or declining, it is never too late to make a lifestyle change. Shows like The Biggest Loser are proof that a lifestyle change is never too late. And, for churches, a change of this magnitude would shows God’s glory to the world in a mighty way. 

I love you all. To God be the glory forever. Amen!

0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Faith

6 Myths About The Bible That Hinder Our Relationship With God

by Frank Powell
written by Frank Powell

I love the Bible. Make no mistake. This post is not designed to minimize or diminish God’s word. But I do want to awaken us to some myths. Yes, there are some myths about God’s word. And these need to be exposed.

I like to say I look for the best in people. But really I am gullible. At least I used to be. People could make me believe cows fly…without wings. So, I have been the source of invented stories many times. Some I catch. Others I don’t.

Made up truths about cows and pigs are one thing. Those are funny. But when false truths relate to something more serious, there is a problem. I am not calling any of us gullible. But even the least naïve people occasionally buy lies. And lies pull us away from the truth.

Myths about cows hinder us from the reality only birds with wings fly (Thank you, Captain Obvious). Myths about the Bible hinder us from the truth of God and our relationship with God. That’s serious stuff.

So, I want to highlight 6 myths about the Bible that hinder our relationship with God.

1.) The Bible is the only way God speaks to us.

Yes, God speaks to us through the Bible (Heb. 4:12). Yes, the Bible is the central truth for understanding the nature of God, the salvation of God, and obedience to God. But God speaks to his people in ways outside the Bible as well. God speaks through other individuals (too many verses to list), creation (Romans 1:20), animals (Num. 20:28), the Spirit (John 14:17), and a host of other ways.

God never intended for us to wear earmuffs when the Bible is closed. God has something to say to us through other people and circumstances. And we need to listen.

2.) The Bible is the roadmap to life.

Or…the Bible is the instruction guide for living. God’s rulebook. The Christian assembly manual. Truth downloaded from heaven. I could do this for a while. But you would stop reading.

Here’s the deal. These statements are not only problematic because the answers to every situation can’t be found in the Bible. But statements like these rob the Bible of its reason for existence…to glorify God. The Bible is not the roadmap to life. It is the roadmap to God.

[tweet_box design=”default”]The Bible is not the roadmap to life. It is the roadmap to God.[/tweet_box]

So, if we look to the Bible for answers to every situation, we will look silly…and rob God of glory. “Hmmm…whom am I going to marry? What career path does God want me to take? What does the Bible have to say?”

Not much. The Bible is not like the Magic 8-ball. You remember those? Ask a question. Shake it up. Then wait for a random response. And strangely the response seemed to make sense. The thing seemed magic (hence the name). Or maybe it was programmed to say “Yes,” “No,” and “Maybe.” Adequate answers to any question.

God has given us the Bible to point people to himself, not provide answers to every trivial question in life. But if we approach the Bible as a roadmap to God, the roadmap to life might unfold as well.

3.) Stay away from the hard parts of the Bible.

[pullquote cite=”Charles H. Spurgeon” type=”left”]Defend the Bible? I would just as soon defend a lion. Just turn the Bible loose. It will defend itself.[/pullquote]Peter Enns wrote a fascinating book, The Bible Tells Me So, that talks about this idea. In this book, Enns argues Christians spend so much energy defending the Bible, we have no idea how to read it. And he’s right.

We treat the Bible like a young child…and we are an overprotective parent. “You say something bad about the Bible and you will have to deal with me.” And we actually believe we are doing God a favor by fondling our little baby Bible to prevent it from harm.

And the problem with this? For starters, God never asked us to defend the Bible. Maybe he is ok with it the way it is. Rape, killing, borderline genocide, and all.

Another problem is this…a Bible that must be defended must also behave. And many times the Bible doesn’t. So, when we come across a passage that does not act right (Judges 19-20 for example), overprotective Bible defenders either pretend the story doesn’t exist or completely freak out.

It’s time to let the Bible free. Take off the parent glasses. God’s word doesn’t need sinful people to defend it. The Bible can stand without us. And liberating the Bible will liberate us to read it and transform us.

4.) The story of Jesus begins with the New Testament.

The New Testament begins in Matthew 1. But the story of Jesus begins in Genesis.

“Frank, that’s crazy. I don’t see Jesus anywhere in the Old Testament. Stop telling those lies.” Well, I see Jesus everywhere. The difference is the lens we look through. I look at the Bible through the lense of redemption and reconciliation. And with that lens, Jesus is littered everywhere in the Old Testament.

