A MEAL AND SALVATION

Today a group went for our monthly “Meal Out.” We went to the Airport Diner. They have the best fish and chips. I was approved to drive the company bus back in June, but this was just my second time on a trip. Finally letting me drive seemed to take forever.

The bus holds 14 people. We had fourteen sign up to go. However, we had one person drive. It ended up being a good thing. Maria is still made at me. This has been going on for nearly one year. She does not forgive and the bigger problem is that it is her fault. She had no intention of riding in the bus with me driving. I have to laugh. She acts like a child and pouts when I am around. I ran into her at the mailbox a couple of days ago and said, “Good Morning” as cheerfully as I could. She frowned and turned her head away and said nothing. I expected that. So when I left I said, “Now you have a wonderful day.” I am determined to treat her with love regardless of her responses. In fact, maybe she isn’t mad at me, but embarrassed by her own actions. I think I’ll choose to see it that way.

I have tried twice before to take wheelchairs on the bus, but the lift has never worked. Twice I have left a couple of wheelchair tenants while the rest went off. I hate that. But I have since learned all the little tricks to make that lift work. So I was very excited as Chas was able to go with us, and the Airport Diner is one of his favorite places. In fact, I was giddy. I had trouble with some of the straps that hold the chair in place. If I had two chairs, we would have had a problem. I could not find all the straps needed for two chairs.

I’m reading “Breakfast at Sally’s” by Richard LeMieux. Wish I could pronounce his last name. It is the story of a homeless man’s inspirational journey. He was homeless in Bremerton so the book is having a wonderful impact in our area.

I just finished the chapter titled “I Get Saved.” It reminded me of everything I hate about pushy overly religious churches. They over use the God word’s, which only makes me wonder if his faith is real. I was so irritated with the pastor that I wanted to go find him and punch his lights out. He owned a car dealership, repossessed cars and was a slum landlord. And he and his wife jetted all over the country for entertainment. He loved the shows in Las Vegas. I know all are not bad, but the way he talked about women I could see him going to gawk at the showgirls (my imagination). Worst was is clear distain for the poor,

Richard was asked to attend the church to meet a woman who was going to provide a dry place for him to live for a while. At the service he was called out by name to be saved. This tiny extreme Pentecostal church all ended up laying hands on him and praying for his salvation. The only way he could figure to end this was to “accept Jesus.” I didn’t blame him. I blamed the church. I know how he felt. I have had that same experience as a child. It is threatening. You come to Jesus out of fear, and rarely do it with a sincere heart.

You can’t hear my pain, anger and frustration, but emotionally I would like to put the church out of business. They call themselves Bible believing fundamentalist and I find that embarrassing. I want to find anew term to identify with. I think I’ll just call myself a God lover.

MOVIES

Run do not walk to the nearest theater to see “Courageous.” It is the most powerful and entertaining sermon I have ever heard/seen on the value and responsibility of fatherhood. And take Kleenex, a lot of Kleenex. You most likely will need it unless you way more control over your emotions than I.

Courageous is the fourth film from Sherwood Pictures, the film division of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia. Perhaps you saw “Facing Giants” or “Fireproof” films 2 and 3 of their wildly successful film division. With each film they have become more and more successful. Fireproof was made for $500,000 and took in $33 million. With the profits they built and 82 acre sports complex for the community just to give back to Albany.

The senior Pastor, Michael Catt writes about the beginning of this ministry.

“I met Alex Kendrick while preaching at a youth camp one summer and was impressed with his videos and media talents. When the time came for us to fill the Media Minister position on staff, I contacted Alex. Though Alex was using his gifts and talents in ministry, he was not the director of media for his church. I saw a diamond in the rough. Alex came on board in 1999, and we called his brother Stephen in 2001.

“God had been preparing these two from childhood to make movies. As kids they lived next door to a man who was interested in technical gadgets. He bought stop-and-go animation cameras, and Alex and Stephen used his equipment to make short videos. For years the boys put together homemade “chase ‘em down and beat ‘em up” movies. Later they produced commercials, movie trailers and even school projects.

“All along, their parents supported them through prayer and by modeling authentic Christianity. As a result, Alex has long had a deep desire to make Christian films.

“The Kendrick brothers are an asset to our staff. They have a great respect for pastoral authority and are very teachable. They have put aside egos and brotherly competition to produce movies that have made a mark on our church, on the culture and around the world. Through His sovereignty, God even placed their families in the same neighborhood in Albany. This has allowed Alex and Stephen to work on story ideas or write scripts more easily.

