Who Do You Associate With?

In my decade and a half in education, I attended many conferences and conventions, with the vast majority being music and band focused (logical, as I was serving as a band director at the time).  I am fairly certain that most of my friends still in that field would agree that there is value in conferences, but also you have to filter through and make decisions about what to attend and what not to attend. Indeed, if offered a conference that pushed an educational or music agenda known to be seriously flawed or even harmful to our students, a discerning educator would avoid that conference.

In the realm of church work, conferences have become a multi-million dollar business.  One can find "Christian" conferences on every angle and aspect of church work, methods, growth, and theology. These conferences are put on by denominational entities, publishers, ministry-related businesses, and many other groups. And just like in every other field, there are solid, biblical conferences, as well as those that push and stretch the definition of "Christian" to extremes. I have attended a few, and have a few ministry friends who love attending conferences. Yet a troubling trend is developing that begs for a whole lot more discernment from Christian leaders, especially those who take groups of youth (or adults) to many of these conferences. Discernment that begins, not with snazzy titles or catch phrases. Discernment that goes beyond glossy, high-energy promotional materials. We need a healthy dose of discernment regarding the reality of what is being taught or even promoted by said conferences.

Might I suggest beginning with a sincere look at who the promoters and organizers of said event are. Do they follow a biblically sound statement of faith and purpose? Is the event a profit-driven production? What is the core message (not the advertising catch phrase)?

As a pastor, I am constantly bombarded with advertising through every medium for conferences that cover every corner of ministry, and from many doctrinal and theological perspective. Sadly, many have underlying them, some troubling foundations.  First, who are the speakers? An extremely popular conference going on this weekend that several friends are attending called the Passion Conference.0, proudly features a Charismatic self-described woman preacher who espouses Word of Faith, name-it-claim-it theology (Christine Caine). Other popular conferences of late have featured similar slates of speakers from experiential, charismatic speakers with similar questionable doctrines mixed in with other, more reliable speakers. Many of our Christian leaders gladly take group ® young believers to these conferences, where they sometimes are taught that experience trumps genuine faith and obedience. Where consumerist church is demonstrated, and pragmatic/experience-based revelation is often more valuable than the Word of God, rightly proclaimed.

Don't get me wrong, we could learn a few things from some ministries that may be somewhat different than our own.  Ed Stetzer and Thom Rainer published a book a few years ago titled Transformational Church.  In that book, the authors did research-based investigation of somnolence fastest growing congregations in the nation, examining the useful parts of what those groups were doing to impact their communities. They did not deal with denominational or doctrinal issues, but instead sought the functional things these congregations and leaders were doing that really made a difference. This book has a great deal of useful information, without a heavy promotion of the various theologies espoused by those studied.

But when one attends a conference, the speakers are under no constraints. How many churches our own association would invite a Charismatic, oneness Pentecostal, Word-Of-Faith preacher to be a guest preacher or to lead revival services? Yet would we will load up a bus and take impressionable young believers to be influenced by the same teaching?

At best, we present a form of stumbling block of confusion to our brethren. Much worse, we may actually be endorsing theologies and doctrines that fly in the face of Biblical Christianity.

Discernment...not just another big word in the a bible, but a command to believers, and particularly to Christisn leaders in the church, for the sake of the faith and our brethren.

Defeated

Noun	1.	defeated - people who are defeated; "the Romans had no pity for the defeated"
Adj.	1.	defeated - beaten or overcome; not victorious; "the defeated enemy"
	2.	defeated - disappointingly unsuccessful; "disappointed expectations and thwarted ambitions"

It doesn't take much listening to preachers of today to hear said time and again we are to live "victorious" lives. The bit of truth to that concept is that we, through Christ, are given the victory over bondage to sin and to death. And we are to live lives that reflect that victory (another illustration of the light we are not to cover with a bushel basket).

But sadly, life is filled with defeats - As the definition above from Farlex's Free Dictionary reminds us - the term "defeated" can be both a noun and an adjective. It can also be an emotion.

