What would you do if Jesus asked you to jump off a cliff?

I can hear the conversation in your head….”That’s stupid, Jesus wouldn’t ask me to do that!”…..”Why would he want me to do something so absurd?”…..”Only if there was a guarantee I wouldn’t get hurt, like a net”…..etc…..etc…..

I bet you just did everything but answer the question, right?

Stay with me, this may not be as ridiculous as you think….

So would you?……(Imagine he was standing next to you in person so you were convinced he was real?)

Tough one hey!

Let’s forget the ‘cliff’ thing for a moment, what if Jesus asked you to eat an Orange?

Would you do that?… OK, not so hard….

So what’s the difference between one and the other? (OK, death, I hear ya!) But really! What’s the difference? He’s asked you to do something.

See, if you take away the details, each is a request for obedience and trust of some sort, right?

What if I asked it like this: “If Jesus asked you to do X, would you?”… Or would it depend on what X is?…

So is it fair to say that obedience to Jesus is conditional? We will do it if it makes sense, or if we want to, but if we don’t then forget it!

See, the question itself raises even bigger questions: “Do I really trust Jesus?” “Is Jesus the authority in my life?” “Would I be prepared to sacrifice my will for his will?”

So a better question is: “Who is your authority?”….I think if you asked most people to get a picture in their minds of who their authority was, they would simply see their own face….Like looking in a mirror….

Here’s the problem with that….If you are your own authority, then it’s almost impossible for you to be a follower of Jesus. (Sorry if that stings)

You may trust Jesus enough to go to church, get involved in church life, and even give money, but do you trust him with everything, even your life?

How do you know if you have authority issues?

Well, here are some symptoms:

Control – Do you always need to be in control of everything? Control mostly comes from Fear by the way, so Fear is another symptom.

Worry – Do you worry about stuff?

Un-forgiveness – Forgiveness is relinquishing the right to administer justice in a situation, so un-forgiveness is refusal to release that right to someone else, namely God. To you trust him with this?

Rebellion – Another word for this is disobedience. Do you struggle to do what you know you should do?

Lack of Peace – Where there is no peace, Christ isn’t reigning. How’s your peace?

If you have trust issues with God, you’re not alone. Take a quick look at Genesis 3 and notice the interaction between our first parents Adam & Eve, and Satan.

In Satan’s first encounter with humankind, he doesn’t question God’s love, or existence, he questions God’s trustworthiness. “Did God really say?” “Surely he knows something you don’t” “He’s pulling the wool over your eyes.” “You can’t trust him”….etc….read it for yourself.

Satan knew way back then that the key to hijacking our relationship with our heavenly Father was to cause us to question his trustworthiness., and take control of our own lives. (By the way how’s that working out for ya?)

I believe that our biggest battle as followers of Jesus is to be just that, followers of Jesus, not leaders of Jesus! So many Christians live their lives with Jesus following behind them, only to be put in front when they want something, or there is a crisis.

I’ve spent my whole Christian life learning to be a leader, now I think it’s time to learn to be a follower. (Go to any Christian bookshop and count the books on leadership compared to the books on followership)

My business card says ‘Lead Pastor’, the next batch will say ‘Lead Follower’.

In John Ch21:18-22 there’s a classic interaction between Jesus, Peter & John. Jesus has just told Peter how he would brutally die, and he’s basically just told John that he would live a long life. As you can imagine, Peter’s a little put out by this, and raises his objections. Jesus simply answers “If I want him to live, what is that to you? You must follow me!”

See, the moral of the story is, that as a follower of Jesus some people get the John package, and some get the Peter package. It’s not your choice!

Cliff, or Orange….. Are you willing to follow him either way?

Relationship with the Rules

We live in a society that has a relationship with the rules. It’s the way we control people, and keep them from doing the things we don’t think they should do.

If people break the rules…simple, they get punished, and will continue to be punished until they comply. If you don’t want to get punished, easy… hide what you’ve done! That’s how it goes right?

So you wonder why we live in a society where people wear masks, where secrets are common place, and shame causes people to hide? So what then becomes the core motivation of a rules / punishment driven society?…….FEAR!

If I can’t be authentic with people in my world….Why is that? …Fear

Do you fear what others think about you? What if they find out about your deep dark secrets? Are you afraid of that? Do you fear punishment? Fear rejection? Fear condemnation? How do you go with Guilt? Do you feel unworthy? How does this affect you? How’s your self-esteem? Self Confidence? Are you Angry? Do you fear intimacy? Do you feel alone?

These are all the symptoms of fear.

We say we live in a free society, maybe…but most of us certainly aren’t free from fear, so are we really free? Is your life controlled by fear, or love?

The bible says there is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out all fear, because fear has to do with punishment. (see 1John 4:18)

So why do we fear God? God is perfect love…. Hmmm Is it because the church has embraced society’s model of rules & punishment?

If I said to you: “I want to be a Christian, so what are the rules?” How would you answer? You’d possibly tell me about the ten commandments, and no sex before marriage, and you’d certainly hope I wasn’t gay! Right?

No wonder so many people aren’t drawn to the idea of being a Christian…Way too many rules…and as for that big fat rule book that Christian’s carry around….

God is way too scary for most people… but here’s an idea. What if God wasn’t scary at all? What if I said to you that as a Christian, there are NO RULES? Hard to swallow?

“What do you mean NO RULES!?” “Surely there has to be rules?”

Well firstly, the Law, or the Ten Commandments has been abolished! The bible says Jesus nailed it to the cross. (See Col 2:14) As believers, we are no longer under law. (Read Romans, it’s very clear) So if there’s no law, then there’s no punishment right? What happens if I break the rules? You tell me…

Was there any punishment that Jesus’ death on the cross didn’t cover?

Let’s have a look at how Jesus punished people…. The woman caught in adultery…How did he punish her? Oh yeah, he didn’t!….he must have forgot? Or the woman at the well who had five husbands, and was sleeping with a man who wasn’t her husband. What was her punishment? Hmmm…he must have forgot to punish her too. What about the sinners, tax collector’s and prostitutes Jesus hung around with? How did he punish them? Forgot again? How did the Father of the wayward son punish him when he came home? With a party, that’s how…

If what Jesus did on the cross was the full punishment that we deserved under law for our disobedience, then there is no more punishment to be dished out.

God’s punishment bucket is empty!

Jesus satisfied God’s wrath towards Sin, so therefore has removed the need for punishment, which means we no longer have a relationship with the rules. He has removed fear from our relationship with him. We are now free Sons & Daughters through faith.

So as believers we are UNPUNISHABLE!….let it sink in for a while… Religious people will choke on that statement!