“After reading an article from George Barna listing the top cultural influences, we learned that church was sliding down the scale while movies, media and music were becoming the predominant means of influence. Since the church was listed behind sports, education and movies we concluded we could either complain about this or address it. This mindset has been the key initiative behind the development of the Sports Park, Sherwood Christian Academy and Sherwood Pictures.

“In 2001 we went to Orlando, Florida, for staff retreat and took a day off to hang out at Disney World. We took a behind the scenes tour and learned about their “imagineers.” As we walked around the park observing the attention to detail everywhere, we were challenged with this thought: If a secular company can be this committed to excellence, why can’t the church of Jesus Christ?

“While in Orlando, I talked with Alex about where he wanted to be in five to ten years. He said, “I want to make movies, but no church is going to let me stay on staff and do that.” I replied, “Why not? Bring me a script and a budget, and let’s see if God is in it.” That conversation was the genesis of Sherwood Pictures. Our goal from day one has been to make family-friendly movies that build on the Judeo Christian ethic and communicate the gospel without compromise. We want to make movies you could take your girlfriend or your grandmother to without embarrassment.”

They has succeeded, May they be blessed multiply abundantly. I have seen “Facing Giants” and now “Courageous.” I have ordered “Fireproof” from Netflix. If this is the future of faith based films we are in good hands.

CHURCHES HAVE CHANGED — GOOD

There is something pretty cool about church today (is cool still an OK word). Actually there was nothing very special it was just how things stuck me.

Churches have certainly changed. My next-door neighbor at The Home turns 90 tomorrow. Unlike most around here, she is excited and looking forward to the event. Her daughter brought a cake (delicious) and we sang happy birthday. It was fun and felt like a celebration. During his message the pastor celebrated the ministry of three people. The thrill of that is strongly felt in a small congregation. Rather than being exclusive it felt like and encouragement to join the team. When you know a little about the lives of these people and where they have been it is exciting.

When I began getting paid to minister back in 1964 there were very strict rules church volunteers about who could be a lay minister, what they could wear in the ministry and how they lived. To my shame, I accepted many of those extra Biblical guidelines while unsuccessfully challenging others.

Certainly no one who smoked or drank could have a public ministry. Divorcees could have a ministry if they moved on to another church and no one ever found out they had been divorced. If divorcees wanted to be remarried, our church would not perform the wedding, but if they fund another way to be married we would accept them back as attendees (this made my blood boil).

Never get caught drinking – better yet, never drink. Behavior was always an issue. No new believer should ever be allowed in ministry. They aren’t mature enough. What maturity does it take to usher, greet, handout bulletins. Not all are called to be teachers. There was always to be a waiting period. I was never sure what we were waiting for, but the waiting period varied from church to church. Five to ten years seemed about right. Acceptable music instruments were the piano and organ. A guitar could be used at camp and with the youth. That really was a big mistake. Youth grow up and become leaders in the church and –guess what – they want guitars, drums, bass guitars, etc. Heavens, the church is falling apart. No really. You’ll see.

If you are an evangelical Christian you recognize some of these “guidelines” that we added to our own writing of Leviticus.

My church has an ashtray outside the front door. People finish their smokes before entering and some come out during the break for another. Halfway through the service there is a break to get coffee and a donut. People eat and drink during the preaching (Yikes, crumbs, spills in the house of the Lord). Today we had cake and donuts. Naturally we have all those forbidden instruments.

For us of the older evangelical crowd, this place is rather strange. The music is loud. I don’t really see a problem as many of us are going deaf anyway. But God is real and God is at work. To me the foundation of this church comes out of an addiction recovery group. This congregation understands lapses. Two steps forward, one step back. They celebrate every return to the right path rather than condemn the trip and fall.

A young man returned to church today after a brief time in jail. He was hugged and loved and welcomed. He is on his way back. There is at least one unmarried couple living together and with the conviction of God in their heart, are now making plans to marry. Others have done the same thing. See God can work in a life without us handing them the church rulebook.

This church is a spiritual hospital. The broken, bleeding and seriously damaged walk though the doors and are welcomed with open arms. No one looks down on them. No one condemns them. Most believe they are in exactly the right place. There are many spiritual doctors and nurses and aides available to help! And when you fall, caregivers weep and longs for the healing to begin again. A crash and burn is the norm. Not just here, but everywhere. What draws me is knowing that does not mean God is done with you nor are you done with God. They just had an accident and have returned to the place of healing.

I need to go and cut more pieces of cake and put them on plates. It will be easier to get all if they are already served up, besides Cindy brings a busload of folks from the senior center where she works and her arm is in a cast today. She is struggling to get her wards coffee and cake. I can help her because I see the need.

MEN'S BREAKFASTS

I have never cared much for church sponsored Men’s Breakfasts. And business or Chamber of Commerce breakfasts are worse.