Here’s why this is important. If the gospel begins in Genesis and not Matthew, God’s majesty and glory is shown in an exponentially greater way. He doesn’t waste hundreds of years on fun stories then get serious about redemption in the New Testament. God doesn’t horse around with the Israelites then scramble to initiate the gospel in the New Testament.

God was serious about redemption from the beginning. And he set the plan of the gospel in motion from the beginning. Every story points to it. Every word reflects it. Everything points to the cross.

The gospel is the story of the Bible, not just the story of the New Testament.

5.) The Bible is a stone to throw at others, not a sword to transform our lives.

Probably the greatest tragedy of all is the way the Bible has been used as a weapon against the “evil sinners” in the world. Like the infamous story of David and Goliath, Christians have used the Bible as a stone of condemnation for everyone not on the “right side.” Line up. Get some momentum. Sling the stone. Knock down those bad sinners.

The Bible is a weapon…to use against ourselves. God gave us the Bible as a sword to use against our wicked hearts (Heb. 4:12). A weapon to push back against our own sinfulness.

But the Bible is not a stone to throw at the world. We are not David. More importantly, the “sinners” of the world are not Goliath. It’s time to put the stones down. And turn the weapon on ourselves for the glory of God.

6.) The Bible is our Savior, not Jesus.

I am part of a tribe that holds the Bible in high regard. And I am very thankful for this. This strong conviction for God’s word laid the foundation for my faith. But I believe a temptation exists to elevate the Bible to a place with (or above) God.

This sounds blasphemous, yes. But my tribe has songs that appear to worship the Bible. I know people who walked away from God when they found out the Bible had imperfections. Other friends walked away from faith when they couldn’t make sense of why we would apply a particular passage and not another.

Translation…their faith is rooted in the Bible, not in Jesus.

You see, the Bible is a reflector. Albeit a Spirit-inspired reflector. But still a reflector. The Bible is designed to point us to the Savior, not be the Savior. If anything other than Jesus can wreck our faith, our faith is not in Jesus.

[tweet_box design=”default”]If anything other than Jesus can wreck our faith, our faith is not in Jesus. [/tweet_box]

So, use the word of God as a central source of truth. Use it as a means to awaken your heart to the glory and nature of God. But don’t make the mistake of allowing the Bible to be God.

The Bible is a great reflector. It is a terrible god.

_____________________________

Are there other myths about the Bible that need to be exposed? The word of God is very powerful. But the power exists because of the One the Bible points to. Our faith must be rooted in God. And the Bible must be a means to understand the nature and power of God.

Know the Word. Understand the Word. Apply the Word. But we do these because we want to know and understand the God who inspired the Word.

I love you all. To God be the glory forever. Amen!

0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Faith

5 Reasons Christians Should Stop Trying to Change The World

by Frank Powell
written by Frank Powell

Being part of the next generation, I constantly hear Christians say they want to change the world. And I get it. God is big. Nothing is impossible with God. And Christians live with the power of the Spirit.

I will be the first to tell people there is nothing God can’t do. I intentionally surround myself with people who expand the greatness of God and not put it on a leash. Christians should never diminish God’s power.

But trying to change the world is cripples the mission. Like many phrases or statements, wanting to change the world is founded on good intentions. Eventually, however, a well-intentioned rally cry morphs into a dangerous dead end road.

I am not at all trying to squash passion and fearless living. Those can (and must) remain without trying to change the world. So can our desire to accomplish great things for the Lord.

Having said that, I want to highlight 5 reasons Christians should stop trying to change the world.

1.) God never commanded Christians to change the world.

“Say what? You are speaking blasphemy now, Frank!”

No, not really. God hasn’t called Christians to change the world because no one is up to the task. And no one is capable of the task (except Jesus). Noah. Moses. David. Peter. Paul. None of these individuals changed the entire world. Yes, they were passionate. Yes, they were bold. But if Peter or Paul were seeking to change the entire world, they failed.

The world is a dark place with a lot of injustice. Even Jesus said during his ministry the poor would always be with us (Mark 14:7). Yes, the power of God is enough to wipe poverty from this earth. But if you believe you can change the entire world, you are misguided.

We serve. We love. We proclaim. We live every moment of our lives for Jesus because we know one day he will change the entire world…again. The world will be eternally restored. Until then, Jesus makes it clear brokenness and suffering will be present on earth.

