(Second Edition)
The author has been in the ministry for over twenty-six years, having served as a missionary in three different countries, a Bible School teacher and director, a senior and staff pastor in education, missions, youth, administrative and many other capacities, and
now serves "River of Life," a translocal equipping ministry in the Chicago suburbs. He also serves as a Global Training Consultant with Evangelical Training Association of Wheaton, Illinois, in the equipping of pastors, teachers and leaders in the areas of leadership training, discipleship training, and Christian Education. More information about other training seminars and materials, in both English and Spanish, can be obtained by calling him at 630-739-2835 or sending e-mail to MSimp53@mediaone.net.
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THIS IS DEDICATED TO: those pastors, educators, administrators and Christian leaders who are praying, studying their Bibles, soul-winning, laboring faithfully in preaching and teaching, are loving and compassionate, want the best for their churches, and are experiencing frustration in their soul-gathering and discipling efforts. They are tired of hearing of all that THEY have to do to provide a contemporary and attractive ministry, and are wondering what THE PEOPLE'S responsibility is. May God RICHLY bless you all!
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Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. Minds that are "bent out of shape"
III. Spiritual Cancers, and their symptoms
IV. People who SAY they are saved
V. Other Spiritual "Ailments"
- The Ministry Merchandiser, and the Business Contact
- Sensual Song Syndrome Sufferer
- Unruly Gossip
- Petty Person
- Worship Quencher
- Self-Shepherd
- Universalist
- Non-Confrontationalist
- The "Turnkey" Family
VI The "Heifer" Syndrome
VII The "Herod" Syndrome
VIII Conclusion
INTRODUCTION
Why is it that some professing Christians don't fit in at any church? Why are there so many "evangelical wanderers" that cause pastors and church leaders distress and anxiety, accompanied by fervent and often unsuccessful attempts to get them in the fold? They visit our services, say "I like this place! I'll be back!" and are never heard from again.
I often hear this comment, when new prospects come in the doors of our church or call us on the phone, "We are trying to make sure that we find the right church for us, and that this is the right place for me or my family. Does your church have __________?" The blank can be filled in many ways, either the "right" Sunday School, perfectly compatible doctrine with a suitable "faith message", the "ideal" worship service for them, etc.
People are out there looking for the right church, that's for sure. In the coming year, according to H. B. London of "Focus on the Family," fifteen million Americans alone will change churches. They will do so after an average of eight weeks in a church. In the Chicago suburbs, we have heard of some visiting twenty congregations or more, playing "Steeple-Chase", looking for just the right "mix" for them in their particular situation.
First, let me affirm the importance of finding a good church home. No sincere Christian leader would discourage you from such a worthy quest. Second, new visitors are welcome at the church I attend. I would not attend anywhere that did not do so. The pastoral care team tries its best to find ways to "mesh" and assimilate them effectively into this local fellowship.
Third, let me as a pastor ask a question that maybe you and lots of others never thought of: WHAT IF A PERSON DOESN'T CURRENTLY FIT IN ANY CHURCH?
I will now examine some scriptural and common-sense reasons why there just might be people out there who don't, in their current spiritual condition, fit properly into any church. I would also take the risk of saying that there are more of these than we'd like to believe. For example, recent studies by the Barna Institute have concluded that there are multitudes of men sitting in evangelical churches that have been there ten years or more, and are still not born again.
Our current culture lends itself to the production of many of the conditions you are about to read below, conditions that must be healed in people before they can adjust properly to any local church including yours.
INTRODUCTORY VERSES (some may be difficult, but need to be meditated on)
"And he did right in the sight of the Lord . . . but the people continued acting corruptly." (II Chron. 27:2)
"I will feed My flock, and I will lead them to rest, says the Lord God. I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken, and strengthen the sick."