Does that mean I can go do whatever I want, and God won’t punish me?…….Yep! You’re free.

So now that you’ve realised you’re free before God, let me ask you, how do you respond to that freedom?

The Apostle Paul said it best when he said: “All things are permissible for me, but not beneficial.” (see 1Cor 10:23) So maybe the new question we should be asking is: “What’s beneficial?” Paul also told Timothy that God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power and self-control. (See 2Tim 1:7)

Let me suggest that Self-Governance is the kingdom order. We have the Holy Spirit who empowers us with self-control.

In my life, I feel completely free, and at peace as a “Son” who belongs in his heavenly Father’s presence. As I allow myself to truly connect to that freedom, the strangest thing happens. Sin, the thing i’m free to do, loses it’s power over me. It simply falls off my life. There are things I used to do, and ways in which I would medicate that I don’t do anymore. Not because the rules say I can’t, but because something has changed within my heart because I’ve connected with Him.

Sin is like a headache… So when you have a headache, you take Panadol. When it goes away, you don’t need the Panadol anymore. Well, somewhere along the line my headache went away…

Feel free to comment.

72

You may need to go make a cup of coffee before reading this…

I want to take you on a journey through the most significant 72hrs in human history. Let’s take a look at this period of time through the eyes of someone who was actually there, because reality is, we weren’t. This is a recount on a man who stood at the beginning of a time that changed human history.  What if this was you? Would you make the same choices?

Your journey begins in 3AD.

It’s just another day in the fishing business. You’ve been on the boat all night with your brother & business partners. It’s not been a great night, and you haven’t caught a single fish. As you go about your usual routine of cleaning your nets, there’s a commotion on the shoreline.

A young Jewish Rabbi has attracted a crowd. You soon find yourself the focus of his attention as he looks to you, asking if he can jump in your boat, and teach the crowd from the shore. Reluctantly you agree. “I don’t have time for this” are the thoughts rolling around in your head. However, this teacher speaks with authority, so you’re intrigued.

After the teacher speaks for a while, he looks to you with that ‘I’m in the mood for fishing’ look in his eyes. He says: “Let down your nets for a catch.” You explain the situation, but he’s determined, so you go along with it.

Bam! You start yelling for backup, as you look over the edge of the boat, to see the nets absolutely bursting with fish. “It’s the mother load! I’ve never seen anything like this!” you say to yourself.

Instantly you know something miraculous has happened, and wonder “Who is this guy?” Overwhelmed with humility you bow down in front of the teacher & say: “Go away from me Lord, I am a sinful man.” To which the teacher replies: “Simon, don’t be afraid, come follow me and I will make you a fisher of men.” Without time to think it through, you find yourself out of the boat, leaving everyone behind and following Him, to who knows where. “Looking back, you can’t believe you made such a huge decision so quickly – but it was hard to resist following this guy – there was something about him.”

This marks the beginning of a whirlwind journey, and over the next three years you see and experience things you never believed possible. You don’t know it yet, but you’re only months away from walking on water.

Your passion becomes your signature, as is your loyalty to the teacher. You’re often the first one involved when it comes to action or speaking up. However, when you open your mouth, it’s usually only to swap feet. “So I have the occasional problem of talking before thinking” you rationalize. You receive constant rebukes and correction, but you are also the recipient of amazing life changing affirmation and encouragement.  Amidst many doubts, you know deep down that this is no ordinary teacher, but someone special sent from God.

You even wonder if this is the one whom the scriptures talk about, the promised Messiah, coming to restore your country to it’s former glory, and rescue your fellow countrymen from Roman occupation.

As time moves on, many would be follower’s come and go. This mans teaching is often disturbing, and difficult to understand. He tells metaphoric stories, which more often than not need explanation. You wonder: “Why can’t he just speak plainly?”

This teacher also makes some extraordinary claims about his identity that frustrate the Religious elite. Statements like: “I am the way the truth and the life, no one can come to the Father but through me” and “I am the bread of life, and whoever eats this bread will never go hungry again” and again “I am the living water, whoever drinks of my water will never thirst again.” “Could this man truly be the Son of God that the scriptures foretell?” It was exciting to be a part of the conflict that this caused, knowing with everything within you that this man was speaking the truth.

Often you find yourself the centre of his focus, just like when he met you in the boat. He gazes into your soul and asks you deep questions like: “Who do you say that I am?” Before your head has time to over-think the question, you answer from your heart. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” When he asks if you are going to leave him too, after many followers walk away, once again you answer from the heart and say: “To whom else shall we go Lord? You have the words of eternal life.” It was difficult not to follow this teacher. His magnetism was like nothing you’d ever seen before. You could not walk away.

From this moment, the teacher no longer calls you Simon, he calls you Peter, which means “Rock.” This teacher saw in you things that you have never seen in yourself. He seemed to know you, not only know you for who you were at the time, but who you were going to be. “After all aren’t I only a fisherman?” you say to yourself.

As your friendship with the teacher grows, through long night discussions and laughs around the campfire, so does your loyalty to him, even to the point where you boldly proclaim that you would lay down your life for him.

Towards the end of the third year of this incredible road trip, the mood starts to shift. The teacher is becoming increasingly more anxious, almost fatalistic with his future predictions. The most disturbing of which, he puts like this: “The Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life.”

Later on he makes another claim: “Where I am going you cannot follow.” “Enough! You exclaim…this will never happen to you.” You feel injustice rising up within you as he compares your thoughts to the thoughts of the evil one himself. You’re puzzled, and somewhat discouraged.

You don’t know it at the time, but you’ve just entered the 72.

72 hours that will change human history!

It’s Passover weekend, which is exciting because it means feast! “It doesn’t escape your attention that this teacher seems to love to eat with you, to know you, to celebrate with you.

Thursday night’s meal together starts off like every other meal, with dinner for thirteen. The teacher is acting weird, and increasingly unsettled within himself. This is not like him.  He takes off his outer garment and picks up a bucket and sponge. Surely he’s not going to wash someone’s feet? That’s a servant’s job! You become increasingly anxious as he makes his way around to you. There’s no way you’re going to let him wash your feet!

“Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” You shall never shall you wash my feet” you proclaim! Once again comes the unexpected reply: “Unless I wash you Peter, you have no part with me.” OK, Lord, then wash my hands and my head also.”

During the meal, come the heart sinking words from the Lord: “One of you is a traitor & will betray me.” Once again, your words leave your mouth before being filtered, and you boldly enquire: “Who is it Lord, surely not I?”In the turmoil, you didn’t notice your friend Judas slip out the door. “I was astonished at this point. Who could betray this man?” you say to yourself.

