The Importance of Genuineness

Being a young Pastor with the ambition of next year transporting my family back to my home town to begin a church plant I am often times peppered with questions as to the what, where, when and why's. Most of the time those questions just seem like the polite things to ask and that people are really disinterested or at most trying to figure out why I feel a need to start one more church when the "world already has so many."

However, every once in awhile some will ask a question along the lines of, what do you feel this current generation is searching for? In my albeit somewhat nontraditional experience I would say that whereas the previous generation seemed to be drawn by professionalism, things need to be very polished and pristine, most in my generation are concerned first and foremost with genuineness. People what to know that we believe (to use sales vernacular) in the product we are selling.

They want to know that we are not "fake", that we have faults and will admit to them, that we won't say one thing to their face all the while practicing something completely different. People are not searching for the correct answer on the test (though we sometimes seem to think they are with the amount of "truth" we push on them, please do not misunderstand I am as willing to die on many a theological hill as the next), they are however, concerned with seeing our faith in action. I am not talking strictly in the working at the local soup kitchen sense (though presenting the Gospel with our hands and feet is a good indicator of our genuineness).

However, we need to ask ourselves are we living a life trying in vain to keep people at arms length so that they do not see our personal sins, because after all we should know better. Or are we inviting people into our lives in order that they can see that we are an imperfect people in desperate need of a perfect Savior. Are we allowing people to see our weaknesses and vulnerability in order that they may also see and experience they strength and power of our Risen Lord Jesus Christ as He gives us victory over our trials and temptations.

I recently spent a weekend at a men's retreat at was encouraged by the amount of time we spent in hammering home the point that we need to be authentic and accountable to other men (not a new concept, but a very good reminder). It is not very difficult to become too busy in life to feel that we can pour ourselves into others and make disciples. Have you ever stopped to think how that looks to "outsiders"?

If our neighbors, who do not go to church, have a basic understanding of our beliefs (and they do), that apart from saving faith they are going to spend eternity in hell and we are not doing all we can to cultivate a relationship with them, how does that look? Disingenuous to say the least.

I am convinced that one of the things that keeps people from coming in the doors of the church is our vain attempt to keep everything squeaky clean, pristine and white within the walls of the church. Life is not pristine. Life is ugly. Life is painful. Can we admit that? Can we allow others to see how painful our personal lives are? Can we be genuine?

The Idol of Traditionalism

"This is the way we've always done it." The last words of countless dying churches and other para-church ministries. Dying in two ways, one the are dying because their numbers are growing smaller and the cannot afford to keep the doors open any longer and dying because the have become cold and callous towards those whom the proclaim the are trying to reach with the gospel.

I have for several years now had a concern over traditions found in many churches. Do not misunderstand if push came to shove I would certainly affirm many traditions within the bride of Christ, the ordinances aside (which are not actually traditions but commandments by Christ), many churches hold to traditions which are beautiful, beneficial, and biblical. For instance, even though I Pastor a non-denominational community church, I am fan and believer of the various creeds, which when they are put into their historical context help us to be understand and more important better verbalize our faith.

However, I am fearful and disgusted by many man made traditions that many churches hold to. I find that often times churches have forgotten the words and encouragement of Paul to "become all things in order to save a few" (1st Corinthians 9:22); and instead often times they expect all people to conform to our practices.

I am not going to use this forum to decry any particular practices of any particular church, because each church needs to look at itself and ask the question why do we do what we do. I will, however, take the opportunity to prescribe the antidote for the sinful practice of traditionalism. I believe that the reason that most churches hold fast to tradition rather than contextualize their practices is because they have forgotten who the audience is on Sunday mornings (or any other worship service for that matter).

Let me explain. When we gather in God's house, whether it be Sunday morning, Sunday evening, Wednesday evening, or any other time for that matter; we are gathering to adore, praise, worship, and thank God the Father for the many blessings that He has bestowed upon us. We are not there for ourselves, we are there for God. He is the audience, we are not! I fear, in fact I have seen many feel that church is mainly for them, that they are there to receive something. And it is for that reason that they are quick to hold on to traditions, because it is what comforts them, it is what pleases them. Indeed, tradition, is what gives some their worth.

