True Colors

Jeremiah 13:23 (NIV) 23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil.

All species of life have a unique “print” on their exterior. This print is unchangeable. Citing two examples, the verse above points out that an Ethiopian cannot change the color of his skin and a leopard cannot change his spots. This is true of me, you, and all of us – our exterior print is “fixed.”

This word-picture illustrates a spiritual truth for us – Some people can get so accustomed to doing evil that they lose their ability to change. Their attitudes can become so “fixed” that they lose the desire to change and no longer fear the consequences.

There are people like this sitting in churches too.

When people are challenged and called to the spiritual disciplines of forgiveness, holiness, commitment, submission to spiritual authority, conflict resolution, getting along, and learning how to worship together in unity, carnal people will rebel.

Under the guise of being spiritual, theses pretenders will eventually show their true colors by blowing up. They will often leave a church in search another church that is “less demanding,” that has “more of the Spirit” or “better worship” or “deeper teaching,” or where “I can get my way.” Rather than digging down and working their way through these tough discipleship issues related to the Christian life, and thereby experiencing true spiritual growth, they will take off in search of their elusive quarry somewhere else – forever remaining carnal.

When people walk away from relationships because of unresolved pain, or because they didn’t get their way, they are mocking agape love. This is very, very shallow – and reflects how carnal they really are.

You can take a leopard out of the jungle, but you can't take the jungel out of him.

When under pressure, ones true colors will always show.

Anonymous Letters

Over the years I have received plenty of anonymous letters from people who wanted to criticize me or something in the church they disliked. These letters usually contain petty complaints about such things as musical style, worship style, dress codes, why I should get a haircut, and whether or not I believe in a pre-tribulation rapture. This goes with the job of being a pastor. Most of these letters are comical.

However, in the last six months I have received more of these kinds of letters than usual. They are different - not childish, but evil. Most recently someone has even set up a fictitious e-mail account enabling the originator to send secret letters to me without being discovered.

The content of these letters has crossed a certain line - they are savage and contain an obvious intent to harm. Never have I seen this degree of malice coming from professed followers of Christ – and from people I know - but who do not attend PCC.

Anonymous letters reveal how weak such a person really is and makes them very, very small. It also demonstrates why such a person could never be a serious candidate for church leadership, or if in a position of leadership, should be disqualified and removed. If this is how they handle their problems, they are unfit to manage God’s house. Period. If they will do this to me, they would do it to you; not sparing the flock of God.

Would you want to attend church with those kinds of people? Would you want people like that influencing you and your family? Not me. If that is the caliber of person you are getting your spiritual cues from, you are dumb.

Of course, I can never prevent someone from sending anonymous and cowardly letters to me. But I can prevent them from ever reaching me; which is what I do. They are all intercepted (by trusted people) and simply thrown out. My e-mails are moderated, deleted, or end up in my spam folder.

At any rate, I saw this quote from Charles Spurgeon, and thought he said it much better than I ever could:

“Never write what you dare not sign. An anonymous letter-writer is a sort of assassin, who wears a mask, and stabs in the dark. Such a man is a fiend with a pen. If discovered, the wretch will be steeped in the blackest infamy.”

I wish I had said that.

I'm Not Being Fed at My Church

I have heard this only once at PCC; and that by a person who was so shallow that he wouldn’t even show up to church half the time. It’s easy to connect the dots between his cause-and-effect. (More about this at the end of this blog).

Having said that, this is a universal complaint in churches and has more to do with the complainant, rather than the church or the pastor. I even heard Chuck Swindoll say once that the number one complaint he received in his church was "I'm not being fed here anymore." Chuck Swindoll is one of the greatest Bible teachers and communicators in the church today. No one could honestly question the depth and content of his teaching. He is exceptional.

