Church Stuff

CHURCH STUFF

Over the next several months, I will write a series of blogs examining this organization we call "church."  Why does the church exist? Why and how often should I attend church?  Why and how much should I give to my church? How should I act at church?  How do I get involved with my church?  How do I build relationships at church?  How do I know when it is time to leave a church?  How do I properly leave a church?  It is my goal to tackle these topics in a Biblical, practical and thought-provoking manner.  My writing will be based on non-negotiable Biblical facts and my expectations of the church I serve.  These blogs will be an important tool for unity and progress as we journey together.

Why does the church exist?

Growing up, I attended church almost every day of the week.  My dad was a pastor so I attended every service, Sunday school, Royal Rangers, and a Christian school that was located at the church. During my four years at Bible College, I was a little burned out on church so attended occasionally until I was hired by a church my senior year. 

                I am a very driven and focused person.  I do not like to be a part of anything that wastes my time or has no purpose.  I expect the same out of church.  I did not attend during college because I could not find a church that driven with my same level of determination. 

                My grandpa was a focused and driven church planter whose passion was to see lives changed.  My grandpa gave me a painting of a Brazilian farmer that hangs in my office.  The farmer had no money, no power, and no influence.  The painting captures my grandfather’s passion and his purpose in church – people!  My grandpa was driven to reach the people like the farmer because he wanted them to know the life-changing power of God.  There was nothing in it for my grandpa.  He would not get rich off the farmer. He would not gain position as a mega church pastor off the farmer. 

                Today, we see too many pastors more concerned with what the church can do for them rather than what they can do for the church.  They want to make money, have influence, and get a high position.  As a pastor, this breaks my heart.  The purpose of the church is not to stroke a pastor’s ego, but to fulfill God's work. 

                I am going to skip the Biblical theology for the purpose of the church. You can refer to the 16 fundamental statements of truth of the Assemblies of God for that.*  I want to give you my opinion and our church’s philosophy on why we exist.

Life Change

The church’s purpose is to see lives change for the best.  The church is a conduit of God's power to people.  If someone comes to our church feeling lost, I want them found in Christ Jesus.  If they have an addiction, I want them freed.  If they feel hopeless, I want them filled with purpose.  If someone is new to the Bible, I want them to become grounded in the Word of God.  If their marriage is broken, I want to see it restored.  I believe that a church should be a place where change is evident.  Our success is not based on charts, financial reports, or building size.  Our success is measured by the number of lives changed.

Shape Culture

Society wants to stamp out the role of the church and claims that we are no longer necessary.  Wrong. Christians play a vital role in our culture in terms of morality.  Without the church, you will see a collapse of morality and goodness.  The church and those who are a part of it shape the attitude of our cities, state, nation and world.  The Word of God changes the hearts and minds of people. 

 

Send Out Disciples

As a pastor, I see myself as a coach to other ministers.  I am here to inspire, train, and send disciples to a lost world.  Our goal is not to increase the number in church attendance, but to ensure that people are making a difference in the world.  If the church does not send people to the mission field, it is dying.  The mission field can be the workplace, the streets to feed the homeless, the prisons to teach a Bible study, or to Africa to care for orphans. We must be a sending-church. 

 

These are just some reasons why our church exists. As your pastor, I want to share my views on the topic of church.  I love the church and believe in the church. We must not become a purposeless, stale, and dying church.  We must be purpose-filled, life-changing, and thriving Christians who fervently serve our church and community. 

 

 

*For the theological and scriptural bases of the church's existence you can check out this link.  (http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/Statement_of_Fundamental_Truths)