What if the church looked more like a gang?

On first thoughts, that would sound crazy! Churches looking like a gang? The more I think about it though, I believe that churches would be better off if they took a little away from the structure of a gang. 

Point One: They are for each other

If you mess with a gang member; good chances you will find yourself beaten and bleeding along the side of the sidewalk. Gangs protect all their members at whatever cost. Once a person finds themselves in a gang, they are protected by all the members of the gang. Many times the gang becomes the individual's family and the "family" takes care of each other. 

What if the church kept to this same concept? Imagine the church protecting its members from those who verbally attack their beliefs, character, or just the person in general. What if the church became that of a family, taking care of the needs of the people within the church and even out into the community? 

Point Two: They work together

To understand a gang working together, we need to understand a little about the groups that we find within a gang. The Veteranos are the leaders and the ones that put in their time on the streets. The G's are the main gang members that manage and run the gang.  The Wannabees are mainly youth that want to be part of the gang. The Gangster-groupies, which is a new category, consists of youth who just want to hang out and associate with the gang. Finally, the Resident G's are those who grew up in the gangs neighborhood. To be part of the gang, you must be able to pull your weight. Whether the person is the main gang leader or a runner or even a watcher; the individual has his part to play.

Many times in the church, we don't work together. In fact, sometimes, we go in opposite directions and even many directions instead of working together. The church need to communicate with each other and go in one direction for the growth of the church. Then there is the dead weight factor...The ones that are just along for the ride. It is very hard for a church to run on it's 10-20 percent of the church body serving in the church. Imagine with me for a moment if each member of the church pulled his or her weight. What would that look like for the church?   

Point Three: They stretch for more territory

Gangs are constantly in battle with other gangs and their communities for territory. The more they control, the more they grow and prosper. Gangs that predominantly take over a city many times tends to control the city; police, courts, and politicians included! Now that is a powerful organization. 

Close your eyes and think about your church battling for your community, becoming so predominant in the city that it effects the city. Imagine that ten houses north, south, east, and west from your church; that at least 50% were plugged into your church (that's 20 families out of 40) Imagine your mayor calling your church and saying we got this need over here and we know that your church is perfect for meeting the need. Imagine the school's superintendent contacting your church saying that there are children in the school system that need weekend meals because if they don't receive any they won't eat and we know that your church would like to help. Imagine if we followed Jesus to build His church, instead of building our church...

Point Four: They promise deliverance

When someone gets hurt or killed in a gang, the gang leaders gets everyone together and promises that revenge will be made. 

Unlike the gangs violent messages of deliverance; the church has the best promise of deliverance that is offered to man. The deliverance from sin and death; with the good message of Jesus Christ dying on the cross for this deliverance! The church needs to continue to make this it's focal point and reach into a lost world with good news of Jesus!

In closing, I need to make a note I do not encourage gang life. The majority of gangs do many violent acts towards God and man, that I don't want to endorse. I just wanted to take something many can relate with and take some good thoughts away from their structure. We as a church need to encourage the church to protect its members, to work together, reach into the community, and share the good news of deliverance! 

Thoughts on labels from the book I am reading called Alter Ego by Craig Groeschel

"No matter what you have or haven’t done, God’s power is big enough to change you. There is no sin too great for God’s grace. There is no habit too big for his healing. There is no label too strong for his love. Let me say it again, because I want you to believe this: God’s power is bigger than your past.

And his power is rooted in his love for you. He knows who you really are no matter what others label you — or what you label yourself. What’s true about you now doesn’t have to be true about you later. The goal is not to reinvent yourself by striving to be some perfect person but to allow God to do an extreme makeover by uncovering your true self in his image, redeemed through Christ. What once was, no longer has to be. God can and will break the labels that have held you hostage.

You were made for more than you’ve settled for. You know your life does not reflect who you really are deep down inside. You know there’s more, and you’re tired of settling for less, but you’re just not sure how to move forward. It’s time for you to learn who you really are and what you’re capable of doing across eternity.

So many competing messages vie for our attention, trying to tell us who we are and what we should do, where we should shop and how we should vote, who we should cheer for and who we should condemn. But if we’ve committed to follow Jesus and have accepted the ultimate gift card of salvation, which carries an infinite balance over the charges of our sins, then there’s only one source for knowing who we are and how we should live."