"But the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with judgement." (Ezek. 34:15)
"I shall bring you into the bond of the covenant, and I shall purge from you the rebels." (Ezek. 20:37-38)
"I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother, if he should be an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with such a one." (I Cor. 5:11)
"The presence of the Lord has scattered them; He will not continue to regard them. They did not honor the priests, they did not favor the elders." (Lam. 4:16)
"This is the way of those who are foolish . . . as sheep, . . . death shall be their shepherd." (Ps. 49:13-14)
"You will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him." (Mal 3:18)
Minds That Are Bent Out Of Shape
While ministering in Asia during November 1993, a dear pastor from Long Island named David Knapp shared with me five types of "bent" minds that are found to be incompatible with the Spirit and Church of Christ.
They are:
the CARNAL mind (Rom. 8:5-7) Focused on self
the CHILDISH mind (I Cor. 13:11) Enough said here
the TRADITIONAL mind (Matt. 16:21-23) Our plans first!
the HAUGHTY mind (Rom. 12:3, 16) Greek word is "Huper-
phroneo", literally hyper-mind!
Better than others, excessive
esteem over them, vain, arrogant
the NAUGHTY mind (Phil. 3:19) Appear pious but incline
toward the base, impure, off-color
IMPORTANT POINT TO PONDER:
THIS IS NOT BEING WRITTEN REGARDING THE LOST: it does not apply to them because we could never expect them to conquer these "mindsets" and other problems without God's help by His regenerating Holy Spirit.
We must love the lost when they come in our doors, love them as they are, and love them into the Kingdom, expecting that they often will be (naturally) unloveable. Rather, THIS IS BEING WRITTEN TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE THEY ARE SAVED.
Spiritual Cancers, and Their Symptoms
"God blesses us, that all the ends of the earth might reverence Him." Thus says Psalm 67:7. This shows us that a major reason for God's blessings is the spreading of the Good News around the world. Of course, we are to tell when He has blessed us.
How many, however, have come to demand so much from their Christian fellowship that they have lost their relationship to the ends of the earth? How many have drifted from "koinonia" (Greek word for legitimate fellowship) into the spiritual disease that one preacher has titled "koinonitis"? Another term for such people is "Spiritual Groupies", who love the church crowd and enjoy hanging out with them but who have never won a single soul to Jesus Christ.
Here are some signs that a person is becoming selfish in fellowship and may even become dangerous to the health of the Body.
Paul uses the phrase "whose word eats like a canker" (II Tim. 2:17 KJV), and the word "canker" actually means a cancer. What is a cancer? It is an overdeveloped cell. Whereas normal cells send important nutrients to each other and maintain one another, a cancerous cell merely consumes the energies of the cells around it without contributing anything.
This type of cell is not just selfish but dangerous! It literally sucks up the life of those cells around it, growing off of them until it has destroyed the whole. It demands rather than giving; it manipulates rather than ministering.
TENDONITIS AND DISLOCATED LIMBS
Here are two other examples of problems in the physical body and also in the Body of Christ: tendonitis, and dislocation. Tendonitis is a disease that afflicts muscles and tendons, causing them to become inflexible. Muscles around them are working, but they in the meantime swell up and cause pain. They don't cooperate with other muscles and cause great misery.
Paul tells us in Galatians 6:1-2 to attempt to restore the fallen, and lots of good churches have faithfully practiced the verse quoted above from Ezekiel 34. There is even computer software to help churches "track" those who have been missing. As a pastor, I have come close to "nagging" in my attempts to reach the absent. (One problem is that the average American believer today misses fourteen Sundays per year. Absenteeism is at an all-time high.)
The word "restore" in the Greek speaks to the resetting of a dislocated limb. A dislocated arm receives blood from the heart and nourishment from the digestive system, but it contributes no work to the rest of the body. It cannot; it is dislocated. Cancers, muscles with tendonitis, dislocated limbs: here are three natural ailments that have their complements in the spiritual, in the Church.
WHAT ARE SOME EVIDENCES OF SUCH A "DISEASED" MEMBER IN THE BODY?
1. It says, "I enjoy Christian fellowship but am here to see what I can gain. A good sermon, good worship, financial help in trouble, a man to pray the prayer of faith when I'm sick . . . my needs are the most important and I'll be here just as long as they are being taken care of."
