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7 Really Dumb Reasons To Leave A Church

by Frank Powell
written by Frank Powell

Church hopping. It’s like Jesus hopscotch. With a Buick or Cadillac instead of Nikes or Reeboks. And everyone seems to be playing. Christians jump around from church to church. Hop from one trend to another.

And there are certainly valid reasons to leave a church. But there are many more terrible reasons. Being a minister, I see this firsthand. Especially in the south. Churches are a dime a dozen here. And you can have almost any flavor your heart desires. Like Baskin Robbins…on steroids. Without the sprinkles.

So, while I acknowledge the inevitability of church hopping in this culture, I want to push back against this trend. Church hopping is not something God wants or desires from His people. At least not church hopping as it exists in America.

It is the product of an over-abundance of churches mixed with a lack of desire and commitment among God’s people.

Without further adieu, here are 7 really dumb reasons to leave a church.

1.) The church is too big.

Blogger Aaron Loy talks about this idea here. But I have been in conversations with people who cited this as a reason they left a church. Lying below the surface is usually some lack of authenticity or transparency within the particular church. Or the excuse that no one goes below the surface. While these can exist in large churches, I believe they are both false stigmas.

And here is why I really struggle with this excuse. Is growth not something to be celebrated in churches? Something is wrong if we do not believe numerical growth is an important metric. The reason Christians exist is to make disciples. Inherent in our mission is numerical growth.

On some level, if churches aren’t growing, the Great Commission is not being emphasized. I praise God for the way He has used men and women to draw many people to Himself.

So, don’t be judgmental or cynical towards mega-churches because they have reached people with the gospel. Find a way to go deeper. Find a way to plug in. Those opportunities are present. Find them.

2.) The church focuses too much on materialism and excellence.

Unfortunately, many Christians have come to believe excellence and extravagance are synonymous. Also unfortunate is the belief that churches who spend money are too focused on materialism and worldliness.

Excellence is something every church should pursue. Passionately. And while excellence does require money, excellence is not extravagance. And many churches who spend money on being excellent also spend large amounts of money giving back to the Kingdom. A church with a nice campus is not necessarily a church that stewards God’s money poorly. Be careful about drawing these conclusions.

The church should be the most creative, excellent, well-run institution on the face of the earth. And if your leaders strive for excellence, do not view their pursuit of excellence as standing in the way of the gospel. Praise God for leaders who want to be excellent!

Take a look at the world around you. The intricateness of the human body. The splendor of the night sky. The beauty of the mountains. The vastness of the ocean. The God we serve is the definition of excellence!

Don’t leave a church because leaders place an emphasis on doing everything really well. They are following God’s lead.

3.) I am offended.

“Welcome to the church. My name is Frank.”

The church is full of broken people. And many Christians wake up looking to be offended. It is their default posture. It is crippling to spiritual growth. It is also crippling to the health of the church.

Do me a favor. Search through the Bible. Find me a command to leave a church when another brother offends you. Start with 1 Corinthians. Tons of conflict there. Now stop looking…the command is not there.

So, when you do get offended, you have two options:

1.) You can leave the church, which does nothing to promote spiritual growth and Christlikeness.

2.) You can work through the conflict, making you a stronger Christian and likely drawing you and the individual closer as well.

You make the choice. But leaving a church because one sinner said something mean to another sinner is a bad reflection of the gospel.

If Jesus left us every time we offended him or mocked His name, Jesus would have two dudes left: the Father and the Holy Spirit. So, walk in step with the gospel by pushing through conflict and not running from it.

4.) I attend churches that appeal to my style and where I am in life.

One of the sad realities of the church today is the “buffet style” mentality of many Christians. There are so many churches that people are literally going through each church and handpicking the parts they like. If they find something that doesn’t meet their needs, they are gone. Or they just hop between 20 churches.

The church is not your personal genie. You do not get to rub the sides of the church walls and ask the church to give you what you want. “Good sermon…but not too long. Lots of lights. Some smoke. And I want an inviting place for my children. You give me all of those…I am in. Otherwise, on to the next church. Take it or leave it.”

The church exists for the name of Jesus to be glorified. The church exists for the edification of the people of God. The church exists as the vehicle to make the gospel known to the world. The church does not exist to meet your needs. Start getting plugged in. And don’t use the church as your personal genie.

5.) It is time for a change.

[pullquote cite=”Mark Batterson” type=”left”]If you plant yourself in one place and let your roots grow deep, there is no limit to what God can do.[/pullquote] “Frank, I’ve been at the same church 20 years. It’s just time for a change.”

Think about your statement. Now I have a question for you…Is your statement a product of your flesh or the spirit of God? Hint: answer B is probably not right.

I understand being at the same church for decades has the potential to become monotonous. But this is not a reason to leave. Do not allow the sinfulness of your flesh to override the holiness of the Spirit.

If you believe you must change churches every two decades, you will struggle with marriage. And heaven? The eternity of heaven will be awful.

6.) I do not need the church anymore.

Alright…here’s the deal. You’re deceived. Yes, the church has imperfections. Yes, the church could always do more. But being frustrated with the lack of vision or the lack of perfection is not grounds to leave the church.

You do need the church. Despite the cultural lie, you can’t persevere through this life on your own. Satan is a roaring lion waiting to devour you (1 Peter 5:8).

Want to know how lions attack? They single out their prey. When animals stay with the group, the chances they are picked apart diminish significantly. The same is true with the church. The more community is present, the harder it will be for Satan to destroy your life.

Don’t let Satan lie to you. Don’t let the world deceive you. You need the church.

7.) A church down the road is really growing. 

There is a tendency in our culture to chase the “next big thing.” But here’s the problem. The “next big thing” comes and comes. One week, this church is the “cool” place to be. The next week that church steals the “cool” label. If you run from church to church seeking the next “big thing” you will never plant roots deep enough to have an impact on your community. You will also never be known well enough to expose sin in your own heart.

Don’t run from church to church because it’s the cool thing to do. Find the community of people where you believe God has called you to plant and grow.

_________________________________

Are there some other bad reasons to leave a church? If you have a comment or a question, leave it below. I look forward to your thoughts on this subject.

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

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FaithTop 10

12 Signs You Are A Modern-Day Pharisee

by Frank Powell
written by Frank Powell

The Pharisees are mentioned in pulpits and classrooms all over the world. They are the source of jokes. The topic of sermons. Man, I wish I had a penny for every time a Christian teacher referenced the Pharisees. I wouldn’t be here. Maybe in the Caribbean somewhere. But not here. #truth.

Here is the reality…Pharisees still exist today. And nobody wants to be a modern-day Pharisee. It just happens. Kind of like eating at Ruby Tuesday. No one knows how you end up there. But it happens. Then you are stuck eating below par food at an above par price. Not good.

Most Pharisees begin with good intentions. But somehow those intentions and motives morph into something not so good.

Here is my hope and prayer…you will read this and do an inspection on your heart. The following things flow from my own personal struggles with legalism and being a Pharisee. In many ways, I am a recovering Pharisee. I still have a long way to go. But I am thankful the grace of God allows me to stumble. Allows me to struggle. And still be His child.

So, here are 12 signs you are a modern-day Pharisees.

1.) You believe showing up for worship every Sunday makes you right with God.

Modern-day Pharisees try to measure everything. They must have metrics and barometers. Something to measure their righteousness. Anything to give them some security with God.

And I am not against barometers or metrics. Not at all. Barometers can reveal trends and expose inconsistencies. But modern-day Pharisees see metrics as essential to righteousness and salvation. Worship is not a time to draw into God. Worship is another check off the list.

For modern-day Pharisees, Christian living is not so much about transforming into the image of God. It is more about living up to the standard of God. And no one can live up to God’s standard. Except Jesus.

2.) You spend more time talking about what you are against, not what you are for.

Pharisees love to argue. They love to spend their time convincing others. If they had to list the actions and issues they are against, the pencil would run out of lead. But turn around and ask them to list what they are for? The pencil would not have to be re-sharpened.

Pharisees believe their job is to defend God and legislate morality. So they are against drinking, smoking, cursing, short skirts, talking back to parents, holding hands before marriage, and so on. And all of these things come before the gospel. Or maybe they are the gospel. Modern-day Pharisees can’t tell the difference.

3.) You believe God actually needs you.

Modern-day Pharisees believe God needs them on His team. They believe the church is dependent upon them.

Let me be real with the modern-day Pharisees. If God needs a human being for His church to survive, He is not a God worth serving. Or worshipping. Or following. God needs no one. God simply allows us to play a role. He allows us to play a part.

We just need to know our role. Play our part. And don’t think too highly of ourselves. God’s got this.

4.) You don’t repent of sin…you don’t have any “serious” sin to repent of.

Remember that time the modern-day Pharisees repented of sin in their life? Oh wait, they never have. They don’t have any serious sin to repent of. Pharisees have a reputation and status to maintain. Repentance involves vulnerability and weakness. Pharisees don’t show weakness.

Who cares if the God of the universe was humiliated and mocked by mere men? That has no bearing on a modern-day Pharisee.

Repentance is for people who sin really bad. Not for them.

5.) You make every issue black and white.