You have to realize that there are many false assumptions behind that statement. When people say, “I’m not being fed here anymore,” they are ASSUMING that the purpose of the church is to DO IT ALL for them. That is, if you are spiritually empty, it is the church’s fault. Is it really? Or is YOUR RELATIONSHIP with God YOUR RESPONSIBILITY? You are assuming that to be “spiritually fed” means hearing a good sermon, or attending another good Bible lesson. While these tools can be helpful, the vitality of your spiritual growth cannot be solely dependent upon them.

Yes, churches and teaching pastors have a role to feed God’s people. For instance, Jesus told Peter to “feed my sheep/lambs” (John 21:15-18), and Peter repeated that same emphasis by saying, “Feed the flock of God” (I Peter 5:1-2). But that responsibility has limits. As any parent knows, a baby eventually grows up and learns how to feed himself. Otherwise, he will just be a spoiled brat expecting you to take care of him well into his adulthood. That is not normal.

The role of the church is to slowly help believers STAND on their OWN TWO FEET. That is, the church is responsible for helping believers GROW to a CERTAIN POINT. After that, they should FEED THEMSELVES and FOCUS on HELPING THE CHURCH with its MISSION.

The reason that seasoned believers are usually the most dissatisfied members in a church is because they STILL EXPECT the church to be feeding them. Churches are filled with people who have been followers of Christ for decades, and yet for all their knowledge are big, fat, do-nothings. They still wear a bib and expect to be spoon-fed. At some point you have to pick up the fork yourself, stab it into the meat, and put it into your mouth!

Proverbs 26:15 (NIV) “The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; He is TOO LAZY to BRING IT BACK to HIS MOUTH.”

What a great description of the overfed, spiritually-stuffed believer. He shows up to church where the table has been set, the bread of life is offered, and he/she is too lazy to even lift the fork!

Your church, whether that is PCC or another, attempts to serve you each week. But if you refuse to apply what you have learned, don’t study your Bible, fail to pray during the week, don’t join a small group, or dig deeper on your own – if you refuse to lift the fork – I can’t help you. Your next church can’t help you, any more than your last church helped you.

Hebrews 5:12 (KJV) “At a time when you OUGHT TO BE TEACHERS, ye STILL HAVE NEED that one TEACH YOU AGAIN….etc” (Hebrews 5:12).

No matter how great your church is, or is not, ultimately, in the end, your spiritual nourishment is UP TO YOU.

My observation has been that when people say they want more “meat,” they are usually asking for more minutiae (minor details) – bits of trivia that tickles their fancy, new data to write down, or novel facts that have no real bearing on the Christian life.

For instance, does it really help you to grow in your relationship with Christ if someone teaches how many kilograms the Ark of the Covenant weighed? If you learn the Greek word for “donkey,” does that make you more complete as a follower of Christ?


IF YOU ARE NOT BEING FED AT YOUR CHURCH, HERE ARE SOME ASSUMPTIONS I HAVE ABOUT YOU:First, you are probably not engaged in hands-on ministry.
Real “meat” in the Christian life comes from DOING MINISTRY and PUTTING INTO PRACTICE the things you have learned. Not sitting on a pew somewhere, fat, dumb, and unhappy!

Notice what Jesus said:

“I have MEAT that YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT….. My meat is to DO THE WILL of Him that sent me, and to finish His work” (St. John 4:32-33). Jesus said this just after having His encounter with the woman at the well - you know, that lady who was far from God, but found eternal life.

Did you get that? Real spiritual MEAT is DOING GOD’S WILL by getting off the pew, and getting busy with the task of reaching lost people. Please don't tell me how "deep" you are if you have never one a single person to Christ.

When believers are not growing and have plateaued, they immediately think the answer is “deeper” (minutiae) teaching, more passionate worship services, another Bible study, the next conference, or even a different church. The REAL SOLUTION is to GET INVOLVED in the ministry.

At PCC, we are trying to produce disciples WHO DO STUFF… but are not over-stuffed.


Second, you probably are not having a daily devotional time with God, or fail to spend time in your Bible.
The most important aspect to your spiritual nourishment and growth are your PERSONAL SPIRITUAL HABITS and DISCIPLINES.

