Old Ideas and New Directions

 I’ve been in ministry now of some sort or another for over 20 years, lead pastor for about 13.  For many of those years, I’ve known the world was different than what I was prepared to deal with.  The majority of churches and pastors in the US seem to be well equipped to pastor churches in communities which are predominantly Christian, and have a positive view of both Jesus and His followers. 

 But what if this isn’t the case?  What if the world around us isn’t Christian?  What if their view of Jesus is largely negative because their perception of Jesus followers is, well, let’s say unenthusiastic?  What if the way we are doing church works for some, but not for many?  And what if that many is growing more and more each day? 

 This was a question I was struck with about 10 years ago, and have been struggling with since.  I know we are often told that churches should be hospitals for the sick, should be outposts for those seeking Jesus.  The problem is, this was often stated in such a way that we were supposed to be a place those who wanted Jesus could attend and find him.  This assumes something which just isn’t true: the sick, the sinner, will come.  Most people who don’t know Jesus want very little to do with traditional church.

 Now, throughout this journey I have made these claims, all the while stating that the traditional church is still a necessary part of the American life.  As long as there are people who will seek Christ through these venues, we need to make them available.  I don’t see that changing anytime in the next generation or two. 

 My growing concern, though, was that we were putting all of our energy, training, and resources to provide these types of environments, but very little effort into going out into the world where those who needed Jesus the most already were.  Sure, we were trying new ways of doing church, but the majority of these changes were minor in the larger scope of things.  Different music, more comfortable seating, screens with visuals, better preaching…you get it.  In other words, we were doing our best to create a better place for people to come.  Even when we did outreaches, the assumption was largely that outreach was only deemed successful if people who we reached out to eventually came to church.  I know, because as a pastor, I’ve heard the same questions over and over after getting out into the community: “Did you see anyone come to church from that?” 

 My point is not to say that these things were wrong, but more and more my concern is that this is our definition of church.  Even if we love the phrase, “Church is not a building, it’s people!”, there is still the assumption that those people meet at a building, which we conveniently call the church.  And when we invite people to church, it’s to that same building. 

 Now, back to my story.  This is nothing new to me.  But as I examined my own gifts and training, I made assumptions of my own.  God wanted me to continue to work with the traditional church to try to create spaces for people who felt the way I did to move out and do these things.  The problem is I was only making the problem worse, and was growing restless while doing it.  What was I supposed to do? 

 Well, I quit.  To be fair, there were many reasons I stepped away from my role as pastor of a traditional church.  But maybe, just maybe, God was using all of those things to push me into something new, something different.  Something I’ve been aching to be part of for a decade now.  Maybe I’m not supposed to support others doing something different, but instead partner with them and push out into a world that wants Jesus, but doesn’t know quite what that means or where to find what they’re hungering for. 

 I don’t know.  Maybe. 

 These days, I’m in an “in-between” place in my life.  I’m working in the real world these days, which is vastly different than what I’ve gotten used to.  And I’m reading, praying, having conversations.  And getting some direction.  It’s not all clear yet, and it’s making me nervous.  But that’s okay. 

 During this time, God continues to speak to me, to teach me things, to show me new ways of experiencing His Presence.  It’s been good.  In some ways, better than it’s been in many years.  In other ways, though, I’m getting restless.  And it is in this restlessness that I’m striving to find my rest in God. 

 More to come, I suppose.