Many Churches – Some Thoughts
February 2010
One of the more remarkable pieces of my 6-month sabbatical was the opportunity to visit other churches on Sunday mornings or whenever they met. In those 26 weeks, I visited 15 different churches, some of them twice.
And it was quite an eclectic spectrum, all the way from eastern Orthodox to emergent. I loved the massive variety of experience in how different groups handled worship and praise spiritual gifts, preaching, announcements, special music, welcoming newcomers, after service fellowship, perspectives on upcoming events, etc, etc. It was a very instructive time for me and I have made multiple internal notes on adjustments that might be beneficial
But aside from observing and assessing all these differences, I was most transfixed by what we all share in common. How we all handle worship is not defined in some final way, but corporate worship MUST occur regularly. That’s the given—-the particular approach or style is variable. Certainly every approach is and ought to be subject to biblical critique but there is a wide berth for diversity in the Scriptures. One of the emergent churches I attended asked for specific critique regarding their worship service and I replied the next day with what I saw as positive, unusual and objectionable. Their approach to communion was to be totally inclusive, inviting everyone, including unbelievers to participate. They were trying hard to be inclusive but that’s trying too hard. I wrote and said that they were departing from 2000 years of Christian practice, not to mention the Scriptures, which would categorically forbid that approach. I’ll meet with that young pastor tomorrow, not to bully him with my elder status but to hopefully offer some help that will save him from a heterodox and insulting route. I’ll also be wide open to the kinds of perspectives that a young leader like him can offer me. I am increasingly motivated to pursue the kind of vision that was the theme of last April’s conference on intergenerational ministry.
Aside from all the diversity and differences, I was also re-engaged on my sabbatical with the things we share in ministry that don’t ever change. Sometime in late November I had one of those epiphanies regarding ministry that gives clear direction to what lies ahead of us. I had done a lot of study in Paul’s letter to Titus some years back but I found myself there again with fresh and now rested vision. I put out to all of you what I have named the Titus Overview and I have begun to walk through that path with a few churches this month. Here is where I’d like to encourage all of you to freshly engage this letter and use the diagnostic questions as a jumping off point for your leadership teams to wrestle with. The 6 segments that I highlighted in the Overview are:
1-The biblical benefit of gifted oversight in the planting and maintenance of local churches
2-The cruciality of leadership development
3-The need to understand cultural influences
4-A pastoral strategy for communal life
5-Establishing the depth understanding of the gospel as the core of worship
6-Calling and releasing the people of God into the mission of God
These are the priorities that Paul lays upon young Titus as he faces the daunting task of setting in order believers and churches that are in the very early stages of their walk with Jesus. And these remain our priorities as we seek to be faithful to Christ, His people and His mission in 2010.
I pray regularly for the leaders of the ARC churches and for the other leaders with whom God has connected us. And I will continue to pray that God will grant us endurance and faithfulness in a culture defined by cynicism, apathy and entertainment. Our response to Jesus and His word will win the day in the season that is upon us.
God give you all a double portion of grace,
Ned