Luke 15 - the Prodigal Savior

I am very thankful for the work of many on this famous passage. However, I am getting very tired of hearing about the "Older/Elder brother" in the passage.

Thanks to the followers of Ed Clowney, Tim Keller and Sonship, we have had an onslaught of good sermons, books and teaching on this passage to show us how Jesus is the perfect older brother for believers. But, folks, there's more to this passage than the older brother. Frankly, I'm getting tired of all the "older brother" sermons. And, not every passage of Scripture is an "older brother/Luke 15 sermon."

There are 2 more characters: The Father and the younger son.

Without making this post into a full-length sermon, I just want to point out that these characters get a LOT more space than the insolent older brother. As I read this passage, I see that Jesus is the fulfillment of all three characters.

First, Jesus as the prodigal savior. Jesus suffered great indignity for the sake of the souls of His people - far greater than feeding wretched pigs. Hebrews 13:12 tells us that Jesus willingly became despised and suffered the death of a wretch so that His people would not have to taste the same rejection from the Father. In taking the sins of His people and being despised by the people and His Father, Jesus became the prodigal Savior in order to rescue the perishing.

Second, due to Jesus' sacrifice and the sending of His Spirit, He gives us a new heart and mind so that - when we err - we can "come to our senses" and return to the Father who will lavish us with His love and grace. Now, this parable alone does not reveal to us the fullness of the work of Jesus on our behalf. However, this passage certainly magnifies the Father's love for His children so that we can sing "Behold what manner of love the Father (the holy Creator and Judge of all) has given unto us (sinners who daily rebel against Him with our thoughts, words and actions) that we should be called children of God" (I John 3:1).

Please - dear preacher/teacher - when explaining the treasures of this passage, do not neglect the Father's great love that is so amply illustrated by this great text!

Occam's Razor, Bad Theology & a Thirst for More

When I took my first Philosophy class in graduate school, the first exam had a question that basically asked us to explain the theory of "Occam's Razor." I left that answer blank. At that time, I was thoroughly overwhelmed by the amount of theology and historic philosophy that we had to study and my mind just went - as my test answer - blank. It was like drinking from a fire hose.

Occam's Razor basically states that when there are two possible answers to a question, the best answer is usually the simplest.

This has had me thinking about the dangers of "bad theology." So, you may be thinking, "Theology is what's wrong with churches!" Well, to quote Billy Joel, you may be right. The truth is, bad theology is what's wrong with churches today - that, and jerks who can't seem to live out their "good theology."

What's "Theology"? It's literally, "the study of God's word;" a compound of the two Greek words for God (Theos) and Word (Logos). Good theology is simply an accurate recounting of that which God has already written. Bad theology is a man-centered approach to twisting the Word of God in order to win friends and influence people.

The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy that there will come a time when people would rather hear more pleasant forms of theology than that which is from the Bible (II Timothy 3:14 - 4:5).

Paul wrote to his friend, colleague and trainee that he should never abandon the diligent preaching and teaching of God's Word just because folks don't want to hear it. Stick to it. Don't give up. Persevere. Endure hardships. Why? Not only was this Paul's example, good theology is the only real food for the souls of God's people. It is profitable (good, blessing, encouraging) for "teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness" (3:16-17). In simple terms, God's Word is the only way to know God's will. When we need good instruction, only good theology will suffice. The flip-side is that bad theology will not teach, reproof, correct or train in righteousness. It will "suit our passions, turn us away, cause us to wander off into myths," and ultimately destroy (4:3-4).

Recently, my Medical-Student wife was explaining to me how drinks like Gatorade work from a physiological perspective. Sports drinks contain potassium (K) and sodium (Na). When ingested, the sodium causes the cells to open in order to receive water (salt makes your cells thirsty). The water rushes in and the potassium aides in proper absorption. It's really amazing. This is why salt water may appear to have the ability to satisfy our thirst but will not. Salt water to a dying man will (a) make him more thirsty because he's got open cells that need hydrating and the salt keeps opening without replenishing, (b) salt water will disturb our molecular structure to the point of affecting our minds and driving us crazy, right before (c) it kills.

