Something to grieve, something to own (fb)

Something significant happened in the family called Church last week- maybe you missed it.  Early last week John Piper announced that he is taking "an eight-month leave of absence to address unspecified "sins" that have "taken a toll" on his marriage."  (http://blog.beliefnet.com/news/2010/03/author-piper-takes-leave-to-ta.php) John Piper happens to be my favorite modern preacher and teacher.  Back when he started Desiring God Ministries I was on a first name basis with The person that you called to order preaching "tapes."  Until a few years ago I read everything he wrote- including his exposition of Romans 9!  I just love this guy so it's understandable that this would be huge news for me.  But here is why I think it's huge news for "you" and especially for "us."


The Western church, especially the American church, has embraced a structure that is found nowhere in the New Testament, burns out leaders, and generally hinders the mission for which this family was gathered.  I don't know the "sins" to which Piper refers to but I know this.  John Piper walking away from everything for 8 months is a radical step to address radical problems.  This is not a guy who is just tired.  He doesn't just need a sabbatical - he's had lots of those through the years- mostly used for writing.  Fortunately his problems will likely not disqualify him for future leadership in the Church.  But over the last few years I've watched several high profile Christian leaders and several low-profile leaders fall under the weight of a system that is not sustainable.  Specifically, I talked to a couple of guys a year over the past ten years that needed to do what Piper is doing- step away- but wouldn't, couldn't.  


When I was in seminary, the statistic quoted was that the average length of time in vocational ministry for seminary grads was 7 years.  I'll bet that number is less now.  The typical senior pastor is relationally isolated - meaning they have no close friends to share heart-level intimacy with.  Most are also relationally isolated from their wives and families- who often resent continually playing second fiddle to the "church family."  I've never met a senior pastor who didn't say that wife and family are "first" - neither have I ever met one that was at peace with the way that value practically is worked out in the rhythm of life.   The senior pastor carries the weight of maintaining balance in a "provider-client" system that rewards an incremental increase in maintaining the status quo.  Every social invitation becomes a "should," every request for meeting is accompanied with fear.  Mostly fear of inadequacy- inadequate to give that perfect word of wisdom, encouragement, counsel, or affirmation that is expected.  Each time the senior leader rises to proclaim God's word it is with the knowledge that the performance will be judged  in every car and at every lunch table.  Our senior leaders are the brand, they are the franchise, a part of our identity.  In an adolescent culture obsessed with the next hit, they are Christendom's rock stars.  In short, the senior pastor is asked to be Prophet, Priest, and King...Apostle, Pastor, Teacher, and Evangelist.  But why does that matter?


It matters first because my bible tells me that in Christ we are one- we are connected, we share the same spiritual dna, everything that a brother or sister does affects all of the brothers and sisters.  If John Piper is hurting I'm hurting.  If Ted Haggard flames out...we flame out!  It's not "him" it's "us."  We are a covenant people - one in Christ and one with each other.  We are a body, a house, an army, a temple, a bride.  We are watching our leaders walk up onto a stage as a lamb to the slaughter, then we turn our eyes as they fall away.  We wish them well, pray for them, say what a shame it is, point out their flaws, then prop up the next guy.


It matters also because my bible tells me that leadership in the church is not connected to titles but to discipling people.  It is to be done by a diverse group of amateurs that are radically dependent on the Holy Spirit for ... everything.    There is not one description of Church in the new testament that looks anything like what we call "church."  You won't find one senior pastor in the new testament.  What you find is groups of people in cities, in community with one another, radically committed to love their city towards Jesus and His Kingdom.  They meet in small groups a lot more often than they meet in large groups.  The one description of a gathering that we are given in the bible shows a group of people waiting on the Holy Spirit- one has a word, another a song, another a prayer- everyone gets to play- everyone has to play.  Church is the lifestyle of a community on mission together, not a place you go or a meeting to attend.  If you go to a place or attend a meeting it should be for the purpose of equipping and encouraging you to live the lifestyle, or... it should be a worship and prayer throwdown for the ages that serves as a tangible expression of who we are and who God is.  


So what do we do about it?  Radical problems require radical solutions.  Senior pastors will continue to fall under the weight of "ministry" unless the body "be's" the body by taking that weight onto itself.  That will require:
- a fresh dose of grace- where we begin to grasp in our hearts how loved we are and how free we are
- a fresh vision of Kingdom transformation- a heart cry to see our friends, families, cities, and nations loved toward a reflection of "on earth as it is in heaven" 
- a biblical view of Church and church leadership- an army of amateurs committed to encourage one another to go for it in every sphere of culture
- a dependence on the Holy Spirit that we have not experienced in this country since the frontier revivals- we probably will have to be taught by African, Indian, Asian and Latin American brothers and sisters
- a structure that empowers Church as a lifestyle and makes "church as a meeting" a thing of the past