So, pursue the passions God has given you. But understand you can’t change the entire world. You are a piece of the puzzle. And that’s ok. We rest in the truth we serve the One who will one day change the world…and change us as well.

2.) Trying to change the world means Christians will change nothing.

Here is the danger of wanting to change the world. The attack is too broad. And it ultimately means Christians won’t change anything. God has given each person a unique set of passions. Your heart breaks for things my heart doesn’t necessarily break for. I am passionate about issues you are not necessarily passionate about.

Ask yourself this question, “What breaks my heart?”

And “everything” is not an appropriate answer. I understand the world is full of injustice. I understand you want to eradicate world hunger, homelessness, poverty, abortions, sex trafficking, and every other injustice in the world. But trying to eradicate every injustice on earth means you won’t have an impact on any of them.

Find those areas that really stir your emotions and your passions. Here’s what breaks my heart. Orphans in the world, racial inequality, and the next generation. God has given me a deep passion to attack these injustices. And I want to pour God’s transforming power into them.

God hasn’t called Christians to change the entire world. But he has called us to change something.

[tweet_box design=”default”]God hasn’t called Christians to change the entire world. But he has called us to change something.[/tweet_box]

So, “What breaks your heart?”

3.) Changing the world creates a “boom or bust” Christian life.

Christians who believe God called them to change the world throw themselves into a situation where they must do something great or their lives are meaningless. Living for Jesus becomes about metrics and comparison. Someone has to write an autobiography about you. You must be on the news. Not the local news. ABC News.

And the success of your walk with God is determined by whether you achieved these things. Not necessarily by a faithful, obedient life. But an extravagant, spotlight-filled life.

But God doesn’t look at metrics the way the world does. I believe God is concerned with numbers. But God doesn’t keep score the way the world keeps score. His metrics and statistics are eternally woven. Ours are confined to a short period. God can see how our lives fit in the eternal scope. We don’t have that power. And it is possible a successful Christian journey can be marked by changing one life as much as changing thousands.

[tweet_box design=”default”]A successful Christian journey can be marked by changing one life as much as changing thousands.[/tweet_box]

Be careful about trying to live a “boom or bust” life for God. Americanism and fame are often the catalyst for this mindset…not God’s will.

4.) Changing the world clouds the work God is doing in the present.

I understand Christians want to do great things for the Lord. But changing the world often clouds the work God is doing in the present. I struggle with this in my life. I want to do something amazing for God. I want to do great things for God. And I am so fixed on future events I fail to see how God is working in the present.

God is calling Christians to be faithful with the small things. God wants to use day-to-day situations to draw us closer to him. And if we can’t be faithful with the small things, God won’t continue to give us larger missions. He shouldn’t. He wouldn’t get the glory.

The real challenge in this life is not trying to do great things for God. It is living in faithful obedience to God daily. Don’t expect God to give you a platform if you won’t glorify his name without one.

5.) Changing the world is more an abstract idea than a banner to eradicate injustice.

I hear this talking to other Christians. I also see this looking in the mirror. I love the idea of changing the world. I love to tell people I want to change the world. It makes me feel like I am “tight” with God. I am fearless.

But many times changing the world is nothing more than an abstract idea. It is not a legitimate banner to eradicate injustice. The reason we exist is to love God and love our neighbor. If we decide to change the world but have no desire to transform lives, we grossly miss the point.

God doesn’t need any more spokespeople. The world doesn’t need Christians passionate about opening another orphanage or building another. The world needs Christians passionate about people. Voiceless people. Hungry people. Marginalized people.

The homeless in our communities are not projects. They are not causes for us to eradicate. They are real people with real names. And Christians will not honor God until we realize that underneath the causes we are trying to eradicate are people created in the image of God.

We do not exist to change the world. We exist to love God and love our neighbor. If orphanages and schools are built, praise God. But let’s not build under the banner of causes and injustices. Let’s build under the banner of transforming lives. Let’s build under the banner of impacting men and women created in the image of God.

[tweet_box design=”default”]We do not exist to change the world. We exist to love God and love our neighbor.[/tweet_box]

__________________________

I close with this…we must live with passion and boldness. And Christians should never underestimate what God can do through us. We need to show the world God can do mighty things through limited people. He has a track record of it.

