In effort to be a better man… Conversation w/ God Pt.1

In an effort to be a better man I am going to start sharing more personal things. I have many changes that I need to make in my life that I am aware of. I need to be more patient. I need to be more positive, especially about leaders. I need to speak with God more frequently in a manner of conversation. I seriously could ramble about the things I need to start doing better all day. But I need to stop rambling.

I believe that the man our heavenly Father is wanting me to be is a transparent one. A man that is put on a viewing table for all to see, flaws and triumphs. Any man who is doing the Lord’s work should be on display, not just when they are doing right but when they have not. We spend so much time explaining that it’s O.K. to not be perfect, that this is why Jesus came to begin with, but when it comes to letting others see our flaws we cover ourselves in self defense.

I’m not talking about the huge mess ups we have. Those are most likely to come out anyway and we’ll have to deal with them somewhat publicly. But the small, fractional, more frequent events are so much more useful to people of God, who want to be better and need an example, when shared.

I went to God this evening about an issue I am having with someone else. I have been frustrated time and time again with the same behavior and really have had no clue as to how I should handle things. Here’s how my conversation with God went.

Me: “Father, I’m going to speak to you about this standing up because I just want to talk to you. (sometimes praying on my knees gets to be too traditional and I can’t find good words, so praying standing or pacing becomes a conversation) How am I supposed to handle this situation?

God: Be patient. Be kind

Me: But I am patient and much more kind than they are. I don’t want to be run over.

God: Be patient and be the example, no matter how long it takes. Be kind and be the example, no matter how long it takes.

Me: Well if you are ALWAYS patient and kind every time the same behavior occurs, aren’t you just enabling bad behavior?

God: Do you think I enable bad behavior?

Me: (WHACK!)… Well, what if you are patient and kind forever and they just refuse to change, and you spend your entire life taking it in the face while you get stepped on and spat at? (figuratively)

God: If you spend your entire life doing what’s right and hope that someone else betters themselves, then you have done what I have asked of you, regardless of their decisions or outcome. But if your hope is for someone to change then you must always be the example or you give them no reason to. Holiness does what is right eternally. Sometimes people see this and they decide to change themselves, to be better. Sometimes they don’t. But, as hard as it is not to, spending time working on others flaws only adds to yours. Be right, be the example.

Me: Well do you even mention it to them or just act as though they’re not doing anything at all? How do you do this? What if it’s affecting someone else?

God: You don’t have to ignore wrong behavior. But you do have to approach it wisely, if it must be approached. Politely, patiently attempt to dissolve it. You must be willing to get inside slapping distance to give a hug, same thing applies to resolution. You must be willing to accept that your intent will not be accepted the way you hope for but, to do as I ask, you must be willing… over and over and over… forever.

P.S. Although this situation has nothing to do with my children, He also said that I have to discuss with my kids what they’ve done wrong, even when they know what they’ve done wrong BEFORE punishing them.

REPOST!!! Rocks or Rock Stars…

The first time I posted this I was worried that my pastor could possibly take offense to this. Thank God, not anymore… I am blessed to have one that not only can say it but spray it! I am re-posting this, however, because of a recent event with one of our major churches in play. I honestly believe that whether there is any malicious fault on the pastor himself, he could have prevented much of what occurred. Pray for your leaders, please. They are under assault, and they are not Jesus. God bless- JP

“Simon, Simon! Indeed Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat”LUKE 22: 31

When I entered the church I was a member of a very “old school” Church of God. I have a lot of great memories from that church. The pastors spoke with such humility. I was saved in that church. I became an assistant youth pastor and grew in faith rapidly through my experiences there. The problem I had was that I was a very progressive personality in a contemporary environment. I grew up punk rock and was preaching country gospel. I taught with excitement and I’m uncontained in my appreciation for God’s grace. They taught fire and brimstone and I wanted the children to focus on a life with Jesus more than a death without him… they’re kids. I visited Oak Leaf Church and immediately I felt God say to me, “You say you need a certain environment to do My work, well here it is!” I was even more suprised to find out there were more churches like this out there. There’s a rock and roll appeal to these churches. The danger in this environment is that it can also produce rock and roll attitudes.

I recently had the opportunity to go see a prominant “today” pastor speak. I had a good time and took alot of positive considerations from the experience. This pastor was a good speaker, though controversial at times. The worship was terrific. Although I took some very positive material home with me, I had kind of a disturbed feeling in my gut. Some of my dissapointment was due to a difference in leadership philosophy, which I had to resign because he was obviously a very effective leader. The majority of the discomfort I felt was due, however, to the way he carried himself. Once I was home I watched some of the resources he had online and also payed more attention to some of the pastors he was kind of mentoring. Some of these guys I already followed and appreciated their candor, but the more I payed attention, the more I noticed the similarities. The more I noticed the similarities the angrier I got. There were some bad habits being presented, and worse, I was beginning to see a trend in church leaders.