We are made in the image of God. Due to sin, we thirst for His knowledge and fulfillment. But, to drink from a bad fountain will never satisfy. Bad theology is a bad fountain that is man-centered and man-aimed. It may sound good and look good, but - like salt water - if it doesn't kill you, it will certainly leave you more thirsty and going mad as it kills.

Only good theology - theology pointing only to Christ Alone, through Grace Alone, by Faith Alone, According to the Scriptures Alone, for God's Glory Alone - will satisfy and fulfill our souls. Jesus said, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever. The water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 4:13-14). In simple terms - good theology leads to great results.

So, what does Occam's Razor have to do with this? In my years of studying the Word of God it has become ever apparent that bad theology is always needlessly complex. In addition it is woven in such a way as to steer toward predetermined man-centered, unBiblical positions that ultimately deny Christ and destroy our souls - not satisfying our thirst - but, making ever more thirsty.

We can continue to drink bad water from bad fountains or we can be like adulterous woman who understood that she was continually thirsty because she was drinking from bad fountains. But, when she heard the Good Word of God, she responded as we should, "Sir, give me this water so that I will not be thirsty!"

Note - (A) I bet my philosophy prof will be glad that I actually learned something. (B) Why the Judas Priest picture? It looks cool.

Taking Dominion: Conservation or Environmentalism

When I was younger I liked to hunt because it gave me the opportunity to be with my dad. I figured, "If I like what he likes, then he'll approve of me." It turned out that we don't have the same likes and interests. We are very different and the quest for his approval was a grind of disappointment. I didn't hunt for years. But, last Christmas I had the time to go with him and had a great time. I missed one buck even killed a doe (the first time in nearly 25 years).

Something awakened in me that had been dormant for nearly 3 decades: I actually like the hunting. Maybe I'm a latent outdoors-man? The truth is I love being in God's creation and admiring the works of His hands (Psalm 8). His creation is awe-inspiring and, by His grace, causes me to reflect on His goodness. As the Psalmist said, "What is man that you are mindful of him?" I can look at grand forests, lakes, mountains and animals and I always come back to this thought: of all this grandeur, only mankind is created in the image of God. We are very special in the eyes of God.

And, He gave us a command - rule over the earth. This leads me to think on the difference between Conservation and Environmentalism.

Conservation is stewardship: recognizing that this grand creation is a gift to us that is meant to be cared for so that our hands will glorify God. The command to subdue and rule over the earth (Genesis 1) is not a license to put our boot on creation and destroy it in the name of "the creation mandate."

Environmentalism is idolatry: loving the creation more than the creator. Environmentalism is cultish. Eviro's despise cutting trees, killing animals, paving new streets, disturbing the habitat of the animals, etc... They have a point, but that point has been grossly exaggerated: Destruction is wrong.

But Conservation is not destruction. By growing up in the country I had the privilege of seeing this first-hand. Timber companies are hired to cut forests. And, when they finish it's not as pretty as before they began. But, they replant so that there will be a new forest. In 1988 there was a great fire in Yellowstone. It destroyed a lot of acreage and the remnants of that fire are still visible. Today, the rules for protecting Yellowstone are very strict. They prohibit the use of burning the underbrush. This is part of the problem. By not cleaning out the dead leaves and trees the forest becomes a virtual tender-box for greater forest fires. If Yellowstone could have regular control burns the forests would be prettier, healthier and less likely to fall susceptible to great wild fires. Burning off the dead stuff will also give more room to new growth.

Conservation is really a great way to honor God with the gifts He has given. Mowing and fertilizing your yard is conservation, just as cutting and replanting trees is. Hunting (not slaughtering) is God-honoring. If the herds grow to numerous, there will be an increase in disease, the gene pool will deteriorate, and the animals will overrun the habitat. In addition, more animals has lead to a greater number of traffic accidents.

Even drilling for oil and gas is an example of good conservation. God gave us these resources to use, not worship. He has given us the ability to use these resources to benefit mankind. Ignoring these resources is essentially telling God that He made a mistake. Likewise, destroying the planet is an offense to the Creator. We must be balanced as we seek out and enjoy the resources that our gracious Father has given us.

