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WHAT IS THE GLORIOUS CHURCH? #1

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By Ken Blue

The question is not, which church is the glorious church, but rather, what constitutes a glorious church. What makes the church glorious? Of course, the answer is in the word usage, and the context itself. We will discuss that later.

The first thing to establish is what the text is not teaching. It is not suggesting that a glorious church is a religious denomination that adheres to a set of theological tenets. That is obvious from the text.

The glorious church in the Bible is not built on tradition, or religious history. Reading church history books is like reading books on science from Darwin to the present. Each writes forms his conclusions from his own prospective.

The glorious church is not one that fits a set of doctrinal statements. Right here is where the problem starts. It is a slippery sloop, and I am not sure those who assume their church is that glorious church understand what they are doing.

One may conclude that he knows the starting point of the church. Then he will search from Genesis to Revelation for passages he assumes that address the church. These will be inserted into his theology. Note, theology is created by men. Therefore, it is the hunt and search method that is used to prop up doctrines, they assume, makes a church glorious .

The glorious church is not one who practices replacement theology. Simply stated, replacement theology take passages from the Bible that are for Israel, and applies them to the church. This is done when one believes that the body of Christ, the church, is found in the four gospels, Matthew through John. Therefore, the parables are taken from Israel, and are ascribed to the church. That is replacement theology.

The church that is glorious does not mix the Kingdom of Heaven gospel with the gospel of grace preached by Paul.

(Continued)

THE WRECKING CREW

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Critics in the Church.

By Ken Blue.

critics in the church

Every church has critics in the church.  They are like members of a demolition crew. These men/women cannot be detected by steel toed shoes or by hard hats. Most of them wear suits and ties, and have just the perfect hair cut. They will also be seen with their Bible and may sit in the “amen” section.

One of the ways you can detect them is by asking yourself, “What positive thing have they done for the ministry?” The answer, in most cases, will be “nothing.” They act big, talk loud and love attention, but are the first to give the pastor problems.

What is the “ball and chain” they use to wreck a church and its ministries? The first and most lethal is that of gossip. For this to happen, certain people must spend lots of time together without the pastor or staff present. There will always be a “foreman,” but it will be hard to identify him at first. Usually, a select family or more will be invited to their home for fellowship, prayer, and Bible study. This is done without the Pastors knowledge or approval.

You can never stop people from gossip. The best remedy is to preach a few sermons on it, and emphasize from the pulpit the positive things God is doing in the church. As a last resort, it may be needful to call the leader in and confront him about it. Be sure to have one or more staff or deacons present.

Another action that will hinder or demolish your teaching, is for some family or families to have their favorite pastor, evangelist or Bible teacher who is not connected with your church in any manner. You cannot pastor those who put their favorite teacher ahead of you, and are checking your teaching by what their “guru” teaches. One fellow who was reading my books said he checked by the writings of Dr._____.The only way to deal with this team is meet them head on and put a stop to their actions. If they are unwilling to do that, ask them to leave. Again, always have staff and deacons present when dealing with these problems.

A third wrecking crew is those who do not give, or they designate their money to their favorite missionary or ministry. If you have too much money designated, you cannot pay the needed expenses. Do not ask people to designate unless you have a specific project. However, ask them to give it above their tithe. Explain the problem designated monies cause. Most people will understand and work with you. However, there are those who never will cooperate. What should you do? Either return their money, or use it for their designated purpose.

Another area the wrecking crew loves to work on is the finances. The best way to handle this problem is to work with your deacons and one other person who is skilled in finances and develop a budget. Have everyone involved to sign a cover page indicating his or her involvement and approval. The cover page should be attached to the budget with information how it was compiled. Add a paragraph stating that anyone having a question about the budget may go to the deacons. Tell them to not to come to the pastor or staff. Also, state that the budget will not be discussed at any meeting. It will be voted on and approved or disapproved. This procedure disarms those who are seeking status and want to cause trouble. Make the budget and the cover page available 30 days prior to the vote.

The final area the wrecking crews seek to work is in the setting of policies. Remember, those who control the budget and policies, control the church. Policies should be finalized and approved by the pastor. If necessary, this procedure could be formalized in the same manner as the budget.

Be aware, that Jesus, the Twelve, and the Apostle Paul could not escape their critics, neither can you. All you can do is head off as many as you can, and ask God for wisdom. Every church has its wrecking crew; try not to provide equipment for them.

(THREE NEW SONGS)

 

 

WHY MY TOWN DIED

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If you go to Google Earth and type in Boswell, Arkansas, you will get a satellite view of what used to be the small town where I grew up. I discovered recently that the town is as empty at ground level as the picture from above reveals.

What happened to my town? When I was but a lad, it had a one room schoolhouse that was filled with boys and girls. Three small general stores existed. A Post Office and a train depot were buzzing with activity. Houses dotted the hillside on the east side of town and the river bank across the tracks. What excitement! What friendships and what wonderful memories! Now, I ask, what happened?

