main cow pic

12.30.11

The Church OF the People rather than The Church FOR the People

Filed under: God's movement,leadership,worship — 1:31 pm
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Van Gogh

Yesterday, while dreaming and journaling about 2012, and stumbled upon some passionate feelings about the Christian church. This is hardly an original thought, but since it grabbed a hold of me so deeply, here it is:

I am way more compelled by a church OF the people
than a church FOR the people.

This is not to say that one is right and the other is wrong, but I’m becoming increasingly captured by the idea of the priesthood of all believers. Church as a movement rather than an institution. A church created by the people rather than consumed by the people.

A few examples…

In a church TO the people, Worship means: Come hear our most gifted artists provide a worship experience that will inspire and bless you. When it’s done, you’ll want to give them a round of applause, thank God, and be glad you attended.

In a church OF the people, Worship becomes: Prayerful, intentional space that empowers the people to co-create a worship experience – both as individuals and as a body, both at home and when together. The church helps people connect with God and each other, and then gets out of the way.

In a church TO the people, Evangelism means: Bring your friend to church to hear the pastor (who they will never meet) explain to them the truth. It is exporting evangelism to the expert, and reducing the sweeping Story of God to disembodied information.

In a church OF the people, Evangelism becomes: Training up disciples and launching them out to serve the world and share their story…and helping foster a community so alive and beautiful that people can’t wait to join.

In a church TO the people, Mission means: Give your money to the church so it can build a ministry to the poor. You write a check and they’ll take it from there.

But a church OF the people declares: “No one knows the poor in your town better than you. Let us help you serve them. And if you don’t know the poor in your town, following Jesus means that you’ll need to make some changes. Please let us help you humbly engage and learn from and serve the poor in your town.”

Obviously, these are exaggerated examples for clarity. Most churches I’ve been a part of are both, but tend to lean one way or the other. And it’s my personal hope that in this next year, every faith community will inch a bit more in the Church OF the People direction – developing and unleashing the supernatural potential of every woman, man, and kid.

And this year I commit to humbly and constructively use any opportunity I’m given to help and get swept up in this Movement. What an honor and responsibility it is to be (like EVERY one of us) the potential hands and feet of God!

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Eph 4:11-13)

 

 

08.12.11

Session 5 of the Summit

Filed under: God's movement,leadership,willow — 11:55 am

Wow, session 5 of the Leadership Summit (called “Tough Callings”) just finished, and it messed me up.  Something is stirring deep inside.

right before session 5

I had the opportunity to help lead the first few minutes of the session (reading from Colossians 1, the Charlie Hall song “Center,” and the classic “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”) with a killer team of some of my favorite people.  I love our team.  And I’m not sure how it sounded around the country, but the people here in South Barrington sang their hearts out.

After a few more songs, I found my seat and got ambushed by the stories, songs, and prayers of people who have received hard callings…people who have given up everything to serve the poor and most forgotten people on earth.  One after another, these stories pushed and pulled me into some deep and uncomfortable places, and I’m still feeling it.  Here’s the question I can’t get beyond…

Am I in the place I am in, doing what I’m doing, because God
has called me?  Or is this the best gig I can find?

Am I following Jesus into the life he’s made me to live, or am I just unconsciously drifting from “what I think is best” to “what feels right” to “what makes the most sense?”  Is it possible that I’m living the kind of comfortable life I’ve always wanted to live, but just overlaying spiritual language on top of it?  When I pray “God, what do you want me to do?,” am I actually saying “God, here’s what I’m going to do…please bless it?”  I’m not sure.  These are heavy questions that I need to keep digging into.

Thanks for the grace to let me wrestle with all this out loud.  What do you think?  Do you ever feel a similar tension in your life?

08.11.11

Bill Hybels, Starbucks, and the anti-gay label…

Filed under: God's movement,leadership,willow — 5:41 pm

A couple hours ago, Bill addressed some drama that has been brewing about Willow’s Leadership Summit.
I love how he handled it and feel really proud…

08.01.11

What the world needs now (especially me)

Filed under: God's movement,leadership,Palestine / Israel — 10:50 am

“The line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either, but right through every human heart, and through all human hearts. This line shifts. Inside us, it oscillates with the years. Even within hearts overwhelmed by evil, one small bridgehead of good is retained; and even in the best of all hearts, there remains a small corner of evil.”