Pre-Season Football Polls: I hate them

I love college football, but I hate pre-season polls.
If you are a follower of the pigskin, you know what happened last year. You have "your team" that you follow with religious fervor. But, pre-season polls are a premature table-setting for disappointment and heart ache.

I'm glad that Alabama is the #1 pick this year. I think they are that good. But in fairness to every other team, they've yet to play a game. These polls come out 2-3 weeks before the season begins and they are based on the same data as global warming and evolution: hypothesis (guessing).

In the perfect world, we would not have the first ranking of any teams until the 3rd or 4th week of the season.

Every analyst is picking Alabama to play Ohio State in the National Championship game. Sounds fun. But, what about Miami, BYU, Florida State, or the devil's child - Notre Dame? Every year we hear how "no team ranked outside the top 10 has ever won the National Championship. Why not? Mainly due to the difficulty of rising up through the arbitrary polling system.

I'm excited that kickoff is in 6 days. I'll be more interested to see how reality occurs on the field rather than in the pre-season prognosticating.

Other things to watch: what will the final polls look like? How soon will Notre Dame be in the top-15, and how many coaching changes will occur? Last year there were 17 coaching changes.

I'm better than you and I can show you how

Mark Driscoll (Mars Hill Church in Seattle) recently preached on the Gospel of Luke and addressed legalism (aka phariseeism).

What is a pharisee? A religious person that puts a greater burden on the self or others that is greater than the burden of Christ.

Jesus said, "my burden is easy and my yoke is light." But what do we do? Driscoll has 7 points to illustrate our legalism and how we can be a good legalistic pharisee:

1.) Make rules outside the Bible.

2.) Push yourself to try and keep your rules.

3.) Castigate yourself when you fail.

4.) Be proud when you do keep your rules.

5.) Appoint yourself as judge over people.

6.) Get angry with people who don't keep your rules or have other rules.

7.) Beat the losers.

Religious people can become experts at proving their superiority and rubbing it in the faces of the "inferior." I've seen this (and probably done it) a lot. It's gross, offensive and demeaning.

But, religious people aren't the only ones who are experts in this field. Ever get in a discussion about the environment, politics, taxes, responsibility, charity, service, race, sexuality, etc??? Eventually it devolves into a contest of who's got the best story and the most justification to be right. And, listening/understanding is gone in about 15 seconds. We just judge based on our preconceived notions about how evil that "other" person must be because they aren't as good as me. After all, I tithe 10% of everything, and I recycle, and I have a hybrid car, and have suffered......

It seems that when a discussion gets going on these topics we become a bunch of "one-uppers" who are just looking for the opportunity to pounce on the other person, intellectually grab their throat and force to them to concede our rightness. That works about as well forcing a horse to drink water. When we do this, all we do is destroy the relationship and the opportunities in those relationships.

How do we overcome this destruction?
1. Get over yourself. You, your history, your pedigree, your knowledge are not that important.
2. Stand for right and against wrong, just not on someone's neck.
3. Listen. the other person has been through a lot in his life to shape who he is. It may not be important to you, but it is to him. And, don't try so hard to prove that your past is as legitimate as the other person's.
4. Learn some humility from the Lord. He never abused anyone. He never elevated anyone b/c they had a great (or sorry) background. He only elevated the poor in spirit, the contrite and the humble.
5. Be committed to righting wrongs without seeking payback or rubbing it in someone else's face. We can't change history. We can only change how we live today. The sins of others are not excuses or licenses for us to have a free pass on responsibility and duty.
6. Don't be a victim. Even if you have experienced great and terrible horror, the world does not owe you. Christ said in the letters to the Churches (Revelation 2-3) that His people are "those who overcome." The Greek literally says, "To the Victors."
7. Recognize that the greatest sin isn't that of someone else (or another group). The greatest sin is that which is in my own heart. Paul said, "Christ died to save sinners; of whom I am the worst."