The school house is empty and cold. All stores are closed and rotting to the ground. No longer does the train stop; there are no people to ride it. The houses on the hill have collapsed or have briers and bushes growing up through them. There might be five houses left where senior citizens live. Like the town, they too are dying. I wonder, what happened?

One thing that contributed to Boswell’s demise was a bridge built across Piney Creek. The citizens discovered that the school in a nearby town offered better opportunities for their children.

Another factor was the phasing out of the “section gang” that worked on the Southern Pacific Railroad. Once these jobs were eliminated, it was impossible to sustain the stores; so, like the school, they too closed their doors, and people began shopping in others towns. Farming was hopeless for two reasons; the land just did not produce, and you couldn’t find people to work the crop, if you had one. So, like a terminal cancer patient, the town died day by day.

Now, there is nothing to attract anyone to the ghost town. It would be impossible to give one good reason why any young couple would move there. There is nothing for them or their children. All is history. What used to be is only a memory.

There is one possibility, but it is only one chance in a million that it would happen. If someone with enough money and VISION would start a growing factory, families and workers would once again be attracted to the beautiful Boswell valley along White River. But, don’t hold your breath.

Now I understand what happened. The school in the next town provided better programs and education for the children. Jobs that died were not replaced. People began to shop in other stores or just left town. The farmers failed to produce enough harvest to attract and hold workers, so everything collapsed. Come to think of it, I no longer wonder what happened.

Pastor, does this story of Boswell, mirror your church? Are people leaving because a bridge has been built to a better church? Does everyone in your church have a job? Are ministries closing because there is no business? What would attract anyone to your church in the first place? Are the young families moving out? If they are, go to Google Earth and look down at Boswell, and you are viewing the future of your church.

THE DRIFTING CHURCH

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Drifting church

By Ken Blue

If a church is drifting, one of two causes exists: The church has no charted destination, or the captain is asleep at the wheel.

The church that is adrift, with no clear destination, is at the mercy of the current. Its only objective is to get through another Sunday. Next Sunday will be another day, and we will deal with it as we did today.

This is the status of many churches. Their only goal is have church Sunday and observe another phenomena. The bulletin is printed because churches are expected to have them. The songs are selected with no relevance to the pastor’s message, and the sermon is preached with no intended purpose or expected results. Everything rises and ebbs with the tide. This is the church without clear objectives or destination and is adrift.

Some churches have a purpose statement, somewhere, but like a New Year’s resolution; they write it and forget it. It has no bearing on anything that actually happens. Statements are easy to write, but old habits are hard to break. Unless we plan everything according to a clear destination, we are simply drifting in circles.

Even with a clear destination, it is difficult to keep a church on course. Churches are like ships and airplanes. All are prone to drift. The only hope is to have a strong rudder and an alert captain at the wheel.

The question is, is your church adrift; if so, why? Is it because you don’t have a clear vision of what you are trying to do, how to do it, and where you want to go? Or, is it because your church activities have nothing to do with the purpose statement you have misplaced? Only you can stop the drifting.

A VIEW TO GROWTH: ENLARGEMENT

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Crafting ministries with a view to growth

view to growth

 

By Ken Blue

“Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;” Isaiah 54:2.

God will keep his promises to Israel. In anticipation of the returning remnant, Israel is called upon to enlarge their facilities in order to accommodate them. Their faith will determine how they respond to that command.

The question is; are your plans, facilities, and ministries crafted with a view to growth? Do you really expect God to bless your church with a numerical increase? You need not answer; your plans reveal your faith.

Is your baptistery ready to baptize new converts, or is it like many that are decaying in dry rot? Are your nurseries staffed, clean, and ready for the infants of young families? Do you have trained teachers and workers for children when they arrive? Are your greeters prepared for guest each Sunday? If not, why not? Is it because of a lack of faith?

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Your preparation shows your faith or the lack thereof.[/pullquote]

Don’t wait for families to show up before you prepare. Get ready for them now! “And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.” Luke 14:17. Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you.” The average church is surprised if they have visitors on Sunday. You should be surprised and disappointed when you don’t have visitors. Is your church pregnant with expectation, that visitors will come? Once again, your preparation shows your faith or the lack thereof.

The experts tell us that the average church building can only maintain about 80% of its seating capacity. So, if your building is 80% full, you must take action to grow. “…lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;” Isaiah 54:2

Sad to say, some pastors do not want their church to grow. It is just large enough to pay them a salary, and just small enough to be a comfortable little family. If a church is doing what the Lord commanded, it ought to see new visitors and new converts each week. Pastor, the truth is we plan our church ministries according to our faith and vision. I challenge you; enlarge your existing ministries and expect growth from the Lord. Get a view to growth!