I know it is probably just I and those of you who have gone to some may love them. Blessing on you. I am not one of those people. Forgive me.

Men come to these and treat them as their own little private gathering with their friends. I suppose that’s not horrible, but it is sure threatening if you are new or not one of those special groups. These are often promoted as a place to come and meet some of the men in the church. They used to always be called a “fellowship groups.” This will prove to you that I have been around churches too long. It’s not the worse word one could use, but where else in this big wide semi-wonderful word is “fellowship” used as often as it is/was in the church.

When “fellowship” was mentioned it meant food. As a young skinny guy (wait a minute, was I ever skinny). As a younger thinner man, it was much easier to say, bring the food on. I started eating way too much very early. Now I am a big man. I think I like the expression used for larger women better — plus size. Plus what? And I digress.

So back to the subject: Community breakfasts were for the purpose of connecting and trying to sell your wares to one another. They certainly never used the word “fellowship.” And I never sold anyone anything. I have the wrong personality.

So all these groups come together to eat much connect for selfish purposes and listened to someone talk and talk and talk. I have avoided these gathering for a very long time now.

I broke that pattern this morning and went to my church’s Men’s Breakfast. I convinced a friend to go with me so I would not be alone. There were only eight of us. It was initially a little awkward with all conversation between an individual and the pastor/ OK, that’s a food place to start. With three church services one does not know if people are new or just attend a different service. As it turned out, two guys were really new. One had attended Sunday for the first time and he brought a buddy who had never attended. I still consider myself on the somewhat new side. I don’t know very many people, but was hopping this might help make that change. Besides these guys, I didn’t know two others as well.

At the beginning it was the normal, insignificant chitchat, an OK place to start. But it was the “never attended guy” that got the fun conversation going.

I don’t think he was specifically directing his question to me but he looked at me asked if I collected coins. Of course, I do, but I spend them as soon as I get them. There was a smile but people began to ask him questions and the conversation got going on collections. It ended up being a great morning of getting to know each other a lot better, having many great laughs, and finding out that many of us watch the same History Channel shows. My only regret was that I didn’t know the names of four of the guys that were there, until we were all getting ready to leave. The “never attended guy” got that rolling as well by asking us our names and introducing himself. I loved it.

So I have an idea. Some of the more regular guys need to have in their head two or three general conversation starter questions that will open up the group. It will most likely going to take off from there. Keep them easy and open ended with a design to get people acquainted. Yes, I know this is much easier with eight people than three hundred and that is a whole different dynamic. But if the group were that large, I would stay home.

Of course this will not work every time, but anything to make it enjoyable and help the group reach the [point where they don't walk out as soon as they finish eating. We had only waffles and some toppings. A perfect amount and someone remember us diabetics. Yeah!

WITH REGRETS

Yesterday I wrote a script for a video interview the pastor wanted to use to introduce me when I speak (or fall on my face) this next Sunday. I don’t know if I slept wrong, got up on the wrong side of the bed or just ate something that messed me up — but I hated it.

Reminds me of when I was working with the Portrait Players and trying to write a script at the same time. I would bring the pages I had written to rehearsal, the cast would memorize them and the next rehearsal I would throw all or most of those out and give them new pages. When I saw the scenes in rehearsal they sucked. Of course that was not a phrase used in them olden days.

So where am I today? I would just as soon drop the whole video interview. Lets just go ahead and throw me to the wolves without further ado. But that is not likely going to happen. Let’s just go o the interview like 20 minutes. Maybe I should do it in shadows or with my voice altered.

Six from the home are on their Alaska cruise and will stop at Juneau for their first day back on land. All are new cruisers (like I have experience. I did make the Alaska Inland Passage cruise — once). The group is nervous. They were afraid it would be raining the whole trip. The night before I check the coming weather at all their stops and they were right. It’s raining. They went this week because it is the last week of the Alaska cruises for the season and therefore the most economical. I helped them get this discounted trip together. I hope they forgot that. If it is also foggy they are likely to see almost nothing. They are excited about the tour of Glacier Bay National Park. But if it is foggy and rainy, they may see nothing. I think I’ll hide when they return until I know if they had a good time.

NOT MINE

I loved this letter from a pastor friend. I’m going to turn my column over to him for the day. I will have my usual snide remarks the end.

