The Culture Trap - Part 3

The culture of a church is so pervasive that the leader that undertakes any new direction that doesn't fully take into consideration the culture is likely to get caught in the culture trap. Changing the culture of the local church requires two important elements.

The first element is the necessity of the leadership of the church to define and introduce new appropriate language. Since words tend to lose their original meaning over time new words are needed to convey new ways of doing ministry.

Secondly, the leaders need to paint the vision of what it would like to have a local church where needs are being met, lives are changed, hearts are expanded and the great commission is being fulfilled. They need to use the new language along with the behaviors, activities and events that support the new vision. Examples of success in any area are celebrated, re-emphasizing and clarifying the vision utilizing the new language.

Leaders that learn to lead the church and lead the cultural change will likely avoid the culture trap.

The Culture Trap - Part 2

The culture trap occurs when the general church culture reluctantly concurs with a new direction or desired outcome but every remaining value, assumption, activity and verbal clue indicates that the people are generally not on-board.

For example, the pastor may express a heart for the broken, the damaged and the lost and articulate a strong desire for the church to become more welcoming, to become more evangelistic and more inclusive.

These desires, even if presented well with good Biblical examples may be ether embraced or rebuffed by the local culture.

Changing the culture requires two important elements.

The first is that the leadership of the church must define and introduce new appropriate language. Words tend to lose their original meaning over time and a new language often needs to be introduced to convey a more appropriate or contemporary meaning.

Over the years, the word “stewardship” has lost its original meaning and today typically is associated with capital campaigns or the annual sermon series on giving in the local church. In the same way, the word “Worship” has lost much of its inclusion of prayer, exaltation and private veneration and is now typically defined by the 30 minute music segment that precedes the sermon.

New words are needed to convey new ways of doing ministry which is why we hear words like “missional”, “mentor”, “growth groups”, and “catalysts” in many of our growing churches.

What is the second necessary element to avoid the Culture Trap? Read part three of the Culture Trap, Monday, March 22.

Culture Trap - Part 1

Many people believe that culture is relatively permanent and rarely changes. While that is not true and culture actually is constantly changing, the culture of an organization is a very powerful force to be reckoned. The leader that doesn’t take into consideration the culture of the organization and even underestimates the strength of the culture does so at great peril.

Church culture is likewise powerful. While the force of culture may be unintentional and involuntary, it still influences all individuals and activities. People don’t necessarily talk about culture nor be able to articulate its nuances but nevertheless, the culture of a church will set rules of behavior for the types of activities that are to be embraced or avoided.

The culture trap occurs when the general church culture reluctantly concurs with a new direction or desired outcome but every remaining value, assumption, activity and verbal clue indicates that the people are generally not on-board.

How do we avoid this trap? Read Part Two of the Culture Trap, Thursday the 18th.

Church Warning

Does the church down the street need a warning sign?

Seriously, if you have been involved in churches long enough you likely have heard of some churches that should definitely come with a warning. The warning I would use for some of these churches is, "Danger, prolonged exposure to this church can be damaging to your emotional and spiritual health".

Unfortunately, all too often, there is ample evidence of abuse, neglect and usually an overdose of doctrine. In almost all of these cases, it's completely avoidable. Too many people love the doctrine, drama and emotion and are all too happy to interject their personal agenda into what is actually a very simple formula. The church is the Body of Christ and we are to reach out with the love of Jesus and care for people as Christ would in love. The scriptures tell us that love is to be forgiving, patient and kind, it's not to be rude or selfish or self-serving.

However, it's likely that because this formula is so simple and there are so few instructions in the Bible on how to "do" church that people interject more rules and regulations. These are likely man-made, not profitable at all and some are just stupid and abusive. Rules and regulations do not make people more spiritual, and conformance to a narrow walk doesn't mean that one is on the correct path.

While some traditions are fine, many traditions preempt that which is actually spiritually beneficial. The Apostle Paul fought against the rigid regulations that easily crept into the 1st century church. He wrote to the early church, "Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elemental forces of the world, and not based on Christ" (Col 2:8)

Churches shouldn't need warning signs. Churches should just have welcome signs.

Cragging with Ken

Cragging is defined as climbing or ascending from one level to another, without mountaineering equipment. While Cragging is rock climbing, it is usually shorter climbs with less gear (no ropes, carabiners, harnesses or hardware).

Cragging in the world of spiritual disciplines is also ascending from one level to another. It’s the process of growing in Christ, understanding who we are, where we need to go and acquiring the necessary spiritual tools to become more like Christ.