I can honestly say that I have very rarely doubted, and never seriously doubted, my call to ministry. I can say without fear of contradiction that I have longed for another calling.  Why? mostly because of the emotion (and sometimes literal) defeat I have felt. Some is the result of what I can label as nothing less than pride, while at other times, the defeated feelings have come when, despite my best effort, most sincere prayers, and best of intentions, I have failed (at least in my own eyes).

How many people have I shared, or tried to share, the Gospel of Jesus Christ with, who have continued on without any sign of trusting the message? While I realize it is not Michael they are rejecting, but Jesus Christ - it is hard to hold on to that when the experience is so regular.

Or when I feel defeated because I find that I have not been dealt with honestly.

Or when I realize that I have genuinely failed - as a pastor, husband, or father (even if in but a relatively small way).

I feel defeated when I allow doubts to creep in.

I feel defeated when I allow emotions to overrule faith and what I know to be true.

I feel defeated when I believe I have "done it right, but see no results".

Is it unreasonable to feel defeated as a pastor, when you see little or no growth in the ministry? Is it unfair to characterize myself as having failed when the church I am serving in finds itself approaching the uncomfortable position of not being able to pay my salary?

Have I not defeated myself when I have led my family to rely upon a certain income level, to not be set up for family defeat with the prospects of a major salary cut and the need to find secular employment (I have absolutely nothing against bi-vocational ministry, but I also recognize the costs and special challenges involved - the subject of a whole other discussion to soon follow).

Is it wrong to feel defeated when it seems you are spinning your proverbial wheels, but getting little traction?

Is it improper to feel defeated when members your own flock are afraid or unwilling to share their issues with you, preferring to remain silent and allowing interpersonal troubles with others to fester and grow?

Is it out of line to feel defeat when you pour your heart and soul into trying to help, guide, and direct people to make better decisions - God-glorifying decisions, only to see them repeatedly reject or throw away those efforts?

Satan loves for the followers of Christ to feel defeated. In part because he knows that we are not ultimately and eternally defeated - so his only means of discouraging us, of derailing our ministry (whether vocational ministry or layman ministry) is by pushing us to live defeated lives.

The sad truth is - it is easy in the building up of my own little pity-party of defeat, that the joy of salvation grows dim. Its at times like this that I just have to cling to such passages as what King David wrote in Psalm 51:9-12

Hide your face from my sins,

and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from your presence,

and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

and uphold me with a willing spirit...

Or - as set to music by Mac Powell:

To my readers - I ask for your prayers as my family must address the realities set before us and seek God's plan and provision. I pray for peace and for the restoration of my heart and soul. I pray for genuine progress in ministry. I pray for clarity, vision, and strength. 

Church Web Site? How Can We Be Found?

OK.

Without a doubt, a web site can be a valuable tool for a local church, particularly a young church that hasn't had a great deal of exposure and publicity.  Add to a web site, the use of social media (Twitter, Facebook, Google+, etc.) can really help get a church "out there" to be found by those looking.  Indeed, I have a friend, Brandon Cox who is leading a church plan in North West Arkansas, that had its beginning through social networking!  When that church plant (Grace Hills Church) launched, they already had a core commitment and a large number interested - and they have grown consistently since!

So about 8 months ago, I was able to get a web site up for the church I pastor here in Clinton, Arkansas: Clinton Missionary Baptist Church.  Within a few weeks, a search in a major search engine for "Baptist Church Clinton Arkansas" would show ClintonMBC.com as a first-page result!  I was happy.  I though I had figured out how to get a web site notice!

Fast-forward to today.  As I was making a few adjustments, out of curiosity, I used a few different search engines to search by those same terms.  Clinton Missionary Baptist Church only shows up via the Facebook page - and even then, well down the list!  Apparently, as the page has expanded with content, the page has actually fallen down the results list.  Even searching for "Missionary Baptist Church Clinton Arkansas" results in a somewhat disappointing return.

So - the question becomes - other than paying for advertising, how what else can I do to get search results that are more productive?  I know that being linked to from other web sites can help.  What else might help out?  Inquiring minds want to know!

What Do I Mean By "Lonely"?

I have been asked about the title of this blog - "what do you mean by "lonely"?  Let me clarify, lest someone get hung up in the wrong "perception"...