“Too bad you couldn't have been with me yesterday. I had the Mennonite funeral in Elmira. I don't know if you have ever been to Elmira or St. Jacobs. They are just a few miles apart and both are tourist attractions--BIG TIME! People come from all over to see the Amish people in their buggies and colorless dress. The town is always full of tourist year round winter and summer. It was really different to be there and be a part of the normal things going on there. It was a fairly large funeral and 3/4 were old order Mennonite. We sang 3 hymns and I was told that a man who is used to leading singing in the Mennonite church would lead the hymns. When I met him before the service, he was in a black suit with a Nehru collar, and no tie. He said that he wouldn't get up and lead because that is not part of their culture. So he sat among the pallbearers and led out--his voice only--no piano, guitars or drums. Then they all joined in and it was absolutely awesome! They all sang in parts and all with no accompaniment. It would almost bring tears to your eyes.

It was surreal to look out on all these Mennonite ladies with their black bonnets; only a handful had white covers on. The men were all in black with no adornments. After the service we progressed through town out to the Mennonite cemetery on the edge of town. There is a large plain white meetinghouse with no windows, and closed doors. We drove through the horse parking lot with poles to hitch your horse, and then out into the old order section of the graveyard with all it's plain white rectangular gravestones, with names carved on them. Everyone is the same so that no one stands out. I led the graveside service with all these people around me. They all stood there speechless after my closing prayer and the casket was lowered down into the wooden box in the grave. Some come forward and look down into the hole, all with no expression or comments. Then they stand and talk to each other--no hugging or contact, just conversation. I felt like I was in a movie! There were just 8 people from non-Mennonite churches dressed as city people would. Then we went back to the funeral home and had a really nice lunch

Today I feel really wacked out. It took more out of me than I had expected. I think it was just the pressure of being so out of my element, and hoping I didn't do anything or say anything to disgrace myself. They don't like any pictures in the funeral home, or any flowers. There were 3 bouquets though which were likely from the non-Mennonites. Also a lady at from the city church set up some pictures. The deceased had lived with her and her family for 24 years. He left the old order and worked for farmers. His job came to an end and he was attending the significantly more American culture Church--actually his health gave out. He must have been late 60's at that time. So the lady from our church took him in and he became a definite part of their family. You could see that they were more in mourning that any of his relatives. We think that he was "shunned" because he left the old order church. In spite of that they turned out in good numbers. So she put up some pictures of him at their family activities. After putting it up she heard that pictures were offensive, and so were flowers. She also had a basket of flowers. One of the deceased's nephews said, "I don't care what they say I am putting in a basket of flowers for Uncle David. So she just left what she had there. Guess they just had to adjust. I didn't see any of them looking at the pictures.”

Old Order Mennonites traditions do not mix with mine. I will never say they cannot know God doing it their way. They have some pieces that I greatly admire. The churches in which I was raised and the early churches I served were extremely musical. The congregations sang. I love the beauty of congregational singing without accompaniment. Today’s music approach is to put a band up front to lead us. I have transitioned to virtually ever style of music the church has adopted. That comes with 35 years of youth work. I have accepted it all because I believe the message is in the words. But I watch congregations barely singing but being entertained by the band. A few people worship and most watch. I miss the beauty of participation.

I have always struggled with the concept of shunning. Old Oder Mennonites have a formal way to reject people. We believe we are more polite and kind about rejection. We simply ignore those we reject. We do not talk to them, accept them or include them. Which is which? I am sad when one who does not know Christ dies. I also I do not know what decisions are made in those last days of life when they know their end on earth is coming. I will not judge. But whatever their situation, I want to celebrate their life and the privilege I had of knowing them. Death is sad, but I will never understand not wanting to even look at a photo of one you loved. It is the images created through the gifts God gave His creatures that add to the beauty of His work.

FUN FOR ME

I spend a few hours with a pastor friend today and had the opportunity to do something I really enjoy. I think I had forgotten how much fun it was for me to do a visual review of a church to see if we can find an economical way to enhance curb appeal and interior sanctuary appearance.

We schedule the meeting for today a week ago so I took several photos of the streets around the church and the entrance the Sunday before. I attend a very small, but inclusive church that is growing. They have a very significant ministry to people with addictions. I love this about the church. They are the first evangelical church I have ever visited with a container for smokers out the front door.

They have asked their church leaders to park away from the church so visitors can park close. The theory is good for larger churches, but when a small church does that it has a dramatically different affect. If you are out looking to eat at a new restaurant what do you look for first? A full parking lot, right! We interpret that to mean the food is good. Well, when a visitor pulls up to our church it looks like no one is home. There is not a single car parked near enough to even assume they are at the church. Park close and have every home bring every car they have. Jam the streets. It will look like it is on the inside. The way the streets look now, the church looks closed.

