Thoughts of a College Pastor

First and foremost let me say this, I LOVE THE CHURCH. I believe God put all His eggs in one basket. I know you’ll never find a perfect church because the church is made up of im-perfect people.When I write these blogs please know that I’m actually looking in the mirror and looking at the church I lead as well.

But, with that said, may we never stop challenging the status quo (no matter who created it).

Here’s what this post boils down to ::

I believe that culture is effecting our churches more than our churches are effecting the culture.

What do we learn from our culture?

If you want it now, you should get it now.

If you don’t want to deal with people, you don’t have to deal with people.

If you want to be left alone, you should be left alone.

If you want it, then buy it.

Our culture has taught us that the whole story revolves around me. I get what I want, when I want it, how I want with no questions asked.

I’m afraid that this mentality has found it’s way into our churches. I’m afraid that when we reach out to people who need Jesus they come in and the church/Gospel/The Way of Jesus changes to meet their needs instead of them experiencing a life-altering, life-changing, substantial transformation.

The selfish continue to be selfish.

The rich continue to get richer.

The loners continue to be isolated.

The control freaks continue to fight for control.

The busy bee’s continue to be controlled by their schedules.

Please know that I understand fully that transformation happens over time. The problem is that our churches are changing faster to look like culture than those who are supposedly being introduced to Jesus.

I read an article on one pastor who talked about his wardrobe. He boasted about how hip and in style he was. He took pride in the $1,000+ outfit that he was wearing from stage as he preached the Gospel. This man reaches out to a very wealthy part of Charlotte and my question is, “What example are you setting for the rich?”

My answer, from a distance I understand, is this…you are teaching them to continue in their previous life.

What if the church preached the Gospel of transformation?

What if the selfish became others centered?

What if the control freaks became servants?

What if the rich became radically generous?

What if the loners became communal?

What if the angry became gentle and patient?

What if the whiners became listeners?

What if the popular reached out to the rag tag and the outcast?

What if volunteers, volunteered expecting nothing in return?

What if church was 24 hours longs, 7 days a week, 365 days a year?

What if there wasn’t a timer on when God’s people Gathered?

What if our worship services were planned around what we wanted to give God and not what we thought the people coming wanted?

What if? What if? What if?

Do we still believe that Jesus can transform lives?

Do we believe that the church should be bringing heaven to earth (which would mean that the church is changing culture and not the culture changing the church)?

The church doesn’t need to look like the culture.

The church needs to look like Jesus.

And then the culture will follow suit.

You might ask how do I know if real, substantial transformation is taking place?

Jesus answers that questions by saying, “By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”   [matthew.7v16-20]

What fruit are we bearing?