• Are you readying your Bible?
• Do you pray?
• Are you journaling?
• Do you take time to be still and listen to the voice of God?
• Do you honor and worship God with the tithe?
• Are you giving financially to your church?
• You in a small group?
• Do you witness to people who are far from God?
• Are you memorizing scripture and meditating upon it?

If you are doing these things, and are doing them consistently, you will NEVER FEEL SPIRITUALLY EMPTY. Never.

Spiritual disciplines are much like exercise. If you are obese, the doctor will prescribe some lifestyle changes for you – regular exercise, staying active, eating right, and getting plenty of rest.

Third, you are a discontented person and no one will ever make you happy.

If discontent if rooted within you, it will follow you wherever you go, no matter the church, no matter the teacher, no matter the pastor. Whenever a person has an established track record of being dissatisfied with several churches, I can always be assured that the problem lies within the individual, not the church.

Only one person in our ten year history at PCC has ever said to me, “I not being fed here” (though I'm sure there were many others who felt that way). He didn’t like my response. I told him how self-centered and self-absorbed he was for his suggestion that we forget about reaching lost people and focus more on him and his “needs.” I bluntly told him that if he showed up to church more often he might actually grow. And I pointed out how incredibly shallow he was, flitting from place to place, and never settling down and digging in. Finally, I pointed out to him that he also needed to learn what spiritual authority was.

He left. Now he attends a church that is deacon-possessed and board-stiff.

Me, I’m still cooking….

What is the Most Important Doctrine of the Church?

The most important doctrine or teaching of the church is none other than "JESUS CHRIST." Colossians 1:18b states, “……that in all things HE might have the preeminence.”

Many churches, in commendable study of the scriptures, sometimes begin to place their PRIMARY EMPHASIS upon OTHER TOPICS, or various aspects of scripture or doctrine. Obviously, every church should teach and proclaim the "whole counsel" of God's Word — but only as it relates to Christ. You see, JESUS is the FOCAL POINT of all DOCTRINAL TEACHING. He is the intersection at which all teachings converge. When ANYTHING ELSE begins to TAKES CENTER-STAGE — that is, when anything other than Jesus Christ, such as traditions, doctrines, or interpretations of doctrines become the primary focus — PROBLEMS and even DECEPTION can enter in.

I am reminded of the Pharisees who held such high regard for the scriptures. They EQUATED their INTELLECTUAL KNOWLEDGE of scripture as the BASIS for SPIRITUALITY and ETERNAL LIFE. However, Jesus explained to them that the scriptures were NOT AN “END” unto themselves, but rather THE MEANS unto an end - to bring us to the TRUE OBJECTIVE which is Jesus Christ Himself.

He said to them, "You search the Scriptures, for IN THEM YOU THINK YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE; and these are they which TESTIFY OF ME" (John 5:39).

We live in an hour in which people frequently claim revelations of SO-CALLED DEEPER TRUTHS, which have sometimes served as a diversion away from the basic character and practical life application of Jesus Christ. Some claim that they now have so much "deep spiritual understanding," that they really cannot relate to those who are "less spiritual" or inferior. This is RIDICULOUS. Such persons may not realize that although Jesus was our highest example of spirituality, yet he was so humble, so down-to-earth and simple he could relate the deepest truths of God in practical terms that even the most unlearned person could grasp.

Any intricate, exotic teaching, regardless of how Biblical or spiritually deep it may seem to be, unless it lifts up Jesus Christ, together with His character or the practical truths and principles He taught, is PROBABLY IRRELEVANT to you as a Christian, and NOT NEEDED for your spiritual growth and development. It may even lead you ASTRAY into an attitude of intellectual arrogance, false spiritual superiority, or heresy. ALWAYS REMEMBER that TRUE DOCTRINE is CHRIST-CENTERED, SIMPLE and PRACTICAL. Paul warned believers from being confused by complicated teachings which would lead away from the simplicity of Jesus.