The next concern really is curb appeal. What do you want people to think or see when they drive past? It’s the same with our homes. We want them to look attractive and inviting. The paint on the church is nice. The small lawn is well cared for and shrubbery is neatly trimmed. The sidewalks are smooth and there is a concrete ramp for wheelchairs. But the front still looks dull. The entrance is small and set bank in an alcove about 24’ deep with no light above the door. While the rest of the church is bright, the dark purple doors are foreboding.

But with the magic of Photoshop showed how a lighter color on the door would enhance the entrance and added flower boxes on the top rails could provide very nice color. In regard to parking I added cars to the street on a Google World view of the church area so he could see the difference. The pictures sold him on all these things. Wish I had this technology 30 years ago when I was doing this.

This type of evaluation is best done with medium to small churches that are older. Our building only holds 110 people. Two services are on Sunday morning and one Saturday night. At the moment we are only crowed in the third service. So we went inside and figured out how to add another 19-20 chairs. This may seem small, but it adds 20% more searing. There is a children’s church beginning when they arrive and the band that has played for all three churches on a weekend so leave after the music set of the second morning service. This combination takes about 25 people out of the sanctuary. I assume this is boring to most, but I have always been fascinated with how one can make cheap changes for appearance. Like I always used to tell pastors. This will do nothing to improve the ministry of your church, but it may seem less threatening to enter.

Along the lines of eliminating threat we are hosting a Christmas Craft Fair with the primary intent of helping the vendors make money. Not very spiritual is it? But the church is beautiful at Christmas, the music will be live and the baked goods will fill your nostrils with such temptation you may even have to take something home. The side benefit is that it may eliminate some fear of entering a church. If not, I sure hope I make some money. I did last year.

AND THE LORD SAID…

I’m reading “The Given Day” by Dennis LeHane. It’s not the kind of book my parents would have approved. The language you know. Tonight I read a passage that helps put words to my real feeling about growing up in the church.

The story is set in 1917 America. Luther and Lila left Ohio when he lost his job and moved to Oklahoma where her aunt would help him get a job. At their arrival Aunt Marta learned that Lila was pregnant and not married to Luther. Uncle Cornelius is a minister and neither was going to allow an unmarried couple to live together in sin in their home. Besides, Luther needed to man up and marry the woman he made with child. They were married that night. Luther sort of loved Lila, but at 22 was not ready to settle down to one woman.

Luther got a job and began spending nights out with the boys drinking whisky, playing pool and taking small amounts of heron. He feels Lila is holding him back. On Sundays they attend church and spend the afternoon with the aunt and uncle. Luther is upset that they all seem to be trying to be white folk. He hates them for this and thinks they will never be accepted no matter how hard they imitate white behavior.

So often the Sunday afternoon conversation turned to what God thought about things and it irritated Luther. This quote hit me like a ton of bricks.

“Their saying fell more along the lines of ‘The Lord hates a …’ and ‘The Lord don’t …’ and “The Lord shall not abide …’ Making God sound like one irritable master, quick with the whip.

All I knew as a young teen was that I didn’t like church. I didn’t like the screaming, the crying, the threatening and I was afraid of God. Few at that time in history came to God because of love and compassion, but rather as a fire insurance policy to escape hell. I have told many a person that growing up in my church I believed God had declared that anything fun for a teen was a sin. The only thing they never mentioned was what to do about sexual urges so a good many kids stayed out of pool halls and movie theaters and did not play cards, but needing to do something with their time they were necking in very dark places. No one said they couldn’t.

I good friend of mine drew me into a Bible quizzing program with Youth for Christ. What that did was cause me to begin to read the Bible. That led me to a grand search for the “no’s” of God. There were some, But I found more “do’s”. Neither did I find a single no about most of what I was hearing preachers say was an abomination to the Lord. In fact I began to see how ticked off God was at all the phony baloney leaders laying guilt trips on people He loved and laying burdens on the laity that were to heavy to bear.

That’s why Martin Luther tacked his thesis on the Wittenberg church door. It is by Grace we are saved, not by works. Scripture has everything to do with “doing” and very little do with “don’t” The don’ts there are seem to be very much common sense which explains a lot since there is not much common sense going around these parts.

CHURCH CLOSURE

It’s rare that I get involved in the same conversation with two different people on two different days and it has nothing to do with gossip. These people do not even know one another and it has nothing to do with The Home.

Some of you know that I was a denomination leader for thirteen years of my 35 years in church work. As part of that ministry I was involved in many discussions considering the concerns and issues facing very small churches. I never had the final say. But I visited some of these churches to discuss the issue with them. The possibility of closing any church is extremely painful. Most people believe that decision is a coldhearted choice based on shrinking numbers. Admittedly that is part of it, but the issues are greater than simple numbers.