The evening meal is finished, and the teacher leads you all out to the garden to pray with him. Something is wrong, and you know it in your bones! The Lord is sweating profusely, so he goes off by himself to be with the Father, but you overhear his anguish. “Father, let this cup pass from me.” “If there is any other way” “Father, not my will, but yours be done.” Now fear truly starts to fill your being.

In the distance there is a noise. “Who is coming towards us?” It looks like your friend Judas, but what’s with the entourage of soldiers with him? “What’s wrong?” You put your hand on your sword. Your heart is pumping faster and faster, and you feel like you’re going to pass out. Judas greets the teacher with a kiss, but everything is wrong! The soldiers jump towards the teacher in an attempt to detain him.

You act instinctively, and with a mighty swing of your sword, you take off a man’s ear. “Enough!” Shouts the teacher…”this is not the way.” And with that, the soldiers converge. It’s every man for himself. As you see one of your friends running away naked, you know this is a serious situation. Surely this isn’t happening!

As they drag the teacher off into custody, you feel alone, abandoned. “Where is everyone?” “Where did they all go?” You can’t leave him you just can’t, so you follow at a distance…. “Where are they taking him?

The office of the chief Priests is alive with activity. Normally quiet at this time of night, there are people everywhere. From the interior courtyard you can hear the interrogation. Everything within you wants to run in and rescue your beloved friend, but fear has you pinned.

You can hear the screams from within as the beatings begin. Your soul aches as you feel his pain. Suddenly, someone hits you with a question: “Aren’t you with him?” “No! I don’t know him.” The adrenalin racing within you momentarily covers the shame you would otherwise feel about your answer. Standing at the fire in the courtyard, you believe that your casual pretense will keep you under the radar. Once again, from the courtyard you overhear the soldiers mocking the Lord. You feel sick inside! Again, the servant girl asks you: “Surely you were with him?” ‘No I was not!”

Your lack of control over the situation adds to the sickness you feel.

What can you possibly do to help him at this point? Once again, like a bullet to the heart; “You were with him weren’t you?” “We saw you with him in the garden.” “I DO NOT KNOW THIS MAN!” Almost immediately there is a sound that you will take to the grave with you. The Rooster’s crow! The teacher’s words come back to you, washing over you like blood. “Before the Rooster crows you will disown me three times.” He said this would happen!

Overwhelmed with remorseful emotion, you begin to weep uncontrollably. It’s time to leave.

As Friday morning dawns, you are now simply an anonymous man spectating from the rear of the angry mob, “quite a different position from the one that I had at the dinner table”. The words from the crowd ring through your ears; “Crucify Him” “Crucify Him” Why? You ask, Why? He doesn’t deserve this! What is going on?

As this beaten, bloody and barely recognizable man emerges through the crowd, unstable under the weight of a huge wooden cross, once again you find yourself weeping uncontrollably, this time you are physically sick. As he passes you by, he looks your way, and without words he says to you: “Because I love you.”

At the rear of the large crowd, there are only a few recognizable faces. This is not the usual crowd that would follow the teacher. You’re completely numb from head to toe, and everything seems to be moving in slow motion. In the distance you can see the teacher, mounted helplessly on the crucifix.

Only a couple of times does he utter a word from the cross. “Eloi Eloi lama sabachthani?” “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

“Why have you forsaken him Father? Surely this is not what you had in mind for your beloved Son? What’s wrong with you?” You proclaim as your anger toward the heavenly Father bursts forth.

The dark night of the soul begins as you hear the words; “It is finished.” What on earth shall you do now? Numb, discouraged, and still physically sick you make your way home.

Saturday is a blur. You don’t even remember where you were.

Saturday seamlessly blends into Sunday. All you want to do is sleep. Hope was lost. You’d blown it. There was no longer any point.

“Go away! Go away!” you say in your slumber, as the knocking and the screaming get’s increasingly louder. “Go away Mary!”

Mary! You awaken suddenly realizing this is no dream. “They’ve taken him!” she screams. You barely have time to put your sandals on before you’re out the door and running up the road towards the burial site. John is with you, step for step, and with a burst of adrenalin he outruns you. John arrives first, and peers into the tomb, no sure whether to go in. You run right in. There before you are strips of linen, and the burial cloth, but no Lord. “Where on earth could he be?”

Bewildered, you have no choice but to return home until daybreak, planning in your mind to launch an investigation to find where the soldiers have put the Lord.

You haven’t eaten for three days, so you try to force something down.

Again, Mary is at the door screaming. “What does this silly woman want now?” “I’ve seen Him!” she screams. “I’ve seen Him!” Surely not, you say to yourself. She’s upset right now, I guess we’re all upset. “Go and get some rest Mary!”

As Sunday evening closes in, you know in your heart, this is the worst 72 hours of your life! “I’m going out to fish” you say, hoping to find some release from the tense atmosphere. A few of the men decide to come along, as they are feeling the same frustrations.

It’s a long and lonely night out on the boat with Thomas, Nathanael, James & John. You can’t even catch a fish! “Have the bloody soldiers crucified all the Fish too!” you yell from the side of the boat as dawn breaks.

“Throw your net on the right” comes the voice from the shore. “I’ll throw you to the right!” says the voice in your head. BAM! Once again those nets are bursting with fish! “What the hell!”

“It’s the Lord, whispers John.”

These three words explode within your soul. “It’s the Lord!” “It’s the Lord!” “It’s the Lord!” As you run through the knee-deep water towards the shore, you say it over and over in your head. “It’s the Lord!” “It’s the Lord!” As the water splashes over you, it disguises your tears of joy! “It’s the Lord!” “It’s the Lord!” “It’s the Lord!”

You reach him with such force, that your embrace bowls him clean over!

As Jesus cooks breakfast, no one dares ask him “Who are you?” Everyone knows it’s Him. Everything makes sense now. It’s like someone has turned the lights on. You remember all those times he told you that he would be handed over and crucified, and then raise from the dead! So many of the stories make sense now. “This is the moment where you know your hope was restored, you feel a huge sigh of relief wash over your body”.

Your heart warms with that all familiar soul gazing stare from the Lord. “Simon Peter, Son of John, do you truly love me?” “Yes Lord, you know I love you.” “Feed my Lambs” The Lord repeats the question three times. Feeling hurt by the third time, you reply; “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

“Peter, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus says this to indicate the kind of death by which you will glorify God.

It’s the end of the 72, and we finish where we began, somewhere near the sea Galilee on the beach, with a ridiculous amount of fish. You’ve come full circle.

The Lord’s final words to you are also his first; “Come follow me.”

And now for the second time, you begin to follow Him, who knows where…

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

I’m not sure about you, but my own journey of faith has resembled Peter’s in so many ways.

