Thursday, May 03, 2007
Shooting your dogs
I am currently reading this book, Confessions of a Reformission Rev - a witty yet profound book about church leadership. In it, the author, Mark Driscoll asks and challenges church and fellowship leaders: Do you have the guts to shoot your dogs?He explains: "Dogs are idiotic ideas, stinky styles, stupid systems, failed facilities, terrible technologies, loser leaders and pathetic people. Most churches and fellowships know who and what their dogs are, but simply lack the courage to pull the trigger and shoot their dogs. Therefore, it is vital to name with brutal candor the people, programs, structures and ministry philosophies that are dogs needing to be shot. Be sure to make it count and shoot them only once so that they don't come back and bite you."
Harsh words, but sensible truths. I was thinking about my own church and fellowship. What are the dogs do we need to shoot? Here are the ones I came up with...
- Situations where the pews that we sit on week after week listening to solid, challenging sermons are warmer than our hearts
- Individuals that do not look to be part of the solution, but never realise that they are part of the problem
- People cliques that are warm towards the 'inner circle ', but cold and neglecting towards strangers and outliers
- Circumstances where individuals burning out, whilst many observers and 'consumer-oriented' folks are sucking the church and fellowship dry
- Passitivity in men who lack the spine and the balls to overcome barriers, take up the mantle, and seize what God has called them to do
- Missing depth and realness in relationships, never getting pass the nicey-nicey chit chats
- Visitors and newcomers walking in and out without properly engaged and without anyone even noticing
The book has certainly made me ponder. I am definitely not excluded from being part of guilty parties that feed one or more of these dogs, or even being that dog.Shooting our dogs -- doesn't that sound harsh?
Well, I like the following reminder from the book:
Pastors and leaders of fellowships must fight like a soldier, train like an athelete, and work hard like a farmer (2 Tim 2:1-7). As leaders, we must exhibit God's grace, but we must also be tough. May the Father give us the wisdom to strike the right balance, and not err on being weighed down by either extreme.
I wonder if any of these dogs sound familiar to you, or if there are anymore?
Labels: Change / Progress, Christian Living, Church Life
Continue to read "Shooting your dogs...."# posted by Sal : 5:49 p.m.
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Saturday, November 04, 2006
Bridge Building
I read something this morning in the biography of Hudson Taylor in God's work in China, Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret. It reminded me of the vital ingredients that modern day fellowships need to recapture. The following account describes a sense of what the ministry was like:- "But there was something unmistakable, almost tangible about their spirit of service and love for the people [in that place]. It drew more and more people to the Bridge Street fellowship. Those who came brought others who also sensed the difference in that place-- a difference one new visitor recognized when he asked the friend who had brought him, 'Why does my heart feel so much wider when I come inside those doors?'
Perhaps it was because the Taylors' own hearts were as wide open doors as the doors of their mission to the people around them. For their ministry grew, and the promise of an even greater ministry grew with it."
In this account, Hudson Taylor's work was associated with Bridge Street fellowship. I found the name of this fellowship telling - Bridge Street, which brings to mind metaphors of building, reaching out and closing chasms. This picture is apt in a fellowship group that is focused on Christ, isn't it? It also reminds me how fruit does not come without sacrifice and cost. Bridges are often dangerous things to build. It takes effort, discipline and political will-- and more often than not, are built over risky terrains - be it over torrent rivers, deep ravines, or unrelenting flows of traffic. The building blocks and ingredients used need to be pure and not compromised.
In this metaphor of building bridges in a context for Jesus Christ, the foundations need to be present - individual and corporate hunger for more of God in Word and spirit; an increase in the stubborn obedience to follow Christ without compromise, and the solemn determination to manifest the reality of God's word to us through our many tribulations and failings.
"Why does my heart feel so much wider when I come inside those doors?"
Isn't that the essence of what Christ calls us towards in building communities? If every person who comes in contact with our fellowship has that sense, especially strangers, that would be incredible.
We need to get on our knees more to ask for more revelation, not merely on an individual level, but that the group could receive the "community-centered will" to be able to make strangers hearts feel "so much wider" when they walk through our doors. Our fellowships are not exclusive, paid-for membership clubs.