On Thursday a lady asked me what I knew about the process of closing a church. Her home church in the Inland Empire appears to be on its last legs. Then on Friday I got an email from a buddy in the frozen north tundra of Canada where he is a serving a small church in his retirement years. The issue for both churches is similar, but not identical.

Anna’s home church has an attendance of about 20 on a Sunday. The mother denomination has made it clear they will not send them a pastor. No one under age 60 attends any longer and they have not experienced any new life (read growth) in over two years. And in my opinion, they are highly unlikely to attract new people.

While I am part of the “old” crowd there are a few things we need to accept. We are not likely to invited or attract a younger crowd. Churches are like families. They need new life to survive. It is not just the growth issue — it is survival. As we age we run out of energy and finances decline for most. Church buildings continue to need repairs, heat, electricity, lawn care, walks shoveled (in the north) and other essential services that get harder to provide as we age. And if there is still a mortgage, well lets just say they will need a benefactor. My friend’s church has another church sending them money monthly to keep them going. Few can afford to pay a pastor on top of these other expenses.

Sad to say, but its all over but for the sale of the building. In most cases leadership is just waiting for the last person to turn the lights out and lock the building.

My Canadian friend faces a different situation. He is there part time. The congregation is happy and satisfied. Since the entire group is in the same physical boat, they do not see the end coming yet. But the pastor drives a great distance 2-3 times a week to serve them. He is getting tired and will not be able to carry on much longer. They have an internal transfusion of money so can last longer, but has serious effort and much work on the pastors part, attendance remains the same.

These churches still have founding members and people who have invested they life in the success of “their” church. They have good memories and hold on to the dream of “the good old days” returning.

While some churches continue to survive and thrive, others face a family dispersal. They move, they quit, they attend elsewhere for what the new and larger church can provide for their family: programs, strong preaching, great music and a sense of life.

At times the denomination must come and say it is time to close the doors. That feels that same as one senior being told you must move to an assisted living facility. That move signals the end. The only thing left is your end. It is heart breaking.

It may signal nearing the end of your service on this earth, but it never means the end of the church. The church lives in the same flux as communities. They come and go they grow and shrink they flourish and decline. Our days of service come to an end, but God builds His church — just not like we had planned.

CHURCH RANT

Got this great letter from my best friend from college days. We both entered the ministry with the same organization and are coming to similar conclusions, and they are not nice. There are great similarities between governmental leadership and denominational leadership. This letter provides me with a great opportunity to rant (as old people are expected to do) about the state of things. This one is the state of the organized church. I have already expressed myself on government. Don’t get me wrong. I love the church. I even go once-in-a-while. It is still ordained of God. However, man seems to have taken over in a number of places. The leadership power, authority, and fame (yes, fame) go to the heads of national church leaders as much as any other business CEO. It’s a shame, but its true. Something is wrong with this picture. Our organization was created to function from the ground up. Leadership serves the needs of the grass roots. But things have changed. Now they seem to be spraying the grass roots with DDT.

A friend is the chaplain at a Nursing Home in a nearby city. It is our denominational nursing home, but the administrator doesn't really think they need a chaplain---just get the program director to enlist some pastors and have them come in and conduct a weekly service. That should do it for pastoral care. Families of clients aren't supposed to hurt or struggle I guess. Or need someone to do their funerals, or visit their clients when they are in the hospital or face emotional needs. Those days are past. With all our modern conveniences clients do not need shepherds. If they want something, get it on line. It’s the modern way. I think I’ll open a business — Funerals on line. It will carry several general messages of your religious choice and the image of a cool attractive middle aged pastor type oozing compassion and concern over the loss of (insert name here).

Churches still want pastors. But church leaders do not want to supply them everywhere. They are looking for the superstar pastor. The one that can draw 5000 with a single word, organize a 10,000 member church with a single plan able to jump all church complaints and have his on TV show with an audience of 10 million and donations of at least a half billion.

They want big churches. Reorganization recently has meant that churches up to a certain size (40 or 50 I think) are being closed. Pastors are fired if the church does not grow. Isaiah would be fired. He felt like he was called to a people who would not hear and that he alone was following God. But we demand results and cost effective churches. It is cheaper to have one church of 1000 than it is to have twenty churches of 50. AND the programs are bigger and better. Professionals can run nearly everything. Those pros are administrations. They don’t visit or call in your home or have any personal contact. The boys in the ivory tower like that. Big means success, small means failure. Naturally that cannot be expressed out loud, but check out what the boys on top are directing church leaders to do. Let the sheep care for the sheep.