Wearing your Sunday's Best...

Thinking about what is our "Sunday's best" at 5 in the morning! If you know me well, this is not a time I am normally coherent for. So with me being awake, what better time to blog what I am thinking than at 5 in the morning.

"Wear your Sunday's best," I grew up hearing this and living it out. I would get up Sunday mornings; put on a nice pair of slacks, a collared shirt, colored socks, and my dress shoes. Many times, I would end up forgetting the belt...Fast forward to today. A youth pastor of a small Baptist church, a church that I showed up to my first interview in jeans, a Crucified t-shirt, and hoodie. My plan was to present myself in the way of who I was and not to put on an act of what I was not. I was hired and moved all that I had to begin working in the church and the community. It wasn't long and I tried to adapt to the culture of the church. I went from owning one suit to owning three suits, four button down shirts to a dozen, and from a handful of ties to about fifty ties. I was frustrated inside because I promised myself I wouldn't change!

Now I should note that I don't mind wearing shirts, ties, and suits from time to time. I did it in college for the fun of it. The real heart of the issue was why was I dressing this way. For one, I got tired of hearing negative comments on how I dressed and it was so much easier for me to hear the positive ones when I was decked out in a suit. Granted, there was even a time where that wasn't even good enough. I received a comment through my now wife; that she was confronted on the fact that my shirt(s) were wrinkled. ARE YOU KIDDING ME! I ironed my clothes most of those mornings, and they started off looking great in the morning. The question in my head really bothered me: "Am I wearing my Sunday's best for God or for the sakes of men?" I started wearing a variety of things over the last year and half. Sometimes, I wear a suit and other times just a pair of jeans with a sweater.

Over the last decade, I have past this thought on to many people. We live in a generation gap. The older generation normally was dressed down during the week working in factories, steel plants, farms, etc. and on Sundays they wore their Sunday's best to church. My generation and younger tend to dress up during the week for work, anywhere from a business worker to a waiter at Olive Garden; and then tend to dress down on Sundays. This gap has cause much strife within the church!

I believe today that many churches get it, when they say dress as you are and we will accept you as you are. Sadly, there are many churches and church people that have not come to this point. I could talk a lot on this topic; but I believe for today, I just want to hit one thought that I have been dwelling on for the last hour.

What is the importance of wearing your Sunday's best? The main response I get back is that it is out of respect for God.

Think about this with me: As Christians, we are to wear our Sunday's Best out of respect for God when we go to His House, the church, to meet Him. Why don't we as Christians wear our Sunday's Best on Monday morning when we get up, grab His Word and meet Him?

If we truly are wearing our Sunday's Best for God (and not for others), then why do we only do it Sunday morning? This sounds like, we as Christians are living a double life! We dress up for God when others are around, but not when it is just Him and us. In fact, I have also heard, that it is okay to dress down at church; but just on Sunday nights or Wednesday nights. Isn't that yet another double standard? 

Can we agree that the church is just a building during the week, but on Sundays (and other times of the week) when people are there that this is the true church? Then when we gather with other Christians outside the church building; shouldn't we wear our Sunday's best so that we do not live a double standard life? 

To me having a dress code in church; sounds a lot like the Pharisees of the Bible. We make up a list of rules that are nowhere found in the Bible, and then tell Christians that they are not respecting God based on what they are wearing. Do I think it is a wrong to wear jeans to church? No, but I guarantee you I do see it wrong when someone judges another person for it! Only a righteous and just God can judge a person's heart...

I do, however, think it is wrong to wear jeans just to cause trouble and be rebellious, just as much as I think wearing a suit and looking down at others is wrong. Reminds me a lot of the Pharisee and the Sinner who are praying in Matthew 18. The Pharisee says God look at me, I did my checklist of things; while the Sinner stands there and cries for mercy. The heart is the difference in Matthew 18! Just like the heart of the person matters to God, not on what he or she decides to wear on a Sunday Morning!

Who is the church really for?

I have found that most times many people think that churches are for church people. Many times if we evaluate our churches, that is exactly what we will find. Sadly, we as church people expect to be served at church; while looking for what the church can give me. This is selfish and not even close to being Biblical.