The Bible is grey on many issues. But modern-day Pharisees don’t deal in the world of grey. They must have everything black and white. In or out. Yes or no. Up or down.

You see, if an issue is grey, modern-day Pharisees have to do some work on the heart. And Pharisees don’t work on the heart. They don’t consider motives.

Here is another thing about grey. It does not allow modern-day Pharisees to keep score. Black and white issues, however, allow them to keep a tally of their righteousness. “I have never drank or smoke or gambled or cheated on my wife.” Who cares if their heart is full of lust, anger, and envy?

Making a grey issue black and white means modern-day Pharisees don’t have to deal with the motives underneath their actions.

6.) You would never condone homosexuality or fornication…but have no problem watching movies that do.

If someone were to preach on the evils of homosexuality or sex before marriage, a modern-day Pharisee would nod his or her head in agreement. “Yeah, that’s right preacher. Preach on!” But on Sunday night, they plop down in the recliner and find humor from a movie or TV show glamorizing the very thing they just agreed was wrong.

This is the real issue with modern-day Pharisees. They love to put on a show when the lights are on. They want people to think they are righteous. But Jesus does not inform the rest of their lives.

After all, they went to church…and life group. The checklist is complete.

7.) Your salvation is based on your works, not on Jesus.

Modern-day Pharisees believe in their works. That’s why they love James 2:14-26. But they skirt around passages about grace. Oh, yeah. They believe Jesus died on the cross for their sins. But they turn around and mock the cross by trying to earn their salvation.

8.) You read the Bible to substantiate your convictions, not to be shaped into God’s image.

During the time of Jesus, no one knew more Scripture than the Pharisees. They studied the Scriptures relentlessly.

Modern-day Pharisees do the same. But they turn around and use the knowledge to convince others why they are wrong. The Bible is their personal weapon. Modern-day Pharisees use it to throw rocks at all the misguided, evil sinners in the world.

To modern-day Pharisees, the Bible is not a means to grow into the image of God. It is a means to convince the world of fallacies and misguided theology.

9.) You believe outsiders should conform to a certain lifestyle before they are accepted as “Christian.”

This is a Pharisee trademark. Before non-Christians can be considered “part of the group,” they must conform to a certain lifestyle. Stop all of the cursing and drinking. And stop doing all the stuff “bad people” do.

Once potential Christians “fix their lives,” modern-day Pharisees gladly welcome these people into their family. Just don’t revert back to “sinning” again. Membership in the group is always conditional.

Instead of meeting people where they are, modern-day Pharisees force people to come up to their level. And until these people live up to the standard, they will be on the outside looking in.

10.) You don’t know the difference between a convert and a transfer.

Modern-day Pharisees get just as excited when someone joins their church as they do when someone joins the kingdom of God. In fact, they don’t see much distinction between the two. They celebrate a baptism the same way they celebrate a family moving from across the street.

This is why no real desire for the lost exists. The church is adding “members.” But they are being added to the directory of the local church, not the directory of the Kingdom. Modern-day Pharisees don’t care. As long as the “church” is adding people.

11.) All of your Christian friends look and act just like you do.

Pharisees are exclusive. They pick and choose who enters the group. But Jesus never valued exclusivity. Just look at his chosen twelve. A tax collector (Matthew). A doctor (Luke). Fishermen (Peter and Andrew). A Zealot (Simon). That’s a conglomerate of guys from many different backgrounds.

So, look around at your group? Is it essentially a collection of men and women cut from the same mold?

12.) If someone tries to rebuke you, you get angry and offended.

Remember what happened Jesus rebuked the Pharisees? Their hearts broke. They repented. And Jesus used them to start the church.

Not.

When Jesus called out their sins, the Pharisees crucified him. Modern-day Pharisees see any rebuke as a personal attack. They immediately go on the offensive. Some get angry and storm off. Others proceed to make a list of sins to the person rebuking them.

Regardless, modern-day Pharisees refuse to have a heart receptive to rebuke. It undermines their external righteousness. And it undermines the lie that they are perfect.

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Understand the reason I can write this post is because I have experienced all 12 of these in my life. I want to draw people to Jesus. I want to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. I hope you do as well.

I ask you to pray for me and my struggles. If you have a comment or another sign of a modern-day Pharisee, respond below.

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

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Faith

12 Qualities of Highly Unsuccessful People

by Frank Powell
written by Frank Powell

The world is full of people. Over 7 billion of them. Some are successful. Others are not. And many people might conclude success is like the lottery. In the right place at the right time. And maybe there is a parallel between circumstances and success.

But I also believe decisions play into those circumstances. What are they? I am certainly not an expert. Not even close. But I have talked to many people. Read books. Experienced situations. And through these, I have seen traits and qualities that are pretty consistent across the board.

So, what marks the difference? What distinguishes a successful person from an unsuccessful one? Well, there are many traits and qualities that breed success, but I want to give you a few.

Here are 12 qualities of highly unsuccessful people.

1.) You are controlled by fear or failure.

[pullquote cite=”J.K. Rowling” type=”left”]It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default.[/pullquote]Look, no one is immune from fear. It is a product of humanity. Decisions larger than us will breed fear. The difference between success and failure comes in the response to fear. Some trust in the Lord to handle situations larger than themselves. Others allow the situation in front of them to take control.

Successful people are not scared of failure. God is greater than any mountain. And faith is made real when we stand in front of a mountain with a decision to make. Will we trust God or rely on our abilities? Successful people do the former.

2.) You allow everyone into your inner circle.

Love your neighbor. This is the second greatest commandment (Matt. 22:39). Who’s my neighbor, you ask? Look around. Everyone.

But you are misguided to think Jesus meant this as an invitation to allow everyone into your circle. Jesus loved everyone. Tax collectors. Pharisees. Prostitutes. But he was very selective about his “inner circle.” He spent much of his ministry with twelve men. He even had a tighter “inner circle” of just three (Peter, James, and John).

Successful people are careful about their “inner circle.” I once heard you are an average of your five best friends. So, look at the five people closest to you. What do they value? Do they have ambitions? Goals? Are they life-givers or life-takers?

Love everyone. Choose your friends wisely. They will determine your future.

[tweet_box design=”default”]Love everyone. Choose your friends wisely. They will determine your future.[/tweet_box]

3.) You try to live a balanced life.

Ah…the balanced life. What a great thing to strive for. Except that it is unattainable. And exhausting. It is also not in the Bible. Yeah, a balanced life sounds good. But a dozen donuts every morning for breakfast also sounds good. Be careful following what sounds good.

The American ideal says, “Go ahead. Add it to your plate. Just stay balanced.” So, we imitate a circus act with 20 plates spinning all around. We try to balance all of them while maintaining our composure. Exhausting. At least to me.

And the broken pieces of our lives reveal that balance isn’t exactly an achievable or desired state.

What’s the answer then? One word…rhythm. Rhythm allows us to operate in the flow of life. Gives us the space to say, “No”. Allows for a Sabbath. Celebrates successes. Rhythm is the life Jesus modeled, not balance.

4.) Your default outlook is “glass half empty.” 

Successful people try to look at situations through the lenses of optimism. They learn from everything. Good and bad. They look for God’s faithfulness and righteousness. “Glass half empty” people are exhausting to be around. No one wants to follow a person who sees the worst in every person and situation.

The world is broken. This is why Jesus came to redeem us. And our role now is to be restorers. But we can’t restore unless we see beauty in the midst of despair. See hope in the midst of sorrow. Successful people look at the world with a Christ-focus. They are eternal optimists. Because God is able to take the worst of situations and birth beauty.

5.) You believe you can do it alone.

[tweet_box design=”default”]If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.[/tweet_box]

Going alone is easier at times. But it is not best. It is not sustainable long-term. Not for people who desire to grow into the image of God. We were created for relationships and community.

Many people believe inviting others into their life is a waste of time. And these people will never be successful. Why? Because these people fail to see they are limited. Just a person. And no individual has all the answers. There is something you can learn from everyone. If you allow yourself to learn.

Having a community of people around you only adds to your insight and wisdom. They share ideas that never would have been on your radar. They point out faults. Even Jesus had a community of people around him. And Jesus is God. If God desires community, maybe you should too.

6.) You are inconsistent.

Long-term consistency will always trump short-term intensity. Write that down. The most successful people are consistent. They show up. They move forward. Crawl. Walk. Run. Doesn’t matter how. They move forward. They don’t take the easy road. They don’t quit.

Consistency often trumps talent. Believe it. The people at the top are not always the ones with the most talent. They are the ones who are left. They continued to show up while everyone else bowed out of the race. Threw up the white flag. Inconsistent people will never be successful. They give up before success has an opportunity to meet them.

Just keep showing up.

7.) You take any criticism as a personal attack.

Haters gonna hate. #truth. But even the most hateful critics give you an opportunity to grow and learn.

Criticism is necessary for growth. It purifies. It exposes inconsistencies. Successful people accept criticism because they value growth. And successful people are always trying to get better. Be a more effective leader. Be more reflective of Christ.

Prideful people look at criticism as a personal attack. Don’t be one of those. It doesn’t promote growth. And we all need to grow.

8.) You strive for perfection.