Most pastors no longer make house calls (influence of doctors?). It’s more efficient having the client come to you. We don’t counsel, but you can make an appointment to see our staff counselor. The hospital chaplain will visit you in the hospital. He doesn’t know you, but he/she will visit. Hopefully you have family or friends who will come around. If you are the child of a church leader the pastor might conduct your wedding, other wise use the marriage pastor whom you met only at the required pre-marriage counseling class he lead. The big boys want us all to improve administration skills. We take classes in time management to help us learn how to find others to care for our sheep. It’s the corporate farm model. We have speaking engagements, world tours, and books to write. (or more realistic – find an editor to convert our messages to book form).

When you are tired, exhausted, ill, worn out or just finished serving, district and national leadership will sideline you as of no worth or value. They will reclassify your credentials and you will be stripped of your right to vote at Denominational and District Meetings. What would a bunch of old guys know anyway? One leader wants any reference to former times erased so that the younger guys will feel that this is the way it always was. A rewrite of their church history, I guess. Few know of the large number of women who founded churches at the beginning. Many still have no place for women. That started with the national women’s movement. Before that, we gladly welcomed them to serve. National leadership is in charge. Not true, but don’t let the new guys find out.

They act as nothing ever happened until they got in power. A former leader instituted pastoral care for a number of reasons, but one was to reach out to pastors who have gotten hurt and keep contact with them and try to get them back into ministry. But if they left we don't have any responsibility to them now. They are off our books and out of our minds and hair. We have pastors who have given 20-40 years of service and are a thing of the past. They did something someone didn't like. They questioned the direction things were going. They seemed too interested in what was going on.

Lets not keep in contact with past workers. Drop the letters, the newsletter, the magazines, or emails. The previous philosophy that we might need them at least as prayer warriors is gone. They are useless. Why tell them anything? Without having an actual ministry we can no longer give them access to inside information that might be about people we worked with and cared for. Now where’s the trash heap. Throw them out. It’s time to take a new stand on euthanasia so we can “help” the former workers out the back door. (OK, that’s an exaggeration, but not by much.)

Previous leaders got us to where we are. They made a difference in their small little caring churches. Can we honor the contribution they made?

COMPETITION

I worked evaluating and training churches for 19 years. I read a friends blog this morning and it triggered thoughts from an old article I wrote several years ago.

As part of my work I was sent to some of the biggest church training seminaries in the country. I attended a personal conflicts course (twice actually) in which the leader had deducted from Scripture nearly every conceivable problem and created various number of steps to fix, heal, cure each issues. There was another in the Midwest that had a very professional, even Broadway style feel to music and theater bits. The audience watched and maybe even stood up and cheered at the end of the show. Yet another had multiple campus (their word, not mine) all pastored by the same guy (sorry, preacher).

I looked at the health and wealth churches, exclusion churches, liberal churches, traditional churches, evangelical churches, conservative churches, Catholic churches and many more. Frankly I didn’t enter one growing, emerging, developing, renewal church that didn’t have something about it that I liked. But let me tell you about what I hated, yes hated about them all. You see the ones I was sent to or chose to visit were training centers. People gathered from all over the country to see what made these churches work so they could take that home and replicate that success in their church.

I was appalled. Not at the success of the churches — more power to them. But I was appalled at all the people who took copious notes and went home and attempted to replicate what they saw and heard as though it were Gods new plan for the church.

One of the first places I saw where was happening was in a Southern California church that became a haven for the Christian hippy movement. They launched the careers of a number of recording artists. I don’t know that any other church succeeded that way. This movement changed the way church attendees dressed. Suits and dresses were out, jeans and shorts were in. Organs were out. Keyboards, drums and guitars were in. The “steps” man was filling enormous coliseums everywhere. He was adored and emulated and created a whole separate movement that brought dissension into many churches. The division was over education. The people were not saying they were of God, but of Paul, Barnabus, or Apollo (he was the cute one).

When I would visit these returning pastors with their glowing reports I had one question, “What had God asked you to do.” That wasn’t the question many wanted to hear. They launched into their replicated ministries and many even joined new associations like the Association for Steps, The Association of Folk Music, and The Association of Professional churches (they bought theater lights, installed curtains) and set up competition with Starbucks in their lobbies.

The most beautiful church had a large parking lot and you could drive in and listen to the sermon on your radio. They were also on TV, so I could not understand why anyone would throw on clothes when you could sit at home in your underwear.

None of these things bothered me if God told them to do it. But far too many were copying others success without grasping full obedience. They loved the success. I listened, as people no longer cared about theology, but the quality of the nursery. Do they have an excellent youth pastor or a large youth group? What about the music? Is it contemporary? Does it have an Organ? What about drums? Will the speaker tickle my fancy? Does the preacher wear a suit, a robe or preach in jeans?

