The Pastor Who Won’t Risk
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Sun, March 13, 2005
- Viewed 303
- (24) comments so far
Michael Jordan said it this way: "I have failed over and over again -- that is why I succeed."
So why is it as pastors and church leaders, we fear failure so much? Why is it that so many churches and pastors hardly ever take risks? Why is the state of today's church in many communities is just more of the same old, same old? Why do we settle for maintaining the status quo?
According to Kirbyjon Caldwell, Walt Kallestad and Paul Sorensen in their book Entrepreneurial Faith, status quo thinking will fail the church...
"The world is changing too rapidly for us to continue doing things just as we have done them in the past. If you think your city is immune to the radical changes and monumental shifts in our culture, think again. The United States is no longer a Christian nation, if it ever was one. Past assumptions about spiritual needs and beliefs, religious attitudes and allegiances, no longer hold sway. All this means that the past ways of doing ministry no longer speak to the needs of most people. If we?re doing what we?ve always done, we might be missing the opportunity to minister to those who need it the most."
Do you agree? If so, what can you do today to take the plunge? What risk can you take that will pay-off bigtime? Could you fail? Absolutely! But so what? The stakes are so high... but there is so much to gain! We're talking God's kingdom here... His people... His church... and lost souls.
Caldwell, Kallestad and Sorensen continue:
"If we can?t reach this generation by remaining within the walls of the church, and all the signs indicate that we can?t, then it?s time for entrepreneurial faith initiatives. We must take the church to the community. And it?s not just the twentysomething generation that is being missed. Look around your community and start making a list. There?s the immigrant population, the teen population, those who have grown up with no Christian influence and thus no familiarity with religion, and many, many others. Very few of these people will ever be affected by what goes on during a church service, no matter how dynamic, upbeat, and relevant the service is. Those who are following Buddhism or Hinduism, those who claim no religion, those who have been wounded in life (sometimes, even by the church), the lost men, women, boys, and girls in your community will not typically venture into your church. They have no reason to think they?ll find any answers there. They still have a tremendous need to experience the awesome reality of God?s love, but they won?t come begging.
Status-quo ministry says ?open the doors and they?ll come.? That might have worked in the past, but it long ago lost its effectiveness. We can no longer just schedule church services and programs and wait for those who need God to show up. We must find creative ways to engage the nonchurchgoers in our communities. We must take the gospel out of the church and to the people. We must become entrepreneurs as we practice our faith. If we refuse to take this step, we run the very real risk of losing literally millions around us who desperately need and want to experience the love of God and who live right in our neighborhoods. Whether you are a pastor, an involved layperson, or a businessperson concerned about the needs in your community, it?s time to start dreaming about how God can use you in new ways. Ways that may be scary at times, but adventures that will be exciting as well."
Are you up for the risk? Are you in for the ride of your life? I'll close with the words of Steven Curtis Chapman from his popular song "The Great Adventure":
Saddle up your horses we've got a trail to blaze
Through the wild blue yonder of God's amazing grace
Let's follow our leader into the glorious unknown
This is a life like no other - this is The Great Adventure!
Have a great week in ministry!
Todd
This weekend, my family went to see the new movie "Robots." It was a cute move… one that we all enjoyed. It’s one of those movies that does have a good moral at the end of the story… you know; the never-old idea of "work hard, follow your dreams you can change the world." Well, there was one line in the move that really stuck out to me for some reason. It all happens when one of "Rodney Copperbottom’s" self-destructing friends tells Rodney his life’s motto: "Never try… never fail.”
Comments
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Minister Nevada Smith on Sun, March 13, 2005
you’ll never know what reading this has done for me! And i can’t seem to say thank you because I know without a shadow of a doubt that it wouldn’t be enough!
so I’ll just say may God richest and most wonderful blessings find you and overtake you!
tim on Mon, March 14, 2005
I am glad to know that others have the same vision as I do. I have tried to get this thought across to the church I am a member at but the church is “doing church” and unable to change and adapt to the needs of others. I pray that I and others will never stop taking the risk to further His Kingdom!
Tim
Benjamin SC on Mon, March 14, 2005
I can’t tahnk you enough for this article. I have seen God working in the ministry that He has placed me in but sometimes it feels as if you are out there all alone. Thanks for giving me a little bit of meat on a Monday morning!
Diana Jessee on Mon, March 14, 2005
Thanks so much. Our church went from a tiny store building where we had no room for a feeding ministry, or even Sunday School rooms.I could not believe that anyone would not want to move to a larger building so our outreach could continue. Many did not want to go. The church suffered loss but new people began coming as we reached out.