2. It demands much, especially from the leadership ("After all, my tithes help pay his salary; I have a right to demand!"), and is always commenting about how so-and-so wasn't there when it is hurting. But it can seldom if ever be mobilized to do anything for the church and is always a step away from leaving. People never know when it may become offended again and make another threat. Pastors must tread lightly!!
3. It refuses direct words from the Lord through the preaching, using the religious smokescreen "That doesn't bear witness to my spirit yet" or "I'll have to pray about that before I consider obeying". Direct Biblical messages have no influence upon it; in fact, frequently the complaint is uttered about the lack of "inspiring preaching" from the pastor.
Meanwhile, at the same time, countless practical instructions in the teaching go largely ignored. "Where is the DEEP teaching?" is the cry.
4. Since God only gives continued visitations of His Spirit to those who obey Him (Acts 5:32), this member operates without the Spirit and is actually accustomed to doing so. Jude 19 uses the term "devoid of the Spirit." Others will flow in worship and service; this being a strange thing to such a member, it will accuse useful servants of trying to earn God's favor through works. Of such a one, God says, "YOU DO NOT ENTER AND YOU PREVENT OTHERS FROM DOING SO AS WELL." (Matt. 23:13)
5. For such a cancerous member, contributions like personal evangelism and inviting others are impossible and should not be expected. Attendance at prayer or work days cannot be expected either. Any small service--even a dollar in the offering!--should be considered a great favor from such a one.
6. This member flatly disagrees with the judgment of Genesis 6:3-5, denying the doctrine of total moral depravity apart from Christ. A favorite saying, when seeing moral failure in others, is, "Why, I never did those things even before I was saved!" This member will agree to assistance but never surrender. It perceives its need as being so small, thus its love for God and others is equally small.
The fallen woman, the unemployed, the shabby, those with a clouded past--all are avoided by this member as he skirts around "contamination" like the best Pharisee.
7. Its tendency is negativism, even while eating and drinking from the positive influences of others around it. It feeds on the negative, and nothing is ever well; it sees a rose through world-colored glasses.
8. It comes looking to receive ministry rather than give. Example: a new visitor, a Christian, says, "I'm looking for a divorce support group." The pastor replies, "We're pretty small and we don't have one yet. Maybe God sent you here to help start one." "Oh no - - I can't do that!" On they go. They want a big church but forgot that big churches were small one day. Churches become big because new visitors volunteer and make a difference. Some visitors, however, want everything in place immediately.
9. It is a connoisseur of services. "I don't like David C. Cook Sunday School. If I can't have Gospel Publishing House materials, I won't stay." "I want an evangelistic altar call every Sunday." "I don't want my kids in the adult worship; if you don't get a childrens church going now, I'm gone." "The pastor doesn't lay hands on the sick." "The pastor does lay hands on the sick." "The pastor makes me sick." "Services? Too long!" "Music? Too loud!" "No--not loud enough!" "Too charismatic!" "No--not pentecostal enough!" "I couldn't hear anything!" "The Bible study had too much lecture and not enough sharing." "The study had too much talk and not enough teaching." "Chairs too hard." "Not enough chicken at the potluck." On the list could go: get the point?
If a pastor and his leaders decide to let each comment dictate their direction, they will wind up in depression and burn-out.
God is not nearly as hard to live with as these connoisseurs, and we are called to serve and please Him first. This is why, if we are working faithfully to put the proper spiritual and social resources in our church, we can rest in Him and let Him add who He calls.
Pastor or Christian leader, if you are working your best to provide the spiritual, social, intellectual and emotional needs of your people, through prayer, the Word, fellowship and worship, you can rest in Him and trust Him. I heard of one church that cried out with sincerity, "Lord, we just want those YOU want for us!" Right after that prayer the church decreased by 50%.
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A MAJOR ROOT PROBLEM HERE IS LACK OF HUNGER. I mentioned above that these people tend to manifest a certain outward hunger for a good sermon, but it is an "ear-tickling" hunger (II Tim. 4:3) rather than the intense spiritual craving that Jesus spoke of when He pronounced a blessing on those who hunger and thirst after righteousness. These folks are often disinterested and distracted already. Now they have come to you and you have become the inheritor of their condition.