I have a loving wife in Diana who indeed fulfills the example of "an help-mate" as God created wives to be.  I have two absolutely awesome daughters that mean the world to me in Anna and Selah that give me great joy.  I have a family spread out in all directions that I love and respect, as well as a circle of friends both in and out of the ministry who support me, pray for me, and lift me up.

But most importantly, I have a Savior who died to set me free from sin.  Who paid my debt in full through His precious blood, and who has indeed sent the Great Comforter, the Holy Spirit - who dwells in me, and who is with me always.  This is MY Savior, who promised to never leave me or forsake me - so I totally understand that I am never ever TRULY alone!

But in this world of ministry, especially when serving as the only pastor/staff, of a small and spread out congregation, separated by miles from the nearest other pastor who can grasp the specific context I minister in.

Some have described pastoring as standing as an "island in the sea".  It has taken me quite some time to begin to wrap my mind around that illustration.  Another way of describing it - think about your own local church.  Everyone has a pastor... except for one person:  the pastor.

Not a day goes by that the Lord skips showing me His goodness and grace.  Indeed, not a day goes by that I am short of things to be thankful for.

And while I have never been asked to suffer as the Apostle Paul suffered for the sake of the Gospel, I do understand day-by-day at least in a small part, just how difficult and how "lonely" ministry can be.

But I also have the confidence and the surety that I am exactly where the LORD wants me, doing exactly what HE wants me too!  And for that, I wouldn't trade a thing!

Mountains and Valleys - the ups and downs of ministry...

Few people outside the world of church ministry have a grasp of the daily mountains and valleys the pastor or other ministry leader experiences.  On the other hand, I suspect that some ministers do not see as many mountains as others, simply because they allow the valleys to weigh them down in a way that causes them to miss the opportunity to experience those mountains.

And stepping beyond the daily ups and owns, are the weekly blessings and discouragements, the monthly trials and joys, and so on.  It is my prayer that this entry will at least give a peek into the mountains and valleys of ministry.

The Valleys

Serving the Lord, carrying the greatest News every given to mankind to each and every person you encounter - what greater blessing could there be?  The reality is, while the greatest blessing is carrying that blessed news, Jesus Himself warned that His followers would be hated for His name's sake.  He also warned that Satan would be prowling around seeking those he can devour.  While those who are truly born-again are save in Christ's hands, that doesn't mean Satan won't try to devour our joy - indeed, he absolutely loves to cause doubt, pain, and trouble to do that very thing.  There are many examples that I call "The Valleys".

One such example is my own fear of tripping or falling.  Some people view ministers as "special" folks - and while I appreciate the sentiment, I would like to make it clear that we are subject to the same kinds of temptations and testing that all mankind face.  Further, when you add in the pressure of trying to live up to the biblical description or qualifications of the pastor (bishop, elder, overseer - depending on translation) found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7,  you have a unique situation, especially when you take into consideration the opinions of others.  Not being a drunkard is easy, particularly if you don't drink at all.  But what about being "sober-minded"?  Do we interpret that as "thinking clearly"?   What about not being "quarrelsome"?  Does that mean you will not debate or speak up for what is right by God's Word?  Of course not - yet that is how this is sometimes interpreted.  He must "manage his own household well", so when you kids misbehave, or a spouse makes a mistake - does that suddenly make the pastor unworthy?  I could go on, but I believe the point is made.

And my greatest fear of all, while it should not be a concern if I am truly listening to and abiding with the Lord, but it is a healthy fear, I believe - that of speaking something that isn't accurate.  The very last thing I desire is to lead someone astray, presenting a false message from God.  This rates right up there with giving someone a false sense of security - telling them they are "saved" when they haven't truly repented of their sin, and trusted wholly in the completed work of Christ.  This latter is most dangerous among children, yet has become a trait of many preachers of the day.