"But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the SIMPLICITY that is IN CHRIST" (2 Cor. 11:3).

Although Paul was an intellectual giant, trained as a Pharisee at the feet of the great Jewish scholar, Gamaliel (Acts 22:3), he LIMITED HIS PREACHING to one basic theme: "For I determined not to know anything among you except JESUS CHRIST and Him CRUCIFIED" (1 Cor. 2:2). It is Jesus that has all the answers to life's problems. It is Jesus that changes men's lives. If we will simply proclaim Him to the world, men will be saved. Jesus said, "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself" (John 12:32).

Implications of Church Size

The size of a church has an enormous impact on how it FUNCTIONS; such as how decisions are made, how it is governed, how ministries are evaluated, and what pastors and staff do.

Most people have a favorite size church. Unfortunately, many of these people will make moral judgments about their favorite size as being spiritually superior than other sized churches - and will declare it to be more “biblical” than others.

Very often, people will have expectations of their church, pastor, and staff, which can never be met. For instance, people who prefer a small church may get frustrated with the pastor of a larger church because he doesn’t seem as accessible. Or people who prefer a larger church, but attend a smaller church, may get frustrated because of the lack of quality in its programs.

This means a wise pastor may have to sometimes lovingly confront people who are not able to handle and live with their church’s current “size culture.” He might have to suggest to them that they are asking for and expecting the impossible from a church of our size and encourage them to find a place where they might be a better fit.

Here are some general trends that affect a church as it grows larger:

INCREASING COMPLEXITY

The larger the church the less all of its attenders have in common. There is more diversity in age, family status, educational level, income level, mixed ethnicity, etc. Larger churches are disproportionately more complex than their smaller counter-parts. They have multiple services, multiple ministries, multiple groups, multiple tracking systems, multiple staff, and eventually multiple congregations. Common ground and affinity is experienced in smaller groups within the larger body.

SHIFTING OF STAFF & LAY RESPONSIBILITIES

In a larger church more decision-making falls to the ministerial staff rather than to the entire congregation, or even to its lay-leaders. Yet, at the same time, more and more of the pastoral ministry gets carried out by the congregation and membership. Ministries such as hospital visitation, discipling, oversight of Christian growth and development, shepherding, and many others is carried out by lay-leaders rather than professional clergymen or full-time paid staff.

In contrast, in smaller churches policy is decided by “the many” (i.e., the congregation) and the work is carried out by “the few” (i.e., the hired staff).

OPENESS TO CHANGE

People who prefer smaller churches are usually resistant to change. But those who prefer larger churches have an openness to change. Growing churches, by their very nature, are subject to constant and sudden changes.

Smaller churches do not change rapidly and have less turn-over in their membership because the individual members feel more powerful and influential, so they stay put.

The larger a church grows, by necessity, the more the decision-making responsibilities move away from the congregation to the full time leaders and staff. Why? There is simply too much going on for the congregation to keep up with. As that happens, decisions can be made without everyone signing on first. Changes come more rapidly in this environment.


CHANGING ROLE OF SENIOR PASTOR

As a church grows larger, the less available the senior pastor will be to conduct Chaplain-type work. He can no longer be everyone’s personal Chaplain. He will have to give himself over to more leadership responsibilities, such as vision-casting, developing strategies, and general oversight of the church.

In a smaller church the senior pastor is available at all times to everyone, for every need.


SPANS OF CARE

In smaller churches, classes and ministry groups can be larger because everyone can be cared for by the full-time ministry staff. But in a larger church, the internal groups and classes need to be smaller and smaller because the people are cared for more by group leaders, and lay pastors, rather than the paid staff. Thus, in a larger church, the more groups you have the better cared for are the people, and the faster the church grows!

EMPHASIS ON STRENGTHS

The larger the church the more likely it will concentrate on doing a few things well, rather than trying to do too much.