But let’s not get caught up in an attractive idea or a tagline. Let’s get caught up in glorifying God. Let’s get caught up in making the name of Jesus famous. Let’s get caught up in transforming lives.

I love you all. To God be the glory forever. Amen!

 

0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Faith

10 Values Of Millennials Shaping The Church

by Frank Powell
written by Frank Powell

The Millennials are unique. No one remotely familiar with the generational landscape would deny it. This generation possesses a unique set of values, passions, and desires. And these values and passions perplex many people. Some believe the Millennials are the generation the church (and the world) needs. Others are scared of the next generation. The Millennials are too accepting. They have no convictions. They ask too many questions.

Regardless of where any one stands with the Millennials, their values are shaping the church now. And this reality is why I write this post.

So, I want to highlight a few values that define Millennials. Hopefully this post will give the church a greater understanding of the next generation. At the same time I hope to alert people to the cultural waves shaping the church and shaping the world. Not that the church should be riding cultural waves. But the church needs to see the waves coming.

Here are 10 values of Millennials shaping the church and impacting the world.

1.) Millennials give to causes not institutions.

The Huffington Post reported recently giving in churches has reached Depression-era lows (article here). According to the research by Empty Tomb, the average Christian gives 2.1% of their income. That’s low. Churches all across the country are struggling to meet their budget.

Why? At least in part, this can be blamed on a shift that centers around the Millennials. They are asking questions. “Why do we need a softball field at our church? Where is my money actually going? Why are we adding on to the building when there are needs in the world?” All legitimate questions.

Millennials are giving to causes today, not institutions. Find me a church that is exceeding budget, and I will show you a church that openly attacks causes. Giving to the local church because “we are supposed to” is not good enough for this generation.

[tweet_box design=”default”]Giving to the local church because “we are supposed to” is not good enough for this generation.[/tweet_box]

Millennials do not need the local church to do good in the world. With just a few clicks, they can support a water well project in Africa or an orphaned child in China. The church needs to take notice.

2.) They are relentless optimists.

This generation is unbelievably optimistic about the world. Are they in a financial bind? Yes. Are they struggling to find jobs? Yes. Are they allowing present circumstances to hinder future hopes? Absolutely not. They believe they can make a difference, and Millennials are not waiting for the church, the government, or any other group to change it for them.

3.) Millennials will be the most educated generation in history.

Here is why this is important. More education = more debt. More debt = less money to give away. This plays back into number one. Precisely because there is less money to give forces this generation to look more closely at how their money is being used. They want to make every dollar count.

Here is the other layer to this point. Millennials have information at their fingertips. And they know how to access it. The most gifted speakers in the world are a click away. This means the days of throwing together sermons and classes are over. Millennials want to be challenged. And they will not sit at the feet of unprepared, unprayerful men and women.

4.) They believe strongly in racial and socio-economic reconciliation.

Millennials value reconciliation. They value it in every sector of life. “Make love, not war” is a fitting slogan for this generation. Churches constantly bickering and arguing with other churches are going to struggle to reach the next generation. Churches that do not see racial reconciliation as a necessary component of the gospel are going to struggle as well.

5.) Millennials believe in quality over convenience.

Millennials attach to companies, foods, websites that are done well. Call it excellent. A ran across an article that noted the shift (mainly with Millennials) of quality over convenience. Many Millennials will go out of their way to eat at restaurants with higher quality food, attend churches that focus on the details, and attend conferences with dynamic speakers.

In a world with millions of options, Millennials are being drawn to quality over convenience and quantity. They will go out their way for quality. They will pay more for quality. Millennials believe in excellence. And they believe God values it too.

6.) Millennials value Jesus over denominational ties.

This is really going to bother some leaders who love their “group” and believe their denomination is the best (or only) one. Millennials do not value denominational allegiances like previous generations. Personally, I think this is refreshing. Millennials who remain connected to the church want to make Jesus famous. They will seek out those churches doing the same…regardless of the name on the outside.

7.) Millennials see technology and social media as essential components of church evangelism and discipleship.

Millennials do not understand life outside of computer and internet. It is part of their makeup. And they don’t understand why churches wouldn’t utilize social media to the fullest. It is a tool. A way to reach the world for the glory of God.

Yes, social media presents its own unique set of downfalls. But churches who want to attract Millennials better get connected. Quickly.

8.) Millennials do not value titles and labels.

This is a generational shift. The Millennials are not trying to acquire the dream title…they are trying to find the dream job.