This lack of hunger is accompanied by, and results in, blindness. "You say, `I have need of nothing,' and you do not know that you are blind." (Rev. 3:17)
I have seen a multitude of these in the western world. Materialism has sapped many of spiritual hunger, making them picky critics of everything in church. Proverbs 27:7 says, "A sated (Heb. satisfied, full) man loathes honey, but to a famished man any bitter thing is sweet."
Consider the hunger in Argentina, South America. I read of a pastor there who had to require his members to only come to one meeting per week. They were coming too often, and with 185,000 in attendance he had gone to eight weekend meetings! OH FOR THAT HUNGER IN AMERICA.
WHERE TO FOCUS . . .
In witnessing the lives of hurting churches, two groups often surface. One is a critical group, claiming to be very discerning as to the deep problems in the church and its leaders. They claim they can sense secret traumas, bad motives, and a whole host of other evils. They use religious jargon and say, "I have a prophetic motive gift." They "smell" all kinds of stuff!
The other group, often younger in the Lord or at least able to manifest their first love, seem oblivious to all the above. They can't understand the complaints when they hear them. They have been on the front rows at all the services, their Bibles open and pen in hand, taking notes and digging into every Bible study they can find. They are so grateful to be saved and headed for heaven!
No one is denying that problems exist. However, these hungry ones can even get food from the bitter servant. They can dig the diamonds out of the servant of clay. Even the sour is sweet because of the magnitude of their spiritual hunger. Then if a church seems headed for a division, and "Words" about the church's failures are being publicized, these precious innocent ones shrug their shoulders and say "What problems? What's going on here? We were growing!"
Any struggle in church is worth it if we can focus on these dear sheep. These hungry ones have been at the prayer meeting, and they'll turn up the prayer power. The others only come to pray when there is a vested interest in THEIR position and role. They are tied up in politics, believing previous tithes to be investments that should be able to be collected on according to their whims.
People Who SAY They Are Saved
AND DON'T YOU EVER FORGET:
A fundamental problem, perhaps masked in the light of the above issues, and even harder to address among stalwarts and leaders, is the problem of people claiming to be "saved" when they are not. This, I believe, is a prominent problem in America; the promise made, to a multitude that have "said a prayer at a meeting", of the assurance of salvation when in reality, the witness of the Spirit has never entered. True, deep repentance accompanied by restitution is the missing jewel.
It is especially missing among those who grew up in church and assumed they've always known God and are actually very mature. H. B. London teaches that American church leaders have discovered literally millions of men sitting in evangelical churches who have been there for ten years and more and are still unregenerated!
How many pastors and other leaders wind up living on antacids simply because they often are caught up in trying to convince the unconverted to do converted things? "Why don't people just hunger for God? Why so many sacred critics?" Lack of salvation itself, both among some so-called "new converts" that manifest no hunger for anything, and even among the stalwarts, could be the real culprit here in more cases than we'd imagine.
Other Spiritual Ailments
A) The Ministry Merchandiser
and the Business Contact
This individual, usually a gifted (or so they will tell you) speaker or musician, is deceived into believing that the Church is primarily a bunch of ministries manifesting their spiritual gifts, and he/she comes in the door selling his/her anointing or ministry to the highest bidder. Actually, the church is first a family, with all received equally on the basis of their acceptance in Christ. The one who can make a piano talk, and the one who can barely talk, are equal before God. This Merchandiser/marketer is looking for ministry, and leadership, now. He/she drags spouse and family from church to church, depriving them of consistent Christian education and much-needed fellowship, in the pursuit of ministry glory.
The best thing for such a one is to join a church where they can see their family's spiritual needs being met, and then die to their ministry. Let God raise it up, in the local church, in His time. Such a move is impossible for some, who love the ministry more than the Lord that gave it. Some you can't help; on they go to the next place! Let them.
- 1) Related to them is the "Business Contact." This person hangs out at church looking for customers for their business. You shake their hand and get a business card in return.