Finally, when we understand who we are and who God is, we can celebrate that we are victors over the sins and power of sin in our lives through Christ alone. If we can "get" that, we'll recover from our harsh legalism and build some good relationships.

Ahhh - Boys and their toys

It is no mystery that men and women are very different. Even though feminist groups and evolutionists repeatedly try to "prove" that we are all the same, the reality is clear. Men and women are not the same. Time, Newsweek, USA Today, Dateline, etc.... all run a "new" story about every 3-5 years seeking to explain the differences and similarities. And, when they 'discover' that there are legitimate differences (chemically, physically, neurologically), the reporters seem to be saddened by the findings.

What they should really do is just ask any normal husband, wife, or parent "How are men and women different?" The answer will be quick and to the point: Men are just overgrown boys.

The evidence: our toys and toy collections. This is not a scientific study (by any means), but I'm willing to wager that a man's hobbies and interests will not be very different from those he enjoyed as a boy. Consider the following examples......

Motorcycle Man: everyone knew a kid (or three) who would pretend to be a motorcycle while he was riding his bicycle (or just riding an imaginary bike on the playground). I remember this kid Russell from elementary school would "ride" around the playground on his imaginary chopper while making all the sounds (Waaaa, Waaaa, waaaaaaa, wop, wop, wop, waaaaaa....). I bet you he owns a real motorcycle (or more) today. Of course, Orange County Choppers is his favorite tv show.

The Bookish Nerd: That guy that didn't fit in with your crowd, but chose to read those odd, rectangular things called "books" is likely compiling a personal library that rivals that of a small college. He's also got a good job, has multiple degrees and is the only person you can think of who didn't get killed in the market slumps. He's likely the best neighbor possible, his kids are stable, his family is sane, and he can fix your computer in about 35 seconds.

Cars & Trucks (Hot Rod): Those guys who stared endlessly at the pictures of cars and trucks in the magazines during "study hall" now buy and trade for cars and trucks constantly. They probably started off with Tonkas in the mud like I did. But, instead of falling in love with Tonka, they got into collecting Matchbox cars. Their favorite shows on TV were The Dukes of Hazzard, Magnum PI, Miami Vice, and the The A-Team. This guy is in a car club, goes to car shows, goes to "the races," and watches "the races" all the time. His truck has BIG tires (possibly a lift kit), and is SPOTLESS. If he's not a 'truck guy,' he's got at least one COOL car that still looks new after 15 years.

This species also liked CBs as a kid. He is the reason for those cell-phones that can be used as "walkie-talkies."

Hunting (Woody): If you knew a guy who lived to wear camouflage to school (and you're thinking of him now), there's a strong chance that he's got a storage room full of camo, guns, ammo, bows/arrows, tree stands, knives, ropes, boots, fishing equipment, etc.... This guy probably owns a boat or two and doesn't get bored when he goes fishing. I bet Noah had a canoe before he built the Ark.

Cowboys and Indians (Pardner and Chief): the kid that loved to watch Westerns and play cowboys/indians is most likely wearing cowboy boots right now. Even if he is a lifeguard.

Music Guy: What guy didn't boost his car stereo system to an insane level? He likely played a lot of Air Guitar and owned tons of tapes and cd's. He may have grown up to play an instrument and harbors dreams of being a glam-rock star. His den is currently filled with a surround sound system that makes his TV into a theater and he'd rather listen to music than have a conversation. If MTV still showed videos, he'd watch it endlessly for tips on how to play songs.

The Sci-Fi guy: This young man was an polka-dot in the crowd of "normalcy." He stood out. He owned the first personal computer you can remember that actually worked. Today, he's been to a lot of Sci-Fi conventions in his off time. His paying job involves more computers and something to do with Jets or Rockets, but you're sure he's not talking about sports teams.

Sports Fanatic (Chip): The kid that played everything in his youth, most likely never made it in college or the Bigs. But, he still dreams of making it. He's been to a fantasy camp, been to the Richard Petty Driving Experience, has a fantasy team(s), wears sports jerseys all the time, has a matching collection of "authentic" caps, tees, sweats, etc... These guys most likely scream and curse at their kids, their wives, the umpires, and coaches (they call this "helping") and they think they know how to coach far better than those being paid to do so.