Smaller churches are generalist in nature and feel the need to do everything. This comes from the power of the individual. i.e., If any member lets his or her wishes be known about launching a new initiative, or starting a new activity, the church will make every effort possible in order to please them. The larger church, on the other hand, will likely identify 3 or 4 things that are most important and will focus its energies and resources there, despite calls for other initiatives. Larger churches keep their main thing the main thing.

EMPHASIS ON MISSION

In a larger church the more distinctive and important the mission becomes to all the members of the church. The mission and vision is what unites them - not dress codes, hair styles, personal convictions, or agreement on every point of scripture. Unity comes from focusing on the mission of the church. The emphasis in a smaller church is on the “uniformity” of its members - that is, everyone should look alike, think alike, believe exactly alike, dress alike, and enjoy the same style of music.

The reason members in larger churches will put up with the constant changes taking place is because of the mission. They realize that the “mission of the church” is more important than the predictability of maintaining the status quo.

Integrity in Leadership

Integrity is the opposite of hypocrisy. Integrity is THE QUALITY that PEOPLE WANT TO SEE MOST in a leader.

2Corinthians 1:12-13 (NIV) "Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God's grace. 13 For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand."

1. In this text, Paul declares he has NO HIDDEN AGENDAS. He will not indulge in politicking nor does he plan to manipulate anyone. What you see is what you get. He means exactly what he says, nothing more. No need to examine the numerical value of the Greek letters to arrive at a hidden meaning.

2. Good church leaders also act as “SHOCK ABSORBERS" when there is tension among the people. For example, if a disgruntled parent lodges a complaint about an issue concerning their child, do we as leaders & elders ABSORB and DIFFUSE the situation, or do we MULTIPLY and COMPOUND the problem? A good leader recognizes that he/she has an opportunity to address this persons concern, while at the same time presenting a united front of the church’s leadership. Good leaders can take a hit without escalating the situation.

3. Good leaders DO NOT BETRAY CONFIDENCES. Just by virtue of being in a leadership position, church leaders are often privy to sensitive information about individuals & families within the congregation, or sensitive information about the church itself. In these instances it is vital that such a person never reveal this infomation to anyone who does not have a need to know. This is such a grievous display of poor judgement that it is cause for immediate removal.

Summer Madness

Do you know what we have accomplished this summer?

• Mother’s Day - very high attendance
• Dad Fest - car show
• Baptism Sunday - 40-50 people baptized
• Communion Sunday - special prayer and anointing service
• Vacation Bible School
• Children’s Service & Worship Team
• Foundations Classes
• Special Offering Received
• Youth Camp
• New Teen Classes Started
• New Highway Sign
• Additional lights installed in sanctuary
  

Wow! At a time of year when most churches just coast along, (and do laps week after week), we have been launching new initiatives, advancing the kingdom, observing the ordinances, seeing lives changed, souls saved, and witnessing spiritual growth & discipleship.

Man, Pace Community Church is a good church to belong to!

Sunday Mind Dump

• Attendance was good today (436 I think) even though it is about 2-3 weeks before school starts back. It seems like many of the younger couples who have smaller children are getting in some last-minute summer-travel before the first day of school.

• I anticipate our attendance jumping by 100 or more as soon as school resumes.

• A lot of our internal systems are overwhelmed right now; everything from existing ministries, to new initiatives we’d like to launch, to routine administrative work, to grounds and building maintenance. Something has got to give.

• Today’s sermon was about knowing God through the power of the Holy Spirit. It seemed to resonate with a lot of people.

• I think it is very important that you invite and GET your friends to church with you each week. People need to the Lord.

• Soon we are going to be having an all-staff, all department-head meeting. Our internal systems are overtaxed and we need to catch up and get ahead of the attendance curve. Every department is needing additional help and an influx of new life.

• I think Pace Community Church is strategically positioned to dominate SR County with the Gospel.

• Some major changes are coming to PCC.

• Have you ever thought about how God is so much better than to you than you deserve? I'm feeling that right now.

• I’m enjoying my workouts (running, cycling, strength training, etc). It is a great stress-reliever. Plus, I have a large punching bag hung in my garage. It allows me to punch the daylights out of something without sinning. I need to do that sometimes, ya know.