As I have already said, I am not against all tradition. Many traditions are very much beneficial to the individual as well as the Bride of Christ as a whole. While there may not be anything sinful in our practices in and of themselves, I worry that we have forgotten that we are to esteem others above ourselves and that could very well mean that we need to set aside practicing our favorite things (as long as they are not actual commandments) in order that we might include those to whom our traditions mean next to nothing and have wonderful fellowship with one another, particularly the unchurched.

I want to end this entry with a quote from a man who was a greater pastor/preacher than I will ever be. This man's lecture series which became published under the title Preaching and Preachers has been invaluable to me and it is from this book that this quote comes. In it Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones also addresses the idol of traditionalism, and he says this, "How different the state of our churches would be if we were all as concerned to be orthodox in our beliefs as we are to be orthodox in our conformity to 'the thing to do' and 'the done thing' in the churches."

God's Blessings Through His Commands

It has been a little over two years since I have blogged. With the boom of everything viral and on the internet in general, I am quickly coming to the understanding that to be relevant to the next generation of unbeliever's I need to be more intentional and diligent in attempting to blog.

If you know me personally, you most likely know that my wife just gave birth to our fifth child. We are now the proud parents of three boys and two girls, ages 11-new born. Some may read that previous line and be expecting some parenting advice. That will not be the case. I am a father who fumbles over his duties more often than he would like to admit. (Though my wife I am sure would be able to share some wonderful insights if she ever chooses to blog.)

However, one thing about our son being born did strike me as a wonderful reminder of the blessings that God gives us through of all things the Law and His commands. When our first two boys were born they ended up being circumcised in the hosptial a day or two after they were born. However, two weeks ago when Alexander was born we were notified that there was no one on duty to perform the circumcision and so we took him home and called our family doctor (who is a believer) to perform the circumcision on what happened to be the eighth day since our baby boy's birth.

Which got me to thinking about the commandment God gave the Israelites about circumcising infants on the eighth day (Genesis 17:12). I have heard the comments in my limited experience as a full time Pastor that God has imposed harsh and unrealistic commands and expectations on us. Now I am in no way comparing Israel to the church in this little blog, it is a discussion for a different medium (and by one more trained then I), but I do want to discuss God's "imposition" on us.

While my wife and I were in the hospital this last time, we were told by the nurses that one of the shots they administered to the new borns was a shot of vitamin K. Vitamin K we were told was instrumental for our bodies to help clot our blood. We were also told that the human body does not produce vitamin K on its own until...can you guess it? Day 8!

Could you please explain to me how God through the command to circumcise on day 8 and not sooner can be considered harsh. God created us, He knows how our body works, He afterall formed it. When God told us to circumcise on day 8 he knew that the human body would finally be able to clot the blood that inevitably comes when a young boy is circumcised.

It is a blessing that God told us to wait! I hate to imagine how many tragadies would have happened before the Israelites figured out not to circumcise as soon as the babies were born, or on day two, or on day three...

If it is true that God actually blessed us when considering the command to circumcise on day 8, could it not be true for other commands as well? I am convinced that yes, God does makes commands of His creation (and He has every right to do so) because it brings Him glory. But, He also makes commands of us, because it blesses His creation, which in turn brings Him glory. It is a cyclical argument. And we cannot afford to miss it.

If you and I simply recognize God's commands as bringing Him glory, we can easily and quickly perceive Him, as many do, as a harsh dictator. However, if we recognize only that His commands are for our benefit, we end up promoting the "social gospel", benefitting others, without calling sinners to repentance.

To sum up. God has the right to make demands of His creation; and His demands are indeed instilled to bring Him glory. However, God's commands also bring upon us, His creation, blessings.

Will you not choose today to obey His commands to bring Him glory AND to be blessed?