Insight for the Journey

It is quite common to hear praise for Jesus Christ but disdain for His Church. When asked what they think of Jesus Christ, some people will say, “What do I think of Jesus?  Oh…Jesus…He’s awesome!  Wow!  I mean, He’s really cool!  Who could possibly knock Jesus?  He’s the best.  I really love Jesus!”  But when asked what they think of His Church the tone changes dramatically: “Uh…the Church?  Yuck!  I mean the Church has got to be one of the most pathetic things in existence today!” More derogatory adjectives usually follow.

 There’s something about this position that doesn’t jive.  The Bible describes Jesus as the Groom and the Church as His bride.  So, to cast aspersions on the bride while still claiming to love the Groom, seems ingenuous at best.  It’s sort of like your closest friend from childhood, who is still a dear buddy, and he asks you to be the Best Man at his upcoming wedding.  You agree.  At the wedding you enthusiastically do your “Best Man” duties, producing the ring at the right moment, making the toast at the reception and enthusiastically standing by his side. 

But later that afternoon you take him aside for a private word.  You say, “I am so honored to be your Best Man.  What a great day this has been!  You are a really cool guy.  I’m grateful for our friendship and all it means to me.  Even though it’s awkward for guys to say this to each other, ‘I really love you, man.'”  You pause and continue, “But I’ve got to tell you…your bride looks like a DOG!  I mean she is UGLY, dude!  What a despicable woman!  How did you get hooked up with her?”

 Do you think you’d still have a friend?  I doubt it.

If you love the groom, don’t bash the bride. 

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I’ve just engaged in one of the most enjoyable and fulfilling things I do: encouraging Pastors and church leaders.  Hundreds of them were gathered this week at The Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove in Asheville, North Carolina.  On Wednesday I did a Seminar for Pastors of smaller congregations on how they can thrive even though facing the particular challenges of a smaller ministry.  Today I taught a plenary session on how to build an evangelistic church.  This session is particularly exciting for me in that I share a lot of what we do at Grace Fellowship.  Finally, I lead the whole group in a brief “Concert of Prayer” where they rejoice in what God is doing and pray for one another.  Cliff Barrows, one of the greatest encouragers I know, concludes the school after that with his final challenge for commitment.

To be honest, many Pastors are struggling.  Some would start another vocation today if they felt released from their calling.  But they don’t feel released.  Because the church is God’s plan “A” for changing the world.  There is no plan “B”.  The happiest Pastors I know are those who serve in churches with people who love them, and who are trying to make a difference.

That’s what Grace Fellowship is to me.  No.  It’s not a perfect church; but it is a good church.  The church body deeply longs to make a difference.  Four special qualities quickly come to mind that make Grace unusual:

1. Grace’s members are highly committed.  One thing almost all Pastors lament, in their candid moments, is the dismal lack of maturity and commitment that plagues churches across America.  Grace has uncommitted attenders as well.  But our membership get’s it.  They are willing to sacrifice for the Kingdom.

2. Grace is willing to change and try new things.  We believe methods are many, principles are few.  Methods always change, principles never do.  We view methods and styles in a practical way.  The question is, “What is God using right now, in this culture and context?”  Only Jesus can build His church, but we must keep seeking the best strategies and methodologies possible to be His co-workers.

3. Our leaders are consistent.  Some of our leaders have now been at it for years, slugging away in the trenches.  But they keep on keeping on.  I respect that!  I love them for it.

4. We keep the main thing the main thing.  As a rule, members of Grace are not quick to fight or quarrel over nonessential matters.  That makes for a very harmonious church.

I love the Church.  And I love this church.  It is filled with real, authentic people who are on the journey together.  That keeps me coming back.

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I have a hunch that all my life I’ve been asking the wrong question. The question, “How can I best leverage this one-and-only life to please You?” has driven my decision making for years. It is a good question…one motivated by a strong sense of stewardship. I want my life to count; to make a difference. So, I have been hyper-responsible in making sure that I don’t waste much time, work like a madman every day, push myself relentlessly to be a high acheiver, etc. There’s a lot of good in that approach. It can lead to a very productive life.

 But it may also lead to a life with relatively little enjoyment and fun. When one is focused on making every moment productive life may seem pretty heavy. My Christmas breaks, holidays, and even vacations were often spent trying to get ahead. Although technically away from the school or office, I was still working, pushing the envelope, trying to accomplish as much as possible for God.

 On the surface that can look impressive. People sigh, “What a dedicated young man! His love for the Lord and His Kingdom won’t allow him to take a break.” But the motivation was probably not as noble as it appeared. In reality I was masking insecurity; trying desperately to prove myself, overcome my past, and to acquire self-worth through accomplishment. In short, that sort of driven mania, although cloaked in pious rhetoric, was a formula for a life of drudgery and escalating expectations. I had a growing sense that this was not the life God intended for me.

While on sabbatical recently I made a journal entry that reflects the struggle. What you are about to read was written at 6:25 in the morning on Sunday, May 27, 2007, from a backyard patio in Tuscany, Italy where we were staying. The sun is not yet risen over the mountains. Yet, the roosters have started crowing and the birds singing, but it’s still slightly dark outside. I wrote…

“It’s Sunday morning. Unlike yesterday there is a refreshing coolness in the air. The back yard patio is pleasant as the world comes alive.

The uppermost mountains are like Sinai, cloaked in clouds. They do not tremble. Where is Moses? Where the revelation—the glory on a face that saw wonders and now must be veiled lest it overwhelm – lest the mountain messenger receive attention only the Law-Giver deserves.

The family sleeps. Something about this place is sonorous. We sleep well, and want to sleep often. Is it depression? Boredom? Clean Air? Maybe it’s the sense that this season for sleep will soon be over. Do it now.

My mood is rare. The sun tries, yet without success, to scale the peaks, climb the clouds, soar above all and give light. I need a dawning. I long for a Sinai moment. Do I ask too much? With wrong motives? Do I yearn for an experience inaccessible?

What did Pascal and his sister, the Quietist, see? The “fire” he saw…was it like the fire of Sinai? Was one surreal, the other real? Is either experience accessible to me…now…or in my lifetime?

The sun has almost been successful in its climb. Like yesterday’s unpleasant hike into Figline – if I just put one foot in front of the other—in time will I see “the fire” of God? Will the Son ever break through the clouds? “How can I best leverage this one-and-only life to please You?” This question is the obsession of my days. Is it the wrong question? Should I perhaps be asking “How can I enjoy You forever?”

The Son breaks through and virtually blinds me with brilliance as the Sunday Church bells from nearby Cascia celebrate.”

That was a moment I will never forget. The exact moment the brilliant, unimpeded sun broke over those mountains, in that exact moment, the church bells began to ring celebrating a risen Son who can never die again! It sent chills up my spine.

I believe God orchestrated that moment for me. As a result of what I experienced throughout fifteen weeks of sabbatical, I am now learning to enjoy God. Yes, I’m still trying to be a good steward in the way I leverage my life and influence. But the desire to enjoy God and life with Him is now my priority. In enjoying Him more, my hunch is that I will glorify Him better.

What question drives you?

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