One of the hard parts about being a
pastor is trying to be "under-cover" and yet remain true to who you
are.
What I mean is that when I am at a
"church" function or some other service such as a wedding or funeral
it is easy for me to be "myself" as a pastor. I know what people
expect and I am free to function in that role.
When I am at some other weekly activity
such as shopping, at the gym, cutting my grass, or playing hockey, I try hard
to not let people know that I am a pastor…especially a "reverend".
I know that may seem strange to those
who are still in preparation (bible school or seminary) or are not yet
ordained. Why would I try to be incognito after going through all of the
preparation and the process of ordination and then try to conceal the fact that
I am an ordained pastor?
Why? Because as soon as people find out
that I am a pastor, they get awkward and start apologizing for how they talk to
me...or that they swore…or that they gave me a hard time as they teased me and
made me the butt of a joke.
This is happens partially because the
stereotypical pastor is holed up in his/her church office trying to stay pure
and undefined by the "sinners". The result is that the average person
doesn’t know a pastor outside of the church.
And the average pastor doesn’t
know how to reach people outside of the church (building).
Perhaps that is what so
many churches are filled with church folk instead of "sinners".
So, people sometimes act weird simply because
they don't know how to act around a pastor. They see us a moral standard and
are concerned that they will say and do the wrong thing around us.
I ran into this recently and the end of
a hockey game. One of my teammates had seen a documentary on a cult and asked me if I was a part of them. I assured him
that I was a Christian not a Scientologist.
He continued and explained why he doesn't
go to church. His answers were honest and open as he explained that he knew
that God knew how he was doing. He had enough of churches that were run Iike
businesses and seemed to be just after his money.
"I don't need to go to
church..." He continued as he drew another teammate standing next to us
into the conversation.
The other man said; "Yeah, I don't
need to go to church either; THIS IS MY CHURCH!" as he pointed at the
hockey rink. The first man agreed and said; "Yes, this is my church
too!"
I came to realize that these men were
correct. They had discovered their need for community at a hockey rink where
they could be themselves and not have to make excuses for how they spoke or
acted or lived their lives.
They were right that some churches have
become business that were no longer serving what these men needed. They are no
longer places where people seeking answers and peace and direction can come and
find the saving grace of the LORD through Jesus Christ.
They had enough and weren't willing to
simply drink the Kool-Aid. They had found life in something other than the
church and they weren't going back.
So what do we, who know the LORD and are
called to be an ambassador say to them and their concerns and objections? How
do we reach them where they are at?
It’s not complicated; in fact the answer
is so very simple that we simply don't do it.
We need to go to where they are.
After all, that IS what Jesus would do
because that is what He did. All of the Gospel stories are filled with Jesus
hanging with people who were rejected by the religious folks. And they, too, had
enough and weren't going back even if they were invited.
Jesus didn't make the church to be a
fortress in which we run to to be safe from "them". Christians are
the called out and set apart followers who come to be equipped so that we can
go out to our worlds.
Jesus instructed us to not wear special
clothing or take special seats or let people be hindered by our
"holiness" and self-righteousness. Jesus has had enough of that which
is why the church was created.
Jesus instructed us to NOT put ourselves
in a posture where we are away from "them"; and yet we do that over
and over again.
And "non-church" folks have
had enough and they aren't going back to church even if they are invited.
Jesus made us to be with people to be
His hands and His feet to live our lives being “all things to all people” (1
Corinthians 9:22)
No, this doesn’t mean
being a drunk to the drunk. This doesn’t give us an excuse to be immoral and to
live lives contrary to the Word of God…the goal is salvation.
He made us (the church) to go after lost
sheep, coins, and sons (please read Luke chapter 15).
Jesus made us to sit in coffee shops and
play hockey and talk to our neighbors and cut their grass. Eat at local
restaurants, walk our dogs, sign our kids up for baseball, let them know what
it means to follow Jesus.
Jesus came to show the world what the
Father looks like (John 14). When we see Jesus (in scripture) we get a picture
of what the Father looks like; how He acts and moves...
Jesus left us to continue this. He
wanted that people would know what the Father looks like when they see how we
act and care and show the love of the LORD.
He sent the Holy Spirit to do the
convicting of sin and of righteousness, and of judgment; which oftentimes is
independent of them going to church....
And He sent the Holy Spirit to remind
followers of Jesus (the Church) of what He said (John 16) and what He wants us
to do.
We as pastors need to cry out for more
of the Holy Spirit in our churches so that those who come in will be changed.
And then we need to send them and go with them back into the world and be Jesus
to this world.
Jesus is calling out to pastors,
teachers, apostles, prophets, and evangelists to do the work of the ministry
INSIDE the church to equip the saints for what they will do for the remaining
95% of their week.
Jesus is calling out to pastors,
teachers, apostles, prophets, and evangelists to do the work of the ministry
OUTSIDE the church and meet people where they are.
So strap on your skates, grab your
sticks, and go to "their" church. Join their community and be a part
of their lives and watch how He will use you to make a difference in this
world.