B) Sensual Song Syndrome Sufferer (Read Ezek. 33:30-33)
These people come to be entertained on Sunday morning. They really don't have any intention of obeying the Word. If you fill your message with Scripture, they say, "boring teaching." If you don't, they say, "He doesn't preach the Word enough."
It wouldn't make any difference anyway because they still won't obey. You could show them a Biblical principle regarding gossip, or pornography, or any other issue. It goes in one ear, and out the other. Recent polls show that over half of American evangelicals don't even believe the Bible is inspired anymore.
God said to the faithful but struggling prophet, "Speak to them and tell them whether they listen or not." (Ezek. 3:11)
C) The unruly gossip (many, many scriptures apply here!)
Titus 3:10 says, "Reject a factious (Greek definition is "self-willed opinion leading to divisions and sects") man after a first and second warning, knowing that such a man is perverted." From looking above, we see that the Greek word for factious means choosing sides, then causing division. There is always opportunity to take sides on issues at church: who should be the next youth leader, whether there should be Christian rock concerts at the auditorium, rules for building use, and a thousand other matters.
We all have personal opinions about peripheral issues. What do we do with them? Use them to pray for those with whom we disagree and learn the art of maturity through compromise, or use them to build divisions in the church? God tells His leaders to root out such division and "camp" builders, give them two warnings based on the mouth of two witnesses, and then politely but firmly ask them to leave.
D) The "petty person" (Mark 7:3-5)
This close relative of the unruly gossip doesn't fit for long anywhere because he/she will pick out the smallest things and make mountains out of them. Someone sat next to another person instead of them. Or, the carpet color in the Sunday School room doesn't suit them. Or, there is a worker in the nursery that explains a rule they don't agree with. Or, the pastor didn't shake their hand for three whole Sundays in a row!
Many of these people nurse deep hurts, accompanied by resentment and bitterness, and things happened to produce this condition before they even came in your door. You had nothing to do with it. They won't open up, soon they're gone, and now you're being asked what YOU did to drive them away. I've been accused of driving some away just because I call on them regularly to see how they are, like a shepherd is supposed to. God have mercy on us, fellow ministers.
E) The worship-quencher (II Sam. 6:16-23)
Michal was the leader's wife. This is a very painful story to read because she experienced barrenness in a prominent position of responsibility and visibility. Why? She resented David's transparent, joyful worship attitude. When he danced and leaped and rejoiced, a cloud of resentment came over her.
Today there are many "clouds" over the church hindering glorious and Biblical worship. In fact, glorious worship and missions both have a way of bringing resentment out of the closet. If they resent the openness and emotional expression that is profoundly scriptural, there is not much you can do beyond patient education and prevailing prayer. If they insist on attending a deadpan religious service, it is their decision. You cannot make it for them.
F) The self-shepherd
Jude teaches us how to discern the true from the false believer. In verse 12 he writes, "These men are those who are hidden reefs in your love-feasts, when they feast with you without fear (they have no fear of God, nor respect for church authority, and they talk that way).
"Caring for (Gr. poimeneo, shepherding) themselves, clouds without water, carried along by winds. Autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted." Habakkuk says this about some: "Their justice and authority originate with themselves . . . rulers are a laughing matter to them." Hab. 1:7, 10)
This is a rather strange individual; he is his own pastor! This means that he only pays the church's pastor lip service. He is glad to have the pastor around, to do the things that he will not do. He talks as if he really didn't need the church, and his attendance record bears that out. He'll say, "We just decided to have church in our home for a couple of weeks. It's how we were led!" Many of these, along with ministry merchandisers, actually claim they have their own prophetic gift. They can hear everything for themselves; why respect you?
Some of you have talked with the likes of these, and in your spirit, you hear the words "This guy won't be around long." You're right. He may even tell you something like, "You really don't feed me. I'm just here for the worship. I watch Christian T.V. and I read a lot, so if you don't see me it's because I'm feeding myself." Like the old (unBiblical) Jesus Movement song said, "Me and Jesus got a good thing going. We don't need anybody to tell us what it's all about."