This guy watches all sports (except for soccer and tennis). He's got an encyclopedic memory of past schedules and team rosters. Worst of all, these guys play softball and basketball as if they are being scouted by Major League teams.

Airplanes and Helicopters: There is something magical about a flying objects. Men (big boys) will stop what they are doing when a plane or helicopter flies over just to admire it. These boys became pilots. There's no explaining this. There's a section of I-95 that I travel at least twice a week that is adjacent to the runways of a major airport. I try to time it so that I'm next to the airport as airliners are coming in to land. When it works out, it's just cool!!! One day, I'm sure I'll just pull over and wait.

Farm Boys (Buddy): There are two classes of this category - those that actually grew up on a farm and those that dreamed of becoming a "country gentleman farmer." Both have acres dedicated to their equipment. And, their equipment is massive. Why do they need to spend so much on bulldozers and loaders and trailers and tractors? Two reasons: they can, and they must. They love to get in the dirt and mud. Like the Car/Truck guy, these men had Tonkas but never cared for tiny toy cars.

So, we've seen that men just keep doing the same hobbies they had as boys. Now that they can earn some money, they spend it on their interests. It's that simple. Just watch a Barret Jackson auction. I bet Ebay and Craigslist are dominated by male shoppers, too.

Women have had hobbies too. Let's be fair. They had dolls, fingerpaint kits, art supplies, barbie make up games, easy bake ovens, and they liked to play "dress up." Some girls liked to play sports as children. Other than "dress up," though, most women outgrew their games and hobbies. They moved on to new toys and hobbies: we call them "children."

While a man can swim in old cargo shorts, a woman has a choice of 27 swimsuits. But, a woman doesn't have 27 different fishing poles. If she fishes, she has to BORROW a pole from a man. There are a lot of women at sporting events today. But, if they could spend that $75 elsewhere, it would be on a child, something for the home, or clothing.

SUMMARY - men are overpaid boys who have never abandoned those interests that first occupied their attention when they were younger. Women have grown up and think our hobbies are fairly petty and silly. But, they look a lot better on the beach than we do, so we'll put up with their ridicule of our silliness.

Why do Christians tend to vote Conservatively?

Often Christians are accused of being "one-item" voters, and that item is usually life. But, the Christians I've dealt with for years think far more broadly and deeply than on just one or two items. Thanks to some thought-provoking friends who see the world differently from me I have been thinking on this topic for long time. Finally, I feel somewhat prepared to put my thoughts in the open forum.

The question goes like this: How can Christians vote for conservatives when conservatives are greedy and don't care about the needy? Without getting caught in the tar-baby of deconstructing the errors of the stereotypes contained in the question, my answer is really pretty simple. Christians value the Word of God more than the good intentions of seemingly nice people. OK, what does that mean?

A real Christian believes the Bible to be the very inspired, perfect, Word of God. To be a Christian, one must believe and adhere to God's Word. So, a Christian seeks to apply God's Word in all areas of life - not just the "spiritual" stuff. A real Christian sees the entirety of life as Spiritual and deems it necessary to have a World-view that is shaped by God's instructions.

When a Christian is encountering and getting involved in the public arena of civics and politics, he/she will vote for the group or person(s) that seems to hold similar values on those topics. That does not mean that Christians will only vote for Christians. As Martin Luther said, "I'd rather be governed by a good Moslem than a bad Christian."

What are those values that Christians will vote for? The following is short list of topics and short answers that are common to Christians as they consider policies and candidates.

The size, scope and role of Government: the Bible teaches that a government is in place to protect the citizenry from harm, and establish a system that protects the freedoms of the people (Romans 13). In simpler terms: keep the people safe - from themselves and outside aggressors.

Mercy: the Bible teaches that individuals, families and churches are responsible for taking care of the needy; not the government. One's mercy is to be voluntary, not coerced.

Work/Welfare/Responsibility: the Bible teaches, "if a man will not work, he shall not eat" and if a man does not provide for his own family, "he is worse than an unbeliever."