Strive for excellence. Desire to be the best. But throw this perfection garbage in the trash. It’s a pipe dream. And many talented people fall short of their potential because of an unattainable fantasy.

Only God is perfect. You should strive to be like Him. Praise God for that pursuit. But if you could be perfect (at anything) Jesus would not be necessary. And He is absolutely necessary.

So stop believing you can be perfect. Work from the reality that you are flawed. Strive for excellence. But never for perfection. It will cripple you.

9.) You allow those who know you the least to affect you the most.

[tweet_box design=”default”]Never allow the people who know you the least to affect you the most.[/tweet_box]

Successful people never allow leeches to suck the life out of them. And leeches are out there. If you desire to do anything good, leeches will come. Stomp on them. Do not treat them with disrespect. But never allow their words to impact your job, ministry, or calling.

The people who know you most should be the ones whose words impact you the greatest. Why? Because they know your heart. Your motives. Your intentions. Listen to them. They will tell you what you need to hear.

10.) You are crippled by your past.

Raise your hand if you have made stupid mistakes? I raised both of mine. Past failures should have no bearing on present circumstances. Especially for followers of Jesus. He has wiped those failures away. Completely. Any other whisper you hear is from Satan.

Clinging to past mistakes will cripple your current and future success. Rest in the cross. Jesus said, “It is finished.” And that is what He meant. Learn from your mistakes. But never allow your past to determine who are today.

11.) You believe everyone exists to serve you and meet your needs.

Successful people are not constantly looking for people to serve them. Or meet their needs. They are servants. Jesus said, “The Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve” (Matt. 20:28). Now if Jesus came to serve people, shouldn’t it tell us something about our approach to life?

Be the friend you want others to be. Be the leader you want others to be. Be the minster or pastor you want others to be. Successful people don’t call people to get in the trenches. Then watch from the sidelines as people dig. They get in the trenches. Start digging. Then encourage others to dig with them.

12.) You neglect the people who matter most.

This is a struggle of mine. Being in ministry, the tendency is to save the world…even at the expense of your family. But I hold to this mentality…You can save the world, but if you lose your family, you are a failure.

[tweet_box design=”default”]You can save the world, but if you lose your family, you are a failure.[/tweet_box]

Seriously, what have I gained if my ministry is successful, but my family despises me and walks away from Jesus? You have to answer that question for yourself. But I contend you gain nothing. The same is true in the business world. You can become CEO. But if you sacrifice your family in the process, have you gained anything? Successful people never forget the ones who matter most.

___________________________

I understand this list is not comprehensive. This is where you come in. Leave me your feedback. What are some traits you have seen that characterize people who are not successful?

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

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Faith

Next Generation: 6 Things The Church Desperately Needs From You

by Frank Powell
written by Frank Powell

The words in this post have been stirring in my mind for several months now. I love the next generation. And I believe the next generation has much to offer the church…right now. This is not the generation of the future…it is the generation of now. The younger generation has the talent and gifts to impact the world. Not tomorrow. Not sometime in the future. Today.

But there are always weaknesses. And we are all better for knowing our weaknesses. Self-awareness. It is a powerful tool. But only if it is used.

It is my hope that your passion and desire for change will never die. It is this passion that draws me to the next generation…and gives me hope for the future.

So, I want to give you 6 things the church desperately needs from you, next generation.

1.) Don’t wade In the kiddie pool…get plugged in.

Yes, it is counter-cultural to most of your generation. But I want to challenge you, next generation. I want to challenge you to get plugged in to a local community of Christians. Going all in for Jesus is not possible without going all in with a community of believers. I understand it is easier to visit a different church every Sunday. You get the best of everything. The best preacher. The best worship, etc. But what you want and what you need are often in conflict.

Plugging into a community of people can be scary. People will actually know you. And not just the good parts. Your failures will be exposed too. But stop believing the lie that vulnerability and weakness are bad things. Jesus would tell you differently.

Transformation occurs when a community of believers knows you and you know them. Your sins are exposed, and you are held accountable. The church needs more men and women who desire to be fully known.

Hang out in the kiddie pool if you choose. There will always be people there. But most of those people are scared, cynical (more on that…just hold on), and cowardly. And the water tends to change colors if you hang in the kiddie pool too long.

It’s time to hop out of the kiddie pool and dive in to a local community of believers.

2.) Don’t run to the next “big thing”…be consistent.

Again I am going to push back against a cultural norm. But I want you to see my heart. The next generation has a passion to help the hurting and marginalized. Praise God for that passion. But you also have a strong desire to leave as soon as times get hard.

Someone disagrees with you. Someone disrespects you. You are gone. The world needs a group of men and women who work to gain the trust of a circle of people. This happens over time. Not over night. The world needs more consistency. People who won’t leave. Won’t run. Even if times get hard.

I am worried the next generation wants to change the world, but really has no desire to transform lives. And those two are not mutually exclusive. Changing the world happens by changing lives. And changing lives doesn’t happen overnight.

[tweet_box design=”default”]Changing the world happens through changing lives.[/tweet_box]

Leaving to pursue the next “big thing” every year might leave you feeling good about yourself. But it rarely results in transformed lives. And you would be surprised how much your life will be transformed if you decide to plant somewhere for a long period of time. It is always better to grow roots deeper rather than wider.

3.) Stop moving forward without a rear-view mirror…respect the past.

The wandering of the Israelite people. The rise and fall of the Kings of Israel. The words of the prophets. All of these paved the way for Jesus’s time on earth. In the same way, the faithful ministry of those before us has paved the way for the next generation today. Please stop throwing out the generations previous to you as “out-dated” or “irrelevant.” Jesus constantly referred to the words of the prophets before him. And the next generation could learn a lot from the wisdom and experiences of previous generations.

In a car, it is impossible to move forward if you constantly look in the rear view mirror. But driving a car without a rear view mirror is very dangerous. In the same way, the church can’t move forward if we are clinging to past successes (or failures). The church also can’t move forward if we allow long held traditions to hinder us from reaching the lost in front of us.

But the church will never fully grasp the timeless mission if we continue moving forward without respect for the past. Those who have gone before us have a story to tell the next generation. And it needs to be heard. It is not irrelevant. It is not out-dated. Because it is the gospel transforming lives. And that message is timeless. The next generation (and the church as a whole) would do well to grasp this.

[tweet_box design=”default”]Those who have gone before us have a story to tell the next generation. And it needs to be heard.[/tweet_box]

4.) Don’t allow your works to outweigh your relationship with God…have more balance.

Micah 6:8. “Seek justice, love mercy, walk humbly with God.” I am not sure why we are this way, but Christians always swing on a pendulum. It’s one way or the other. All grace or none. Read the Bible literally or figuratively. And I ask, “Why one or the other?” Why can’t the answer be, “Yes!” Why can’t there be a third option…A and B?

There is a tendency in the next generation to view good works as an idol. It is the lense through which many tend to view the church as well…”That church is doing a lot of good things in the community, I want to go there.” And please understand me. It is our responsibility to seek justice.

But not at the expense of a relationship with God. We can do good things for the world every day of our lives, but never forget these two points…

1.) We can’t save the world
2.) All the good works in the world without a relationship with God are nothing more than philanthropy.

You see what drives us into the world for the glory of God is…the glory of God. Oversimplified? I don’t believe so.

God desires for you to walk humbly with Him. The church would benefit greatly from trying to stop figuring out which side of the pendulum God desires us to be. And start figuring out how to land the pendulum in the middle. I am getting exhausted going from side to side.

5.) Stop being cynical…it cripples transformation.

Alright this is not just a call to the next generation, but the next generation is finding faith in a culture built on cynicism. And it is dangerous. Just remember that you will NEVER find a perfect church. That’s the point of Jesus.

And your goal is not to come in and change a church culture. Only God can do that.

And your job is not to be a referee, constantly pointing out the wrongs in every church, but never actually being involved in the game. Stop thinking your job is to critique. And stop being cynical about the preacher’s sermon, or the children’s ministry, or the direction of the church. It serves no useful purpose.

Cynicism will eventually cause the collapse of our culture because it is founded on nothing. No substance. And it drives our thoughts, conversations, and decisions. Men and women gather for “prayer meetings” only to spend an hour talking about everything wrong with their church. And everything wrong with the people in it. Shame on us! We all should repent of our wickedness!

Cynicism hinders transparency and cripples transformation. The world has plenty of cynics. Don’t be one of those. The church needs men and women who will serve and love like Jesus. Men and women who will allow their words and decisions to be saturated with love and encouragement.

[tweet_box design=”default”]Cynicism hinders transparency and cripples transformation.[/tweet_box]

6.) Stop running a marathon like a sprint…think about tomorrow.

“Rome wasn’t built in a day”…or however the saying goes. Look, I understand where you are, next generation. I am speaking this to myself as well. But we must slow down. I know God has placed great things on your heart. Ideas that will change the world. But you must understand you will never finish a marathon if you run like a sprinter (unless you are a professional…but who lives in the world of technicalities?). The goal is not to start the race…we want to finish.

Changes are good, but they often take time. And remember, patience is a fruit of the Spirit. The church needs you, next generation. The church needs you to be as faithful and passionate in 30 years as you are today. Taking breaks is not evil. Utilize a regular Sabbath. Have some hobbies. It will prepare you for the marathon that is ahead.