G) The Universalist
This is a close relative of the Self-Shepherd. This person believes that since they are already a member of the "universal" body of Christ, they have no need for commitment or faithfulness or membership in a local church. "There are so many riches out there in the church worldwide--we want to be out there getting it all!! How wonderful it is to move from place to place to see what God is doing! Maybe we'll see you next year."
A relative to this is the Charismatic Whirlwind. They actually believe that the Spirit is leading them just about everywhere at the same time. "Why don't you check out ________ meeting, Pastor? And __________ meeting? You are really missing out."
The Spirit is actually more of a Gulf Stream, faithfully blowing to move His vessels to their fore-ordained haven in Him. John Bevere refers to such as spiritual vagabonds. Ask them what they actually apply to their lives from all the whiz-bang meetings they have hit. Their clueless expression says it all.
Ask them, according to Psalm 92:13, "Are you planted in the House of the Lord?"
The Universal Church is real and exciting, that is true. However, its manifestation is all but invisible. Without a local, week-by-week, visible, shining representative of this Church, we have failed. These people are currently blind to that reality and they need prayer and focussed discipline. Pray for the healing of remarkably-short attention span. In the meantime, DON'T HANG ANYTHING ON THEM!
H) The non-confrontationalist
This person lacks the ability, actually an attribute of maturity and responsible adulthood, to confront or disagree with anyone to their face. Therefore, as soon as something or someone in the church proves offensive to them, they are gone to a place where there APPEARS TO BE no conflict. You call them on the phone to say, "We've been missing you!" They say cheerfully, "Oh, everything is fine. We'll see you some day." It's a lie; they're gone. This is because they lack the necessary moral courage to face difficulties in relationships.
Even worse, like the folks at point C), they choose to discuss a difficult relationship with a third party instead of going to the offender first-hand.
The churches I have served and continue to serve, have a lot of hard-working volunteers. Sometimes they are tired, and sometimes they can give in to a harsh word. They are not perfect. Jesus is the only perfect Pastor. The profitable person, the asset, is the one who is willing to talk with them person-to-person and say "I believe you have offended me (or one of my family)."
They will work with the person to the best of their ability until the situation is healed. In some cases there are offensive people in our churches who do drive people away by their attitude, and they may need to take a sabbatical.
However, no permanent spiritual fruit can be borne by those who "cut and run" without facing difficulties and disagreements first-hand with those who can help the situation. Calling other new people, who have no authority, to talk to them about your problems, is damaging. Those folks have no influence to improve things. Sitting on such situations, refusing to admit they occurred, then running away, is no answer.
"You shall be led forth with peace." (Isai. 55:12) This is the Bible way to leave. "God set the members in the Body just as He pleased." (I Cor. 12:18) Ask them, "Did He please to send you on? Are you sure?" If the devil can uproot us from where God has planted us, he has been successful.
Every tree faces storms, hot sun and winds. Most of these, however, know nothing of spiritual warfare and the bumps and grinds of hanging out with other imperfect saints. Again, it's a confrontation they'd sooner be without.
The response of the non-confronter means that he will only pile up further unresolved conflicts. I minister to people that I can tell are just looking for another conflict to send them down the road again. But they will never, apart from a miracle of Jesus within, let me know about the conflict or offer a solution.
Therefore, I (and other church leaders) never know where they are coming from. I could never use them in a position of responsibility because on any given Sunday they could disappear forever. Blind spots remain in our church sometimes because those who see them are not courageous enough to come forth.
The saddest part is, we will probably never know why they left. They will never hang around long enough to discover that it is our passion to make our church the best it can be and we need their help to accomplish that end. It's not that important to them. Besides . . it's likely that five other churches have mailed them colorful brochures in the past month!
"Those who are planted, shall flourish." (Psalm 92:13) This tragic characteristic, resulting in little planting and even less flourishing, is certainly increasing among the American people as part of the increased mobility they experience.
When corporations move workers once every few years, they impart a lifestyle opposed to permanence. This is why relationships in jobs, circles of friends and family, and now even at the church become so cheapened. This problem of non-confrontationalism is also prominent in other parts of the world, where "saving face" takes the place of honesty. In the Kingdom, this is a cultural bondage to be broken!