I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus is, and was who He claimed to be. However, I would be lying if I said that the journey was always an easy one. I’ve had my fair share of “Black Fridays”, where everything goes wrong, and I have no idea where God is. I’ve had dark nights of the soul where I wonder what the hell I’m doing following this Jesus, because everywhere I look I see people living lives that I secretly want myself. There’s no map, so I can’t control what everything looks like either. But on the other hand, I’ve had many ‘Resurrection Sunday’s’…. encounters with God that have left me speechless, awestruck, and overwhelmed with intrinsic joy. I get clear revelation from God, I know He speaks to me. I can pray for people and they cry because they know God is speaking to them through me, and finally, so often I see the power of God change the lives of those around me who are willing to take a chance on Him and answer yes to the magnetic call of Jesus…”Follow me”.

Why people find it so hard to Pray

I don’t know about you, but for so many years I’ve had trouble motivating myself to pray and read my bible, even though I believe in the power of both.

I can do it, and I really enjoy it and find it helpful when I do, but it seems as though these activities are often way down on my priorities list. There’s always something else that needs doing.

If i’m really honest, I find praying the hardest. I often don’t know what to say, so it’s awkward, therefore I just ramble on like i’m reading a shopping list. I even pray for people that I don’t really want to, but I feel like I should because that’s what Christians do, isn’t it? It often just feels like i’m talking to the air.

I can’t help but feel guilty about this, because for 25 years in church life i’ve been told that praying and reading my bible are the two most important things I can do, so by rights they should be at the top of my priorities list.

This raises a big question; “If it’s true that reading the bible and praying are so vital, then why is it that so many people find making time in this area so difficult?” And I know it’s not just me, it’s global. Talk to any Christians around the world and they all seem to struggle with this. I’ve always simply believed it’s because we’re lazy and undisciplined, but the truth is that i’m not either of those things when it’s about something I enjoy doing. So what’s the real issue?

Recently, I asked the Lord to reveal the answer to this puzzle.

Here’s what I feel He said to me.

“People struggle to talk to me and read my word because they don’t know me.”

That’s strange I responded. “All Christians ‘know’ God don’t they?”

“No”….”They know about me, but they don’t know me.”

Hmmm…….

Let me paint a picture for you to help you understand.

Imagine that you work for Apple. The CEO is Steve Jobs. Do you know Steve Jobs? Personally??? Are you friends?
You know all about him right? You work for him, you read his emails and even follow him on Twitter, but if he walked into the room right now would you go up to him and put your arm around his shoulder and say “hey friend”?

Probably not….That’s the difference between knowing about someone, and knowing someone.

Imagine Steve Jobs invited you out for dinner….Would that be awkward? What would you talk about that wasn’t Apple related? Ever been invited out for dinner with someone you don’t know? When that happens to me, my first response is not wanting to go because it’s gonna be a bit awkward. I’ll go because I was invited, but rarely will I initiate such things unless there is an existing friendship to make me feel more comfortable.

It’s much the same reason we don’t talk to strangers on the train, or people walking around at the shops. People we don’t know are simply strangers to us, so we avoid initiating contact with them.

Well I believe it’s similar when it comes to spending time with God. If there’s no true intimacy and close friendship, we will find it difficult to initiate spending time together.

Lately, I’ve had a real breakthrough in this area. It came about from getting the right mindset about who God is to me, and more importantly, who I am to God. See, the bible says that I’m a Son, and I have full rights and access to the Father because of Jesus. When he sees me, he sees Jesus. I don’t have to feel like an alien in His presence.

The bible also says that, we are not just servants, who don’t know the master’s business, we are called friends.

I believe that until you can see yourself as a friend of God, then i’m sorry, but praying and reading the bible will always be difficult for you, no matter how disciplined you are, because it’s the closeness of relationship with God that brings the desire to want to spend time with Him.

When we don’t know God, we act out of Religion. (Religion is have to, relationship is want to.)

I’m convinced everything overflows from your understanding of who you are in God’s eyes.

I’m very aware that the main reason so many of us have a false mindset about how God sees us is because we have a spiritual enemy, who really doesn’t want us to know the truth. (When you know the truth, the truth will set you free)

Our enemy fills our mind with all sorts of thoughts that keep us from the truth.

For example “God isn’t happy with the way you’ve been behaving so best stay away.” Or…”God’s busy with more important things right now than listening to your petty drivel.” Or…the enemy will keep you so busy and bogged down with managing life that you never have time to slow down and reflect.

All of these result in guilt and condemnation. That’s how we recognise who they come from. Think about it…

The last thing the enemy wants you to get a hold of, is knowing in your heart that you are a beloved Son or Daughter of the King of Kings.

John, who wrote the book of John in the bible (funny that) has a clear perspective on this. Not only does he refer to himself five times in his own book as “the one whom Jesus loved”, in his other writings (1John 3:1) he says “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are!”…..I can almost hear him yelling this last line.

So now when I spend time with the Lord, I picture myself in His lounge room just chilling out with The Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. I picture what the room looks like, and what everyone is doing. It’s a relaxed and happy atmosphere, with laughter and joy. They’re all happy that i’m there, and they tell me good things about myself. It’s a great place to be, and a place that i’m beginning to call home. I often can’t wait for the chance to spend time there.

Spending time with God is no longer a dreaded chore on my ‘To do list’ along with the washing up, mowing the lawns, and putting the bins out, in fact, I now take a whole day a week and just soak in His presence.

In the time I have been doing this, everything has changed about how I view myself from God’s perspective. I’m not scared of Him, or ashamed anymore. No longer do I feel guilty for not praying, or reading God’s word. In fact it’s the opposite! When i’m not doing it, I feel homesick.

If you want to try this for yourself, find a solitary place with no noise. Quiet your mind, and try to picture yourself in God’s lounge room. Give yourself enough time to let yourself get familiar with the environment, and if you have trouble sensing God’s presence, then simply ask Him to reveal himself to you. When you find a blockage, again, ask Him to reveal the answer. Trust me, He will. See yourself as the beloved Son or Daughter no matter what. That’s the key to knowing Him.

Have fun!

Stereotype Buster – Christians are way too Judgmental for me!

Have you ever felt judged, or made to feel like you dont measure up by someone who says they’re a Christian?

I know I have….

I’m not exactly a “just shut up and don’t ask questions” kind of guy. I’m a free thinker who has lots of questions. I have a very sensitive ‘BS’ radar which leads me to constantly push boundaries and question those in leadership. Some Christians have judged me for this, and i’ve been labelled rebellious and non-submissive amongst other things.

Do you know someone you would describe as a ‘Judgmental Christian’?

What picture comes to mind when I say that?