And then you have the challenges that come when working with people, and this being no more evident than in the local church.  Every church, whether it has been organized for decades, or for months, has a mix of people who have a varying level of Christian maturity.  Add to it the natural proclivity of some people to be, shall we say "unreliable", and the work of ministry becomes a real challenge, especially in the context of a small church body.  I firmly believe that, with real Christian growth, comes faithfulness both to the local church and towards others.  Jesus said (recorded in Matthew 5:33-37)  to not commit yourself unless you are willing to follow through (let your yes be yes, your no be no).  The apostle Paul wrote in Colossians 3:23-24 to do all you do (work, commitments, obligations, etc.) as if you were doing them directly for the Lord.

This carries over to what many pastors face - and I believe it is also directly related to spiritual maturity (or lack thereof) - and that is the double-minded church member.  This is the person who will praise you and pat you on the back to your face, but stab you in the back when you turn to walk away.  They cover you with platitudes to your face, but pour out venom about you to others when you are not present.  While ministers shouldn't allow the attitudes of such people to hurt them, it is very difficult to ignore.  What becomes even more painful is that in some church bodies, other supposedly mature members put up with it and say nothing.

This goes hand-in-hand with the eternal (often joked about) question of church attendance.  In a realm often measured by numbers, when a preacher prepares, prays, studies, writes, and opens his heart to the Lord's message each week, only to find low attendance on Sunday, it gets discouraging.  It probably shouldn't, since the Lord knew who would come and who wouldn't.  Yet the flesh is week - and the heart pierced through.  It again brings on questions of faithfulness.

For the pastor, there is also the pressure of finances, both personal and church.  From the personal side, a pastor desires to supply his family's needs, and to live fairly comfortably (without a great deal of stress about how to pay his expenses), while also wants to set a faithful example for the members of the congregation he serves.  He desires to be a good steward of what God blesses him with, yet often finds such balance difficult to achieve.  Pastors face the exact same financial pressures as everyone else.  Add to the mix, the delicate balance of juggling the IRS regulations on income and state tax questions which come with the unique taxpayer status of the minister.  Most people do not realize that pastors are considered BOTH self-employed and employed by the IRS.  Pastors are responsible for paying the full self-employment tax (not just the half that regular employees pay), plus stringent documentation requirements for any allowances (including the pastor's housing allowance) that might be provided.  I can fully admit I have lost many nights of sleep in my relatively short time in full-time ministry, concerned that I have all my "ducks" in a row.  Then, the finances of the church, which often can be precarious.  You deal with a mix of views on giving (or tithing), an economic climate that might be struggling, and you get the added stress of trying to orchestrate financial security for the local church.

Family - one of the greatest blessings a man can have, his family, can also be one of the biggest challenges - not only in the 1 Timothy "manage" sense of the word, but also in the sometimes very limited time to spend with his family.  This is something that I have tried to make a top priority, yet still sometimes the work of ministry can get in the way of my family.  But this is one of the prices to pay.

All work and no play...  a common enough phrase that is intended to put a picture to the danger of being consumed with your work.  Yet for the Pastor, his work IS his life.  It is a life dedicated to the Lord's purposes.  I'm afraid we pastors sometimes allow our work to become everything - not only at the expense of our family, but to our own sanity.  Add to the picture what one of my seminary professors labeled "joy suckers" - those who so burden you, so consume (demand) your time, and constantly bombard you with their own worries and concerns, that they literally suck the joy right out of you, and a pastor can easily become that "all work, no play" figure, slowly losing it, with family and other "higher" duties suffering for it.  Again, a very difficult balance to maintain, but oh so important.

Expectations - when a pastor arrives on the field, often his success (or failure) is based on numbers.  Because it is difficult to measure SPIRITUAL growth, it is quite easy to measure numerical growth.  It is a simple matter to tabulate how many professions of faith, how many baptisms, how many have joined the church, just as it is easy to count those who disappear out the revolving door on the back side.  The "numbers game" has done as much damage to the Gospel as nearly any other assault on the Good News.  How many have adopted an "easy-believism" gospel to bolster the professions/baptism numbers?  For those that do not know what that term means, easy-believism is where you essentially ask - "do you believe in God?  Do you want to go to heaven?  Then ask Jesus into your heart...  have you done that?  Then welcome to the "family of God" - you are saved and sealed forever....".  It completely ignores the clear biblical imperative that one must be called by the Sprit,  you must repent (literally a change of heart way from sin),  and a belief that is far more than simply "head knowledge".  This false gospel ignores the imperative that there be visible change in a person - in their actions, in their character that demonstrate the internal change brought by the Lord and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.    This, I believe is one of the leading causes of that church "revolving door" - people who have made professions based on this flawed version of the Gospel, who do not grow spiritually, and thus eventually wander away.

