I think this is the last post in this insanely long series on the issue of people saying, “I’m not getting fed at this church.” Last time I talked about how I think it’s the church’s role to equip people to feed themselves, and if we’re not doing that, I need to take some blame for a person in our church who isn’t being fed. However, if our church IS equipping people to feed themselves and a person still says, “I’m not getting fed,” – what would I say?
“Let me show you the door.”
Yes, I suggest that they find a different church. I don’t know about you, but I’ve reached a point where I suggest that they find a different church. That may not be the most compassionate or pastoral thing to do, but I’ve got a bunch of people who want to experience intimacy with God, and want to obey Him, and want to serve people and change the world, and I need to spend some time with them, not with a lazy baby who wants me to help them succeed in bible trivia.
I hope I don’t sound too self-righteous, but it’s kind of like Nehemiah, when people were complaining about what he was doing and asking him to give them time and he said, “‘I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?’ Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.” (Nehemiah 6:3-4)
I’m sure some people thought, “That’s not very Christ-like,” (yes, I know that there was no such thing as “Christ-like” back then) but Nehemiah was a man on a mission, and you weren’t on the mission you were off his radar.
Jesus told people that if they wanted to follow Him they had to carry a cross. We tell people that if they want to run with us, they have to feed themselves. Will that turn away some Christians? Definitely. Do we want to turn away Christians? Definitely.
I want to have a church full of two types of people: the lost, and missionaries to the lost. When someone goes to a foreign country to be a missionary, they aren’t going over there to get fed. They are going on a mission, and realize that they’ll have to feed themselves. If you’re gonna be a part of Forefront, you’re going on a mission and must realize that you’ll have to feed yourself. And if that ain’t you – don’t let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya.
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Wednesday, January 23, 2008
“Waaaaa. I’m Not Getting Fed” (Part 7)
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7 comments:
Hey Vince:
It takes a preacher with a pair to say what you said and I, for one, think it's the right thing. We've had to do this at our church with consumer Christians who wanted to be fed but didn't want to feed others (and for those of you who disagree, we did so with patience, compassion, pleading for repentance, and finally "tough love"). Like I've said in previous comments, they proved (in our case) to be divisive people with an agenda all their own, but not God's.
They may "throw stones" on the way out, they may tell other churches they go to how "unloving" you are, and it will cause you to question your process. But we're called to be faithful, not to "thumb sucking" Christians who should be feeding others but instead are concerned only with themselves, but to Jesus and his mission for the church.
Do the lost and the missionaries to the lost get equal face time at Forefront? Do you spend as much time equipping missionaries as catering to the lost? Is there a transitional period between the two? Are you one day lost and the next day a missionary to the lost?I know Andy Stanley at Northpoint talks about the foyer, living room, and kitchen meaning when people first come to your home they are in the foyer as they get to know you better they move to the living room and start getting more comfortable and intimate BUT once they move into the kitchen with you that's where the real intimacy and growth happen. Do you agree with moving people through steps like this to grow them and the church?
Hey Vince I've asked you a ton of questions on this series but basically get what type of people you are referring to and agree with you. It's been a great series and hopefully its got people thinking and talking more about how to do church. With that said I got one more. People are always talking abot cultural differences between the Bible and now and how we adapt somethings to fit our culture like slavery for instance. One of Forefronts core values you have listed is culturally relevant. Do you think possibly that spoon feeding Christians could be culturally relevant here in America where we are so broken in our daily lives and get all of our info spoon fed to us that maybe our church should do the same? After all there is an instance of Paul having to do it
1 Corinthians 3
On Divisions in the Church
1Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?
Maybe us lazy Americans are not ready for solid food and we need a Pastor to do the choo choo train? Again great series. Thanks for making me think! Looking forward to your answers tomorrow
Great job Vince.
One last thought in this great series and let me start by saying what I'm about to say is not bragging but for illustration purposes. God blessed me with a pretty healthy IQ and with that I was able to attend a school that helped me develop critical thinking and reasoning to my fullest. With this blessing came a curse and here's why. I was under an illusion for most of my life. I just thought most people were really stupid or just plain lazy and did not want to learn. My worldview was skewed by the way I was wired. I was different but thought I was the norm and everyone else was just stupid. One day someone finally pointed out to me that I may be looking at things in reverse and maybe I should show a bit more grace to those that things don't come so easy for. I should realize that not all have the capabilities that I do. With that said maybe self feeders should take a longer look at the person who says waaa I'm not being fed. Maybe they really aren't wired to do it. Did the guys in Mark 2 tell their paralyzed friend that he was just being lazy and that he really could walk since all of them could. No they didn't assume since they had an ability that their friend shared it. Maybe we to should stop assuming that people are just being lazy and take their possible criticism as a plea that is really saying hey I can't walk to get to Jesus can you help me get there. We are a body and should use our giftings to help one another. The feet don't walk in front of and away from the body because they can but rather they walk under the body to carry the rest of it
Vince I have to say that you are right on the money with this series. I've told all my friends on my blog that they need to read your posts. Someone has been needing to say this...and I'm glad you did. Keep it up.
i like the way you think and the grace you're showing in your comment... it's good food for thought (i'm being serious, though i'm also trying to play on words)
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