Where can we start?  The local church community that my family is connected to is taking radical steps in the right direction- steps that don't feel radical to most people- which means people are much more willing to embrace change.  Here are a few of these steps that we are embracing:


1.  Multiple preachers and teachers- there is no one that is the visible senior leader
2.  Paid staff are all part time, bi-vocational leaders - this keeps people grounded in real-life and also makes it impossible to load them down with burdens that should be carried by us all
3.  The weekly gathering is appropriately de-emphasized and life-together outside of the weekly meeting is celebrated
4.  The theology of the Kingdom is preached again, and again, and again, and again...
5.  There is almost an "open source" sense of place and mission in regards to the Church in our city, it's mission, and our necessary connection to all of our brothers and sisters in the city, regardless of their label


So let's pray for John and Noel Piper- let's fight for and with them.  And let's listen to what the Spirit is saying to the Church- taking ownership for our own contribution to the repeated crash and burn of our leaders.  Everyone gets to play, everyone has to play.  Finally, we know the end of the story and are full of faith - the Bride will be the beautiful, world-changing girl she was made to be and all the created of all time will marvel at her glory.

Preacher- tell your story (fb)

I recently finished Brennan Manning's The Furious Longing of God.  It begins...

I'm Brennan. I'm an alcoholic
How I got there, why I left there, why I went back is the story of my life.
But it's not the whole story.


I'm Brennan. I'm a Catholic
How I got there, why I left there, why I went back is also the story of my life.
But it's not the whole story.


I'm Brennan.  I was a priest but am no longer a priest.  I was a married man but am no longer a married man.
How I got to those places, why I left those places is the story of my life too.
But it's not the whole story.


I'm Brennan.  I'm a sinner saved by grace.  That is the larger and more important story.  Only God, in his fury, knows the whole of it.


I've read everything Brennan Manning has ever written, most of his books multiple times.  He basically says the same thing in every book- God is "knocked out in love" with you not because of what you do but because of who he is.  His books are dripping with scripture but he doesn't teach, he tells.  Mostly he tells stories.  Mostly he tells his story.  One of these days I'll count the number of "Brennans" and "I's" and "me's" in one of his books- it would be a bunch.

The first time I was asked to speak publicly was when a business colleague asked me if I would speak at a baptist men's retreat at Falls Creek, Oklahoma.  I was asked to speak on the topic of "personal worship."  I was 25 years old.  I stood before that room of 30-40 "old guys" and absolutely poured out my heart- it was all about God and all about me.  How else can you talk about "personal worship" than to tell your story- the story of a God who is real and purses and speaks and loves and wants you to sense His presence and reflect back to him all of the glory he's pouring out on you?  Those guys sat there like, "huh?"  But a couple of them got it and, more importantly, the process changed me.

Before I ever became a "preacher" I sat down with Ron Johnson, church planter and founder of Pathways Church in Denver.  Pathways was one of the first urban church plants in the country really going after young "cultural creatives" in a large US city (I love pioneers!).  At the time there were many Christian leaders who were super concerned that churches like Ron's were in danger of watering down the gospel because of the emphasis on story and distance from traditional, didactic, exegetical teaching.  It bugs me when people vilify people and movements that they've had no relational connection with.  So I just called Ron, a pioneer, and asked if he'd meet with me.  "Ron, how do you approach preaching?"  He said "Lance, every week I stand up and tell my people what God is doing in my life- I tell the ongoing story of how God is changing me." That one sentence is probably the most freeing thing anyone ever said to me about preaching.

Last night I read the manuscript of a new book by a good friend.  He is only 25 and he wanted to shout from the mountaintops "God is real and good and he is mostly trying to make you new and he does that on the journey- so be excited about God and life and people!"  He did it by telling his story, his stories.  It reminded me of why I love Jesus so much.  I believe.

So preacher- tell us your story.  Don't be afraid- it will connect us with your heart and with His heart.  We need to feel how this truth is changing you- what it looks like in your life- how hard it is and how much hope it brings.  Sometimes you'll say it wrong- you'll say too much, or not enough- who cares- these people know you and love you.  "But I'll be exposed."  Hell yes you'll be exposed- we'll see your pride and your failures and we'll love you all the more for it.  Remember, God didn't call you to preach because he thinks you're talented.  He called you to preach so that he can make YOU more like Jesus.  "But I'm supposed to teach."  Then teach- do your prep work, pour over the text and the commentaries, pray over it with fear and trembling, and know what the hell you're talking BUT if we want the best teaching on your topic we'll read or listen to someone who knows it better than you.  Teach us through your life.   Preaching is worship- so model worship.  Pour your heart out before Him, before us.

I'm Lance.  I'm a sinner saved by grace.  That is the larger and more important story.  Only God, in his fury, knows the whole of it.