[tweet_box design=”default”]Millennials are seeking the dream job, not the dream title.[/tweet_box]

Many Millennials are concerned with a job that will bring satisfaction and contentment. And they have heard too many stories of former CEOs and presidents who are miserable and stressed. Do not pitch Millennials a title. “One day you could be CEO. One day you could be lead pastor.”

Again, Millennials want to make a difference. For some, they will make a difference by leading a company as CEO. For others, they will make a difference by doing something else. But titles will not drive most Millennials.

9.) Millennials are the largest generation in the history of the world.

This has enormous implications for the church and every other sector of society. The church needs to know and understand the ideals of the Millennials because they are present in every arena of society. For churches to value evangelism, they must value the next generation.

This is the largest generation in the world. It is also the most non-Christian generation. The church better find out how to reach this group.

10.) Millennials are counter-cultural, not anti-cultural.

And there is an enormous difference between the two. The next generation wants to live out their faith in the midst of the culture. What does this mean for the church? Millennials will plug-in to churches that challenge people to step into the darkness of the world. And redeem that darkness for the glory of God.

The church has been against the evils of the culture for decades. Attempts have been made to remove Christians from any appearance of evil. The problem with this mindset is Christ calls us to step into darkness. We are the light. Millennials are willing to risk some scars and bruises for the glory of God to be made known to the world.

And they might be naive enough to believe the power of the gospel is enough to push back legitimate darkness.

_________________________

Again, I simply want to highlight some values of Millennials. Churches that value reaching the next generation should take note. This generation is different. But, as I have said before, different is not wrong. It is different.

I love you all. To God be the glory forever. Amen!

0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Faith

8 Statements American Jesus Might Make But Savior Jesus Never Would

by Frank Powell
written by Frank Powell

American Jesus. Do you know him? I do. This is the Jesus I know. In more ways than I would care to admit, my American ideals have shaped my picture of Jesus. American Jesus looks, talks, and acts just like me. He is a middle class family man who loves to golf on the weekends. And American Jesus empathizes with my American problems.

But is this the real Jesus? I don’t believe so. American Jesus is a fake Jesus. And this is where many American Christians have bought a lie. Culture has duped us. Tricked us. We have come to think Savior Jesus and American Jesus are synonymous.

Savior Jesus and American Jesus are more enemies than friends. More like Batman and Joker than Batman and Robin. Unless we take off our American sunglasses and allow the Savior Jesus to influence our American ideals, we risk spending our lives serving a God who isn’t real.

So, I want to highlight some differences between American Jesus and Savior Jesus. Here are 8 statements American Jesus might make but Savior Jesus never would.

1.) I love all these denominations.

Can you imagine Savior Jesus stepping on the American church landscape today? Can you imagine the scathing words he would give to the church after seeing thousands of denominations? Especially after what he prayed in John 17.

And it is not the incalculable number of churches that would bother Savior Jesus. It is the prideful, arrogant mindset behind many of these churches. The reason for most denominations (and denominations within denominations) is the belief one group of people has it right and another does not. Pride. It’s the reason Satan was cast out of heaven. It is the root of every evil (James 3:16). And pride is the reason millions of different churches exist in this country.

American Jesus would see no problem with hundreds of different churches claiming they have the “right” doctrine. Jesus our Savior, however, would send us a harsh rebuke about allowing Satan to distract us from the reason doctrines exist…the cross.

2.) God gave you a brain. He intended for you to use it.

Never heard this before? Count yourself lucky. Here’s the mindset behind it. God values logic. “God gave you a brain, so why are you giving away your retirement? God gave you a brain, so why are you putting your life in danger?” You get the idea.

This is a very western, American, first-world line of thinking. You know what makes no sense? The perfect Creator of the universe sending his perfect son to a broken earth to save a wretched, miserable sinner like me. That’s crazy.

This mindset eliminates risk and faith. If God always intends for us to use our brain, why would Noah build an ark? Why would Moses ask Pharaoh to let the Israelites go? The entire Bible is about men and women making decisions that leave many comfortable Americans dumbfounded. American Jesus is dumbfounded too. But Savior Jesus is not.

3.) I vote Republican. Doesn’t every Christian?

American Jesus sees Christianity and the Republican party as two sides of the same coin. How could someone vote for a Democrat and claim to love God? To American Jesus, it’s not possible. He would be in pulpits, on Facebook, or any other platform possible to voice his disdain for the current President. In the mind of American Jesus, this country is in the position she is in because of the Democrats.

