I recently sent this email out to several family and friends to relay some thoughts and ponderings I have been facing since my resignation from ministry. These thoughts are mine but several come from other sources so all of them are not necessarily original – but I liked them because I felt they best examplified my thoughts as well.
My life, as all of you know, has faced some rocky roads here in the past few months. I have recently resigned my ministry position due to problems in the local church, which I will refer to as the organized church. Why? Because it seems every church has the same organizational structure – just a few alterations here and there.
I have become tired and stale to the workings of organized churches today – we have lost our place and position in society due to our ineffectiveness. Why am I tired? Follow along and maybe you have felt the same – if not, maybe you have some ponderings to add yourself. Read these and then read what I have to say at the end.
I am tired…
I am tired…..of watching the same people sit in the same churches week in and week out, with no visible spiritual growth at all.
I am tired…..of seeing people plop themselves down in church and seemingly state in their actions “Please Me”. Where in the Bible do we see worship is pleasing and focused on men? Read Isaiah 6 and then dare to plop down again.
I am tired…..of watching parents seemingly hand over the greatest gift given to them as parents, their children, to churches – allowing churches to train their children instead of themselves. Where in scripture is it found that churches replace parents?
I am tired…..of parents who fall for the lies above and then blame the church when their child falls to the wayside.
I am tired…..of those “Christians” who seem to think they have the deed to the church – in their name. Read Romans 12:1-2.
I am tired…..of churches whose idea of church “discipline” is to tear down those who are seemingly going through trials in their lives.
I am tired…..of churches who think that all ministries take place within the four walls of the church. Ever thought that maybe church could be a training ground for Christians and the world the ministry and mission fields?
I am tired…..of churches whose idea of church growth models consists of Baptist fellowship (gossip) of other churches’ problems and then swooping down to capture the wounded. Then we sit them next to the parents and “please me” crowd above – what kind of spark will we get?
I am tired…..of the same churches above whose other idea of church growth are watching other churches who are growing, then stealing their members to come to their church. Where do they sit? – Doesn’t matter because they will at the next church as soon as your church grows!
I am tired…..of watching people subscribe to the belief that all ministry is done through the staff but are the first to stand in line to complain when we fail.
I am tired…..of watching churches only staying along denominational lines when providing ministry to the surrounding communities. Yes, we have doctrinal beliefs but whether we sprinkle or dunk doesn’t mean we can’t stand together and minister unto the entire world! Some Baptists won’t even associate with other Baptists!
I am tired…..of churches whose belief in new ministry opportunities is copying what the other churches in town are doing. Hey – you gonna do Awana – do it because you want to see kids and families come to Christ and not simply to provide another event on the calendar!
I am tired…..of “Christians” whose idea of commitment is tied to the current month and not the year. And heaven forbid you call them on it – you’re judgmental!
I am tired…..of a lot of other things but, man, if we could fix these things the others would quickly fall away.
I KNOW – who am I to state these ponderings! Well – are they true or not?
Feeling guilty of some of these ponderings? If so, there is a program to fix it (we are Baptists, you know!). No, it’s not a 3, 5, 7 or 12 step program – just a 1 step program. The one step is found in the command we do not want to obey – Take up your cross and follow me. (Luke 9:23 and Matthew 16:24)
You want to see Christians train themselves to serve God? Take up your cross and follow me.
You want to see Christian exhibit true signs, or fruits, of faithfulness? Take up your cross and follow me.
You want to see parents’ exhibit true signs of biblical parenting? Take up your cross and follow me.
You want to see Churches actually become ministry centers to the community? Take up your cross and follow me.
You want to see Churches full of people eager to serve God, not themselves? Take up your cross and follow me.
You want to see the Church grow – follow the one step program! Take up your cross and follow me.
It was said to me recently that the most quoted verse was no longer John 3:16 but Matthew 7:1 (Do not judge, lest you be judged). So for those who look these ponderings and say “You are judgmental” I simply look at it as neither a glass half-full or a glass half-empty but say what it is: a glass of water. It is what it is! What are we, as today’s organized church, going to do about it?
I boldly predict that if the church stays on the same progress scale as it is on currently we will see churches literally die in leaps and bounds within two generations.
How do we fix today’s organized church? We must start with ourselves – no where else. Assume your responsibility as Christians, denying yourselves and following God. This command is personalized to each and every Christian.
Maybe the trials I have faced recently are part of bearing my cross – it is NOTHING compared to the sacrifice my Lord and Savior did for me!
It isn’t too late – I definitely have room to fix my errors. How about you?
God Bless, Sam