Here’s one description I read:- “A finger pointing, King James reading, teetotaling vengeful person, handing out tracts or preaching in the streets, someone who credits God for natural disasters and Aids to punish people for their sin, someone who uses Christian jargon, and are arrogant and unloving toward anyone but themselves.”

Does that fit your picture?

I’ve lost count of the people I know who have walked away from church life because they were made to feel like they didn’t measure up in some way, shape or form. This leads me to wonder how many people outside the church could never imagine wanting to be part of a church because they feel that all Christians are ‘judgmental’ and look down their noses at everyone else.

This is part of the reason I don’t like traditional church buildings. I find them intimidating and somewhat cold. Everything about them says; “You don’t belong here!” “You don’t measure up!” “Stay away!” In a strange way, I feel judged by those buildings.

Those outside the church have labelled Christians who take this judgmental kind of approach as ‘Fundamentalists’. Google search ‘Judgmental Christians’ and the word ‘fundamentalist’ comes up everywhere. The problem is that this has created tension for Christians who say they believe the ‘Fundamentals’ of Christianity.

See, way back when, Christians of all types got together and worked out what were the things they all believed regardless of denomination. Here’s the five original fundamentals of Christianity that all Christians should agree on. So people who say they believe in the fundamentals of Christianity are saying they agree with these five things.

1. The verbal inspiration and inerrancy of the bible. (The word of God was delivered to men, who wrote it down without error.)
2. The divinity of Jesus Christ. (He is who he said he was)
3. The virgin birth of Christ. (Self-explanitory)
4. Substitutionary atonement by Jesus. (You can’t rectify things between you and God by earning it.)
5. The bodily resurrection of Jesus and his future return. (He rose from the dead, and he will be back for those who believe in his name)

Unfortunately, modern fundamentalism has become something else. ‘Modern Fundamentalists’ have expanded this list over the years, adding more and more things like dress code, alcohol, views on music, movies, tattoos and piercings etc. All very subjective things.

‘Modern Fundamentalists’ take things literally from the bible without much regard to context, firing off bible verses at people like bullets. They see their conclusions as fact, which leads to an arrogant spirit, and they are shut off to any discussion.

If you want an example of ‘Modern Fundamentalists’, watch this clip. (Be warned! It’s not for the faint hearted)

OK……. I know how you feel, I watched like 30 youtube clips of Shirley Phelps and the Westboro Church, and to be honest, it messed with my head. I’ve had many daydreams of walking into their offices with a machine gun and mowing them all down.

Here’s the weird paradox…… In our thoughts towards these judgmental anger filled people, have we not become those very people ourselves??? Damned if we do, damned if we don’t…..

After watching countless TV interviews with Shirley and crew, I notice that all the interviews end up going ‘pear shaped’ because the interviewer ‘loses it’ at them.
I couldn’t help wonder what question I would ask Shirley and the Westboro’s if I got the chance to interview them.

Here’s my question…Why don’t you ever mention Jesus? In all the countless hours of footage i’ve watched, i’ve never heard anyone from the Westboro church mention Jesus. Why is that?

I have an idea why…..Jesus doesn’t fit the judgmental model. You see, Jesus always found the pathway to grace. Like with the woman caught in Adultery. Jesus had the law behind him which meant he could have demanded that she be put to death, he could have showed up at her stoning with all his mates holding signs that said ‘God hates whores’…… but he doesn’t do that, and what he does do is genius! Read it for yourself in John ch8…

If you look at what Jesus spent his time doing, he was healing people, and setting them free from evil spirits. Both things that were destroying their lives. Did he do this because he hated them?

Think about it, if God’s heart was to punish us all and send us to Hell, then what was the point of Jesus? If Jesus’ death on the cross is the payment for our sin, then isn’t sin paid for? or does it require two payments???….Think about that. Do we not mock God when we try to pay for something that he has already paid for?

If i’ve learnt anything about God it’s that he’s good. All the time! All he wants to do is show us his goodness, like a good Father. You’ll understand this better if you’re a parent yourself.

When Jesus did take a hardline, seemingly judgmental approach with someone, it was when they had judgmental perspectives, and self-righteous hard hearts themselves. He was holding up a mirror to them.

I believe that judgmentalism comes from within our own hearts. We’re not angry at people because we think God is angry at them and we need to support him. What a load of crap! Christians who are anti-Gay, would be anti-Gay with or without God. It comes from our own hatreds and prejudices within out dark hearts. It just makes us feel better if we can attach some bible verse to our hatred to make it look like God is on our side right?

I believe every person has the capacity to be judgmental, but we have to fight it if we want to follow Jesus, because Jesus is walking down ‘grace street’. This is way more difficult than being judgmental because showing grace requires something more from us. Love.

You’ll know if your judgmental because you’ll always be looking down on others, and giving people advice. You won’t have time to listen to what others think because you’ll be busy talking all the time and telling everyone your opinions….Ouch! That’s not you is it?

If it is you, then stop it! Seriously stop! And Shirley Phelps from Westboro BC, you’re pride filled attitudes are driving people away in droves from the God who truly loves them. You cause me to be ashamed to admit i’m a Christian sometimes, because i’m afraid people will think i’m like you, and i’m not.

Here’s my final question for everyone (including Shirley)……I have no doubt that God can forgive anyone, and show them unconditional grace…….can you?

Generation Fatherless

Social commentators talk a lot about GenX, GenY, and now Gen i, but not many people are talking about ‘Gen Fatherless’…

I see Fatherlessness as one of the greatest pandemics in modern history, it’s effects are widespread, and worsening.

As someone who’s worked a lot with teenagers, one of my most powerful conversation questions has been: “How’s your Dad?” “Tell me about him.” Responses are different in circumstance all the time, but the effects seem to have a hauntingly familiar pattern… Fatherlessness!

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying everyone has a bad father, but it seems from my experience, great ones could be becoming few and far between.

And I’m not simply talking about people who have lost their Fathers to death. So many have lost their Fathers to other things like broken Marriages, Golf, Football, backyard Rock Bands, Prison, Alcohol, Fishing, Ebay and the Internet, and worst of all…..Demanding Careers!

I still keep a copy of a letter sent to the school I was chaplain at, from the parents of a young man who was in constant trouble. The parents offered to come to the school and discuss their son’s behaviour, however, due to their ‘high demand’ careers, they could only come to school at either 6:30am, or after 8:30pm for a meeting…. Their son wasn’t a bad kid, he was an orphan!