The same is true for your decisions. Think about the future. Don’t make decisions without being cognizant of tomorrow. The church exists today because King Jesus reigns. The church will exist tomorrow for the same reason. Your actions are valuable to the church, but the church is not dependent on you. Yes, you are awesome…but not that awesome.

______________________________

I want to hear your feedback. Did I leave something out? Is there something the world needs to know about the next generation I did not say? Is there something about the previous generations the world needs to know? Comment below and let me know what you think.

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Faith

Church: 8 Things The Next Generation Needs From You

by Frank Powell
written by Frank Powell

Consider this a two-part post. This post will focus on what the next generation needs from the church. Naturally, part two will focus on what the church needs from the next generation. I am passionate about the next generation. This is a passion God has given me. I know the struggles. I feel the pain of so many who are tired of meaningless arguments and traditions. I sense the optimism of so many in the next generation who believe God is stirring up something great among his people.

So, here are 8 things the next generation needs from the church.

1.) Pray for their faith.

The next generation is struggling. The statistics prove it. They need you to stop bashing them and pray for them. Pray God will raise up men and women to lead the church. Pray God will ignite the hearts of the next generation to follow Jesus passionately. Pray the increasing hostility and apathy towards God will not pull more young people away from Him. The next generation needs the prayers of God’s people.

[tweet_box design=”default”]Stop bashing them the next generation and pray for them.[/tweet_box]

I know there is tension. I know the next generation handles situations differently. But this is bigger than tension or handling of situations. The church is losing the next generation. They need you to pray for their faith. Ask God for a revival in their hearts. In this country. Across this world. This my plea to you, church.

2.) Give them a seat.

No, the next generation is not equipped with the years of experience and wisdom. But when did age become a pre-requisite for God to work? Godly wisdom and age are not always connected.  What the next generation needs from the church is for you to give them a seat. Allow them space to express their thoughts. Their concerns. They are not asking to take over the table. But they want a seat at the table. And not as a concession or a formality. They need to be given a voice.

The next generation of Christians has valuable thoughts and insights. They understand the culture. They have a firm grasp on technology and social media. They realize the urgency. Let the next generation have a place. Do not look down on them because of their youth. The next generation has much to learn from those who have been involved in the life of the church for years. We want to learn. But we also want those who have been in the church for years to listen. Maybe the church can learn from the next generation as well.

3.) Encourage their walk.

The beauty of the Christian journey is all roads are not the same. Like a math problem. There might be only one answer…His name is Jesus. But there are different ways to find Jesus. Different paths…same answer. This is the case with Christianity and the gospel.

The next generation is finding Jesus. But they are doing it differently than generations past. Please do not develop animosity towards them because their journey towards Jesus looks different. Encourage their walk. Rejoice that people are finding Jesus. Do not force the next generation to conform to a previous way of doing things. Just point them to Jesus. Wherever they are in life. Help them remain grounded in the truth of God’s word. But do not make the Christian journey a “one size fits all” approach. God is bigger than that.

4.) Extend them grace.

As the next generation moves along in the journey, they will stumble. They will make mistakes. And when this happens, they need the church to be there. To pick them up. To dust them off. Encourage them to keep moving. Not to tell them, “I told you so.”

[tweet_box design=”default”]The next generation will stumble. When this happens, they need the church to be there.[/tweet_box]

No person is perfect. But it is one many people struggle to accept. The next generation needs the church to show them grace and compassion. I believe most who follow Jesus are doing so with a humble and sincere heart. Even so, many of them will make mistakes. Some “big” mistakes. When this happens, the next generation need you to extend them grace.

5.) Understand their struggles.

I am saddened to hear other Christians say the struggles today are no different than previous generations. The next generation is facing a unique set of struggles. Relativism. Post-modernism. Individualism. Yes, these were present in other generations. But not to this degree. This is the cultural norm for the next generation. We need the church to understand this. The culture is different today than in generations past.

It requires intentionality. It requires the work of the Spirit. It also requires community and prayer. Please do not quickly dismiss our struggles and our issues. Navigating culture for the glory of God is hard. Many young Christians are trying to live for Jesus in this culture. But the next generation understands reaching people for Jesus requires stepping into the culture. Engaging. Befriending. Loving. The world is no longer running to the church for help. Most are burnt out on religion. The church is seen as hypocritical, judgmental, and close-minded.

The next generation wants desperately to see those labels broken down. But sitting on the sidelines will only build the wall higher. The church must engage with culture. This looks different for every person. But understand the desire of the next generation is to love others like Jesus. This generation is not content with yelling at the darkness from the outside. They want to infect the darkness with love by infiltrating it for the glory of God. Might they run the risk of accusations? Being too accepting? Being too much like the world? Maybe, but they accept this risk. The cause of Christ is too important to the world.

6.) Take the first step.

I understand it is easy to say the younger generation doesn’t get it. “They are selfish. They are too accepting. They are standoffish.” Even if this is true, I want to encourage you to take the first step. Most in the next generation are longing for older mentors. Men and women who will reveal to them new layers of Christianity. I know this is the case for me. I greatly respect the journey of those who have come before me.

The next generation needs to hear your stories of faith. Your experiences with Jesus. There is much they can learn from the work the Lord has done through you.

The culture might tell you that the younger generation is prideful. That they do not want advice or counsel from others. We are lost without counsel from older, wiser men and women. We need you. But you must take the first step. Reach out to us. Lay down any pride that may exist. Reach out your hand to us. The future of the church might just depend on it.

7.) Point them to Jesus.

More than anything, this is what the next generation needs from the church. They need to see you pursuing Jesus with passion and zeal. They need to see a counter-cultural life. They need to see people not controlled by fear and human opinions. The next generation doesn’t need to see a new approach to imitating Jesus. They need to see a real one. One that is not hindered by human traditions. One that is founded and controlled by love.

The next generation needs to see the struggle. They need to see that Jesus is enough. Through suffering. Through persecution. When times are good. And when times are incredibly difficult.

[tweet_box design=”default”]The next generation needs to see the struggle. They need to see that Jesus is enough.[/tweet_box]

The next generation needs to see the ground is level at the foot of the cross. And this ground is where we all run. Because we know there is no other name in heaven or on earth by which we are saved. Or by which we live.

The next generation needs to see Jesus as your Savior. But they also need to see Jesus as your Lord. The next generation needs to see that the gospel informs issues such as politics and government, not the other way around. This is what the next generation needs. The Lordship of Jesus as the controlling power. I know I need to see that. Every decision. Every action. Every thought. Point the next generation to Jesus.

As Paul says in 1 Cor. 11:1, “Imitate me, as I imitate Christ.” Let this be your declaration to the next generation. Run to Jesus. I promise the next generation will run with you.

8.) Be OK with different.

The next generation is different. No doubt about that. There are differences in personality. Differences in ideology. Different ways to look at the world. Different ways to look at ministry and drawing people to Jesus. But this is not bad. We must all be OK with different. Different is not wrong…it is different.

So, what is important? Jesus. Love. Trust the next generation as they go into the world. Trust that the love of Jesus Christ will prevail in their hearts. And in the hearts of the people they encounter.

__________________________

What do you think? How does the church unify and move closer to together as we all move together towards Jesus? The next post will cover what the church needs from the next generation. If you think I have left out something, comment below.

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

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Faith

7 Lies American Culture Feeds Us Everyday

by Frank Powell
written by Frank Powell

It sucks finding out you’ve been deceived, but the moment the lie is exposed is important. Why? It is the moment the truth is brought to light. And the truth is what we are seeking. I believe that. No one inherently wants to live under a cloud of lies. No one wants to operate under a constant barrage of deceptions and false declarations. We want the truth.

But as the famous line from a A Few Good Men goes, “You can’t handle the truth.” Truth hurts. Truth often forces our hand. Asks us to change some things. But we are meant to know the truth. Especially if you are a follower of Jesus. It might not be easy. It might not be what we want. But it is absolutely what we need.

So, I guess it is time to fill you in…America is feeding us some lies. And many of us have accepted them. For years. For generations. The church has even been shaped by these lies. And I want to expose them.

So, here are 7 lies American culture feeds us every day.

1.) You can be anything you want to be.

I remember growing up watching Michael Jordan. Everyone wanted to “be like Mike.” And why not? Who doesn’t want to dunk from the free throw line? Gatorade created a genius tagline. But they also created an enormous lie.

And Americans believe this lie because it speaks to the core of American ideals. America does afford people opportunities other countries do not. I am thankful for this. But it is this value that creates the lie many believe everyday. “Word hard. Exert more effort. Don’t give up.” If you do these things, you can be anything you want to be.

No, you can’t. There are many things I could work hard to achieve and never actually achieve.

So, what is the truth? The truth is every person has a unique set of talents and abilities.

[tweet_box design=”default”]Joy and life are found in the pursuit of becoming the man or woman God has created you to be.[/tweet_box]

You can’t be anything you want to be. But this is a good thing. It frees you up to be the man or woman God has called you to be.

2.) My actions have no bearing on anybody else.

