All right Blogger readers,
Now I'm curious to know how many agree with this MSNBC video? I agree about one thing. Some of the mega churches and mid-sized churches are aging, and thus, losing traction in the relevancy area, but I don't think everyone has to necessarily dress like you would be scared of them in a dark alley. Not casting any judgment on the preacher in this video. In fact, I'm more comfortable in jeans, so why not wear comfortable cloths to church? However, I just think it's a matter of what leadership allows. I won't criticize the people that have mohawks as long as they don't criticize my down-to-earth approach. BUT, much like a variety of preachers today, I struggle with how much I make myself look like others in our culture. I don't think it's necessary.
I like to watch Ed Young. Ed is on the cover of MinistryToday and is the subject of this article. I can really identify with this statement in the article:
Becoming comfortable in his own skin
wasn't automatic for Young.
That had to do with Ed breaking away from his father a little bit because he felt he was different from him. But different is sometimes hard to be. OK, now, the article goes on to say Ed went through "church H-E-double toothpicks" while attempting to step out and be different. I've watched Ed Young and he doesn't seem to force different. He seems to flow with it. Not everyone is called to "different." But I love the way the article continues:
Young stresses, however, that FC's goal is not to "put on a bigger and better show each and every weekend. Sometimes the most creative element can be the most simplistic, the most basic; it can be a very dialed-down service. Other times it can have a lot of different elements that can even borderline on sensory overload. We just try to change it.
Christianity is all about change. Whenever you have change, you've got conflict, and with conflict, you've got growth. It's the spin-cycle of
growth."
Now I go for that. Currently, I am in a position that I try to bring "different", not quite the way Ed does, but how a simple message is communicated. You're seeing into a pastor's mind. Trying to see what brings the most effective words and environment. Personally, I think way too many pastors are too absorbed and isolated in their church environment and it becomes an inward focus. Comfort is a valued commodity, probably because most pastors deal with everyones' problems 24/7. However, when there is a maturing in the Body of Christ, there has to be room for that growth to accommodate assistance for the pastor, enough that, the local body grows by an osmosis process, instead of an anomaly function.
Is it a RARE thing for unbelievers or "new people" to walk in? Are we stuck in the same 35, 45, 50, 70, 85, 100, 150, 230, 340, 470 people that walk in week after week? Shouldn't there be continuous exponential growth? I'm only asking...
And why is it pastors are the only ones asking these questions? Mature believers should KNOW to see these things, right? Right?
Here are the excuses: I'm too stretched; I'm too busy; I'm too tired; I have a family to provide for; I have a family to feed; I have too many places to run to every day; I'm not strong or brave enough; AND a hundred others...
Pastors, let people know how you think about this. Even if you don't agree with this post, you have to say to yourself, "How far have we come, how far are we going, and how long will it take to get there?"
Ed Young offers 7 Keys to To keep a church healthy, active, creative and maturing. Read the whole thing, it is so worth it!
Life comes at you fast!
Pastor Mark
