The Magic Never Came - Reflections on Easter

I woke up this Easter morning and watched the sunrise as I sat in my backyard. It was peaceful and pretty, but I was hoping for more than what nature offers on a normal morning.

I was looking and listening for something magical, something mystical. Some sort of sign or brilliant insight. Something that would bring a tear to my eye and profound joy to my heart. Perhaps even something dramatic and fearful, like the empty tomb and the angels those first disciples encountered. Something that would compel me to run and proclaim the good news to anyone who would listen.

But the magic never came. The profoundness never arrived. It was simply another pleasant sunrise on a slightly chilly mid-spring morning.

I can`t say, however, that I'm disappointed. Despite the lack of a personal Easter miracle, I still believe in the promises the day brings. I still know that death is not the end of the story, and that God is constantly bringing new life for those who dare to believe.

But maybe it's because I'm older now, as close to retirement as I am to my college graduation. Or maybe it's because the traditional celebrations of the day - the sunrise services, the lilies in the sanctuary, and the recitations of "He is risen! He is risen indeed!" - maybe it`s because they have a "been there, done that" feel after 17 years in ministry.

Or maybe it's just me. Maybe my heart is seeking constancy. Maybe my soul is seeking solitude. Maybe my faith is evolving into something less dramatic, and more steady.

Maybe a gentle breeze, a soft cloud, a calm pond, and the distant cry of a pair of geese is all I need on this day - which honestly, is no different than any other day. Maybe these sights and sounds, which are offered up on any morning I take the time to sit in the backyard - maybe they are God`s steadfast way of reminding me of what I already believe about eternal life, but sometimes forget.

So Happy Easter, all. May we celebrate in whatever ways bring us the reassurance and the peace that Christ is indeed risen from the dead!

New Worship Styles Are Not Enough

Only 50 percent of Americans claim membership in a church, according to a new study released by Gallup. This stat is down from 69% in 1999. So what are we going to do about it?

 Typically, the response has been to try to draw people`s interest back to attending and joining congergations, using three basic strategies:

 1) Changes in worship style to reach the folks that no longer attend

 2) New evangelism efforts to attract people back to worship and membership

 3) Doubling down on what is already being done, simply trying to do it better.

None of these strategies is working, and none of them will work. The problem is not what we are doing to get people to come to us. The problem is that church membership and participation of any sort is no longer valued by the majority of folks in our culture. At best, we are drawing members away from other churches, not doing anything to reverse these statistics of overall decline. At worst, we are falling into a survival mentality that stifles new ideas and approaches.

In short, we don't just need new wine. We need new wineskins. We need an entirely different approach to the structures and forms we use to try to spread the Gospel.

Which means that first, we need let go of some things that are difficult to let go of, such as:

 1) Membership as a concept

 2) Worship attendance as the main measure of success

 3) Worship in general as the main way we attract and welcome new people

Over the new few weeks, I am going to write blogs and do Facebook videos that focus on this changing reality of our congregations. If we continue to use the same practices and the same measures of success, and merely make relatively minor changes to what we we are already doing, we will continue to be frustrated and concerned about the future. But if we create entirely new wineskins, and new structure and forms for everything we do, we will find the Holy Spirit bringing new life all around us.

And we`ll see stats such as this one as challenging opportunities for change instead of occasions for anxiety and sadness.

What If We Told The Bored Ones Not To Come To Church?

I’m currently enjoying three months of severance/sabbatical time. Which means for the first time in 17 years, I don’t have to be at a worship service on Sunday morning. Instead, I’m getting out in the world and seeing what the majority of the general population is doing while worship goers file into a sanctuary.

Yesterday, I went to Starbucks. It was fun. I got my coffee, perched myself at a small table near the corner, and simply observed. It was a steady stream of customers, almost all individuals or couples. Most looked dressed for sports or recreation. Only two out of dozens looked like they could be dressed for worship.

But more so than appearance, what struck me was the vibe. Many were laughing and sharing a casual moment with a friend. Others were enjoying a quiet time of solitude, either reading or just observing the world around them, like I was. A few were engrossed in intense conversation. 

Most importantly, no one looked bored or stressed. They were all here by choice, because going to a coffee shop is what refreshes them on a morning off. Granted, this same refreshment happens for many people at church. Seeing friends, stimulating conversation, or a moment of quiet solitude are all ways I enjoy time at church when I’m not leading it.