No man is an island. Sin has consequences that reach beyond the individual into the community of people around you. Even into creation. Travel back to the beginning. The sin committed in the Garden not only severed the harmonious relationship between God and man…it set into motion the degradation of creation. Death is not God’s plan. Even for plants and animals. See Romans 8.

And to this day, creation longs to be restored. Creation! Sin has consequences far beyond the individual.

To the guy or girl who believes lusting or a pornography addiction has no bearing on any other person, you have believed a lie. True, you might not be in a relationship now. But eventually you might. And your actions in the present will carry into that future relationship. To the guy or girl who thinks jealousy and bitterness are not hurting anyone else, you have been deceived. These will break down your relationships.

Never forget this. What you do in private will eventually be revealed in public.

[tweet_box design=”default”]What you do in private will eventually be revealed in public.[/tweet_box]

Your actions are affecting others. Maybe not in the moment. Maybe not tomorrow. But eventually it will happen.

3.) More money equals more happiness.

Some of you may remember a song called, “Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems.” Yes, it is a rap song. Don’t judge me. In this song, a few guys unknowingly spoke prophetically about the nature of money. Or maybe they knowingly did so. Regardless of the motive, their assertion is correct. More money often equals more problems. Or maybe more specifically…the pursuit of money equals more problems.

Here is the deal. Even those who blaspheme the name of Jesus will admit the pursuit of money is a tireless one. And an unattainable one.

Yet, in this country men and women are pursuing the unattainable. Christian men and women really aren’t much different. The Christian community has bought the lie that if you just reach a certain income level, you will be content. If you can acquire a certain number of trinkets, your life will have meaning.

But Scripture tells us this is a lie. Paul pleads with Timothy to preach a message of godliness with contentment financially (I Tim. 6:6). Solomon says the person who loves money will never be satisfied with it (Ecc. 5:10). Jesus says life is not found in an abundance of possessions (Luke 12:15).

Yeah, I believe “Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems” was more prophetic than we care to admit. Maybe Jesus was on to something when he told his apostles to pray, “Give us today our daily bread” (Matt. 6:11).

4.) If everybody is doing it, it must be ok.

Truth by majority vote. Stephen Colbert refers to this as “Wikiality.”  It is a growing trend in our culture today. It is also a scary one. All it takes is a majority vote to determine truth. Fifty-one percent.

And this idea appears logical. I mean, if the majority is doing it, it must be ok.

But you take a quick glimpse into American history and you see “wikialities” America has missed on. Take the period of slavery in our country. The majority somehow concluded that one person taking another person as a slave is an acceptable practice. Today, it sounds utterly ridiculous. But majority vote once determined it was acceptable.

One truth about truth (excuse my redundancy) is it should never change. It must be consistent. And this is the very opposite of who we are as humans.

There must be a truth higher than humanity that serves as a filter. Otherwise, we are all in enormous trouble. “Wikiality” is a lie. Be careful before you conclude something is alright because the majority says so.

5.) There is only one road I can take.

God has a plan for your life. But this idea that there is only one road in life is false. It is nowhere in Scripture. It is everywhere in culture.

I have witnessed this too many times. A college graduate is torn between two choices. They have come to a “fork in the road.” So, how do most people respond? Ask God for clarity. And inherent in this response is the notion that God has one road for you. Whether you choose the right one is directly dependent on your ability to seek Him.

If this is true, I am terrible at seeking the Lord. There have been many times in my life when I was presented with multiple options. And all of them appeared viable. So, I prayed to God for clarity. Cue the Jeopardy music. I waited. And waited. And waited. No sign. No clarity. Well, what now? Was I not praying hard enough? Did I choose the wrong road?

Absolutely not.

What if God doesn’t care which path we take? What if God’s design for your life is for you to seek Him with all of your heart. And when you get to a fork in the road…just choose a road.

Stop wasting months. Stop waiting on “clarity.” Stop agonizing over whether or not you chose the “right” road. Just choose a road. If you are seeking the Lord, there is no wrong road.

God’s plan for our lives is not always linear. This is a western mindset. Not a Biblical one. God’s direction can include branches and offsets. It can move linearly or non-linearly. The path to the final destination can be achieved more than one way.

So, when you get to a fork in the road of life…take it.

6.) Individualism is a noble pursuit.

[pullquote cite=”Richard Koch” type=”left”]If there is one defining quality of the West, it is individualism.[/pullquote]This statement from Richard Koch is absolutely true. Sad, but true. Individualism makes the claim you and I should not be dependent on any other person. You take care of you. At least this is individualism in the West.

The church is not much different. It is almost frowned upon to be dependent upon something or someone other than yourself. “Who cares if Jesus said stuff about losing your life? Who cares about all of that radical sacrifice stuff? God gave you a brain, he expects you to use it.”

Translation: God thinks logically. He would never expect you to make a decision that flies in the face of self-reliance. Don’t sell your house. Don’t give your savings to feed the hungry. Don’t move into the inner city. It is dangerous there.

You be dependent upon you. No one else. What an awful deception our culture has pitched us.

Tragically, the state of Christianity in America is one where faith in God is actually just faith in self with some Godly values attached. Dependence on self and faith in God are mutually exclusive. Choose a side. But don’t choose both. To choose both is to choose neither.

7.) If you are not busy, you are lazy.

American culture is filled with exhausted men and women. Depression is at an astronomically high rate. So is anxiety. Why? At least in part because we have a culture that says if every hour is not filled with something, you are lazy or unproductive. Even most vacations we plan are considered a waste if we are not constantly doing something. Seriously?!

This rubs hard against the ways and rhythms of Jesus. To Jesus, Sabbath and retreating were as integral to his mission as engaging, healing, and teaching.

“Jesus, are you really taking another Sabbath?!…for an entire day? You do this every week. Don’t you know we have office hours? Don’t you know we have things at the office that need to be done?”

We are a culture built on busyness. Eventually it will lead this country to implode on itself.

If we learn anything from Jesus, we learn this…productivity is not achieved without a constant rhythm of engage and retreat. Stop buying the lie. This culture doesn’t need busier people. This culture needs more productive people. It needs more people who follow the way of Jesus.

[tweet_box design=”default”]This culture doesn’t need busier people. This culture needs more productive people.[/tweet_box]

Retreating is not an insignificant activity. It might just be the most productive part of our week.

___________________________________________

Leave a comment below and let me know which cultural lies I have left off. Or you can comment on a lie I have already provided. I would love to have your insight. A community is always more valuable than an individual.

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

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Faith

Dear Christians…THE TIME IS NOW!

by Frank Powell
written by Frank Powell

Last night, I did something I haven’t done in a long time…watch the news. If you want a fast track to a depressed life, watch the news. Nothing positive. Nothing. And it amazes me that something founded on negativity, cynicism, and reporting everything bad about our country generates enough viewers to remain on TV. Maybe I shouldn’t be amazed. It is really a testament to the state of our culture.

But I realized something as I was watching the news…the time is now. It is time Christians. Our culture…our world needs to see something different. Our culture is decaying right in front of us. We desperately need to step up and show the world something new. Something Fresh. Something like…Jesus.

In a culture that is becoming increasingly “hostile” towards Christianity, this is not grounds for us to fade quietly into the night. It is grounds for us to stand up. It is grounds for us to show Jesus to the world more passionately. I believe with all my heart that if the culture were one of us, she would be groaning. Groaning because she does not like the state she is in. She is wounded. Broken. Dirty. In desperate need of a cleansing. In desperate need of a purging. In desperate need of something positive and true to grab hold of her and pull her out of the muck and mire.

I want to write a letter to Christians sharing my heart with you. I want to relay some thoughts the Spirit has shared with me.

Dear Christians,

The time is now.

The time is now…to stop allowing cynicism to characterize our words and thoughts.

Cynicism is decaying our culture at an exponential rate. Every conversation is negative. Message boards. News stations. Lunch conversations. Water cooler talks. Too many conversations are used as a weapon to tear down others. Too many hearts are filled with negativity. It is time for followers of Jesus to stop being so cynical. It is time for our speech to breathe life into others. It is time for our thoughts to be pure. It is time to heed the words of Paul when he says, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouth.” It is time for us to build up our leaders. Even if we do not agree with them. It is time for us to be different. To reverse the curse cynicism has placed on our culture. It is more destructive than we realize. Much more.

We are different, church. Our leaders are in their respective positions by the grace of God (Romans 13). Why are we not praying for our President instead of bashing him? Why are we not praying for our church leaders? Men and women are created in the image of God. There is no place for us to look at God’s creation cynically. God’s creation is good. The movement of God in the world is real. Alive. Let’s stop all this negativity and cynicism. The world needs to see something different. The time is now.

The time is now…to take our mission seriously.

We have a message that the world needs to hear. We have a message of redemption. A message of hope. A message that brings life. Yet we refuse to deliver it to the world. Shame on us. I am convinced the world is desperate to hear a message of stability.

We must start to view our days and weeks through the lenses of the gospel. Our co-workers need to hear the message of salvation and redemption. Our peers need to hear the message. Our friends and family need to hear. Every person needs to hear this message. It is time to share it.