Russian author Alexander Solzhenitsyn, in The Gulag Archipelago

I often think about this quote in terms of the Israeli-Palestinian mess, or any kind of religious conflict, but can you imagine if our country’s political leaders believed this? What would Washington look like if each person was so aware of their own contradictions that they could disagree passionately without ever demonizing “the other side”?

But that’s easy. Here’s a more difficult question: What would MY life look like if I could fully internalize this truth and let it infuse every part of me? What if I could pursue what I thought was right without having to prove the other wrong? What if I could learn to see and value the good and beauty inside ‘my enemies’? What if I became an absolute expert on the evil corners of my own heart, and instead of wallowing or denying, I humbly held on to grace?

I have resorted to “either/or” “bad vs good” thinking way too many times in my life. (And wouldn’t you know it, but I always happen to find myself on the “good” side. What a coincidence!). There is a time to stand up and courageously speak the truth as we see it, but I’m really tired of all the sawdust in my eyes getting in the way. (M 7) There must be a better path.

O God, please have mercy on us all. Give us eyes to really see, ears to really hear, and hearts to take it all in.

05.26.11

why women should rule the world

Filed under: God's movement,leadership — 12:08 pm

Rambo

I had a huge realization today:  Almost every idea and perspective that feels fresh and future-oriented (to me) is from a woman (or a man who healthily embraces both his masculine and feminine sides).  The days of the alpha male are over. The world they have lead is a mess.  And one of the central, reoccurring stories of history is arrogant, childish men grabbing power, not listening to anyone else, and allowing their swaggering hubris to crash their lives and hurt everyone around them.  This is painful to watch when it’s a father wrecking his family, or a CEO bringing down his company.  And it’s painful to watch when it’s a world leader hurting his country.

Male dominance has taken us as far as it can, and we need the future to be co-created by the feminine. Not just “let some women play along with men’s rules”, but a true partnership that re-writes the rules.

Before going any further, I must acknowledge that I am a male in a leadership position who has benefited from the system in so many ways.  And although many wise people have been talking about gender issues for years (my brilliant wife being one of them!), I am embarrassingly late to this conversation.  So in the humility of just beginning this journey, here are a few perspectives that are helping me.

Noreena Hertz ended her brilliant TED talk with…

“If we challenge experts, devolve authority, and keep our independent thinking strong…
but also, if we become much more comfortable with nuance, uncertainty, and doubt, and if we allow our experts using those terms too, we will set ourselves up much better for the challenges of the 21st century.”

When’s the last time you heard a male president, prime minister, CEO, leader, or football coach arguing for nuance, uncertainty, and doubt?  It’s very rare.  Usually, it’s about power and certainty and “smoking the bad guys out of their caves”.  But this bravado doesn’t often get to the heart (and then solution) of such a complicated world. And even when it is victorious, the collateral damage is painful to watch.

(My second favorite band Elbow sings “The leaders of the free world are just little boys throwing stones.  And it’s easy to ignore them till they’re knocking on the doors of our homes.”  listen here.)

Nice Girls

My mother-in-law Lynne is an incredible example of a brave woman who is wading into the most intense issues on planet earth (first HIV/AIDS, then the Congo, and now the Palestinian/Israeli conflict) with both strength and grace.  She’s strong enough to stand up and speak the truth, but humble enough to appeal for a compromise where both sides can win.  She can hold her own in a line of powerful male speakers, but she also listens to you (no matter who you are) like you’re the most important person on earth.  Is it strange to admit that I’d like to be more like my mother-in-law?  (read more here.)

Finally, the lovingly provocative Father Rohr suggests:

“All this “women-stuff” is not only important; it is half of conversion, half of salvation, half of wholeness, half of God’s work of art.  …The world is tired of Pentagons and pyramids, empires and corporations that only abort God’s child.  This women-stuff is very important, and it has always been important;  more than this white male priest ever imagined or desired!  My God was too small and too male. Much that the feminists have said is very prophetic and necessary for the Church and the world.  It is time for the woman to come out of her desert refuge and for the men to welcome her.” (Adapted from The Maternal Face of God )

What do you think about this? How do you think the world/country/church/government most needs to shift to a better balance of masculine and feminine?  Where have you seen this already happening?  What have you found helpful in your own journey?