But Savior Jesus didn’t waste much energy on politics. He didn’t put much stock in government. Jesus wasn’t against government. But he also never made the mistake of believing government was the savior. And many Christians spend more time arguing for the Republican party (or the Democratic party) than proclaiming Jesus.

[tweet_box design=”default”]Many Christians spend more time arguing for the Republican party than proclaiming Jesus.[/tweet_box]

That’s a problem.

4.) I just want to live a mediocre life. Try not to offend anybody.

American Jesus doesn’t like to offend anybody. He would agree with most church leaders who believe their job is to cater to people who are offended. Somehow pouring energy into offended people is a “unity of the church” matter.

So church leaders shouldn’t say anything too controversial. And if they do, make sure next week’s lesson makes the congregation “feel good.” Don’t do anything crazy or radical. Don’t step out in faith. Don’t call out or rebuke anybody. Don’t push back against cultural norms.

But Savior Jesus didn’t act this way. In fact, he was so offensive to the religious people they eventually killed him. Jesus not only stepped into controversy, he embodied it. In John 6, after feeding a ton of people, Jesus found himself in front of them again.

Most American Christians would expect Jesus to say something that feels good. But Jesus instead delivered words so controversial many of his own disciples left. And they never returned. And the craziest part of this story? Jesus didn’t chase after them. He didn’t beg them to stay. He didn’t apologize. Jesus just…let them go.

So, Savior Jesus offended people, refused to cater to them, and never apologized? That mentality would be rebuked strongly in most American churches.

You see, Savior Jesus isn’t concerned with keeping the peace. He is concerned with drawing people to Himself. And those two are mutually exclusive. Maybe the world isn’t drawn to Jesus because churches allow unity and peace to trump proclaiming the gospel.

[tweet_box design=”default”]Savior Jesus isn’t concerned with keeping the peace. He is concerned with drawing people to Himself.[/tweet_box]

5.) Can you believe worship went 20 minutes over today? 

American Jesus would come to worship like most American Christians. He would be ready to leave after an hour. And he would be timing it. The moment the clock strikes 10, you have an hour. If you go 20 minutes over, American Jesus is out. The goal of worship on Sunday is not to worship the Creator of the Universe. The goal is to get out in an hour. You can’t focus on your watch and God at the same time. American Jesus would understand.

American Jesus would have a tee time at 11. He would have a football game to watch at noon. He would have lunch plans. And it would be more important to be on time for these than draw into God. So…don’t go over!

But Savior Jesus would never watch his clock during a time of worship to the Father. And he would not sympathize with bored Christians who believe it is their spiritual gift to ensure worship ends in exactly an hour. Jesus spent entire nights with God. He never appeared bored. And he never complained about spending any amount of time with God.

6.) It’s just a little white lie. No big deal.

Christians love to rank sins. And the danger of ranking sins is we strive to avoid the big ones, while neglecting the smaller ones. American Jesus would get this. It’s just a little white lie. No big deal. It’s just one porn site. I won’t go back. People watch this stuff everyday.

Meanwhile, Savior Jesus would take us back to the Garden of Eden. Here the perfect relationship between man and God was ruined when Adam and Eve took a piece of fruit and ate it. You know what seems like an insignificant sin? Taking a bite of fruit. But God obviously thought it was serious. He cast Adam and Eve out of the Garden for it. Just one sin. Just one bite.

Savior Jesus would remind us that even a little white lie is the reason he has holes in his hands. And that should cause us to think.

7.) I served last week. Someone else can do it this week.

American Jesus gets this. Serving is not a mindset. It is an act. And that act only happens once a month. If you’re lucky. American Jesus would encourage American Christians to rebuke those who believe you should serve every week.

“Find somebody else. I have paid my dues.” American Jesus would give a loud, “Amen!” to that statement. Church is all about me. Me. Me. Me. Stop asking me to serve.

But Savior Jesus would tell us what he told his disciples in Matt. 20:28, “The Son of man came not to be served, but to serve.” To Jesus, serving was not an action. It was a mindset. It was not something on a list. It was a way of life.

Many Christians allow American ideology to influence serving more than Kingdom ideology. Serving is not a one-time event on Sunday morning. It is a life long mindset that flows from the cross.

8.) Let’s not aim too big. What if God doesn’t come through? 