It is time, church. Tomorrow is not promised. We have today. The time is now for us to penetrate darkness. We are the light of the world (Matt. 5:14). If we will collectively decide to step into darkness, this is the promise…darkness will go away. It must. Darkness must leave when light is present. It is time to stop hiding this little light of ours under a bush.

[tweet_box design=”default”]It is time to stop wading around in the pool of endless church activities and programs.[/tweet_box]

It is time to stop wading around in the pool of endless church activities and programs. The days of playing church and valuing church attendance over seeking the Lord must end. The world needs to see Jesus. We need to get out of the pool where everything is easy and everyone looks like us. Stop patting ourselves on the back because our pews are full. The time is now for the world to see Jesus and the fullness of His glory.

The time is now…to stop passively pursuing holiness and perfection.

No, perfection and holiness are not attainable through human effort. Yes, God expects us to pursue both. Praise God the gospel says we are a new creation through Jesus Christ.

But here is the deal…I encounter too many Christians passively pursuing holiness. It is not something that drives actions and decisions. It is not something many Christians run towards. God commands us to be holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). Different. Distinct. Set apart. Use whatever synonym you prefer. The truth remains.

The world needs to see us passionately running towards holiness. Should our actions not be different from those around us? The world doesn’t need to see us approving of shows and movies that blatantly mock the standard of God. Movies, shows, music, and conversations that mock the very things God values have no place in our lives. The time is now for us to put these things away and show the world holiness is more important than a few laughs or a couple hours of entertainment.

The time is now…to start loving one another.

The world doesn’t need to see more hate. Turn on the TV. Hate is everywhere. The world needs to see love. It is love that will draw the world to the glory of God (John 13:35). It is love that will cover over a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8).

And not some false form of conditional love…the world needs to see radical, unconditional love. The world is longing for this. I believe it. We need to love our spouses sacrificially. We need to love our children unconditionally. We need to love our parents passionately.

[tweet_box design=”default”]The time is now for Christians to come together.[/tweet_box]

The time is now for Christians to come together. Stop bickering. Stop bashing. Stop dividing. Love doesn’t mean we agree on everything. But it does mean we refuse to travel down any road that leads us to throw another person or group under the bridge. The time is now for us to embrace, not condemn. Show the world the glory of God through our unity. Not our uniformity. Not our unanimity. Our unity. The world needs to see this.

The time is now…to stop recklessly accumulating earthly possessions.

The world doesn’t need to see us get excited about purchasing a new car on Saturday, then be completely apathetic about worshipping the God who gave us the means to buy the car on Sunday.

The world doesn’t need to see us storing up piles of trinkets like a frantic kid in a toy store. It is time for us to start seeing our money through the lenses of the gospel. Yes, our money. It is time to push back darkness with our resources.

The time is now…to stop drowning in addictions and struggles.

God’s intention is for us to have life abundantly (John 10:10). Life to the fullest. It is not God’s intention for us to drown in addictions and moral failures. These are not who we are. It is time to fight. It is time to show the world God’s overcoming power. It is time to experience the life Jesus promised. It is time to show it the world. Stop buying the lie that says there is no way to have a meaningful life. Stop buying the lie you can’t overcome. The world needs to see that God’s strength and might annihilate any worldly power or struggle. They are no match. The world needs to see this.

[tweet_box design=”default”]The world needs to see that God’s strength and might annihilate any worldly power or struggle.[/tweet_box]

The time is now…to pray fervently for God to revive our hearts. 

All of this is a waste if God is not actively working to revive our own hearts. Too many of God’s people want God to ignite a revival in our world…but they have no desire for God to ignite a revival in their own hearts. Revival starts with us. God must set our hearts on fire for Him.

This will not happen by more effort or work on our part. This will only happen through a miracle of the Spirit. If we pray for God to heal our hearts and set us on fire for Him, I believe it will happen. But we must pray. Individually. Collectively. Constantly. We must pray. We must let go of ourselves. We must fall on our knees…and pray. The time is now. The world needs a revival. But it must start with us. It must begin in the heart of the individual.

The time is now. With all sincerity I write this letter. I hope you will join with me in living out these words.

Your friend and brother,

Frank Powell

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

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Faith

8 Ways To Ruin Your Life In College

by Frank Powell
written by Frank Powell

College signals a new season. For many, it is a return to normalcy. For some, it is a step closer to a degree. A step closer to “real life.” Whatever that means. For others, it is the beginning of life without the presence of mom and dad. College is a great time to learn, find yourself, build relationships, or any number of other things.

But here is a reality many in college fail to grasp…your time will end. You can’t stay in college forever. Whether you want to accept this reality or not, the reality remains.

[tweet_box design=”default”]College is not THE stop on the road of life…it is A stop.[/tweet_box]

With this reality in mind, it is important…no, it is vital…to understand your decisions and actions in college will directly affect the trajectory of your life. Many of us like to think we can be wild and free in college without any changes to the direction of our life. This would be great, but it’s not reality. Life doesn’t work this way.

Wasting your time in college can have catastrophic effects on the course of your life. Nobody wants that. I understand. But it happens.

So, how is it possible to ruin your life in college? There are many ways…I am giving you eight. Here they are.

1.) Neglect your relationship with God.

This is where we must begin. If your goal is to ruin your life in college, go ahead and neglect your relationship with God. Most of your peers will do it. Just follow the crowd. Put everything before God. School. Friends. Intramurals. I get it. You have a lot on your plate. Put God on the back burner for the next 4-5 years. You can pick Him up when you graduate. This is a great way to make faith in God very difficult after college. This is also a great to ensure your time in college will involve regret.

Your college years are the most formative years of your life. Many of your ideals and values will be shaped during this time. Don’t care to make God a huge value? Go ahead and spend time doing anything else. There are so many things competing for your morals and values. Doesn’t matter if you are at a Christian university or a secular university. If you want to find it, you do not have to look far. You get what you are looking for.

Are you looking for God?

2.) Do whatever it takes to “fit in” or be “popular.”

Frankly, I hate using these terms. What does it even mean to be “popular”? It implies a select group of people have fit the criteria needed to be determined “popular” by an ever-changing culture. Might change tomorrow, but today you are good. Kind of ridiculous really.

I understand, however, that the need to be accepted is real. I also understand it drives many, many people to compromise values and morals. So, if you want to ensure you ruin your life in college, listen to the lies of the culture. Believe acceptance is more important than integrity. Believe status is more important than morals. Put yourself in compromising situations. And surround yourself with people who believe like you do.

The culture makes you believe nothing is more important than being known by your peers. True, you might be considered “popular” by some. But your status lasts five years…max. The morals you must compromise to achieve your status might leave side effects that last a lifetime. Here is a good rule of thumb…

[tweet_box design=”default”]Never throw away something you control to gain something that can easily be taken from you.[/tweet_box]

Popularity can be snatched from you before you realize it. Your morals and values…no one can take those from you. You must give them up. Stand firm on your relationship with God. He is truth. His ways are pure and perfect. Stay close to Him.

Never trade in something you control to gain something that can be taken from you. That’s a bad deal.

3.) Live for the moment.

This is a great way to ruin your life in college. Just live for the moment. Don’t think about the consequences of your actions. Don’t think about the future. Shoot, don’t even think about tomorrow. Just do whatever feels good now. Living for the moment is like a drug. It skews your perspective and it blinds your perception.

Living for the moment doesn’t allow you to look into the future. It promises you satisfaction and pleasure right now…and it might be correct. Getting drunk…and driving. Having sex. Cheating on a test. Maybe you are able to relieve some stress. Have some temporary pleasure. Get a grade you desperately need. But living for the moment is dangerous.

Why? Because it is a moment. Once it passes, the rest of your life is in front of you. “Living for the moment” doesn’t give you a way to clean up the mess it often leaves behind.

It is like that friend who always stirs up the fight but never hangs around to participate. You know the friend. Usually the smallest one in your posse. But he (or she) has the loudest mouth. This is what living for the moment does. Stirs you up to do something, but never hangs around to see how it plays out. And it certainly never shows to clean the mess.

Ditch that friend now.

4.) Allow a degree to be more important than learning.

I needed to hear this when I was in college…learning is a gift from God. The primary goal of attending college is not to earn a degree…it is to learn. If your goal is to gain a piece of paper, you are wasting your time in college. College is a time to grow and prepare for the life ahead. Take advantage of the gift you have to learn. God has given you the opportunity.

Discover your gifts and talents. Strive for excellence in everything. Don’t cheat. Don’t rely on others to do the work for you. Don’t take the easy way out. The world is full of those people. They don’t leave much of an impact on the world. Start now building good disciplines. Learn. Grow. Prepare. This season of life is a gift from God.

How are you stewarding this gift?

5.) Live for yourself.

Nothing makes life more meaningless than living it for yourself. The culture is filled with people who use every waking moment to satisfy their own selfish desires. Don’t be one of those.

Here is a comforting truth…life is not about you. Don’t try to “get yours.” Try to give to others. Want to make sure you leave no impact on the world? Live for yourself. Only have friends that feed your ego. Soak up everything for yourself. Believe life is all about you.

Want to leave a mark on this world? Let God has rightful place in your life. Give Him the spotlight. Point others to Him. Leave an impression on others by serving them. You are in a position right now to impact a lot of lives. Maybe more than any other season of your life. You have an opportunity in front of you. Push back against the temptation to live for yourself.