If we as a Christ-centered community are travelling together, but yet are not 'turning strangers into friends', then we have lost our way. If we have forgotten that Jesus was not only inclusive, but also went out of his way to embrace the lost, downtrodden and alienated, then we have forgotten who are are in Christ, and why we are here. In biblical language, we have 'lost our salt'. As usual, it's not our church/fellowship policy or creed that is the problem, it's our hearts. It's not "someone else's responsibility", it's mine.
Bridge building. We need to rediscover God's heart for strangers and outsiders. It often starts with this person called me.
Labels: Christian Living, Church Life, Relationships
Continue to read "Bridge Building...."# posted by Sal : 9:43 a.m.
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Sunday, October 29, 2006
Cost of Following Christ
God has been challenging me towards what I would term as "higher allegiances" over the past weeks. In the last few days, He has been more directed in terms of drawing me towards specific verses in His word.After breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," Peter replied, "you know I love you." "Then feed my lambs," Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question: "Simon son of John, do you love me?" "Yes, Lord," Peter said, "you know I love you." "Then take care of my sheep," Jesus said. Once more he asked him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, "Lord, you know everything. You know I love you." Jesus said, "Then feed my sheep. (John 21:15-17, NLT).
In the above account, Jesus was asking Peter a few times.... Do you love Me? The response from Peter was, in effect, "Yes Lord, you know I like you" -- hesitant and tentative. By the time Jesus asked the third time, Peter was hurt. I always wondered why - was he hurt because he felt Jesus didn't believe him? Was Peter hurt because he felt that Jesus was condemning him for denying Him? Did Peter feel like Jesus was rubbing salt in the wound? Perhaps...
But I read the passage with new eyes today. What I realised was that Peter was hurt because he knew he could not trust himself. Jesus was asking Peter three times to bring him back to his failures, not with a slap of condemnation, but to encourage him to count the cost of following the Master. Christ was in effect also saying, "Are you sure? Are you sure? Are you sure?"
"Count the cost, Peter. You denied me the last time you said you wouldn't. Did you think it was going to be easy?"
By then Peter was no longer the same person who was rash in saying yes without counting the cost. The sovereign Lord saw his heart. He was no longer speaking without any knowledge of what he was getting into. The brash, impulsive "I will follow you Lord anywhere" Peter has been broken. Disappointment. Anguish. Hurt. Scarred. In many ways, because his close association with Christ.
Do we know what its like to be broken inside by the Lord? The brokenness gives us a perspective not shaped by youthful impulsiveness, humanistic enthusiasm and foolish arrogance, but by a wiser, more sober disposition. Do we think our journeys with Christ is going to be easy? Christ will ask of all of us - I know He is challenging me - "When you say you love Me, what does it mean?"
- "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it-- lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple."
When you get a raw deal, one after another, after another. Just like Joseph.
When every one and every circumstance seems to be against you. Just like Elijah.
When the Lord requires that you sacrifice the things (or even that one thing) that you most cherish. Just like Abraham.
I was challenged: Do I love Christ, or do I merely follow the "hassle-free" notion of Christ in my head? Can I follow the Jesus that entails being a participant in His sufferings, one that involves a price to pay? If you have not honestly answered that question - sooner or later, He will ask you, if you are serious in following Him further as a disciple. Just as He has asked Peter. Just as He is asking me again now.This question -- and our response -- will be painful. Painful because it will shine light on the reality of our relationship with Him. How deep are the roots? How much are we truly following? Whom are we really following, Jesus or the notion of Jesus? Is it contingent on people and circumstances? Does it transcend things most precious to us?
Ultimately, Jesus requires of us to bury things precious to us to follow Him when the occasions call for it: To step out of our zones of comfort. Getting past fears. Getting past self-pity. Getting past the need for self-vindication. But not just to get past, but also to follow, and enter into His kingdom's purposes. Jesus says it many times when he puts out calls for disciples.
- Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, "Lord, I will follow You wherever You go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." Then He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God." And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house." But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9: 57-62, NKJV)
"I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." (John 21:18-19, NLT)
Labels: Church Life, Discipleship, Hardship / Struggles / Pain
Continue to read "Cost of Following Christ...."# posted by Sal : 11:03 p.m.
