FOCUSING ON OUR STRENGTH

Two weeks ago you’ve seen the “doctors’ chart” – our strongest quality is our passionate spirituality.  The power to raise the quality of our leadership, make functional our structures, and to engage in evangelism is in our spiritual passion.

Meanwhile I am reflecting on being labelled as a Laodicean church (Revelation 3: 14-20) – it thinks itself passionate, and well off.  We use quite often this term to excuse our complacency.  Laodicea is also described as “rich”. Within the local church context it may not be apparent, and we may more often hear ‘we have no money.” Even when it comes to two-three hundred dollars item – the comments are “the church cannot afford….”  But, when we add together the value of tithes and offerings, the value of church properties and administrative centers, the value of church-run or church-aligned health care systems, the value of para-church ministries, the total runs in tens of billions of dollars.  It’s just that money are tied up in the institution building.

Richard Halvorson once wrote, "When the Greeks got the gospel, they turned it into a philosophy; when the Romans got it, they turned it into a government; when the Europeans got it, they turned it into a culture; and when the Americans got it, they turned it into a business."

Some pastors use the Laodicean message to put guilt trips on their congregations for not working hard enough to build up the institution. Unfortunately, even our solution to our Laodicean institutionalism is more Laodicean institutionalism. Our institutional churches across North America are shrinking, but our institutional infrastructure costs are largely constant.

What do money have to do with spirituality?  Let me present to you this Biblical idea: all Biblical books have a chiastic (reversely parallel matching pairs) structures, including the book of Revelation, where 1 is matching 7, 2–6, 3–5, and the 4^th is in the centre (applicable to all sets of sevens).  One must realise the similarity between Laodicea and Ephesus – both were warned about lost of first love, of passion.  Laodicean solution is similar to the Ephesian church condition – doing the first works. We must consider the works of the first Apostolic Church to understand what passionate spirituality means.

Recently I heard a comment from a church member that the passion of the first love is gone.  I quoted something I heard from one of my seminary profs, Russell Burrill “it’s not normal to lose one’s first love.  When you really know Jesus, the love for Jesus should increase, not decrease. The longer one walks with Jesus the more one should be in love with Jesus.  Could it be that our Laodicean problem is in being so self-absorbed in building the institution and offering “programs” that we lost sight of Jesus?

 C.S. Lewis wrote: "For it must be true, as an old writer says, that he who has God and everything else has no more than he who has God only." What do we focus on and pride ourselves about?  Our institution, our church, our structure and programming?  The picture everyone knows is Christ knowing on the door, asking to be invited in.  Lately even this picture had been “institutionalized” – Christ knowing on the United Nation’s door, or Christ knowing on the Church’s door.  Yes, He wants to be in our church, by being in every home, in every person’s heart.  The spirituality God wants is us letting Him in, that he may sup with us, that we may know Him personally, and relate intimately to His heart.

I pray that as we consider improvements needed we would not seek a quick fix, institutional structural changes, but a a spiritual awakening of love for Jesus.

DOCTOR’S DIAGNOSE IS IN….North London 2008

Once a year we take a pulse of our congregational life.  In order to remain relevant and balanced we take surveys of church members to determine our present situation.  22 out of 30 surveys were returned by participants.  After processing and analysis at Andrews University the results are in.  if you would be asked this simple question: are we declining, plateau, or growing? What would you answer?  I’d take a liberty to say we are on a rollercoaster ride.  There’s been some decline - even if the natural growth (our children and the family members) would remain, then our membership would be doubled since mid 80s.  There has been some exciting growth times.  But most of the time – relying on the status quo.  We have lost people to false teachings, to complacency, to hurts, to misunderstandings.  Yet, it is God’s Church and God is interested in offering a revival to all His children.

But first prerequisite of revival is an honest look in the mirror, not staying in denial, as a Laodicean church would do (Revelation 3: 14-20) but responding by getting the treatment needed. 

Here’s current situation:

 

Spirituality has always been our highest quality.   Groups have become more active.  There is more participation in church, people are using their god-given gifts.  The greatest improvement has been seen in worship.  There is more anticipation of blessing, more spiritual authenticity.

However, the leadership fit, which was left unaddressed for a whole year, caused the decline in functionality of our organizational structures, and in leaders’ effectiveness. 

This year we would have to utilize our spirituality to improve our leadership, structures, and begin evangelistic efforts.  Pray for your leaders as they would review reports in details and develop a strategy for growth.

DOCTOR’S DIAGNOSE IS IN….South London 2008

Once a year we take a pulse of our congregational life.  In order to remain relevant and balanced we take surveys of church members to determine our present situation.  23 out of 30 surveys were returned by participants.  After processing and analysis at Andrews University the results are in.  Last Board meeting elder Cameron Munro asked a question for self-assessment: are we declining, plateau, or growing?  Board members shuffled, not answering immediately.  I’d take a liberty to say we have been in decline for a while.  Even if the natural growth (our children and the family members) would remain then our membership would be doubled since mid 80s.  We have lost people to false teachings, to complacency, to hurts, to misunderstandings.  Yet, it is God’s Church and God is interested in offering a revival to all His children.

But first prerequisite of revival is an honest look in the mirror, not staying in denial, as a Laodicean church would do (Revelation 3: 14-20) but responding by getting the treatment needed. 

Here’s our current situation:

The most drastic drop is in spirituality decline.  A number of new families have been added to our fellowship, but the momentum has not been carried.  3 years ago it was our highest factor. It is seen by the lack of interest in Prayer meetings, and revival efforts.  Lack of Evangelistic interest is also obvious.  Disbelief in the necessity of Evangelism is the same as declaring disobedience to Jesus’ great Commission.  A church that does not evangelism cannot be construed as a Christian.  Another major concern is leadership fit.  A special focus will be offered on empowering leaders, so they in turn can empower people for service.  This year we would have to utilize our structures, our organizational unity to improve leadership, spirituality, and begin evangelistic efforts.

Pray for your leaders as they would review reports in details and develop a strategy for growth.