What I am seeing is a small, but present, trend of “Rockstar” pastors. I don’t have a problem with pastors having personalities, it’s refreshing. People need to know that our ministers are human beings not “Godbots”. And it’s one thing for a congregation or society to elevate a pastor to a “rock star” level. It’s borderline idolotry, but…  When the pastor starts to see this he should humble himself before these people. Saying that it’s all about Jesus and showing it’s all about Jesus are two completely different things. A church’s personality will mimic that of the pastor.

“Everybody wants to be a rock star, but no one wants to learn the chords.It’s hard work to study God’s Word.  To pray for breakthrough.  To do spiritual battle on behalf of those we lead.  To charge forward in faith for the cause of Christ.  To run a church with the highest standard of excellence.”- Quoted from one of the pastors I follow frequently. I actually found this after I started writing this. This disturbs me because it tells me he knows the comparison is being made and rather than correct it he’s going to ride it. Two other pastors even call attention to the fact that they use profanity from the stage, unapologetically before they do it.

Building disciples is best done with strong actions not strong words. It’s not ok for a pastor to use profanity while preaching, and we do not casually refer to opposition or critique as evil. (And Jesus is the main event… not you!) Church leaders are open for critique, when scripturally sound:

Matthew 18:15-17 If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

1 Ephesians 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

2First Peter 3:10 “For, whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.”

3 James 3:9-12 “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.

The personality of church leaders should take a backseat to the person they are representing, Jesus Christ. It’s ok to be an individual as a leader, but you are influencing souls, and this must stay constant in your mind. Jesus called on Peter to be the rock of his church. A rock is sturdy, strong and constant but it certainly doesn’t take attention from the mountain. I’m happy that the church has become progressive and proactive in going after souls like Satan is. I just don’t want the church to be proactive in going after souls like Satan does.

Confused christians…

MARK 4:33-34 …Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. 34 He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with His own disciples, he explained everything.

Jesus did not mean for every person to understand Him. Mark 4 tells us openly that when Jesus spoke to crowds of men gathered that he spoke in a way that only those that made a strong effort to understand would understand. In this passage Jesus is surrounded by so many people who are interested in His teachings that He has had to get into a boat and be pushed from shore in a lake so that he can speak to all the people gathered.

He was SO ENGULFED BY THE CROWD THAT HE HAD TO GET INTO A BOAT AND PUSH HIMSELF FROM SHORE SO THAT THEY ALL COULD SEE HIM. Would your pastor have to do this on a Sunday morning? Are there so many people crowding your church that your pastor has to knock out the wall behind him and space himself so that everyone can hear his message? Jesus had to make room for every one to hear His message… And then He confused them, purposefully. He did not say anything to them without using a parable.

Pastors, no matter the size of your church, this describes your church. Your church is the crowd. Your church represents this crowd, no matter what size, so large that the Lord must board ship in order to speak, knowing that most will not understand the message. God then tells us that only to His own disciples, he explained everything. Only to those that had dropped all of their own wills and desires, only to those who had committed  their entire lives, only to the very very few who chose all that came with being a follower of Jesus did He reveal His message.

Jesus tells us in MATT 7:21-23 that not all those that call Him Lord, Lord will make it into his kingdom. There are many sitting in your church today who are being called but few will be chosen. If you are looking out into those that congregate at your church and feel comfortable with the thought that those people are going to heaven, you are mistaken. Many in your church will be gnashing teeth. It takes a personal interest on an individual basis to make a notch on God’s belt. The “very few”, or disciples of your church understand your message each week. The crowd came for a miracle, or to say that they had been there.

For those that want to understand Jesus’ message it takes following. If  you think hearing or seeing Jesus’ words gives you understanding, you are wrong. You will not simply read the bible and understand what those that truly choose to follow Christ understand. If you want understanding you must follow first. If you want your church members to understand, your job is to make disciples; meaning those that believe… and follow Jesus. Those in turn, that truly are disciples, will go out and make disciples.

Jesus did not explain himself so that those that understood Him would follow. Those that followed Jesus were shown while those who showed up were confused through equivalence.

He did not say anything to them without using parable. Jesus’ true message is personal, it’s not meant for the masses. The masses may receive the message but they will all accept it through a personal relationship. We must take interest in the individuals of the church and not find a percentage acceptable. We are the shepherds who are more interested in the 99 than the 1. Who are your disciples to which all is explained?… and who are theirs?