Either God is all-powerful or he is not. If God is all-powerful, there is nothing he can’t do. Everything is on the table. But if God is not all-powerful, then Christians should live scared. We should also live with a lot of anxiety and depression.

This is what happens when we stop believing God is all-powerful. We must rely on ourselves. That’s a scary proposition. American Jesus would understand. Don’t operate outside of logic. Don’t dream big. Never make decisions that involve God showing up.

Most churches in America are glorified clubs. If God were taken out of the equation, NOTHING would change from week to week. Why? Nothing most Christians do requires the power of God.

The world doesn’t need to see good, moral people living good, moral lives. The world needs to see men and women living beyond their own abilities. The world needs to see Christians making decisions that depend on God showing up. And if He doesn’t show, we are going to look foolish.

Savior Jesus put the power of God on full display. He went to the cross. He erased the stranglehold of sin and death. Then he was raised from the dead, and he walked out of the tomb. Like a boss.

___________________________________

What are some other statements American Jesus might make but Savior Jesus never would? Comment below and let me know.

I love you all. To God be the glory forever. Amen!

0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Faith

7 Important Things To Understand About Doubt

by Frank Powell
written by Frank Powell

Doubt. When I say the word, thoughts immediately come to your mind. For some, the reality of doubt hurts you. It is a legitimate struggle. And this struggle leaves you on an island. For others, doubt is the absence of faith. There is no place for doubt in the life of a Christian. There are others who embrace doubt. They see doubt as a product of their enlightened minds.

And I want to speak to all sides here. Doubting God can be healthy. It can be necessary. It can also be very unhealthy and detrimental. So, where is the line? This line is hard to draw. And my goal is not to paint a complete picture of doubt. I want to address those struggling with doubt, embracing doubt, and writing off doubt. Ultimately, I believe God has something to say to all these groups.

So, let’s dive in. Here are 7 important things to understand about doubt.

1.) Doubt is not the absence of faith. 

This is a lie people are going to tell you. It is also a lie Satan is going to make you believe. Actually, the opposite is true. The fact you doubt means faith is present in your life. Think about it.

If your faith were non-existent, why would doubt exist? Doubting God, the Bible, and traditional thinking are often necessary steps in the maturation of faith. Not to say doubt is easy. Not at all. Doubt is really hard. It forces you to re-think everything you believe. Everything you hold dear. A season of doubt can certainly feel like a crisis. But doubt is not the absence of faith.

Doubt and faith aren’t always at odds. Sometimes they play together. Maybe best friends is going too far. But they can play on the same team.

In other words, doubt and faith are not mutually exclusive. Rest in this truth.

2.) Examples of doubt are littered throughout the Bible.

Throughout the Bible, there is a trail of men and women who struggled with doubt. Job immediately comes to mind. Talk about being dealt a bad hand. Job was described as “blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil” (Job 1:1). Yet Job lost it all. Wife. Children. Land. Livestock. Health. Wouldn’t you have some questions? If I were Job, I would be looking around for a hidden camera. Surely this is all fake. But it wasn’t.

The Bible reveals that doubt happens. It happens to people we view as warriors and heroes of faith. Moses. Abraham. Sarah. Peter. Thomas. So, as you wade through the difficulties of doubt, understand many men and women before you wrestled with the problems you currently face.

3.) God can handle doubts.

This is something the Christian community has handled poorly. Our mission has been to defend God. To stand up for God. But God doesn’t need anybody to defend Him. He is a big boy. He can handle some doubt and criticism.

God is not like us. He doesn’t freak out because Frank questions a few things. “Holy Spirit…Holy Spirit. Can you believe Frank doesn’t understand suffering? This is unreal. What are we going to do? C’mon Holy Spirit, give me some ideas.” Can you imagine how depressed and anxious God would be if he freaked out like us? Good thing he doesn’t.

[tweet_box design=”default”]God doesn’t need us to defend Him. He can handle doubts. He is a big boy.[/tweet_box]

Buried inside the gospel of Mark is a story about a man whose son is possessed by a demon. What is interesting about this story is the way Jesus frames the conversation with the boy’s father. In Mark 9:23 Jesus says, “If you can, all things are possible for him who believes.”

If you can?! What kind of statement is that Jesus?

But watch how the father responds. “I believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). Everyone cover your eyes. This man is about to be put in his place for doubting the power of Jesus. And it could get ugly.