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Monday, May 01, 2006
Ship of fools?
Yesterday, at church members' meeting, we were reminded how as a church (or fellowship) on the move, our lives together is akin to a long voyage on a ship - the only way that the ship is going to make it is if we pull together.The pastor drew out five simple yet somewhat profound elements from life on a ship, which is required if the church or fellowship are to continue to be on the move. Here's what I noted down...
- Physical structure - the material elements of form, function, equipment and facilities.
- Personnel structure - the crew know their gifts, their functions and know how to pull their weight. We are all crew members, no-one should be a passenger.
- Compass & direction - ship's leaders know where they are and where they are headed; guided by the credible Source.
- Attacks & turbulence - we expect storms and adverse situations; if the ship is leaking, we not only need to bail water but also plug leaks. When unhealthy thoughts come (e.g. "nobody knows what I am going through", "things are not the same anymore", "my needs are not being met", etc), we have to be open to the possibility of the enemy at work.
- Comradeship & learning to bear each other's burdens - this is often the toughest challenge, where the 'attack' is from within the ship. In ministry, we sometimes indirectly demand recognition. We demand that people understand our motives and the decisions that we make. We demand that because we serve, our needs must be met. We want to look good rather than do right in the eyes of the Lord. We poke at the planks in others' eyes yet our own is sticking out like a sore thumb. Sometimes, we serve but do not carry a servant's heart. It is not a wonder there is hurt and disappointment.
Someone once quoted: Getting hurt in ministry is not merely a potential 'hazard of the trade.' Rather it is often the central process by which the best ministry gets done; that is, provided we stick on long enough. The easy route is to jump ship - there is nothing wrong with that, if that is where God is leading us.
To frame it further into the future: Will history record our ships reaching its intended destination with minimal casualties, or will it find a ship of fools sunk at the bottom of the sea?
Labels: Church Life, Hardship / Struggles / Pain
Continue to read "Ship of fools?...."# posted by Sal : 1:51 a.m.
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Friday, October 21, 2005
What does God require of our worship?
I have been writing about risks and going beyond what one is comfortable with a few stories back. Last Sunday, the Lord challenged me to do something totally out of what I would normally do. I have always been uncomfortable with the idea of what my personal response would be in relation to poverty and the problem of homelessness on the streets.
On a purely intellectual level, I am fine with the notion that as a Christian, we should help the homeless. But on a level of translating theory to action, I have never been able to put the pedal to the metal. Never engaged "them" in any way, never talked to "them" to understand their situation, and never offered to ask "them" if they needed food. I guess being a person from a middle-class background, where life's problems are never to do with the basics of shelter and food, it is easier to deal with the notion of people on the streets by turning a blind eye or justifying that it is their fault somehow that they are in that situation. So when the Lord put a finger on this, I struggled, trust me... I really struggled with this one.
The story, as short as I can make it (sorry), follows...
During morning worship, I was distracted by something foul, pungent enough for me to be curious. As I rolled my head round, I realised that it was emanating from a man sitting behind me, densely stubbled and with clothes that looked like it had not been washed in weeks. He literally stunk.
My first thoughts were that he was a vagabond. Although I do not remember exactly what my train of thoughts were thereafter. Reflecting on this now, I realise that my social filters kicked in and I just chose to blank out any thought of this homeless person. "A nuisance, but not a problem as long as he doesn't cause any issues", I reasoned. And I continued to worship.
Later, I notice him hanging around during the lunch time gathering. Again, I looked passed him and chose not to think about it.
During the evening service that same day, I sat in a different section. And there he was again, two rows behind me.
This time around, as we were singing, the Lord challenged me, "What does worship mean to you?"
Huh?
"Is it just singing?", He continued. "What does it really mean to you?"
I shifted uncomfortably where I stood. And I knew what the Lord was putting a finger on. It was the vagabond two rows behind me. What am I going to do about it? What does me confessing Jesus as Lord mean to that man behind me?