“Cragging with Ken” is a six-week , or better described as a six-session defined outcome program with three essential steps: Identifying where we are; Equipping and preparing for the next ascent; and, Seeking out the next ascent, or crag in our journey or climb.

Those wanting to go “Cragging with Ken” will meet Tuesdays starting Tuesday March 9th at 6:00 PM at Panera, Glenbrook. Other meeting times on Tuesday may be available as well. Call or email to inquire.

Let us know if you are interested in the journey. Email me at Kenneth.behr@gmail.com

Commitment to the Cause

My background is in business and industry. As a result, I’ve been also a student of leadership and how a manager may be able to motivate and encourage the workforce in order to gain commitment to an organization.

Now as a pastor, I continue to be a student of leadership but more importantly, my task and continuing challenge is to help people understand and commit to the Cause of Christ. While the process and some of the methods are similar, the cause is not, as our passion and focus is on Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God.

Pastor Craig recently reminded us of the “Three levels of Commitment” for those that are church-goers. Possibly many of the people here at LifeChurch.tv, or one of the other churches in one of the suburbs of Nashville, Tennessee can relate to their position in one of these three levels of commitment.

Craig said that those in the first level of commitment "believe in the gospel enough to benefit from it." They're happy to be involved in the church when it’s convenient for them. They may have children that like the kids’ area and they attend because they like the music and some of the people.

The second level includes the people that “believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ enough to contribute to a point that is comfortable." These are church goers who will contribute a modest of amount of money and may volunteer but only around their schedules and nothing sacrificial. As long as church doesn’t interfere in their lifestyle, you can count on them.

Ultimately, the third level of commitment is for those who "believe in the gospel enough to sacrifice their lives for it." They understand that the local church is literally the hope of the world as it provides the good news of the gospel, the opportunity for life change and access to God through Jesus Christ.

If you are ready for level three, you can say with me and the countless others that have come before us that “our lives are not our own, we belong to Jesus.” Through us, God can doimmeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us(Eph. 3:20).

Can This Marriage Be Saved?

That title was a frequent and popular article in the monthly Ladies Home Journal. I'm not even a casual reader of that magazine but the title question is a good one for all of our marriages: "Can this marriage be saved?"

This week, through Valentine's Day, is National Marriage Week. The over-riding theme of the week is strengthening both existing marriages and reversing the decline in marriage among adults. The reversal is necessary as research has shown that while 78% of adults were married in 1970, only 57% were married in 2008. As a result, 40% of all children in America are now born out of wedlock.

The bottom-line is that marriage works on a number of fronts. According to The Case for Marriage: Why Married People Are Happier, Healthier And Better Off Financially by Linda Waite and Maggie Gallagher, (Doubleday, 2000) the statistics are heavy in favor of marriage.

Research has shown that marriage leads to a longer and healthier life. Both married men and women are less likely than singles to suffer from long-term chronic illness or disabilities. On average, married men live significantly longer than single men (although the old line is that it really isn't 'longer' it just 'seems longer' :-)

The biggest statistical difference is actually with regard to personal or family wealth. Married couples in their 50's and 60's have an average net worth of just over $132,000 while those single or divorced had less than $35,000. Considering two people vs. one that improvement from being married is 88%.

At retirement, the difference is even greater with married couples entering into retirement years with a net worth of $410,000 vs. $167,000 for never married and $154,000 for those that have been divorced.

Ultimately however, it's really the children that have the most to lose if we fail to save marriages. Children growing up in a single parent home are more likely to live in poverty as studies have shown that 57% percent of the children in single parent families live below the poverty line vs. only 6.3% of children in two-parent families, most of which are married. These children also have trouble with school, tend to get in trouble more often, have higher risk of health problems and are at greater risk of suffering emotional, physical or sexual abuse.

Marriage works and your marriage can work as well. If you are looking for help in your marriage, see you local pastor and check out the many resources available for a marriage based on biblical principles that will last forever.

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Sources: "Single Parent Families" http://family.jrank.org/pages/1574/Single-Parent-Families-Demographic-Trends.html;Single-Parent Families - The Well-being Of Children Raised In Single-parent Homes

Read more: Single-Parent Families - The Well-being Of Children Raised In Single-parent Homeshttp://social.jrank.org/pages/580/Single-Parent-Families-Well-Being-Children-Raised-in-Single-Parent-Homes.html#ixzz0f46gAIKv