I've grown up with my parents being involved in ministry. They volunteered when I was a kid. My mom worked as the church secretary. My dad was a Sunday School teacher, on the board, sang in the choir and whatever else needed to be done. When I was 8 years old we entered into full time ministry as a family on the evangelistic field. My dad has pastored, been back on the evangelistic field and now serves as an interim pastor while churches search for new pastors. It's been a varied career to say the least. This is the reason I love talking to my dad about ministry. We don't always see perfectly eye to eye but I think that's why we both enjoy the conversation. We recently had a conversation about traditions in church. You see, part of the reason I believe my dad has been called to serve as an interim pastor at this point in his ministry career is because at 62 years old, he is amazingly open to change within the church. Not that he necessarily likes all the changes, but at least he sees the value in them.
While we were talking I had this thought about traditions in the church. I don't think there is anything wrong with what a lot of us would call "traditional" services. Here's what I learned while on the evangelistic field in my own adult years. There are a lot of different churches out there doing some pretty phenomenal things. I've been to churches that were so traditional I thought I'd stepped back in time. But there was an excitement there that I couldn't explain except to say that God was moving. I've been in some churches that on the outside seemed more like small amusement parks and even had a literal Starbucks in the lobby. While the idea of this seems to turn off a lot of people I also saw people in real relationship with Jesus. See there are people on both side of the traditional fence that say the other is wrong but I don't think there is anything wrong with either church. In all honesty I think I sit somewhere in the middle of this issue. I love some of the traditions that I grew up in and miss them from time to time. I also love some of the new things that churches are doing to reach this emerging generation. Here's what I think is important...Do you know why you do what you do and why you believe in what you believe in?
See everyone wants to debate on what is right or wrong so that they know what they should do in church. They want to know how they should teach, what songs to sing, what instruments to have. Should they have all the lights turned on during worship or turned off? Should they laugh and tell jokes or should the house of God be a place of reverence and quiet? Should we only read out of the King James Bible or can we still understand God's meaning in modern day language? How should we dress? Are suits and dresses the appropriate apparel for meeting with God or are jeans and plaid shirts okay too? What I see when I attend ministry conferences sometimes is a whole bunch of people desperately trying to look like each other and to copy what each other are doing. I'm not saying you don't learn from each other but I do think it's dangerous to try to be something God hasn't called you to be. It's true for churches and for Christians. Don't fall into a mold just because that seems to be the popular thing to do right now. What happens is you will soon become disillusioned with church and in turn place that feeling on your relationship with God. The fact is, God has created each uniquely and just like I have to treat my two children differently, because they are different, God wants to speak to us and use us differently. There is nothing wrong with turning the lights out and cranking the amplifiers up until your ears bleed if that's how you connect with God. There is nothing wrong with stained glass windows, daylight and pipe organs if that's how you connect with God. So wear the suit or button up the plaid. Slick back the hair or shave that head until it shines. Wear the wire rim glasses or opt for the hipster look. God doesn't care as long as you are being real and showing the world that He is real. We are all going to reach different people, the people that God called us to reach. But when we all sit and argue about who is right and wrong the world doesn't know what to believe anymore because we are putting up a dividing wall. Be willing to accept people for the way they are until they figure out who God made them to be, stop pushing people away because of YOUR rules and regulations. Don't make a religion out of what you've heard other people say, what's God saying to you? Who are you? Why do you believe what you believe? Why do you prefer that music when you worship? Can you hear God better when you laugh or when things are serious? Can you connect with God wearing shorts or do you have to be wearing a tie?
I never really understood my relationship with God until I started asking questions. I was raised in what some would call a cutting edge ministry. At the time we were condemned for the way we presented the gospel. Now it's considered traditional. But you know what, it worked 30 years ago and it's still working today. Why? Because at it's core it's the authentic message of who Jesus is.
I've been asking a lot of questions lately. Why do I talk the way I talk? Why do I connect with a particular style of music when I worship? Why do I counsel the way I do? Why do I teach the way I do? Why do I believe what I believe? Why do I pray the way I pray? Why am I drawn to certain people and ministries? Why do I like certain people's preaching/teaching styles over others? Why do I dress the way I dress? It's been really eye-opening. I'm not trying to influence anyone to any specific side. Quite the opposite. I'm encouraging you to ask the same questions. Ask God who He made YOU to be and who YOU are supposed to reach. I can tell you this...I'm not buying any more plaid.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Spontaneous
Today I'm in the beautiful city of St. Catharines, Ontario in Canada. This is the city where I spent a large portion of my life growing up. It's an incredible time of year to be here as the trees are changing color and the leaves are showing off some intense shades of red, yellow and orange. The city sits on Lake Ontario and on a clear day you can see the outline of Toronto located about 30 miles straight across on the other side. Another reason this is a great time of year to be here is because Monday was Thanksgiving. Yes, for all my American readers who didn't already know this, the Canadian Thanksgiving is in October. I spent the weekend seeing some family that I haven't seen in three or four years. I've eaten way more food than should be humanly acceptable and laughed more than I have in a long time. It's been a very nostalgic visit as I have driven around the city showing my wife and kids the places I went to school, houses I used to live in and taken them to eat the food I grew up on. There is something about the holidays that sparks the sentimental side of all of us...at least those of us that have pleasant memories of the holidays. But before I left TN to come see my family, everyone was asking why we "Canadians" celebrated Thanksgiving in October. I'll be honest with you; I didn't really know the answer. I grew up traveling with my family in both Canada and the U.S. and I learned history from both countries and sometimes my information blurs together. So I did what any normal person would do...I Googled it. Here's what I found out. (And so you know, I'm going somewhere with all of this.)