Labor: the Bible says work diligently with your hands at whatever you are doing and do it for the glory of God. Laborers and Employers are called to be fair, just and honest.

Life: the Bible teaches that all of life is sacred. Therefore, a Christian won't vote for a pro-abortion candidate. What about the "death penalty"? Well, are there crimes which can only be 'repaid' by the death of another? While the death penalty is very sobering and difficult, we must remember what led to that verdict in the first place.

Taxation: the Bible teaches us to pay our taxes - "render unto Caesar" - while telling us that Caesar has a limited role. Therefore, limited taxation. If government is limited in its size and scope, then it needs limited funding.

Trust: the Bible teaches - from cover to cover - to trust God alone for all of our needs, not other men.

The Nature of Man: the Bible teaches (and history give examples) that we are all sinful to our core and even the best among us is not 100% trustworthy. But, God is! The best intentions of bad men can lead us to horrible results. What is the collection of governors, if not a collection of sinful people? More sin = more trouble.

Justice/Freedom: some of the strongest condemnations in the Bible are reserved for the tyrants who robbed others of their freedoms and that it is the responsibility of Christians to seek the most freedom for others. The Bible continues to teach that there is right and wrong; and there are consequences for each. Thus, law enforcement.

Equality: the Bible teaches us that God is not a respecter of persons. He is not prejudiced, and we should not be either. Therefore, Christians stand opposed to groups that seek to maintain special privileges for small groups. All are created with equal opportunities to succeed or fail.

Economics: the Bible teaches that the "love of money is the root of all evil." That same Bible teaches us to be hard-working, industrious, generous, wise, prudent, thrifty, good savers, good investors, and good managers of the time, talents, and resources that we've been given. If we have limited taxation, the people will be keeping more of their own income in order to be better stewards. And, honestly, what government has ever kept its promise to be a good steward?

These are just a sampling of topics that concern Christians. There are many more topics to be addressed, but the same theme will run through-out: following the Bible rather than men.

People are so gullible: Organic is a first-rate SCAM

Some call me cheap. That's ok with me. I'd rather think that I am frugal. A friend used to say (regarding his money) "It went in (tapping his pocket) slow, and it's coming out slow."

I've been watching the "organic" revolution for some time and I've reached the conclusion that the American buyer is 100% gullible. I grew up in the country. I grew crops, managed cattle, killed animals and ate the fruits of my labors. I've been "organic."

This all started (for me) when the local grocery store renovated and sent me an invitation to the "Grand Re-Opening" sale. I needed vegetables, so I sought their bargains. I got to the "NEW" organic section of the produce and picked up some squash: 3 of them (that's all I needed), for $6!!! That's an outrage. There is NO squash on the planet worth $2 per. I could go to a truck farmer and buy a bushel for $6, and know that it came directly from the earth to his truck, to my hands.

The other thing that has caught my attention is "Grass Fed" beef. What a scam! People are willing to part with increasing sums of hard-earned cash (quite rapidly) for a label. I've got a secret. Come closer. ALL COWS EAT GRASS (see photo)!! Sure they may eat some supplements, but you will never see a cow walking around a field eating a candy bar. They eat grass. It's either green grass or brown grass (hay).

Here's the lesson: If you didn't pick it, kill it, or buy from the picker/butcher, it ain't organic and you are being ripped off! So go ahead and part with your money and feel good about your purchases. Just remember, you've been had!

The Church: Institution or Body (part 2)

South Florida is a unique culture. There are 84 nationalities in Broward County (Fort Lauderdale) and probably a similar number in Dade County (Miami). I’ve been told that 70% of the homes in Miami-Dade do not speak English in the home. While this may present a cause of concern to many, it is reality and this change in the culture brings unique challenges to the culture of the Church.

For a long time, South Florida was a fairly homogeneous region. But, then a tsunami of change occurred led by refugees from other lands who didn’t speak the same homogeneous language, go to the same homogeneous places or do the same homogeneous things.