6.) Spend all your free time doing anything meaningless.

Want to build some bad habits that are sure to follow you into a future career, marriage, etc.? Spend all of your free time doing stuff that has no value beyond the present. Watch every season of every show on Netflix…twice. Play every video game ever created. Have meaningless conversations that last hours…and make sure you spend spend the time talking about other people. Refresh your social media platforms every 30 seconds. Sleep 15 hours a day. These habits will make a future job, marriage, and family difficult to navigate.

I am not against movies, video games, and the occasional meaningless conversation. It is problematic, however, when your primary accomplishment is watching every season of Breaking Bad…five times.

Instead, spend more time reading. Spend time with God. Go outside. Put down your phone. Spend time doing homework. Who knows, you might have the time to get plugged in to a community of Christians.

Because most college students do not have hoards of money at their disposal, the most obvious way to determine what is important to you is to look at how you spend your time. So, what is most important?

7.) Make finding a spouse your ultimate goal.

Many of you will find this ridiculous. Sounds kind of crazy to me too. But in the culture where I find myself, this is a reality. Many people go to college to find a spouse. For some, it is the only reason they go. Here is what gets me about this. Much of the pressure to find a spouse is put on them by whom? Can you guess it…their parents and the people around them.

So, many people ship off to college to find a spouse, not a degree. But what happens when you get to your senior year and no real prospects are in sight? Uh oh…panic mode. Just pick Joe or Bonny. Yeah, you might be lowering your standards, but you must find a spouse before you leave. Right? Does this not sound a bit absurd?

Listen, I am not against finding a spouse in college. By all means, go right ahead. But don’t let the pursuit of a spouse consume your life. And, my goodness, please don’t let your only purpose for going to college be to find a spouse.

8.) Leave college with as much debt as possible.

Students I am going to be real with you. Colleges aren’t going to fill you in on the ways to cut down on your costs. They want your money. But students across the globe can be entitled to aid, including Sweden. Swedish aid for students is well appreciated.

But as a minister, I feel I must tell some of you something important…you are setting yourself up for failure. Tens of thousands of dollars in student loans plus a B. A. in Basket Making equals a mountain you can’t climb. I know so many people who are making a house payment every month in student loans. They went to a school that was insanely expensive with no plan to pay for it. Then they amplified the situation by majoring in something that did not allow them to pay off the loans they took out.

This issue hits close to home because many of these people are my friends and family. I love them, and I have witnessed their struggle. The massive mountain of debt is hurting their marriage. It is crippling their quality of life. If you are a student, you have a responsibility to think about your future. Every dollar you take out, you will have to pay back…with interest.

Make a smart, educated (nice pun, right?) choice. This decision will impact the rest of your life. Choose wisely.

Remember, college is not the stop on the road of life…it is a stop. Don’t allow four years of college to create a mountain you will spend the rest of your life trying to climb. That’s exhausting.

College and university is hard, that’s why it may be worth looking at college research papers for sale.

________________________________________________

I have so much love for those in college. I think you are going to change the world. But don’t allow the potential pitfalls to alter the course of your life. College is a formative time. Enjoy it. Take it seriously. Learn. Build relationships. Serve others. Protect your morals and faith. Make wise decisions. Have fun. Seek God.

What did I miss? Comment below and join the conversation.

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

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Faith

6 Discoveries That Helped Me Overcome Addiction

by Frank Powell
written by Frank Powell

This will be the hardest post I have written. Mostly because the words that follow will leave me vulnerable.

But I must do this. Even if shots are fired my way, I must move forward. Why? Because some of you have battled addiction too long. You need transformation. You need hope. You need healing. And I pray my struggle will give you the strength, conviction, and courage to change. It is through my struggle I pray some of you are liberated.

So, let me take a deep breath…pray…and get started.

Alright, it wasn’t a struggle…it was an addiction. A year ago this week the addiction I worked tirelessly to hide from the world came to light. It was exposed. And with that exposure came the subsequent crashing of my life. At least life as I knew it. The next several months were hard. Excruciatingly hard. Not just for me, but for my family. For the first time in my life, I had to acknowledge I was facing an opponent I could not defeat alone. I went to counseling for the first time. I battled depression for the first time. But through my experience I learned much about God and life.

Let it be known…I have no desire to give you a checklist to overcome pornography. Pornography (and addiction, in general) deserves more respect than that. So do you. Maybe you have read other articles about defeating pornography. I apologize for most of them. Ridiculous is the appropriate word. They encourage you to follow a magic step-by-step approach, and your addiction will be gone. It’s a great idea…but so is Santa Claus. The reality is they are both fake.

I am free from the addiction of pornography today. The path was not easy. Recovery is a road filled with potholes and sharp turns. There is no magic formula. But there are discoveries I made along the road to recovery that helped me turn the corner. I want to share those discoveries. Not in the hope that following this list will result in instant recovery for you. But in the hope that reading this list will challenge you to start (or continue) down the road. Turn a corner. Give you comfort.

So…here are 6 discoveries I made during my struggle with pornography that helped me overcome.

1.) Pornography does not define you.

The enemy wants to label you. He wants you to label yourself. You’re a porn addict. You’re a drug addict. Fill in the blank. But rest in the truth that what you do doesn’t define who you are. You have an addiction…yes. Your actions are sinful…yes. But those things are not who you are.

This is who you are…a child of God. You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). God’s love for you has not diminished or decreased. It will not. It cannot. Because it isn’t dependent upon your behavior.

During my struggle, Satan tried to tell me my pornography addiction disqualified me from God’s love. He tried to beat me into the ground with the constant whisper of lies. For years I bought them. At some point, however, God reminded me of my identity. Not a sinner. Not a porn addict. A child of His.

Regardless of how low you are. Regardless of how much you dislike yourself. Believe your identity is this…a child of God. Nothing more. Nothing less. Rest in it. Find peace in it. Work from it.

2.) God is not responsible for your addiction.

When humans struggle with anything in life, the tendency is to blame others. When it comes to addiction, the tendency is to blame God. At some point you will be tempted to do this. Don’t. It wasn’t until I stopped blaming God for my pornography addiction that I was able to start the process of recovery. Why? Because when you blame God, two huge problems arise…1.) You make a declaration about God that is contrary to His nature (James 1:13), 2.) You deflect responsibility from yourself, further crippling the road to recovery.

Yeah, I get it. It is easy to blame other people. External circumstances feed your porn addiction. Your spouse drives you to other people. You are beyond stressed from work. You can continue to use those as crutches if you choose. But remember, crutches prevent you from walking by yourself. Crutches prevent you from breaking free. And never forget this point…

[tweet_box design=”default”]If you allow God to be your crutch for addiction, He can never be your strength for recovery.[/tweet_box]

It will hurt. It will be hard. But nothing about this process is easy. Put down the crutches.

3.) You can’t overcome alone.

For years, I walked alone. I was ashamed. I was scared. Who wouldn’t be? But it is foolish to walk alone and believe you can break the cycle. I can’t tell you how many times I would view pornography, say to myself I would never do it again (and I meant it), then fall back.

The day everything changed for me was the day my wife joined the journey. She is amazing. She is the ultimate example of grace and steadfast love. I am convinced without her I would still be addicted. Her discovery of my porn addiction meant I was no longer walking alone.

If you have a porn addiction, I want to challenge you to tell someone. Stop hiding this. You can’t do it alone. You can’t. Stop trying. Get help. Find an accountability partner. Tell your small group. Get counseling. You can’t overcome this alone. You are powerless.

4.) There is no silver bullet to overcome pornography.

If you believe following a 10-step process will ensure you overcome a porn addiction, you are misguided. There is no silver bullet. Go ahead and read all the self-help books your heart desires. They will not heal you. I believe so many people struggle to overcome addiction because they are looking for a quick fix. Addiction doesn’t work this way. It takes time. It is not easy. The road to recovery is filled with people who are looking for a magic potion.

Those who make it to the other side have one quality in common…perseverance. They don’t look for a shortcut. They fight. They struggle. They crawl. They run. But they never give up.

5.) Don’t set long-term goals…ask God for strength to win each day.

I am a planner. I love to vision and look into the future. So, why not do the same with my pornography addiction? Here’s why…you will end up discouraged. Long term goals are like growth food for a pornography addiction. Each time you set a 6-month or 1-year goal and fail to reach it, the monster looks bigger and bigger. Defeating him looks more and more impossible.

Overcoming pornography happens when you get out of bed every morning and ask God for the strength to resist that day. Before you know it, you will start winning weeks. Then months. Then years. But if you start by trying to win years, you will lose most days. Don’t worry about long-term goals. They are meaningless in the initial stages of addiction. Focus on winning each day.

6.) God can handle your frustrations and anger.

Through the process there were times I was very angry, upset, and frustrated..at the same time. I would then have to fight the battle of keeping those feelings to myself. God isn’t okay with my anger and frustration. God doesn’t understand…so I thought.