But Jesus doesn’t rebuke the man’s unbelief. He doesn’t put a verbal beatdown on the man for doubting. So, what does Jesus do? He heals the boy.

In this story, Jesus affirms doubt doesn’t reveal an absence of faith.

Maybe this man’s faith was actually shown through his acknowledgement of unbelief. Maybe faith in God is as much about a humble heart as it is about refusing to doubt God. Maybe God isn’t in the heavenly realms shaking his head every time we have questions about his power or nature.

4.) Not having doubts about God is unhealthy.

“God says it. I believe it. That settles it.” Ever heard that from the pulpit? Yeah, me too. And while I get it, this statement presents an enormous problem. It implies doubting has no place in Christianity. And that doesn’t line up with the Bible.

But here is my bigger problem. What about the stuff God doesn’t say?

I went through seasons of my life where I struggled with doubt. How do I grasp eternity? What about all the suffering in the world? Why would God make this so hard? God didn’t explicitly tell me why I have cancer at the age of 25. So…what settles all the hard questions God doesn’t answer?

You see, I struggle with how someone could never have doubts about God. I struggle to see how an authentic faith comes apart from doubt. My seasons of doubt were often a catalyst for a deeper level of faith.

Doubting God isn’t a result of fickle faith. It is a realization that a dichotomy exists between the finiteness of man and the infiniteness of God.

And doubt often provides the doorway to understand God on a deeper level.

5.) Don’t try to expedite a season of doubt.

One of the greatest man-made inventions is the microwave. How else would you get to enjoy a bag of popcorn in 2 minutes or a Hot Pocket in a minute and a half? Who cares if flavor or quality are sacrificed? If the food gets to our plates faster, that’s a win. #winning.

And this is what we try to do with everything in life. We microwave it. Especially those difficult seasons. But some things can’t be microwaved. A season of doubt is one of those.

I understand the struggle is real. But don’t expedite the process by suppressing your thoughts, walking away from God, or finding a quick answer to a deep problem. Endure. Persevere. Struggle. But don’t microwave.

God doesn’t give us a timeframe for hard seasons. Some last for an extended period of time. Continue to ride the wave. Don’t take the easy route. You will miss everything God is trying to show you.

Hot Pockets can be microwaved. God can’t.

6.) Doubt is not something to be celebrated or pursued.

Some doubt is healthy. But there is an unhealthy side of doubt. Even though doubt is everywhere in the Bible, doubt is never applauded or celebrated by God. We don’t see a God who celebrates Thomas when he refused to believe. We don’t see God applauding Job for wondering why awful things were happening.

You see, doubt is not a noble virtue. Sometimes it is necessary. But it is not something to celebrate. And many “enlightened” people believe doubting God is a must for spiritual maturity. Or maturity in general. And they would be wrong.

Doubting God is not a destination for us to arrive. It is a season for us to endure and learn. Think of doubting God as a truck stop on the highway to our home. Truck stops can be good. Bathroom breaks. Gas for the car. Snickers ice cream bars. And while we need truck stops on the journey to our home, truck stops should never be confused with our home. The same is true with doubting and faith.

[tweet_box design=”default”]Doubting God is not a destination for us to arrive. It is a season for us to endure and learn.[/tweet_box]

In a world that celebrates free thinking, the Christian community must have convictions. Convictions that no cultural shift will change.

It is important not to equate doubt with an absence of faith. But it is equally as important not to make doubt a primary component of faith.

7.) Knowledge does not eliminate doubt.

Sure, apologetics are good. Physical evidence for God is helpful. But finding a solution to the deep questions in your heart does not come through an increase in knowledge. Being in seminary, I realize the difficulty an increase in knowledge creates. And many look to knowledge for the solution to the deep questions about God and life.

But Hebrews tells us without faith pleasing God is impossible (Heb. 11:6). An element of faith must exist for knowledge to be of any value. Otherwise, knowledge will only serve to increase doubt.

Look for the answers to the deep questions. God has nothing to hide. But don’t seek those answers apart from faith. You won’t find them. Don’t ground your faith in something other than God. Knowledge is good. It is not ultimate. If you put your faith in something other than Jesus, you will never find the answers you are seeking.

____________________________

Doubt is a very broad topic. This is where I need your input. What important points did I miss? What does the world need to know about doubt? Leave a comment below.

I love you all. To God be the glory forever. Amen!

0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newer Posts
Older Posts