The Branch Church

Church Life - Father to father

"I've made more mistakes than I can count, and it only took one cross to rework the math in my favor. Pure Love. Pure Strength. Pure Jesus."

So my six-year-old son asked if I was doing work for The Branch Church when he saw my laptop open. It's funny how kids minds work. When I told him "no." He asked what I was doing then. I replied, "A little bit of this, and a little bit of that."

The truth is I could have told him I was thinking, but then he would have asked what I was thinking about. I don't think I could have given a short answer for that. What I've been thinking about is church life - past, present, and future. Perhaps I could have told him this, but then he would have asked why or what specifically I was thinking about and I would have had to try to explain that his grandfather - my dad - is being "ordained to the Gospel Ministry" on Sunday, and that I'm am going to be "charging the candidate." He probably would have done an about face and walked out after that jargon left my mouth.

My dad has just begun to pastor his first church. His ordination ties into the "past, present, and future church life," at least in my thoughts and love for him like this...

The Past
The time from our first official "Launch Service" in September of 2005 has flown by as fast as any other "almost six year" span in my life. Only, it causes me to reflect on things I've been through, that I wonder if my dad will go through. He's about to start pastoring a small church, and since I know now at least a little of what he's in for - at the very least in my flesh - I am concerned for him. I almost typed "worried," only I know that if God has called Him, God will protect and supply His anointed with all that is needed.

My "concern" then is rooted in how many "ups" have come down in the life of our church*. I don't even want to touch on the economy (maybe an upcoming post), but there are a few foundational things that I now know effect a first time pastor in the life of his first church. (* None of the "downs" are necessarily sinful or evil, but from a human standpoint can become wearing, stressful, hurtful, or even depressing).

1. He will make mistakes. Lots of them. I've had this thought run through my head a half a dozen times in the last month or so: "When I left my home church to start this one, I thought I knew 'everything.' Now it feels like I don't know how to do 'anything.'" Much of this comes from my own insecurities. I've made mistakes. I've said or done wrong things - many that were repeat offenses - and even though I know in my intellect and spirit that much of them were "perceived" mistakes or misunderstandings, perception is reality for people, and the average American church goer has a sense of entitlement that cannot be explained in some blog. Only I will say, I've been guilty of this entitlement feeling as a Christian, so I know it is not on par with any ideas Jesus had for how His body was to function after His Ascension. I pray my dad will immediately cultivate the idea of a church "family" into his ministry plans. It wont' be a cure-all, but he may find himself surrounded by people who choose to stick it out. To be thick skinned over the petty. To lift him up when he feels like giving up. The way we should be with our family.
2. The "Holy Huddle" Dynamic. As much as you say you want to grow a church of lost people at the beginning, it sure starts to "feel right" when the same people keep coming, you get to know them better, and you start counting on them for the long haul. This was a big mistake of misperception on my part. No one is promised life tomorrow, so no one should bank on any relationship standing the test of time. God wants to be our all in all, and the transient nature of people's allegiances make it a no-brainer that we should love the flock consistently and unconditionally, but to keep our eyes outward to reaching the next person we do not yet know. Teachers get to do this every year because they're forced to. They know to pour their life into the students they have, and to live in the now with them, but that the next year will hold a whole new batch of kids. I pray my dad will not attach his heart to greatly to any one family, but will keep his heart's fondest affections for Jesus, his wife, and his children.
3. Living in numbers, events, or victories instead of living on the mountain. Church attendance, offerings, ministries, and even spiritual victories all jockey for the pastor's time. When this happens, it causes us to try and live in the strength of our personalities and planning. Very simply, I pray my dad drives to quiet places, spends time with God - not for sermon study time - but to just get to know God more. When his todo list gets bigger than he thought a little church could produce, I pray he will see that as a sign to get to his hiding place with God. It will help him cut down on the mistakes, cause him to want to send people away from the church on mission before they leave for shallow reasons, and make numbers, events, and victories literally seem irrelevant in the light of the glory of seeing God's face and hearing His voice.

The Present
The present state of our church reminds me of one of those buildings being built that have a large mural like sign that block out any pedestrian view. You can't see anything going on inside the building or store, but the sign tells you work is happening. In these cases, not even the pastor knows for sure what the final "look" will be.

I think this is healthy. It reminds me of a message Calvary Chapel's Chuck Smith preached years ago about the nature of the pastor and other Christians. He was careful to stress that the pastor is not a go-between for the people and God. Every born-again Christian has just as much access, receives just as much love and care, and has faith to be tested every bit as much as any pastor. It's not that the "office" of the pastor doesn't have relevance or respect, but it is okay to "not know" - and should be well-recieved by the people.

I pray that in my dad's "unknown" times when God seems silent, or circumstances seem bleak, he will think of this "under construction" or "remodeling" picture. That he will be okay sharing from his pulpit, "I'm not sure what God is doing exactly, but I know that He will do it exactly the right way for His glory and our good." This will make them pray harder. This will please God.

The Future
Never give up. I almost got IICORFOR on my license plates years ago. 2 Corinthians 4 begins with Paul reminding all believers "Therefore since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not." This is a good place for me to decrease -

"Dear Jesus, please be merciful to my earthly father. He raised me as his son, and I love him very much. I am happy for him, and anxious at the same time. I know Your word tells us to be anxious for nothing, but he's not "nothing," he's my dad. Father, I pray that you will keep his fire, his joy, his love for the gospel kindled inside. Lord, I know that some of the people that shower him with the most love, will be the same people that slander him with the most gossip. Jesus forgive them ahead of time, and help him to show Your face by offering that same sweet forgiveness. Help him to not neglect his quiet time with You. Help Him to not neglect his study time for them. Father, I've come full-circle and feel like I know nothing. For this, I'm grateful. I want to say with Paul, 'I declare to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified,' so 'that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.' Thank you for his humility and gentle spirit. I ask you to clearly rebuke the enemy. I look forward to learning more in this special genre of life, as I watch my Father pour life into my father. With everything I have, I love You. In Jesus' name, David."

 

 

Cymbala's Excerpt Of Love - Still Relevant to The Church

“One Sunday about 20 yrs ago, back in our days in the YWCA, I said something impromptu while receiving new members into the church that has stuck with us ever since.  People were standing in a row across the front before me, and as I spoke, the holy spirit seemed to prompt me to add, ‘And now, I charge you, as pastor of this church, that if you ever hear another member speak an unkind word of criticism or slander against anyone – myself, another pastor, an usher, a choir member, or anyone else – you have the authority to stop that person in mid sentence and say, ‘Excuse me - Who hurt you? Who ignored you? Who slighted you? Was it Pastor Cymbala? Let’s go to his office right now. He will get on his knees and apologize, and then we’ll pray together, so God can restore peace to this body.  But we will not let you talk critically about people who are not present to defend themselves.’”

“New members, please understand that I am entirely serious about this.  I want you to help resolve this kind of thing immediately and meanwhile, know this: If you are ever the one doing the loose talking we will confront you.’”

“To this very day, every time we receive new members, I say much the same thing. It is always a solemn moment. That is because I know what most easily destroys churches. It is not crack cocaine. It is not government oppression.   It is not even a lack of funds.  Rather, it is gossip and slander that grieves the Holy Spirit.”

“People nod their heads with understanding, and as a result rumor and busy body talk are kept to a minimum.  We have had to confront a few people along the way, of course, but the general concern to live with clean hearts and clean speech before the Lord prevents many problems from ever getting started.”

“I’ll never talk about you, until I’ve talked to you. Then I’ll only talk for you, and never against you.” – Anonymous