• I’ve been thinking about calling the church to a prayer-campaign emphasis in September, to last through October. I’m still trying to ascertain if God is speaking to me about this. I think He is.

• I stuck my hand down in some soapy dishwater the other night and cut my finger on a chef’s knife. Why? Because I am stupid.

• Our church services last 60-70 minutes each week. Seems to be working pretty good for us. I think preachers should be able to say what they’ve got to say in 30 minutes or so. After that, they are just wanting to hear themselves talk.

• When I get up tomorrow morning I’m going to take a gut-busting run. Why? Because I don’t want to be a fat preacher. Gluttony is a sin. Jesus said so.

• Have you ever considered this? There are 100,000 alcohol related deaths in America each year. But OBESITY related deaths are around 300,000 and climbing! Why isn’t the church talking about that? Gluttony is a sin. Jesus said so.

• The church is the only place in America where a glutton can look down his (religious) nose at an alcoholic and feel more righteous.

• Before you ever condemn anyone for what they do, please look down and be sure you can see your toes first. Perhaps we need to preach about “abusing the buffet line.”

• 76% of pastors are overweight or obese! Gluttony is a sin. Jesus said so.

• Please get the beam out of your own eye so that you can see clearly to get the speck out of your brothers eye (Matthew 7:1-5). Jesus said so.

• Substance-abuse ministries? Perhaps they should include gluttony.

• Do you keep a prayer journal? You should. What it has done for me has been enormous. I write my impressions down.

• I think PCC is going to have a revival (spiritual breakthrough).

• Be sure to log back on to my blog every day this week. I've got some things hot off the burner. I mean HOT! Not only am I psyched - I am ticked! Got some righteous indignation going on.
  
  

Why False Doctrine Prospers

First, Scripture tells us that the teachers of false doctrines are more clever and cunning than believers: They have a way of thinking that makes them more politically astute, more street smart, more imaginative in their machinations, and more willing to act in sinful ways in order to achieve their goals. Stealing, lying, distortions of the truth, intentional misleading, usurping, undermining, and bribery are fine so long as they “advance the Kingdom.”

• “For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light” (Luke 16:8).
  
  

Second, heretics introduce false ideas stealthily: They appear to be loyal, but are not; and the ideas they teach, at first, appear to be true but are not. By their smooth words, they mislead many into thinking that they are truthful and the ideas they advance are Biblical.

• “But this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage” (Galatians 2:4).

• “For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation...” (Jude 4).
  
  

Third, heretics frequently use force to persecute Christians. Force works; it silences the opposition. Intimidation, bullying, and threats are effective too. That is why heretics and tyrants use it.

Fourth, and most important, those who believe the truth tend to be slow to recognize error and even slower to take the actions necessary to defend the truth. They LACK both DISCERNMENT and COURAGE. This is the crucial matter. Christians cannot help the fact that deceivers are more shrewd than they are, or that false brethren do things subtly and secretively. But Christians CAN HELP how they understand and RESPOND TO doctrinal subversion. Their lack of discernment stems from a lack of knowledge of Scripture, and their lack of courage comes from a lack of belief in the promises of Scripture.

We must "CONTEND FOR THE FAITH..." (Jude v.3).

Friday Bullets

This Sunday's Message - "Knowing God Through the Holy Spirit"

I will be out of the office today - will be mowing grass on our campus.

Light installation almost complete. Will be finished today. Then we have to put all the chairs back in place.

Teenagers are headed home from Camp today. Pray for their safe travel. Renae has given glowing reports about the kids.

I'll be posting on this blog tonight or probably tomorrow morning.

I'm up to my eyeballs in busyness - I feel like I have been behind all week.

PS - I put on my running shoes this morning and TWO toads came out of one shoe! Looks like that little fellow moved back in but now with a live-in partner. Guess I'm going to have to put my shoes on a higher shelf. What a way to start the day.