04.20.11

The Antidote to Apathy

Filed under: creativity,leadership — 9:53 am

I found this short TED talk – The Antidote to Apathy – wildly inspiring and fresh. He packs an hour of killer insights into seven quick minutes…

04.13.11

the strangest and most inspiring story…

Filed under: books,leadership,life — 8:09 pm

future golf pro?

I just had to share this.

On his 30th birthday (in 2009), Dan McLaughlin quit his job as a photographer to become a professional golfer.  But here’s the thing:  Dan didn’t play or really even like golf. However, inspired by the 10,000-hour theory from Malcolm Gladwell’s brilliant book Outliers, he decided to test this theory (that anyone can become great at something by putting in 10,000 hours) and create “The Dan Plan.”  Dan will practice golf six hours a day, six days a week, for six years…and then attempt to join the PGA tour.  Seriously.  Read the story here.

Dan is either a genius or certifiably insane.
But either way, I must admit, his commitment is both inspiring and challenging.

Just imagine what your life could be 10,000 hours of disciplined work from now….

12.13.10

Pushing down into the heart of WHY

Filed under: books,God's movement,leadership — 3:47 pm

Here are two fantastic meditations on the importance of figuring out WHY we are doing what we do, rather than simply the WHAT.  Both matter.  Honestly, I found these deeply challenging.

(1) Richard Rohr (From Daily Meditations):

“We’ve got to know the true source of our truth.  In my attempt to work inside of earthly institutions for some small degree of justice, am I just fighting for my little “Richard Rohr truth,” or am I really in touch with the great truth that Jesus calls the reign of God?  I’ve got to know that it’s not just what I do but why I do it and where it comes from.  I think the sequence of Jesus’ words about himself is significant.  He is first Way, and only then Truth, which is finally Life (see John 14:6).

“Without prayer, we’re trapped in our heads, our opinions, our righteous selves.  Maybe we’ll be doing the right thing, but from an egocentric place, not a place of unitive consciousness, the place where all things are one.  In other words, we’ll be doing our own agenda instead of God’s.

“When people are doing God’s thing, they have freedom—they can laugh at themselves, they can take humiliation and non-success because their own reputation is not at stake.  The mature believer will probably look more like a holy fool than a do-gooder or a ‘saint.’”

(2) Mark Sayers (from his blog series about surviving ministry through your 20s)

07.27.10

TED talk: The Politics of Fiction

Filed under: creativity,leadership — 7:38 pm

This brilliant talk was both deeply challenging AND profoundly inspiring.  After watching it this afternoon, I immediately started it again…trying to soak in the fire hose of insight.  Two of her key thoughts:

ONE: “If you want to destroy something in this life, all you need to do is to surround it with thick walls.  It will dry up inside… If we have no connection whatsoever with the worlds beyond the one we take for granted, then…our imagination might shrink. Our hearts might dwindle. And our humanness might wither if we stay for too long inside our cultural cocoons.”

TWO: “Chekhov said, The solution to a problem and the correct way of posing the question are two completely separate things.  And only the latter is an artist’s responsibility.  Identity politics divides us.  Fiction (or any true art) connects.  One is interested in sweeping generalizations.  The other, in nuances. One draws boundaries. The other recognizes no frontiers.  Identity politics is made of solid bricks.  True art is flowing water.”  (Elif Shafak)

07.02.10

Church Marketing (part 3)

Filed under: God's movement,leadership — 5:52 pm

Thanks to everyone who has been a part of this conversation!  Your thoughts, questions, and insights have challenged me in a number of ways…hopefully it’s been helpful for you too.  A few new thoughts…

Maybe “marketing” is a neutral word – even in the church.  If marketing = defining, explaining, and making people aware, then I’m cautiously okay with that.  To help people know when our church gathers, how we’re trying to serve the world, and how they can help seems to be a useful service to the community.  And like Amanda commented, “if you love something, you want to share it with others.”  It is not innately more authentic just because it’s unknown.  (Like I’ve said about snobby indie music:  anyone can create music that no one listens to.)

However, when marketing tips over into convincing, pressuring, or incentivising…I’m out!  And sad.  And mad.  Letting people know about our worship gathering may be helpful, but offering a free iPad drawing if you come to our worship gathering is sick.  (At least to me.)

Clearly inviting people to join us?  Yes!

Using a gimmick or carrot to entice people to join us?  NO!

I may have found my line.  What do you think?