I read a very funny script in the 70’s about a shop were people picked the kind religion they wanted. They could get exactly what they liked including a God to their liking. They could get rid of the hypocrites and crying babies if they wanted. They could order food around tables while enjoying the “worship team of their choice and style.” It is happening.

Maybe churches have always been competitive, but I watched leaders jump on the latest hot thing while attempting to draw in more people than the next church. All would deny that numbers were important, but denominational leadership came from large churches. They served on the committees, they traveled the world, and they win the elections. Large was successful. If a church only had 50 it was due for redevelopment (making it bigger). The largest churches of all denominations look more like one another than their organizational stripe. They down play the distinctives that have marked them as different to have more appeal to the masses. New buildings and a large campus says come here. We have what it takes. Mind you, unless you are one the leaders in the church, that pastor will never be your pastor. He will not officiate at your wedding or your funeral. He will not visit you in the hospital or at your home. He will smile shake your hand and never know anything about you. He is the corporate leader. He is the president, the CEO, the big man. You may be proud of him, love him, and invite others to hear him. His church may be the best thing since sliced bread. But there may be another dozen churches in the area as good or better and when he leaves you will “try them out.” Church is rarely a commitment; it is a fast food restaurant and the flavor of the day.

I don’t blame the people. I blame us — the leaders. Many have no idea what God wants them to do. I wore out on the competition. I worked in the bigger is better churches. I was at the top of my game. But I envied the smaller and middle-sized churches where the pastor was the Sheppard of the flock. He knew them and they knew him. The biggies don’t know if you are there or not. You can hide. That is another reason we like them. We can get out taste of church medicine when we want, fish when we want, sleep in when want. We are anonymous.

I know this was a change from what I normally write, but it was on my heart.

RULES, RULES, RULES

Churches and rules: Not a typical conversation at coffee around The Home, but really fun. I love hearing people’s attitude toward church and their gripes about it. I could probably add my own. I sometimes feel like Groucho Marx’s (and I paraphrase) I wouldn’t want to go to any church that would accept me.

It started when Gladys mentioned she had gone to church with her daughter-in-law. Don’t know where her son was.

Gladys is around 80 years old and has beautiful white hair. She does a nice job with makeup. Not too heavy, it adds to her beauty. She wore a necklace, earrings, and a very attractive pair of slacks and top. She really looked very nice. When going out she always looks great. Guess what the sermon was about? Jezebel and her harlot ways! I knew this would be good, but Gladys was crushed. Everything she did to get ready for church was condemned as wicked. The sermon attacked everything about her as sinful. They might as well have put her on stage and pointed out what not to do to believe in Christ. Get that makeup off, remove that distracting ornamentation, don’t wear slacks or color your hair. She made it on one point. Her hair is not colored. She will never walk in that church again. Me either. I know it is not PC to condemn anyone or any believes, but they were just plain WRONG. Where did they get those ideas?

I know it’s not exactly unusual. If the church I attended as a child were holding to the same traditions I would have run away and joined the circus. I always liked the trapeze.

She looked around and only then realized she was the only one in slacks, She was also the only one with makeup and jewelry. She wanted to crawl under the bench. They might as well have put her on stage and pointed out what a good Christian should not look like. Many stared at her. She missed the sign that should have read HEATHEN NOT WELCOME.

This launched us into a discussion of church rules. So I asked if they required a hat. No. WHAT! They missed the only one that might be defensible. Mennonite women wear the white, net like caps to cover their matching buns. In some cases only married men have to have beards (not me. I like a goatee, but a full beard itches like crazy). Jewish men wear skullcaps and some even have their prayer shawls hanging under their black suit jackets and little boxes around their necks. No they are not for the pills they need later. Speaking of pills, some eschew doctors, others psychiatry. Then there are the groups with the multiple wives. Probably fun for the guys, but what about the women? And how can they afford all those wives and children? One family kept me broke.

How can so many come up with so many screwball ideas and hoops to jump through just for people to go to church? Because we are human! Because we want guidelines for acceptance and for exclusion! Because we have too much time on our hands so can sit around making up rules. May as well be politicians. They make lots of rules.

There are almost as many extraneous rules for the various churches as the government has useless laws on the books. With all the brilliance of mankind and the outstanding inventions we continue to create useless rules. Rules, rules, rules! Many churches seem to be determined to add extra steps to get to Jesus. I don’t know why they make it so hard. I don’t know why so many want to slam the door on seekers. “I know that you have had seven husbands and the one you live with now is not your husband.” “Go and sin no more.” But first remove your makeup, take off your jewelry, and get married before I can accept you. Get real. Open the doors and invite those in the highways and byways to come to the banquet. I’m hungry. Let’s eat.