Many folks have asked me what I think we, as a church, need to do to prepare ourselves for our new pastor. What will we look like; what will we be doing when we are ready to call a new pastor? The only way I can answer that question is to tell you the kind of church I would love to be called to serve as Senior Pastor. Allow me to describe that church.
That church would be made up of committed Christians. By that I mean people who have committed their lives to Christ and fully expect that commitment to dynamically impact every facet of their lives. Christianity is not an activity they do; it is the way they live. Church is not a club they have joined; it is the family they live in. Being Christian speaks to them about who they marry, how they treat their spouse, how they raise their children, where they work, how they use their money, resources and time.
Primarily, it is a church that is outwardly focused. This church would believe my often made observation that "the church exists for those who have not yet come." That concept makes sense to them. Instead of being a maintenance church that is primarily concerned with maintaining the membership (Is everybody happy?), maintaining the building (The main topic of conversation at most board meeting.) and maintaining the ministries and programs (We need to recruit some new choir members.), it is most concerned with reaching out into the community to connect with people who don't yet know Christ in order to help those folks become Christ-followers. Instead of being maintenance centered we become missional. Instead of being self-centered, we become other-centered.
My dream church would be made up mainly of Biblical believers. By that I mean people who believe that God is real and present and active and relevant and the Bible is to be understood as stories, songs history and poems that exist to help us understand and connect with God. It is to be taken seriously and not bent and twisted to fit and say what I choose to believe. (Both fundamental conservatives and fundamental liberals – what many mainline denominational people have become – do this.) I would love to work with people who are unwilling to manipulate their concept of God to fit what they choose to do and believe. I want to work with a group of people who refuse to set themselves up as the ultimate source of and authority on right and wrong.
The leaders of this church would be totally consumed with following God. The calling of God and the vision God has given the church would dominate every decision they make. Personal preferences and agendas would be set aside in favor of doing only things that would facilitate accomplishing the mission, vision and ministry God has called us to fulfill.
Money would not be a problem. Every church member would realize that all they have and all they are is a gift from God. In response to God's amazing love and grace a vast majority of the church members would joyfully tithe. The balance of the members would give a tithe plus generous offerings. In this church, giving would not be a seen as a financial decision or a tool to be wielded to exercise influence, but, instead, be understood to be a spiritual decision. If money did become in short supply, the approach, instead of cutting ministry, would be to seek ways to increase giving.
Every member of the church would be a spiritually growing disciple. Part of this growth would be accomplished through a time of daily spiritual disciples such as a quiet time of Bible study and prayer and consistent times of silence, meditation and solitude. Growth would also be facilitated through being an active participant in a weekly, healthy small group. By healthy, I mean that each small group would consistently participate in worship, fellowship, discipleship, evangelism and outreach. Each family would take seriously the calling of being the primary source of spiritual growth for their children.
The "Priesthood of all Believers" would be believed and practiced. Every member would be actively involved in a meaningful ministry. Instead of being competing individual entities, each ministry would be seen as a part of the whole as we work together to impact our community for Christ.
Worship would be joyful, participatory, encouraging and powerful. At each gathering for worship there would be an excited expectation that almighty God, the creator of the universe, the Kings of Kings and Lord of Lords, is going to show up and amazing things are going to happen. There is an anticipation that the lame will walk, the blind will see, the lost will find God, and the captive will be set free.
As I think of this amazing church I want to be a part of, I can't help but think of a Christian band that came to minister with our youth ministry in the early 1970's – The Simple Truth. They sang a song that could apply to me. The song said, "If you ever find that perfect church, without a spot or smear. Please, oh, please, don't join that church. You'll ruin the atmosphere." Humm?
Copyright © 2012, William T. McConnell, All Rights Reserved
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