John Bevere also notes from his location in Florida, "The colder winters produce the sweeter oranges." He adds, "If we keep leaving our place, our root systems begin to dwindle. Crippled and hindered, we struggle in a self-centered life, eating the remains of the fruit of others."
I) The "Turnkey" (not turkey) family
These folks demand a "turnkey" church when they come in the door. In the world of building construction, "turnkey" means that the work is so finished that all you have to do is "turn the key" to your new home and walk in. Everything is in order.
I have probably been asked at least twenty times, "Do you have _____________ ministry in your church?" If I say, "Not yet," they disappear.
Some years ago I called a new visitor, a single girl, who said she would not be back. She was looking to date, and another church's singles group had more prospects. I wish I was joking.
Some mega-churches attract a lot of these, simply because there is so much going on that they don't have to put in any additional efforts. They can find exactly what they want, just sit back, and be ministered to. I sometimes find courage to say to the "Turnkey" family when they visit, "Maybe the Lord sent you here to labor to raise up this ministry you feel is important." Nine times out of ten I hear, "No, that's not for me. I don't feel led to do that." Once again, they're gone. Now, there you sit in your office wondering why you can't find more volunteers or can't see __________ ministry raised up sooner to please such folks.
There is more to come.
VIII. CONCLUSION AND PURPOSE
The answer to such dilemmas as you visit and talk with new prospects? LOOK FOR PEOPLE TO BE ATTACHED TO YOUR CHURCH FAMILY. THOSE WHO PUT A MINISTRY FIRST ARE NOT PERMANENT ANYWAY.
In conclusion, I say with tears, that we may never know how many hours, weeks and months of time were invested, in vain, trying to help these folks.
THE WORK OF THE PERSONALITIES ABOVE, WHEN PANDERED TO, HAS BEEN THE DESTRUCTION OF GODLY MEN AND WOMEN, CONGREGATIONS, AND WHOLESOME INSTITUTIONS OF ALL KINDS. WHEN THEY FINALLY SAY, "I'M OUTTA HERE", MAYBE WE SHOULD SIMPLY LOVE THEM OUT THE DOOR.
DISCERNING CHRISTIANS WILL BE PRAYING FOR A HOLY SPIRIT SURGERY ON THEIR CHURCH BODY, FOR THEY KNOW THAT THE ALTERNATIVE IS COLLAPSE AND DEATH.
"Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be rooted up." (Matt. 15:13) "I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?" (Luke 13:7) "But these enemies of Mine, who did not want Me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence." (Luke 19:27)
THE PURPOSE OF THIS INSTRUCTION
This is not written to be given or taught to new visitors! It could offend them and cause them to believe that the pastor is going on a crusade to crucify the uncommitted. Rather it has been composed first for bruised pastors, then for those involved in church leadership, so that they can FIRST examine themselves to see if any of the above may yet pertain to them. We can't lead others where we won't go ourselves.
Second, it can be used as a teaching guide, as leaders summarize the points and share them with those under their charge, so that a "trickle-down" effect of stability in the local church can be accomplished. Some in your church may get convicted and ask for prayer for help and deliverance, and there is hope for deliverance from any of the above problems if first there is a willing and humble heart.
Finally, it is being written to encourage those in leadership who have wondered about quitting. Remember: there are those in our churches who are hungry, willing, open and teachable. They don't believe they "have arrived." They will receive and will grow and will win others; they are the sheep that we are to lay our lives down for with zeal and a sweet spirit.
As for the others? BEG GOD FOR DISCERNMENT AS TO WHO BELONGS IN YOUR FELLOWSHIP AND WHO DOESN'T. (Be careful with this one! Remember the guy that prayed this and got the 50% drop.) If you believe you have a shepherd's burden for them, go after them as Jesus taught the shepherd to do.
If you can place them in another church, fine. You should want their spiritual best, even if it's not in your assembly. Otherwise, commit your labors to God and keep a sweet spirit when hit by the above factors in people's behavior. We need yet another reminder of this eternal Scripture: "Jesus said, `I will build My church.'"