Basically the tradition dates back to 1578 and has occurred kind of randomly since then. It has been a day marked by celebrating different events in our nation’s history. Thanksgiving was held on different days throughout the year in observation of different events like the end of wars, the recovery of the Prince of Wales from sickness and most commonly the end of harvest. But Thanksgiving Day didn't become a statutory holiday until the late fifties. On Thursday, January 31, 1957, the Canadian Parliament proclaimed:
"A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed – to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October."
I went for a walk Tuesday morning to try and feel normal again after a weekend of what could only be described as competitive eating. I stopped to take in the breathtaking early morning view along the lake side path I was on and I began to think about what I had learned about this celebrated day. It amazes me how many things we celebrate started with a proclamation that included God. Then, after generations have passed by, God begins to take a backseat to misinformed traditions. I don't think I'm the only one that feels like sometimes holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter have become...complicated. The days and weeks leading up to these treasured days have become consumed with preparations to make the day perfect. These preparations tend to lead to a lot of stress. Then when the day arrives, we are so caught up in making sure everything comes together perfectly that we tend to lose the enjoyment of the day. The best part of any holiday in my opinion is the unplanned part. The conversation, the laughter, the spontaneous games and activities.
I began to think about how this is also true in our everyday lives. I think for myself, I get so caught up in the planning of day to day events that I've lost the spontaneity of life. The fact is I try to lay out my own plans so much that I forget at times that God has written my story ahead of time. He has a plan and purpose for me that I tend to ignore sometimes in an effort to organize my life. God desires to have "spontaneous" moments with each of us, but we miss out on them because we plan to meet God on Sunday or in the 10-30 minute window we have scheduled with Him for our devotion time. We plan times of ministry, times of sharing our faith to make sure everything is just the way we want it. We plan times for God to speak to us. But read the bible, God doesn't really operate that way a lot. He is a God of planned spontaneity. In other words, God plans His encounters with us, but many times it is when we least expect it. Take the calling of so many disciples who were just out doing their thing and then Jesus called them to go with Him right then. What about Paul on the road to Damascus and is suddenly encountered by Jesus. See just like this holiday of Thanksgiving was originally declared to be a day to remember the blessings of God, our everyday lives are supposed to be centered around God as well. Some of the greatest encounters with God came when I least expected them. Most often these encounters came when my heart and mind were clear of distractions and plans, no matter how good my intentions were with them.
I guess I'm left with this...set time aside to spend with God. Go to church, attend small groups, and plan moments of prayer. BUT, don't get so caught up in your schedule that you miss God when He "pops" in for a visit. Don't be so busy that you can't answer the phone when that person He sends your way needs to talk. Don't try to determine your ministry so precisely that you lose the faith to let God use you in new ways. Be careful of making your schedule so full that you can't follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit to go talk to that person about Christ. Remember, our lives are first and foremost supposed to be about God and His plans for us.
Basically the tradition dates back to 1578 and has occurred kind of randomly since then. It has been a day marked by celebrating different events in our nation’s history. Thanksgiving was held on different days throughout the year in observation of different events like the end of wars, the recovery of the Prince of Wales from sickness and most commonly the end of harvest. But Thanksgiving Day didn't become a statutory holiday until the late fifties. On Thursday, January 31, 1957, the Canadian Parliament proclaimed:
"A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed – to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October."
I went for a walk Tuesday morning to try and feel normal again after a weekend of what could only be described as competitive eating. I stopped to take in the breathtaking early morning view along the lake side path I was on and I began to think about what I had learned about this celebrated day. It amazes me how many things we celebrate started with a proclamation that included God. Then, after generations have passed by, God begins to take a backseat to misinformed traditions. I don't think I'm the only one that feels like sometimes holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter have become...complicated. The days and weeks leading up to these treasured days have become consumed with preparations to make the day perfect. These preparations tend to lead to a lot of stress. Then when the day arrives, we are so caught up in making sure everything comes together perfectly that we tend to lose the enjoyment of the day. The best part of any holiday in my opinion is the unplanned part. The conversation, the laughter, the spontaneous games and activities.
I began to think about how this is also true in our everyday lives. I think for myself, I get so caught up in the planning of day to day events that I've lost the spontaneity of life. The fact is I try to lay out my own plans so much that I forget at times that God has written my story ahead of time. He has a plan and purpose for me that I tend to ignore sometimes in an effort to organize my life. God desires to have "spontaneous" moments with each of us, but we miss out on them because we plan to meet God on Sunday or in the 10-30 minute window we have scheduled with Him for our devotion time. We plan times of ministry, times of sharing our faith to make sure everything is just the way we want it. We plan times for God to speak to us. But read the bible, God doesn't really operate that way a lot. He is a God of planned spontaneity. In other words, God plans His encounters with us, but many times it is when we least expect it. Take the calling of so many disciples who were just out doing their thing and then Jesus called them to go with Him right then. What about Paul on the road to Damascus and is suddenly encountered by Jesus. See just like this holiday of Thanksgiving was originally declared to be a day to remember the blessings of God, our everyday lives are supposed to be centered around God as well. Some of the greatest encounters with God came when I least expected them. Most often these encounters came when my heart and mind were clear of distractions and plans, no matter how good my intentions were with them.
I guess I'm left with this...set time aside to spend with God. Go to church, attend small groups, and plan moments of prayer. BUT, don't get so caught up in your schedule that you miss God when He "pops" in for a visit. Don't be so busy that you can't answer the phone when that person He sends your way needs to talk. Don't try to determine your ministry so precisely that you lose the faith to let God use you in new ways. Be careful of making your schedule so full that you can't follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit to go talk to that person about Christ. Remember, our lives are first and foremost supposed to be about God and His plans for us.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)