Archive for the ‘denominations’ Category
Asking the tough questions
An increasing trend among my fellow pastors on facebook is the collaboration during message preparation. Often I’m the one asking for help with a text or thoughts on an illustration.
This week a friend posted a need for info on the topic of the “uniqueness of Jesus” in the context of faith. I offered my humble and probably insufficient words but as others add to it one has several thoughtful beginning points.
I wonder how many messages could be improved by use of other ideas, research, and viewpoints if we all took time each week to ask the tough questions?
I’ll be honest many times my in-depth study is frustrating as the more I study the more questions I have. Sometimes Sunday creeps up and I’m still mid-struggle and up to my ears in research without a clear victor.
That’s why you’ll hear me offer options and sometimes say, “I don’t know” – because the simple fact is as I approach the interpretive task many times the questions are haunting.
However I don’t see the message as a mountain-top experience – it’s just another step on the journey, another opportunity for us to talk about what it looks like to try to describe the undescribable.
Sometimes in my life I’ve been afraid to ask the tough questions – it seemed easier to just bury my head in the sand and pretend they didn’t exist. I’m sure I could have done much more good by authentically trying to answer those questions – even when the answers might never come.
Clive Staples Lewis once wrote, “We all want progress, but if you’re on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive.”
Are you ready to ask the tough questions? What if doing so meant “loosing” some things that you’d “bound”?
Tired of talking about missions.
It’s been said that the Church is like a football game where 50,000 people who desperately need exercise are watching 22 people who are in desperate need of rest.
The tired old 80/20 “rule” is used and abused to anecdotally say that 80% of the work is done by 20% of the church. I don’t believe this “rule” and I think we’re headed in the right direction.
The heart of the matter is the Great Commission and Great Commandments:
“Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples B)”>of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” - Mt. 28:18-20 CSB
“He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments.” – Mt. 22:37-40 CSBE)”>
We don’t see “read about it,” “talk about it,” “watch videos about it,” “think about it,” or even the all popular, “pray about it.” I find three things: Go make disciples, Love God, Love People.
So my question is: If you’re like me and you’re tired of talking about missions – let’s start doing missions!
You don’t need to wait for a board, a church, or a pastor to send you – be sent today! “Here am I, send me!”
How about we start reaching the people-groups that surround us every-day: The yuppie, the loner, the red-neck, the artist, the loud neighbor, the rude cashier, your overprotective momma, the waiter that dropped your sandwich, etc.
They all have needs – we can meet them.
When Denomination becomes Irrelevant
Clay Shirky spoke a few years ago about communication and distributed work coming to the forefront due to emerging technologies.
This shift along with culture molding its values to the possibilities that technology creates has opened the door for less institutionalism and more cooperative work to be accomplished.
His 18 minute talk makes me wonder – could this be the nail in the coffin on the relevance of institutionalized denominations? As those formerly marginalized enter the work of leading the church and leadership becomes decentralized this could be the age where Baptist distinctives like priesthood of the believer and church autonomy take root once again.
About
Clark Frailey is a husband, father, and Lead Pastor of Coffee Creek Baptist Church in Edmond, Oklahoma.
clarkfrailey.com