The churches that were “institutions” saw their neighborhoods changing rapidly and many faced serious decline as they clung to the old methodology. The message to new people became “to join us, you must become like us.” To non-anglo, non-english speaker this message is equal to “whites only.”

Churches could change their methodology (adopt a new strategy with new target groups) or they could change their leading edge. The church that maintains methodology as its leading edge is still sending the message “come join a homogeneous group.” No matter what their methodology becomes, the group is going to be identified by external similarities. Pastors who are caught up in this kind of leadership are going to be trapped into building the structure of a church rather than the life of a church.

So, what leading edge is working? Let me ask it another way: Did Jesus call us to build an institution or a body? In John’s gospel, Jesus said to his disciples that the world would know we belong to him (and are different) by how we “love one another.” In Acts, the religious elite marveled that these uneducated, dirty, low-rent, fishermen “had been with Jesus.”

People are created to be in, and have, vital relationships. South Florida is a great example of this. There is a large Hispanic and African-American influence in this culture. Those cultures place a much higher value on relationships than structure. Their influence can be difficult at times: no one is punctual and people have no concept of personal space. But, is that really a bad thing?

For those who cannot adapt to this culture and cling to the institutional structure of the Church as their leading edge (“be like us to be a part of us”), they will be frustrated and miserable. But, those who will lead with love, compassion and friendship, they will see a vibrant ministry. Is not this how Jesus met his would-be followers? When he encountered the profligate woman at the well (John 4), He began that relationship with Grace. He, first, built a relationship that created the avenue for Truth. She responded positively to the doctrine because she knew that the messenger loved her enough to be truthful.

What will be the leading edge of your church that is first to make contact with others?

The Church: Institution or Body (part 1)

I’ve been thinking for some time about the demise of traditional Church-dom (denominationalism) in America. OK, who hasn’t? But, a recent visit to the South Florida presbytery has helped me put better words to what I’ve been observing.

Denominationalism is dying. Churches that are seeking to build themselves based on their denominational identity are dying, as well (for the most part). Church leaders have been seeing this trend for a while but really don’t know how to address the changes and ‘steer’ their churches into the current of this social change.

I have seen two extremes in this desire to change: 1) cling to the traditional methods and 2) abandon the traditional methods. The problem for both of these approaches is that they are opposite sides of the same coin: identity by methodology. This may have some short-term results, but folks who genuinely yearn for more will quickly understand that they are being forced to be identified by a methodology. What do I mean by this?

Golf clubs are designed with a “leading edge.” The leading edge of a golf club is that portion of the club that is the first part to make contact with the ball and/or ground. There are many ways to design a golf club’s leading edge, but you will always have a leading edge. In the church, what I call “leading edge” some call “animating values” or “core principles.” I’m not talking about the theology or beliefs, but those things that are seen as marking a particular identity. Essentially, a leading edge is that characteristic that best tells others what you are.

In the past, most churches’ leading edge was that of “brand” – Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, etc… and particular churches were pretty much homogeneous people groups. And, that works well for an established church in an established community (at least for a while). A lot of churches have the leading edge of “what we stand for/against.” Some churches’ leading edge will be style of worship, young and hip, philosophical, and so on. But, the problem with these identifiers is that they are not dealing the core of the church as a people. They are only addressing homogeneous interests.

Church planting gurus have long advised the development of new churches based on the homogeneous people-group formula. What happens, though, is sadly shallow. Churches become institutions of like-minded, like-looking, like-doing people who shop in the same areas, send their children to the same schools, join the same clubs, work in the same arenas, and know the same people. This style of church development worked well in the 1980s and 90s, but has faltered since the dawn of the new millennium. What was happening? These churches were creating a “leading edge” based on common similarities and interests. They became ‘franchises’ of the larger institution. But, what happens when a particular church experiences decline or the community changes? Will the old formula of brand-identity continue to work? I think not.

What to say?

I've tried to blog for a while and I think I've finally reached a point at which I'm ready to do this on a semi-regular basis. I consider myself to be an amateur sociologist and "expert" on much. Most of what I write is designed to elicit a response and provoke discussion.

There will be much to come (if I can make time and remember my password).