7 months and the LORD is blessing. We now have room for a Youth rally, that meets each Saturday and our large feeding program begins this month with a new kitchen!
Al on Mon, March 14, 2005
My wife and I made the ministry decision years ago that we would not be content with the status-quo. As a result we have seen God do some wonderful things in our ministries. Friends said, what are you doing? We said, “following God’s will for our lives.” And so we struck out to follow the Spirit and live the life God has called us to! Failure? The only Failure I can imagine is not doing what God wants. We refuse to coast and we have never had a need that God has not met.
Believe Him and Live for Him and take no prisoners! God will bless you in ways you never could have imagined.
Blessings,
Pastor Al
http://www.sonrisedevotions.com
Pete King on Mon, March 14, 2005
Without trying to sound like a mere echo, I totally believe what you are saying is true. We need to be creative in how we reach the lost. However, what we are striving for through creativity isn’t new a new concept ie. tent revivals, and televangelist. The concept is the same only the method has changed. The key to reaching them is realizing they are there. I live in a rural community and from what I can tell, there seems to be a constant struggle with the same problem. There are plenty of churches in my town of 18,000 and we post signs that can be seen as you leave the town that say, “Jesus is Lord.” However this community struggles immensely with genuine love for others. Sure People are friendly and on a surface level even compassionate. But ask them to stand up for what is right if it means hurting a lifelong friend or loved one and they cave immediately. You see, somehow in the translation of small town community culture, family and friends supercede God’s principles of right and wrong. It’s an eppidemic that encroaches everything from visitors to church unity. Because if this great battle I’ve seen several Pastors crumble and bow to its authority. My heart is very sad when I think of all the people our churches could be helping instead of hurting if we could only break this town wide problem. I feel what is happening hear could be happening at other places as well. My request no my petition is that we as a collective body of leaders ask God to give us boldness to do what is right and not bow to complacency.
As leaders we must reach out and look beyond our walls and see what God sees. We should never give up trying to reach them even if they reject our efforts. It’s a two fold problem, one we are so consumed with dealing with what is inside our walls that we forget what is out side of them. Second, for fear of failure and rejection we choose to ignore them. The stranger and his/her spiritual problems challenge us. We are so busy saying we can’t change them and their problems that we just choose not to even try. Everyone has heard about the church that got the lost to come in and was unseccessful in changing them. We shouldn’t let failure determine our path. We can only lead them to the water we cannot make them drink. May we stay encouraged and never give up.
Rev. Ralph on Mon, March 14, 2005
We must give serious thought to our ways as Ministers of the gospel. We have lost sight of a foundamental truth. Jesus gave His life for this dying world. Can we give any less? Missions is the very heart of the gospel. being saved means being sent.
The nations are perishing without hope. Our time is running out. We must reach these preicious people before it is too late. If we don’t give or go, who will?
This is the word of the Lord:
“Consider and give ear: Forget your people and your father’s house…. Go in into all the world (your community) and preach the good news to all creation…. Go and make disciples of all the nations..(Your community). As the father has sent Me, I am sending you… Go! I am sendinng you.”
Dr. Howard Carter on Mon, March 14, 2005
You know the sad part about this article is that the pastors think this is new.
Jesus commanded us to “Go and preach the Gospel to all nations.”
He never wanted the Gospel to be stagnant. Church folk have become content to just come to church and feed like swine and then do nothing with what they’ve learned.
That is if they have learned anything at all!
What these pastors are suggesting was commanded by our Lord Jesus Christ 2000 years ago.
The church has been so pre-occupied with their own agendas that they have forgotten that God is in the soul-winning business.
We have turned the Gospel into a self-help program for Christians and not a spiritual balm for the sick.
Trust me when I tell you this, there is nothing new man can come up with that can supersede what the same Gospel Paul preached can do.
We don’t need to re-invent the wheel. We just need to get the wheel rolling!
God Bless!!!
Rev. Ralph on Mon, March 14, 2005
We are at home in a fallen world. Many of us have gone years without leading any of our friend or neighbors to the lord. Yet god"has committed to us the ministry of reconciliation” ( Cor. 5:19). We have fallen short! We work side by side with people who are perishing. But we are too much like them to change them. What would we be changing them to? If some of us confronted them with their sins, we would end up condemning ourselves! We need a rude Awakening. May the Lord convict our hearts.