But it’s not that way for everyone. Next time you`re at church, take a mental note of how many people seem to be refreshing themselves, and how many seem bored or wanting to be somewhere else. It`s a mixed bag, and as church leaders, we typically see the bored ones and try to create ways to interest them in the service.

But what if we took a different approach? What if we welcomed the ones who wanted to be there, and encouraged the others to go back out into the world and find a place that does refresh them: a coffee shop, a nature trail, or perhaps even their own back porch?

How would that change what we do on Sundays and the rest of the week? How might that lessen the anxiety and desperation that is slowly creeping into our congregations as the world shows up for our services less and less?

What Causes A Church to Divide?

In one of the churches I pastored early in my career, I encountered what is known as an “antagonist.” This is a person within the congregation who intentionally sows discord and distrust in an effort to antagonize (and usually chase off) the pastor. It is not a fun experience to be on the receiving end of.

Here is how a conversation with this person went at a Session meeting:

Elder:  I have a few concerns to share. Some people are telling me your sermons are too long. Others say your hospital visits are too short. And I think your neckties are too flashy and not appropriate for a man of the cloth.

Me:  Thank you for sharing. I will take those concerns into consideration.

Elder:  Also, I noticed that your wife doesn’t seem happy here. She rarely speaks to me after worship.

Me:  She’s just shy. She’s uncomfortable in large, crowded spaces like the narthex at the end of the service.

Elder:  Well maybe you should say something to her. People can interpret that as her being rude, and not wanting to be a part of the church.

Me:  We have talked about it. I have reminded her that she doesn’t have to take on roles in the church she doesn’t want to, since she’s not on staff.

Elder:  Well, she should want to greet people after church. Did you know she was like this when you married her?

At this point, I changed the subject of the conversation, because I knew this antagonists’s game. Unable to rattle me with his litany of complaints, he had then tried a “divide and conquer” technique. I knew that if I had agreed with him about my wife, or said anything negative about her, he would have reported my feelings back to her - thus beginning a process of back and forth “division making” that antagonists thrive on. 

Ultimately, he would have used any conflict he helped create in my marriage as evidence of my not being fit to be their pastor. Fortunately, I had good seminary professors who prepared me for this kind of attack.

Using Biblical language to describe such a process, we could call it “demonic.” Recall that “demonic” does not simply mean “evil” or “of the devil.” It is an ancient concept used to describe any outside agent that seeks to divide. In fact, if you parse out the syllables of the word, you get “de-mon,” and since “mon” means “one,” we can literally translate it as “undoing the one” or “destroying unity.”

The great figures of faith Scripture are more than familiar with these demonic agents. Jesus encounters tormented individuals who have divided personalities; Peter and the other apostles are called to witness to outsiders who have been divided from mainstream society; and Paul counsels churches facing difficult internal divisions. These stories remind us that the frustrating divisions we encounter in church and in the world are nothing new. We have been victimized by this “divide conquer” dis-ease since the beginning.

In my next post, I will share more about my experience with the church antagonist, and what I have learned about how to effectively neutralize these demonic forces that inhibit our ministries.

Life Is Like A Jigsaw Puzzle

I am currently in the midst of living out a six month severance package, which I am considering a sabbatical. During this time of rest and refocusing, I have taken up the hobby of doing jigsaw puzzles. It is so much more than a time killer. It is truly a spiritual discipline, teaching me the importance of patience and perseverance through difficulty and frustration. But more than that, I am gaining insights into how the Holy Spirit works in us to put together the puzzles of our human existence. 

The first step in a jigsaw puzzle is to complete the border. That is typically a simple task, taking no more than 30 minutes or so. The second step is much more difficult. It is to begin filling in the middle of the puzzle. Usually, I have several choices of where to begin the long, arduous process: A red barn, a bit of blue sky, a patch of green trees. Which will help me move along toward the goal the most efficiently? It is not always an easy decision, and it requires a leap of faith to simply pick a feature and begin working on it.

Once the first feature is completed, another must be chosen. This is even more difficult, and is where the spiritual lesson comes in. I have learned that is most efficient to pick two or three features to work on at a time once the puzzle is somewhat filled in. This gives me more options and more random matches as I sort through the hundreds of pieces.