Then I started to notice how many people struggled in the Bible. And I noticed the response of many I considered to be the “most holy.” They were honest. They were transparent. King David in particular. He was tabbed as a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). But this man after God’s heart was really honest with God. Too honest for my narrow theology. I would find myself telling David, “Stop talking to God like that. He deserves better.” Then I realized my stupidity. Here’s the deal…

[tweet_box design=”default”]If God is not big enough to handle my yelling and anger, He is not a God worth serving.[/tweet_box]

Go ahead and tell God how you feel. Close the door. Go off in the woods. Ride down the road. And be transparent with God. He will listen. He will hear you.

You have real fears. You have legitimate struggles. You are weak. God knows these things. Verbalize them. He can handle it. God is a big boy.

_____________________________________

I am not a counselor. I am not an expert on overcoming porn addiction. I am just a man. A man who understands the addictive power of pornography. The hurt associated with addiction. The loneliness of walking alone. The encouragement of walking with others. The exhilaration of overcoming through God’s power. And now I want to walk with you.

Addiction is not a respecter of persons. It will strike anyone. But God is not respecter of addiction. He hates it. He wants to celebrate with you as you overcome.

Believe I will be in prayer for you. I am praying now. Whoever you are. Whatever context you are in. Know you are not alone. I leave you with the verses I came back to repeatedly on my road to recovery…

[blockquote cite=”Romans 8:38-39″ type=”left”]For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.[/blockquote]

There is a contact form attached to this post in case you need to get in touch with me for any reason. Also, you can comment below. I would love to see the comments section serve as a place for people to find encouragement and strengthen.

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


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FaithTop 10

8 Lies In Church Culture That Cripple Us

by Frank Powell
written by Frank Powell

I love the church. I have given my life to the church. I believe in the church because I believe the King reigns over everything. There is a lot to be praised and celebrated when it comes to the church. There is another side though. We have bought some lies. These lies are hurting us. Crippling us. If the church is going to become the image of God in the world, there are lies we must drop. Here are 8 lies in church culture today that I believe are crippling us.

1.) Some sins are worse than others.

This is plaguing our church culture. Here’s why. It creates only two types of people. Group one: those that have not committed the “bad” sins. They have avoided the worst of the worst, so they tend to judge those that have not. Group two: those that have committed the “bad” sins. They are not stupid. They know once their virginity is gone, or they rape or murder somebody, God is really mad at them. The stares from group one tend be more direct and more apparent. Eventually, most in group two come to the realization they are just not good enough. Most in group one agree.

Some sins carry with them greater consequences…absolutely. Murder somebody…you get jail time. Gossip about your room mate…nothing. Both are sins. One has greater consequences. But this idea that avoiding a particular group of sins makes you more awesome than the group that has not is utterly ridiculous. Roman 3:23 has already settled it. We are all sinners. And in God’s eyes, there is only one group…sinners. That’s all of us.

It is time for the church to stop ranking sins. The cross is for every person. Let’s treat people this way.

[tweet_box design=”default”]It is time for the church to stop ranking sins. The cross is for every person.[/tweet_box]

2.) God does not expect that much from me.

You are right. God would only expect you to do what He has done. Wait…God sent His son to the cross to be murdered. For me? That’s crazy. So, tell me again why you think God does not expect much from you? God asks us to give our lives to Him (Romans 12:1-2). God asks us to kill our selfish desires. All of them. He asks us to live counter-culturally. Risk our lives, if necessary. Is that too much to ask? You decide.

3.) If you are a good communicator, you will be a good preacher or pastor.

What a terrible lie the church has given to so many young men. I fear it has created the circus show we have in many churches today. Preachers that are phenomenal communicators, but awful examples of Jesus. They are dishonest. They are in love with money. They are in love with fame. They are in love with everything except Jesus. Listen, being a great communicator does not make you a great preacher/pastor..its makes you a great communicator. A great preacher’s most important quality is his integrity.

So, when our young people step up to the pulpit or deliver a devotional thought at camp, let’s encourage them. Build them up. Give them more opportunities to lead and speak. But let’s stop anointing them as preachers because they do not stutter during a 10-minute devotional. We might just be feeding a beast that is devouring many of our churches.

4.) God is not ok with doubt and anger.

This would be a great idea if not for most of Psalms. I know why the mindset is present. It is disrespectful to yell at our earthly father and doubt his ways, so it must be the same (and more so) with God. Not terrible logic, but I direct you back to Psalms. Listen, God is all powerful. His love for you is so deep He sent His son to give you life. I think God can handle some doubt and anger. He knows this life is hard. He knows we are limited.

If you are reading this and have doubts about God, welcome to the club. I will pull you up a seat. Sometimes I struggle with things like a God who is everywhere at one time, three different Gods (but one God), and eternity. Doubt is an opportunity to draw near to God, not run from Him.

5.) God’s love for me is determined by my behavior.

The problem here…we think too highly of ourselves. If God’s love for you (or me) was determined by your behavior, He would be a crazy lunatic. He would also not have anybody to love. Here’s the deal. I suck at living up to God’s standard. Even on my most awesome day, I still end up light years short of God’s standard. Don’t freak out. God know this.

Enter…Jesus.

God loves you for one reason…his love is that deep (John 3:16). It’s not about you. Not at all. You are a child of God for one reason…Jesus. You can’t earn God’s love. You can’t earn God’s favor. Stop trying. You are driving down an exhausting road. Take the next exit and get off!

[tweet_box design=”default”]You are a child of God for one reason…Jesus. You can’t earn God’s love.[/tweet_box]

You are awesome because of God. When you really suck at life, praise God. His love for you hasn’t changed. When you knock it out of the park, praise God. His love for you hasn’t changed.

6.) We should never water down the message.

Alright, some of you are ready to write me off. Hear me out.

I am not interested in changing the message. The message must stay the same. It is the message of Jesus that transforms lives. It is of first importance (I Cor. 15:1-3). I am interested in changing the content of the message. This idea that the church should never alter the message so those who do not know Jesus can comprehend it is ridiculous.

“Frank, the Holy Spirit will do the work in those areas where people do not understand.”

Listen, I am a huge Holy Spirit guy. I believe in the Holy Spirit and His power. But tell me this…how is that working for you? You bringing non-Christians to Jesus with that mindset?

I was talking with a guy last week about this. He did not grow up in church. This guy has been a Christian for about 20 years now, and his words to me were striking. “Frank, I struggle to understand the message most Sundays. I don’t speak the language. So, most of the time I just tune out when the sermon starts.”

Translation: the church is speaking a language that is native to us, but foreign to those who have no framework for God. Call it Christianese. Call it whatever. But it is prideful to believe people should constantly reach up to our level. Tell me where you find that in Scripture? The prevailing theme is God and His people reaching down, not expecting others to reach up.

Yes, we have a standard. Yes, we are called to be holy. But that isn’t the issue here. The issue is making the gospel clear to everyone. It is equivalent to expecting a toddler to comprehend high school concepts. Ridiculous.

Churches that are bringing non-Christians to Jesus get this. The message is not watered down. It is convicting, and it is powerful. But it is not littered with big Christian words that only locals understand. If the goal is to make ourselves feel good and holy, keep using big words that only natives understand. Keep telling “insider” jokes that make locals laugh and outsiders feel awkward. But If the goal is to reach people that do not know Jesus, we must stop expecting them to know our language. Make a choice.

7.) God wants me to be happy.

Really? Where do you find that in Scripture? The word “happy” appears six times in the Bible, none of those in reference to God’s intention for your life. This is not a bad thing, though. Let’s be real…if God valued our happiness, He is a terrible God. Why? Happiness is more fleeting than a relationship on the Bachelor.

Right now, I am in a great mood. How quickly can that change? Let me pull out of this Starbucks and be t-boned at a red light by a granny who is too old to be driving anyway (sorry, I am bitter…forgive me). The other thing about happiness? It is almost always tied to the present. If we constantly lived for the present and our current happiness, what a miserable life most of us would have. How many times has something awesome birthed from something not so awesome?

The good news for you and me…God is much more concerned with lasting qualities like joy and peace. Those qualities that are unaffected by the fragility of life. Let’s all take a deep breath and say it together…God does not value my happiness. Now, doesn’t that feel good?

8.) We are growing!…Two families from across the road just joined our church.

Of all the lies, this one might be the most crippling to the church today. We have lost our purpose. We have forgotten our calling. We have neglected the Great Commission. Is it great to have a family from across the road join our church? Sure, but to view this as growth is dangerous. It is not growth. It is one Christian family moving from one church to another.

When will the church start looking at growth in terms of people that do not know Jesus? How many people have we baptized this year? How many people are in our buildings every Sunday that are searching? Is this not our mission?!

It is madness. There are people in this world that need Jesus. He is the ONLY source of life. Without a relationship with Jesus, there is no hope. None. And we arrogantly sit back week after week, lifting our chins high because two new families from down the road were tired of one church so they decided to give ours a try. “We are doing good…the church gained 8 people today.” No, the church gained those 8 people twenty years ago when they were baptized.

C’mon on church. Surely we are better than this?! It is time to run full speed towards the mission.

______________________

Join the conversation! What do you think? Are there other lies the church needs to squash? I love the church, and I want to see her become the unstoppable force Jesus Christ died to establish. By the power of God, we can do this. I believe we can!

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

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