God then brought a verse:
What do I do? What do I say? Lord, what CAN I say to a person I have nothing in common with?
But I rarely ever walk up to strangers, especially the homeless.
I would just look stupid if I run out of things to say to him.
He probably does not need my help anyway. Someone else in the church will help him if he does.
The Lord continued, "Worship has to be manifest in works... Singing is but one way to worship Me. Because, worship is meeting another's needs and bringing them into My presence the way you are previleged to do. How can they if they are isolated and hungry?"
More verses came:
As you can imagine, I didn't get to worship much that night. This wrestling match went on throughout the songs - the words could come out of my mouth but it held very little meaning in the light of what God was asking me to do.
To cut the story short, I approached him during the drinks/refreshments time. After several false starts of trying to make a connection (he was hesitant to engage in conversation), I managed to strike up the courage to ask him if he wanted any food. He refused. But I would notice a couple of of times when he looked around for food, then grabbing coffee and biscuits. So I politely suggested again if I could go out and get him a sandwich. This time round, he asked what I had in mind.
The night ended with me running furiously (with a friend) to get food, hoping that the man would not have left and we were not too late. It was tiring, but exciting. Needless to say, God was faithful.
Epilogue: I manage to give our friend food. But the exchange was not one way. I was blessed with a perspective on worship from the Lord by obeying - something that is closer to His heart than we often realize: the helpless and downtrodden. True worship is living in a way that God is glorified through our lives. We worship in spirit and truth. And truth is truth whether we like it or not. Truth is truth whether we are comfortable with it or not. What matters is our response.
In the incident tonight, I have learned that not taking action means not showing mercy. And if I had ignored what the Spirit was saying, I would have worshipped God in a way that would have been convenient to me, but not in the way that God would have liked.
It is a sombre thought to ponder on how much our worship is pleasing to God. And how much of it is tied to our obedience to God's nudges. If we chose any other way but the Lord's will, we risk not embracing His best.
On a purely intellectual level, I am fine with the notion that as a Christian, we should help the homeless. But on a level of translating theory to action, I have never been able to put the pedal to the metal. Never engaged "them" in any way, never talked to "them" to understand their situation, and never offered to ask "them" if they needed food. I guess being a person from a middle-class background, where life's problems are never to do with the basics of shelter and food, it is easier to deal with the notion of people on the streets by turning a blind eye or justifying that it is their fault somehow that they are in that situation. So when the Lord put a finger on this, I struggled, trust me... I really struggled with this one.
The story, as short as I can make it (sorry), follows...
During morning worship, I was distracted by something foul, pungent enough for me to be curious. As I rolled my head round, I realised that it was emanating from a man sitting behind me, densely stubbled and with clothes that looked like it had not been washed in weeks. He literally stunk.
My first thoughts were that he was a vagabond. Although I do not remember exactly what my train of thoughts were thereafter. Reflecting on this now, I realise that my social filters kicked in and I just chose to blank out any thought of this homeless person. "A nuisance, but not a problem as long as he doesn't cause any issues", I reasoned. And I continued to worship.
Later, I notice him hanging around during the lunch time gathering. Again, I looked passed him and chose not to think about it.
During the evening service that same day, I sat in a different section. And there he was again, two rows behind me.
This time around, as we were singing, the Lord challenged me, "What does worship mean to you?"
Huh?
"Is it just singing?", He continued. "What does it really mean to you?"
I shifted uncomfortably where I stood. And I knew what the Lord was putting a finger on. It was the vagabond two rows behind me. What am I going to do about it? What does me confessing Jesus as Lord mean to that man behind me?
God then brought a verse:
- '...For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you took care of Me; I was in prison and you visited Me.' "Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or without clothes and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and visit You?' "And the King will answer them, 'I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.' [Matt 25:35-41]
What do I do? What do I say? Lord, what CAN I say to a person I have nothing in common with?
- You take the first step. I will tell you what to say and do next.
But I rarely ever walk up to strangers, especially the homeless.
- You take the first step. I will tell you what to say and do next.
I would just look stupid if I run out of things to say to him.
- You take the first step. I will tell you what to say and do next.
He probably does not need my help anyway. Someone else in the church will help him if he does.