In other words, it pays to focus at the same time I keep my options open, and to be flexible enough to change my focus when need be. What a brilliant spiritual insight for life!

With apologies to Forrest Gump, life is indeed like a jigsaw puzzle - much more so than like a box of chocolates. It’s not about making random choices and being happy with whatever you get. It’s about finding those tricky balances of focus and freedom as you push forward and try to make sense of all the different pieces.

Or to put it in other words: Intentional, but also adaptable. Deliberate, but also bold. Unrushed, but also not dawdling and wasting time.

Even when I’m on my “sabbataical,” I have limited time to spend on my own hobbies, and I do feel pressure to hurry up and get something accomplished as I patiently negotiate the long process. 

It really is a lot like life. In all the puzzles you face, may you find all the right balances and eventually find joy in a beautiful finished product!

Pop Quiz! 10 True-False Questions About Church Planting in the 21st Century

(This is a short quiz based on my experience as both a new church development pastor, and as the chair of a Presbytery committee that oversaw a number of new church planting efforts. Answers are at the end, below the picture. There is one "it depends" and one "half-true.")

1. Bigger is better. A new church should prioritize numerical growth above all else in its early stages.

2. Worship should be the central and defining practice for all new churches.

3. Sunday morning is no longer the best time for many churches to hold worship.

4. We “reach out” and meet new people in order to eventually “bring them in” to participate in worship and programs.

5. Most young people want a “rock band” or some sort of contemporary music in worship. Older people prefer traditional piano and organ music.

6. Hiring a young pastor is critical for bringing in young people.

7. Reaching financial stability within 3-5 years is an important goal.

8. Buying property and building a building is not necessarily the best way for a new church to establish itself.

9. The role of the church planter is to meet as many people as possible and encourage them to join the new church.

10. Goals and objective should be clearly outlined and measured, but also flexible and adaptable to new circumstances and insights.

Answers:

1. False. Many successful new churches are intentionally small, setting a goal to reach a certain amount of participants, and then to focus on a specific type of ministry or mission. Others seek to reach a certain size, and then send a group forth to start another new church community in a nearby location.

2. False. While this is still true in many contexts, many new churches will struggle to grow by focusing efforts around a single worship service. They might achieve better success by incorporating worship practices into other activities that will bring people together. 

3. True. Worship time is highly contextual in the post-Christian era. Many people are alienated from church participation because they work on Sunday mornings. Others choose social or recreational opportunities during that time slot. Since the overall culture no longer sets aside a weekly time for “church,” each congregation needs to find its own best times to gather - which may or may not be on Sunday.

4. False. We “reach out” in order to be a Christ-like presence in a hurting world, not to build up our own church institution. This doesn’t mean we won’t get to know people who might eventually come to our church, but it is not the central reason we go forth in mission. We go forth to love people, seek justice, and serve in our communities.

5. False. Young people are quite diverse in their church music preferences. Some actually prefer traditional hymns and choirs. The preference for a contemporary “rock band” is more of a Boomer trait than a Gen X or Millenial one. Each congregation will develop worship music based on the talents and interest within their own people, or to reach a demographic they feel called to reach. 

6. False. Any age pastor can lead a successful outreach to younger people. The key is not a youthful appearance, but rather that they understand the rapidly changing cultural realities and the need to be “out there” doing ministry instead of trying to simply attract people “in here.” I have seen retired pastors doing amazing part-time church planting work, simply because they “get it” and don’t try to replicate a 1960 church.

7. It depends. Different church plants have different funding models. Some are dependent on grants or denominational support that expire in 3-5 years. Others have more diverse and flexible funding sources, and can take 8-10 years to reach financial independence. There is no one-size fits all answer.

8. True. Again, context is key. Some churches will need a physical location and a building of some sort to fulfill its mission. Others will do better by renting space when needed and remaining more flexible and not tied to a mortgage and/or building maintenance costs.

9. Half true. New church planters do need to meet as many people as possible in order to understand their context and the vision for what a new church is called to do. However, people need to join the church if and only if they’re on board with the vision. If people are encouraged to join who do not share the vision for the church, division and conflict will ensue that can kill a young congregation.

10. True. It is necessary to have a vision, and goals that inform strategy and practices, but it is also good to make them very adaptable. New church planting always brings surprises and new learning, and sticking rigidly to an initial set of objectives and practices can inhibit the work of the Spirit.