One of the most difficult valleys is being a part of the end of life for someone.  Prior to surrendering to the ministry, I had never been present when someone passed away.  Since entering the ministry, I have been present for quite a few.  The emotion can be overwhelming - yet this valley can also be a blessing, especially when you have confidence that the person leaving this earth has left to be with the Lord.  The second blessing from it is the honor of being in a position to try to help those grieving the loss.

I could go on for page after page reflecting on the dark valleys and frustrations, but it is time to turn to the Mountains - the joys and great blessings that truly help to remind the minister that God is in control:

The Mountains:

I would be committing an injustice if I left this post with nothing more than the frustrations.  To do so would be little more than a self-imposed pity party.  To be honest, the Mountains - the "ups" of ministry truly are incredible.

In contrast to the unfaithful and the double-minded, in a congregation, you generally also find those who are very faithful, and who do love and support you.  They would consider any back-stabbing to be offensive, and are going to do what they can to help you succeed in ministry.  These are the Barnabas-types.  Those who, whether spiritually mature or not, work hard, contribute generously both of their time and their resources, and who have placed Christ first in their lives.  These people remind me of what we all are CALLED to be like.  Certainly these types of people trip sometimes.  Yet they rebound because of Christ who live within them.  Their lives are a genuine Christian witness.  These people are pillars helping to support the pastor.

Another great "up" of the ministry is joy that comes when you are blessed to lead someone to genuine  faith in Jesus Christ.  The accompanying joy is being able to invest yourself in those people (discipleship).  Yes, this opens you up to being hurt when someone isn't as faithful or as committed as they should be, but overall - the experience is usually a great blessing.

A related mountain would be seeing the proverbial "light bulb" go on in a person.  This is the same joy that I received as a teacher and band director - when students actually "get it".  In the context of the local church and Gospel ministry, it is when someone actually grasps, understands, and then applies it in their life.  There are few of the blessings of ministry as powerful as seeing lives actually changed by God's Word.

Yet another incredible "up" is being able to look back at those times when you didn't really see a lot of positive going on, yet the look back reveals some incredible blessings - an impact that you just couldn't see at the time.  Often this comes in the form of pieces you put into place, or some concepts you introduced (maybe to resistance) that have taken root and produced fruit.

Another exciting experience in ministry is the blessing of introducing new areas or opportunities to minister to others.  Whether it is leading your people to participate in community events, or simply helping them to see where they can minister to others based on their own skills, experiences, and gifts.  After all, we are called together as a local church, in part, to minister to each other.  When I can encourage others.  Further, when you help someone to build the confidence to share their faith - and they have the honor of leading someone to Christ - it is a blessing to all involved.

But one of the greatest joys of ministry - one that many never really understand - is that my "job" revolves around God's Word.  I get distinct honor of studying, praying, studying, praying, and expounding on God's Word as the core of my life.  In the process, so many "messages" flow that the congregation will never hear - because God was speaking to me - for me.  My time with the Lord is such a huge and sustaining blessing.  I cannot imagine life without it!

In fact, if not for the Holy Spirit's regular ministry TO me, if not for the power of God's Word every time I open the pages and read, if not for the faithful people who lift me up, and if not for the joy of seeing fruits produced from time-to-time, ministry would be impossible.

When I sometimes feel like throwing myself a pity party, I go back and read the adventures that the apostle Paul endured as he Contended for Christ.  Nothing I have faced or likely will face, can ever come close to the trials and massive valleys that he endures.  Yet what can we learn from Paul's experience?  That God will use the willing, even in the dark times, for his glory.  If we as ministers have to face some pain, trials, and even persecution that God might be glorified (and that souls might be saved), then it is so worth it.