- You take the first step. I will tell you what to say and do next.
The Lord continued, "Worship has to be manifest in works... Singing is but one way to worship Me. Because, worship is meeting another's needs and bringing them into My presence the way you are previleged to do. How can they if they are isolated and hungry?"
More verses came:
- "Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. Remember the prisoners as if chained with them--those who are mistreated--since you yourselves are in the body also. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." [Heb 13:1-3, Matt 5:46-48]
As you can imagine, I didn't get to worship much that night. This wrestling match went on throughout the songs - the words could come out of my mouth but it held very little meaning in the light of what God was asking me to do.
To cut the story short, I approached him during the drinks/refreshments time. After several false starts of trying to make a connection (he was hesitant to engage in conversation), I managed to strike up the courage to ask him if he wanted any food. He refused. But I would notice a couple of of times when he looked around for food, then grabbing coffee and biscuits. So I politely suggested again if I could go out and get him a sandwich. This time round, he asked what I had in mind.
The night ended with me running furiously (with a friend) to get food, hoping that the man would not have left and we were not too late. It was tiring, but exciting. Needless to say, God was faithful.
Epilogue: I manage to give our friend food. But the exchange was not one way. I was blessed with a perspective on worship from the Lord by obeying - something that is closer to His heart than we often realize: the helpless and downtrodden. True worship is living in a way that God is glorified through our lives. We worship in spirit and truth. And truth is truth whether we like it or not. Truth is truth whether we are comfortable with it or not. What matters is our response.
In the incident tonight, I have learned that not taking action means not showing mercy. And if I had ignored what the Spirit was saying, I would have worshipped God in a way that would have been convenient to me, but not in the way that God would have liked.
It is a sombre thought to ponder on how much our worship is pleasing to God. And how much of it is tied to our obedience to God's nudges. If we chose any other way but the Lord's will, we risk not embracing His best.
Labels: Christian Living, Church Life, God's Love, Worship
Continue to read "What does God require of our worship?...."# posted by Sal : 12:05 a.m.
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Saturday, May 07, 2005
Losing our gaze, away from Jesus
I was reading an article in The Times about the quandry of the church: "The Church that lost its spirit"
The title has got it spot on the kind of malaise that affects the wider church (read: institutional, organized religion) as a whole. But I was surprised. The article provides a 'complex' discussion of the various denominations and its problems, but there is not ONE reference to Jesus Christ.
Call me naive, but something is lost when we take our eyes of the very reason why the church exists. In these debates, it seems that very little is centered on what the Bible actually says. Instead it uses 'critical reasoning' and the noble-sounding pursuits like enlargement of human freedom and dignity, inclusiveness, modernity and tolerance, as a first base for arguments.
To me, the crisis in the church is symptomatic of an organization lost in the politics of drawing boundaries and 'protecting turfs', the pursuit of principles and dogmas, the mire of catching up with contemporary culture and the slow poison of compromise. This is an institution which has succumbed to the will of man (parading as the will of God) rather than the will of God.
The title has got it spot on the kind of malaise that affects the wider church (read: institutional, organized religion) as a whole. But I was surprised. The article provides a 'complex' discussion of the various denominations and its problems, but there is not ONE reference to Jesus Christ.
Call me naive, but something is lost when we take our eyes of the very reason why the church exists. In these debates, it seems that very little is centered on what the Bible actually says. Instead it uses 'critical reasoning' and the noble-sounding pursuits like enlargement of human freedom and dignity, inclusiveness, modernity and tolerance, as a first base for arguments.
To me, the crisis in the church is symptomatic of an organization lost in the politics of drawing boundaries and 'protecting turfs', the pursuit of principles and dogmas, the mire of catching up with contemporary culture and the slow poison of compromise. This is an institution which has succumbed to the will of man (parading as the will of God) rather than the will of God.
- But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! (2 Timothy 3:1-5)
There are too many religious people around who already 'play' church (or other forms of worship) - if anything else, no point adding to the statistics.
Labels: Christian Living, Church Life
Continue to read "Losing our gaze, away from Jesus...."# posted by Sal : 5:33 p.m.
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