I’m 40, and life has worked out well for me. I have built and sold successful businesses, I have a great family, I’ve travelled and I lead a great church. I lack nothing! I’ve often heard myself described as a ‘Self-Made Man’, like it’s an admirable thing, however, the reality is that I too am an Orphaned man, a Fatherless man, who’s had to figure out most of life on his own. I describe it as a disability much the same as someone who loses an arm or a leg, it’s anything but an admirable thing.

My Mother was a great woman, who, despite being the victim of an abusive alcoholic husband, did a fantastic job at raising her family.
But one thing a Mother cannot bestow on a young man is Masculinity. Masculinity can only come from the Father, or the company of men. What I needed so much growing up, as does everyone else, is a Father to help me know what it is to become a man, initiate me into manhood, and teach me how to become a Father myself.

The problem we are facing in society is escalating because so many Fathers are Fatherless men themselves. Boys living in Mens bodies. So many men want to be better Fathers, but don’t know how.

Did you know that statistics indicate that possibly only 10% of men say they have a good relationship with their Father?

Did you also know that 85% of all male prisoners send Mothers day cards? Guess how many send Fathers Day cards?…….

3%

Wow…

Houston, we have a problem….

I don’t speak as a passive spectator, I am also one of the Fatherless Generation. My Dad became an Alcoholic when I was very young, and by the time I was 18, he was gone…. These early years of my life I choose not to think about much, as there’s not many positive memories. When I do choose to remember, I hear my Dad shouting abuse at anyone and everyone, including me. There was a season where I remember going to sleep every night to the sound of my Father yelling abuse at my Mum. She could only stand it for so long before we had to move out. My Father was an embarrassment to me, I would cringe anytime my friends came around, and I knew they went home happy that this wasn’t their Dad….
I could go on…

When I was 15, I went to church for the very first time, and left the building ‘A Christian’. Some could say my circumstances forced me to find God, but that’s not what happened. I wasn’t looking for God, and like so many, I didn’t think I needed God. (I had girls!) I Simply believed the message about God and Jesus etc, it just made sense to me. Looking back, I see that God probably found me….

The God of the bible is primarily described as a Father. Jesus referred to God as his Father no less than 189 times in the 4 books of the bible written about his earthly life. If you read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, you’ll see a relationship between Father and Son, that’s quite frankly difficult not to be jealous of. Jesus lives his life in absolute obedience to the Father. “I only do what I see the Father doing”. This is not obedience in some sort of sadistic controlling way, but in a “I trust you completely Dad, because I know you’ve got my back” kind of way. The Father is also publicly affirming of His son. “This is my Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Read it for yourself, you’ll see it.

My struggle, along with countless others I’ve spoken to, is trying to see God as Father when our own Fathers have been such a dismal disappointment. My picture of Father is all messed up, so how can I see God as Father?

Many men struggle to see God as loving Father. My struggle isn’t so much to see God as Father, because I read the bible and I see God’s heart as a loving Father everywhere. See, when I wake up every morning, my struggle isn’t to love God, obey God, or hear God, it’s to ‘NEED’ God. I’m a self-made man remember, I’ve become fiercely independent, not needing anyone, but relying on myself in all situations. That’s the price one pays for being Fatherless……independence.

When I look at Jesus, he wasn’t independent, but interdependent. Father and Son needed each other, and in turn operated as one. It’s an amazing picture. We weren’t made to do life on our own, we made made to need each other, and God.

I’ve come to discover that Gods greatest desire is to Father us, not in a bad controlling way, but in a loving and great way!
“I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters.” 2Cor 6:8.
“For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. Jer 29:11

When I look back over my life and join a few dots, I see it clearly. God has Fathered me in so many ways, I just haven’t always seen it. I’ve lived with the favour of God my whole life, that’s why life has turned out well for me. The best decision I ever made was to let God in, and allow him to reveal himself to me. It hasn’t all been pretty, and I’ve spent many days fighting God and resisting him because of my independence issues, but overall, I’ve come to trust that my heavenly Father has my back, he has good things for me like good Fathers want for their sons.

“Is there anyone among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Matt 7:9

“He is a father to the fatherless and an advocate for widows.” Psalm 68:5

What about you? Is it time to come home to the Father?

You won’t be disappointed!

Endnote.
Two great books have helped me on my journey in understanding masculinity, and God as Father.
Wild at Heart and Fathered by God, both by John Eldredge.

Forget New Years Resolutions, get a New Years Revelation!

Statistics say that around 85% of people make new years resolutions. Here’s the top ones; Lose Weight, Get Fit, Quit a bad habit like Smoking or Drinking, Get out of Debt, Spend more time with Family and Friends, Get Organised and Change Careers.

Statistics also say that most people fail within a very short period of time. I’m sure there’s many valid reasons why, but the same statistics don’t mention why I believe most resolutions fail.

Firstly, let’s clarify that I think there is a big difference between a resolution and a goal. My new years resolutions could fit into all the categories above, but my goals are different. My goals this year are mostly moving into things I’ve not done before, “Breaking new ground”, whereas my resolutions could have been achieved last year, but weren’t. “Repairing old ground”.

A goal usually represents something new like going to Africa, or writing a book, or Bungy Jumping, not fixing old things like finishing the book you started last year. Does this make sense?

Let me challenge you before you begin the journey of working on new years resolutions, to clarify what your goals are separately to what your resolutions should be, because the two will need a different approach in order for success.

The goals you set for this year are not resolutions. However, if you don’t achieve them, they will become next years resolutions.

Now, back to why I think most people fail in their resolutions.

I believe that often we are not asking ourselves the key question; “Why didn’t I achieve this last year?” For instance, if your resolution for this year is to go to the gym 4 times a week because you want to get fit and look good, then until you know why you haven’t done that before now, you don’t stand a chance. What exactly stopped you from going to the gym before now? What are the roadblocks?

This isn’t as easy to answer as it sounds. (Try it!) It takes some serious thought and personal reflection to get to the root cause. If you answer “I didn’t get to the gym because I’m lazy” keep asking questions. “Why am I lazy?” We need to keep peeling back the layers of the onion ‘so to speak’ to find out what’s in the middle. When you get to the middle, start moving forward from there.

Having said all of that, you can do this and still be fuzzy with your clarity. I believe that there is an easier way (like Fishing with Dynamite) but it’s a bit spooky, especially if you’re not into “The God Stuff”. See, I can’t speak for you, but as a Christian, and a follower of Jesus who believes that God knows me by name, and has a purpose for me, I also believe that the same God wants to speak to me….personally, and does!

I can’t tell you how many times in my life I’ve looked for answers in all the wrong places, and then finally as a last resort I simply ask God to reveal the answer to me….and he does! Every time. Makes me wonder why I didn’t start with asking God in the first place. (Sounds like a good resolution for this year!)