06.25.10

Church Marketing – Pleasing the masses (part 2)

Filed under: God's movement,leadership — 11:03 am

Last week I mentioned that Henry Ford, Steve Jobs, and Daniel Pink all believe(d) that “asking your customers what they want and then giving it to them” is a flawed, short-sighted business strategy.  Unfortunately, many churches still seem to see themselves in the “pleasing our customers” business.  And every time I hear about church surveys or marketing campaigns, something in me gets really sad.  A couple thoughts…

First of all, how dare we reduce the beautiful, epic story of God’s redemption of all things into a product to be marketed and sold?  And how dare we reduce the Church – the bride that Christ gave His very life for – into a venue to sell these spiritual goods and services?  Maybe it’s time for a new cleansing of the temple.

Secondly, wouldn’t this business strategy create consumers of the Church instead of servants of God….reinforcing the dangerous idea that church is something we go to instead of something we are?  And it could confuse us into believing that the church exists to serve our needs, when the scriptures clearly teach that “we exist AS the church to serve the needs of the world“.  This is more than mere semantics.

These thoughts are not yet well-formed, so I beg for the grace to wrestle.  And more than grace, please help!  What do you think?  Am I over-reacting?  Over-simplifying?  What ideas, books, and people have helped you grapple with this?  Let the messy conversation continue…

To launch us further, please watch this teaching from my friend Chris Seay.  Even though it’s 19 minutes long, PLEASE watch until the end.  The last five minutes are the big payoff and I’d LOVE to hear what you think!

Watch “The Irony of Church Marketing”

(and another great perspective is the blog post:  “Scratching Where They Itch?”)

06.16.10

What I would quit my job over…

Filed under: God's movement,leadership,willow — 12:23 pm

For the last couple weeks, our Willow programming team has been talking about our deepest values.  Bill encouraged us to really dig down and ask the question: “What do I believe SO deeply, that if it were not so, I would have to quit?” Great question!  After much thought, here’s what I’m bringing to today’s discussion…

Courage. The number one thing I’ve admired about Willow over the years is their courage to try new things and blaze new trails in the name of Christ.  Out of love for God and people – not just for innovation’s sake – Willow has consistently followed God into the huge risks that bring the Kingdom in huge ways.  I would quit if we ever lost this revolutionary spirit.  I would quit if we ever let the mindset of “pleasing our consumers” hijack our invitation to join God’s messy, risky Movement of Redemption.  I’d quit if we ever got safe.

Outward. The potential amount of good that Willow could do on planet earth is staggering.  What if Celebration of Hope is just the tip of the iceberg?  I would quit if we ever became more about building an institution than serving the world.

Bigger Stream. Related to “outward,” I’m excited to invite our community into a bigger movement of transformation, service, and community.  Weekend services are important, but only as one tributary flowing into a bigger river.  (Of all the “one another” verses in scripture, only a few of them happen well in a service.)  How are we helping our community become Church in the widest possible sense?  I would quit if we never found that bigger calling, but settled for merely creating services to fill seats.

What about those of you who are a part of a church…Do these connect with you?  What else would you add?

06.12.10

Steve Jobs, Daniel Pink, and pleasing the masses

Filed under: creativity,leadership — 9:07 pm

jobs

Steve Jobs has this Henry Ford quote on his desk:  “If I’d asked my customers what they wanted, they’d have said a faster horse.” Although I bristle at the potential arrogance and narcissism, Ford was right.  So was Jobs.  And the world is better for it.

Daniel Pink just wrote a fascinating blog called “The Peril of Giving People What They Want“, where he suggests that trying to give the customer (or critic or congregation or fan) what they’re asking for is not always the best plan because “we don’t often know what we want.”   In many cases, people don’t change the world by simply delivering the next logical step, but by “giving the world something it didn’t know it was missing.”  I’m not a business person, but as an artist and pastor, this is deeply inspiring.  Pink ends with…

“Enhancing a category is cool; creating a category is cooler.  Providing people what they want is a smart tactic; giving people something they didn’t know they’re missing is an even smarter strategy.  Listening to the customer can be helpful; listening to your own voice can be revolutionary.”

06.11.10

where does the future come from?

Filed under: creativity,leadership,quotes — 11:08 am

“Learn from the fringe.  It’s true for music, fashion, business, and the arts:  the future starts on the fringe, not in the mainstream.  As William Gibson once said, The future has already happened, it’s just unequally distributed.  To see it coming, we have to pay attention…”  (Gary Hamel)

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