Terry Harder on Mon, March 14, 2005
What a blessing - to hear your thoughts on this subject this morning. I am out there just trying to make sense of my own life & ministry in this very context you talk about. For some years now I have been trying to figure out what the “organized church” is doing? Pastors and church leadership are very afraid to step out into the unknown, it’s ridiculous. I don’t see many churches or members, for that fact, that can get by their own “legalistic” doctrine & traditions of men - to allow for the “freedom” to live as Christ would have us live. The “free” expression of one’s faith is rare. When one wants to be involved in a church body - to use their gifts & talents, as God would have them do - it is difficult to wade through the pretensive and presumptive attitudes of the establishment protocol. Usually, there is a “screening process” which determines whether one “fits” into the kingdom - their kingdom, not God’s! Desire to serve God is not enough - credentials must be in place. My question is - When did the church become so perfect? I’ve recently read a book by Harold Camping of Family Life Radio, and he says to “leave the church” for the church age is over. Go out into the highways and bi-ways to reach them for Christ. He may just be right. Whatever, I agree, we need to change our way of thinking of how we do ministry in reaching the lost. I’ve been doing some “different” things these past 7 years, and I’ve not been accepted by the “establishement”. I wonder if Jesus was?
Pete King on Mon, March 14, 2005
I am glad there others who feel what I feel. Unlike most of you I not a pastor. Although I could see that in my future, I am called as a music minister to reach whoever I can through any means necessary. Having a father as a pastor, I have been in church all of my life. My experiences have been very difficult and I have seen all to often at various churches I have attend and helped in ministry fall short of accomplishing the message of the Gospel. I am not negating the fact that we need to preach the Gospel on the mission field however I feel a huge hole that is the church of America. I have seen churches give generously to missions and totally forget their own neighborhoods. I am not certain all that I will be a part of in my life regarding ministry, but this one thing I desire above everything is that I have lost souls as my goal. I agree with Rev. Ralph. As leaders We are avoinding this issue because it is us that stand in the need of prayer. We have fed the sheep junk food or allowed them to feed themselves. If we as leaders ask God to challenge us He will place a burden for our cities and towns. I long for the days where I can see a church so hungry for lost souls that entire cities are won for the Glory of God. Brothers and Sisters let us not grow weary for our comments do not fall on deaf ears. God is moving. Get ready. I believe He is sending men and women just like you and me who carry the Heart of God with us. He is preparing us for the Great Commission. One thing I have learned in the small time of 26 years on this earth is that God made me unique for His purpose. Many of you right now are wondering if your passion and burden will be mistaken for self righteousness. Be aware that when you come against the “establishment” people will always look to judge and wish you to fail. Don’t get your eyes off the prize. Only wish for those comforting words so eloquently sated by Paul, “I have run the race and finished the fight”. Don’t get discouraged. Believe and you will achieve. If you must make a stand make sure it is for the right. God weighs the motives of man and knows when we are sincere. Stay encouraged.
tooaugust on Mon, March 14, 2005
Maybe the reason why the Church is always behind the real NEED of man is that it tries to adapt to its culture too much. i found it interesting that this whole thing was sparked by an animated movie instead of a prayful reading of Scripture under the guidance of the orthodox church of the past. Maybe the Scripture already contains everything we NEED for life and godliness. Perhaps doing the same old thing like folloiwng cultural trends needs to be abandoned (WOW that would be the real risk!) and instead the orthodoxy of preaching and teaching solid sound doctrine from the Bible could be the “new” thing we start to practice?
Tim on Mon, March 14, 2005
I have read all the posts today. This has been informative, eye opening, convicting, made me happy and sad. Just in the posts you can see the diversity of thought and practice. Just a thought, whether we all are led in the same direction or not by our Lord and Saviour, one fact remains true. We are to minister to All people. Whether, they are at church or in our communities. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone who professed to be a christian stopped and was a reflection of Christ to 10 people daily. Just 10, at work, at church, at home or on the bus. Just show them Christ in their lives. Following Christ means following His example for us. He met people where they were at. Physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
bernie dehler on Mon, March 14, 2005
Yes, we need to reach out and not be willing to fail. As our Lord said:
John 12:25
The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
One of the most life-changing books for me, that I’ve been reading lately, is Brother Andrew’s “Lightforce.” It’s a great role-model for us.
...Bernie
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/247
Edna on Mon, March 14, 2005
This reading was perfect timing for me…I am about to resign from my current job to return to full ministry. I am an ordained minister, Board Certified Chaplain looking for full time ministry…http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif It is a big risk but reading this was very encouraging…Thank you…
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