It’s called “Getting a Revelation” the word revelation implies that something has been revealed, rather than figured out, or learned.

As you read the bible there are so many stories where God simply revealed an answer to someone.

Check out Matt 16:18 where Jesus asked Peter flat out; “Who do you say that I am?” Peter responds by saying “You are the Christ, Son of the living God”. Jesus says in response, “Peter, you didn’t learn this, but it was revealed to you by my Father in Heaven.” This is one of so many stories that have the same message. James (one of Jesus’ brothers) says; “If any of you lacks wisdom (answers) he should ask God who gives freely to all without finding fault.” Often we ask, or pray for things we want, but have you ever considered praying for answers to your questions, or answers to help you solve deeply rooted personal issues?

Take a risk and try it out. Ask God for an answer in a particular area of your life and wait for it. You’ll be amazed! (Tip, you need to listen for answers, which means not talking….)

I just spent 10 days in New Zealand fishing their amazing rivers for Trout. It took me 4 days of frustration to catch my first fish. To keep from getting depressed over the situation I kept making jokes about how much easier it would be to Fish with Dynamite. Funnily enough, I sense God speaking to me now about getting answers using that very technique. I can either take the long way and try to figure everything out on my own, or I can simply ask Him and get a New Years Revelation!

PS. Anyone know where to get Dynamite?

Stereotype Buster – God Doesn’t Care About Pain and Suffering

I reckon the single most asked question on the planet when it comes to God, Religion & Christianity is this: “If God was real, then why would he allow so much pain & suffering in the world?”…..

It’s possibly also the hardest one to answer too! Maybe that’s why I’ve avoided the topic until now, because I’m not quite sure if I’ll leave you with more questions than answers.

To be honest, I’m not sure if anyone can truly answer this question 100%, but that doesn’t mean we should bury our heads in the sand, or leave it in the too hard basket. I’ve heard some people share great insights about this topic, so here’s my two cents…

Firstly, let’s clarify what the question really is. Here’s how I hear it; “If this so called God that you Christians hark on about was real, then why does he just sit around on his arse and do nothing, whilst there is so much pain & suffering, not only in the world, but in my street, in my family, in my relationships, in my job, in my school..”

Here’s a simpler way of saying it; “Why doesn’t God give a rip?” “Why doesn’t he care?”

I guess, the question itself raises issues about the very character of God. Is he Good? (caring and close) or is he Bad? (cold and distant) Your answer to this question will become the framework for the bigger question. So you kinda need to start there.

If God is cold and distant, then his passive approach to intervention with pain & suffering makes sense. Why would he get involved?

However, If God does care, and does loves us enough to endure pain & suffering himself on our behalf like the bible says, then how do we explain God’s apparent lack of intervention?

By default (like you) I am selfish and tend to always look at things from the perspective of how they affect me, (eg. I Vote for the political party that benefits me, more so than benefits everyone else….like you?) So here’s a metaphor that I came up with that helped me shift my perspective away from my own default bias. I don’t believe it’s possible to get clear perspective on this unless we can step outside ourselves and look at this from another angle, regardless of how it affects our own situation.

Imagine yourself as a parent, whose young adult children have just moved out of home into their own apartment. They’re excited about their new found freedoms, and you’re happy for them.

Then picture yourself going to visit them after 6 months, walking into their apartment, that was once immaculate, but now looks like terrorists have been letting bombs go off. It’s filthy, there’s garbage everywhere, and it stinks! You’re shocked because you taught your children to care for, and look after themselves, yet it seems that they’ve abandoned everything they were taught.

Now imagine how you feel when your children stand up and start yelling at you; “Why would you sit back and allow this mess to happen?”

What would your response be?…….Yeah……. maybe God has responded to us in the same way…

Your lack of intervention certainly wouldn’t mean that you didn’t love your kids, because surely at some stage as a parent you have to allow your children to take responsibility for their own lives, and make their own decisions don’t you? How long would you be willing to pick up their dirty underwear from the floor and do their dirty dishes whilst they sit on the couch & play xbox???

Sometimes the most appropriate love is tough love! As a loving parent it would be foolish to continually clean up their mess for them, but I can imagine getting alongside your kids and helping them with the task rather than walking away. The bible says that we are God’s fellow workers. He hasn’t abandoned us, but he does require our contribution.

There’s no dispute that our apartment (world) is a mess. But whose fault is t? Who made the mess? I can only answer that question with a question….

“If we knew 100% that there was NO God, would there still be pain and suffering in the world?”…..Now you know who made the mess…(not all of it, but most of it)

The good part is that we can do our part in cleaning up. If there’s someone starving, it’s not because there’s not enough food on the planet, it’s because someone else has more than their share and won’t give it up…..but that’s another blog for another day….

I remember my first day on yard duty as a teacher. This kid comes up to me & says someone pushed him over & his arm was sore. I gave his arm a good slap, squeeze & a shake to see if much was wrong, so when this kid didn’t respond with any obvious signs of pain I patted him on the back & sent him on his way. You can imagine my surprise the following day when this student arrives with his arm in plaster! His arm was fully broken, but because there wasn’t any sign of pain & didn’t know anything needed to be fixed.

Maybe God knows that pain tells us that something is broken & needs to be fixed? How else would we know? If a relationship on the rocks didn’t have pain, how would the couple know they needed to get help? What do pictures of starving children in Africa tell you? Something’s broken & needs fixing…

I believe pain is the symptom that tells us we need to get off the xbox & do some dishes??

My greatest fear in all of this, is that one day we will all stand before the living God, and someone will yell at God; “Why did you allow so much pain & suffering in the world when you could have done something to fix it?”…to which will come the reply….

“Why did YOU allow so much pain & suffering in the world when you could have done something to fix it?”

Stereotype Buster – God is a last resort, only for the ‘down and out’.

Somebody said to me the other day that they thought Christianity was like a last resort in life, for people who are down and out, on the brink of despair with nowhere else to turn.

What’s funny, is I think i’ve actually believed this to be true sub-conciously for a long time without ever thinking it through.

Someone else said to me once that they would consider going to church if there was ever a crisis in their life. I wanted to say to the person, why wait? Why wouldn’t God be a good option now?

However, I woke up in the middle of the night tonight with some clarity on this issue. It’s currently 3am and I really want to go back to sleep, but I have to get this out…

When I think about all the Christians I know (lots!!) I can’t actually put a face to anyone who turned to God in life as a last resort, or in a crisis.

Most of the Christians I know were doing rather OK in life before they “met God”…but something happened inside them as they came to know more about Him. At some point they had a moment of clarity, realising that no matter how good doing life without God was, doing life with God is better!

So many Christians that I know had great jobs, relationships, money & stuff at the time God came onto their radar.

This includes me! I was having a great time as a teenager, doing all the naughty things that teenage boys do, and more, until God came along…. (really bad timing in my mind, trust me!)

In fact God was probably the last thing on my mind at the time. (Too many hot girls around the place to be thinking about God!)

But when I first heard about salvation and having eternal life through faith in Jesus, I believed it! I wasn’t looking for it, but the message connected with me and has ever since. I was drawn to it like a magnet!

I wasn’t ‘down and out’ with nowhere else to go. In fact, I had lots of places to go, people to meet, and hope for the future.

I would almost go as far as saying that I think that the opposite idea is true. I have known many people who I would consider ‘down and out’, and with ‘nowhere else to turn’, who don’t want to have anything to do with God.

I remember a time when a good mate of mine was killed in a car accident. I was preparing myself for all his friends and family to come and have the “God talk” with me. But guess how many did??? None!

Even in the midst to life turning to crap, they still didn’t want to know about God.

So what’s evident to me, is that people can be on the brink of despair, in the middle of a huge crisis, and still not want to turn to God.

I think most Christians I know would agree, that where they were in life at the time, possibly had little or nothing to do with why they became a Christian. (feel free to comment me if i’m wrong)

There’s a great verse in the bible (Ecclesiastes 3:11) that says: “and God has set eternity in the hearts of men”.

My interpretation of this verse is kinda like God has placed a small piece of himself in every human heart, and at the right time, when they hear the message of grace, faith starts to rise up, and this thing goes off, a bit like a homing device.

When we allow ourselves to get a little closer to God, the signal gets stronger and stronger and stronger, until one day we know that we’re home. We’ve found our Father in heaven! Nothing else compares to that feeling.

So before I go back to bed, let me ask you a question; “If you were to consider allowing God to be a part of your daily life, in a personal way, would your decision have more to do with how life was working out for you right now, or would it be based upon whether or not you felt drawn to a God who loved you, and knows you by name?”

Food for thought…

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Church…a love hate relationship

Religious stone throwers are going to have a field day with this post……off to get a helmet!

Let me start by saying that I love “The Church” (the group of people that are the church), but I have to be honest and say that I haven’t always loved “Church” (ie. Going to church)

I believe (as Bill Hybels so nicely coined the phrase) that “The local church is the hope of the world.”

I believe that the church has been entrusted with the most powerful message in human history. The only message that can transform a human heart from the inside out, and that’s the message of salvation and eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.

Let me ask you; “If it’s true, can you think of a more important message?”

However, go and ask almost anyone in the street what they think about church and see if their answers lines up with the statement above……..yeah, you already know the answer.

Just so you know, this was not always the case. The church throughout history has had some amazing periods of influence upon society. Check out Acts 2:42…..it’s Awesome!

I’ve been in church life for almost 25 years now, and for the greater part of this time, been involved in the fresh new charismatic uprising that includes loud rock music, casual dress, free worship, and inspirational preaching in church services.

It’s been exciting times, and people have been drawn to this new approach to doing church. It’s been ground breaking, and has messed with peoples stereotype images of what church could be like.

Theres always been an unsaid (and sometimes said) prevailing attitude amongst people in the contemporary church that thinks; “We’ve totally got one up on the traditionalists, they’re boring and stuck in religion still singing hymns!”

However, having said that, I now wonder if the very church model that’s been so fresh over the last 25 years ago has now become stale and needs to change?

I recently visited one of Melbourne’s largest Pentecostal churches, which in it’s day, was way ahead of it’s time. (kinda like Hillsong is now). Although everything looked modern and funky with all the gadgets that technology has nicely provided, this church was still using the same format for a meeting that they were 25 years ago, and something about it just seemed so stale and manufactured.

Could it be that the contemporary church has become like the traditional church?

If you look around many churches nowadays, including modern ones, you’ll see so many people that look, well….bored.

And to be honest, I’m one of them!

So here’s the question; “Why are so many church going people, who apparently believe the message and know that it changes lives, seem so bored and disengaged in church?”

I guess I can only answer from my own experiences.

I think one of the major reasons I’ve been so bored in church is because there’s not much to do other than be a spectator, listening and observing what’s happening for 90 minutes or so.

Kinda like watching a movie, some are better and more entertaining than others, but ultimately you sit down and don’t do a whole lot until it’s finished.

Now sure, there are things you can get involved in at church to make yourself busy, like welcoming people, handing out newsletters at the door, sound, lighting, playing in the band, and even preaching, but there’s certainly not enough for everyone to do.

The other issue at play here is that so many people seem to think that church happens on a Sunday. Is it possible that the church has forgotten that real church starts on Monday? What I mean, is that if we, as followers of Jesus are carriers of the greatest message on earth, we have that message seven days a week, wherever we go, not just on a Sunday.

Let me suggest that if your church life only exists on a Sunday, then you’re like someone who goes to the Bottleshop for a six pack, and comes out with only one. Your missing the greater part of what it’s all about!

So what’s the solution?

Well, let me say first, that the solution isn’t to make the church services more “entertaining”. Been there, done that! It all gets boring after a while.

I believe that if your life is about being the church 24/6 (there’s a well needed day off) and you’re in the middle of doing what God’s called you to do, then surely the weekend gathering (whether Saturday or Sunday) should become a celebration filled with great stories of adventure from the week just gone.

I believe every single person must be given the opportunity to contribute to church gatherings by telling their stories and expressing their opinions. (That’s why we have small discussion groups in the middle of our Saturday meetings at Encore Church) People feel empowered when they can contribute! I know I do…

I believe that church gatherings must be a place where you can feel comfortable to invite your “beer drinking”, “sports loving”, “blokey bloke” neighbour, and they won’t be totally weirded out out by all the unexplained Christian activity, but they too will have an opportunity to express their views without judgement. (at Encore we call this “Permission to Process”)

We divide our Saturday meeting into two parts. Part one is called “Conversations” (Conversations about God) which will appeal to, and involve believers and non-believers alike.

Part two is called “Connections” (Connecting with God) which is more for believers, and again interactive.

In the middle we have a coffee break where there is a clear exit point so if your neighbour wants to go home and watch the footy, or have a beer, they can. Or they can stay, but at least they have the choice.

So I believe in order for the church of the future to be healthy, it must become “Monday Focussed”. Believers must catch hold of what God has called them to do, (that thing that makes you come alive on the inside) and devote the majority of their time, energy and resources during the week to doing it. Weekend gatherings must become fully interactive, where everyone can participate, not just the chosen few, if it’s going to engage the most interactive generation of people in human history. No more spectator services!

At Encore Church we say it like this; “A place that values what you have to say.”