Two points I'd like to make about churches:

1. Churches were not started for church people!

Think about it. The first church could not have been for church people because church people didn't exist. Churches were started to bring lost people to Christ; then to baptize them, disciple them, and teach them to tell others about Jesus. Churches during Paul's day; had a majority of new believers and lost people. The early church catered to the true needs of the people; their salvation. They did not worry about the church building, church traditions (after all, there were no traditions), other people's sins or how another person worshiped God, or the many other things that church people fight over.

It is sad how many stories over the years that I have collected on how church people get so focused on their "needs" that they push lost people right back out the front doors of the church! We as followers of Jesus, need to get back to mission of the church and forget our "comfort zones," "traditions," "our needs/wants," and realize that the church is not for church people.

2. Churches were started for lost people! 

The early church was started for all the new converts that were putting their faith in the Way. They met many times as small groups in homes or in large groups at their city's synagogues. According to Acts 2:42; they had great fellowship, time reading and talking about the apostle's teaching, communion, and prayer. Guess what happened in these churches? They grew! People got saved! Life change happened! Churches were doing what churches were started for.

Closing Thoughts

Now think about this thought, when was the last time your church experienced a person coming to the saving grace of Jesus Christ? When was the last time you saw a person being baptized? When was the last time you saw your church pulling together to reach the community within a block of the church? If these things are not happening, it might be a good sign that your church is designed for church people. And this should be a warning sign to you; that you need to be part of the change in that church. Churches that fight over music "preferences," Bible interpretations "preferences," church tradition "preferences," etc. has been distracted by the enemy with their "preferences" and have been led away from what the church is supposed to be doing! A church that is not reaching out to the lost and not growing; is either a declining church or a dead church.

What are you going to do about it?

Churches: Leave no one behind!

In American Military movies we hear the saying; "Leave no man behind!" What are they insinuating? Well, they are saying that we will leave no comrade behind; dead or alive! The current U. S. Soldier's Creed says it like this: "I will never leave a fallen comrade." Even in our school systems, we have the No Child Left Behind Act; which was designed to strengthen our schools so that every child has the ability to learn and move forward.

I believe that in the church, we should have the same basic thought process! We will not leave our unsaved family member behind! We will not leave our unchurched neighborhood behind! We will join with what God is doing around us and do everything in our power to tell people about Jesus!

Sadly, though many times; our churches are not known for rescuing our hurting people; we are known for shooting our wounded! A person sins, makes a life mistake, or even steps on the toes of the church's tradition; and its like we get the tar all heated up, the feathers plucked off the bird, and many times chase the person right out the front door of our church.

When I read the Bible, I do see where we are to hold our brothers and sisters accountable to Christ. It is a command that we are to do as loving Christians. The problem is that I also don't see in the Bible the many responses church people tend to give. I'll list a few:

1. The Judgmental Response - This response is the first one that comes to mind. No where in Scripture does God give us the command to judge people. This is a Holy God's responsibility and only He in His perfect state can judge us. Too many times we reject people on what they wear to church, how they act, how different they are; that many Sundays lost people walk in and then back out of the church. Many times being offended by church people than being offended by what should offend them, the Word of God which penetrates to their soul with conviction!

2. The Gossip Response - So many times when church people see someone "breaking a rule" whatever that might be; they can't resist the urge to go and find someone to talk about it. I've been in and out of many churches across the country; and gossip (in my opinion) is the number one sin in the church that kills relationships within the church and burns bridges with the church's community. Gossip is toxic to the life of a follower of Jesus. 

3. The Holy than Thou Response - For some reason, we tend to think that our sin sticks less than those around us. We justify our "small sins" while stubbing other Christians and even lost people (that have no clue they are lost) about their "big sins." Problem with this; is that all sin stinks in God's presence no matter what sin it might be. It is like a big pile of manure that God wants absolutely nothing to do with. James 2:10 says, " For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all." Lets face it, sin is sin. Quit putting people down, turning your nose up at others sin, and come along other Christians in a Christ loving manner, encouraging them in their walk with Christ, and praying that  the person would be willing to let God work on him or her as God desires to do. As for lost people, how do you expect a lost person to act? Ummm lost...Till they meet God face to face and God starts a work in them after salvation; they will not understand sin, the law, the grace of God, etc. 

4. The Condemnations Response - Last time I checked, God is the only one that can condemn a human being. In which, those who do not choose Him will be condemned in the end. Because of Jesus and God's grace, those that do choose Him will not be condemned!

We are called by God to reach out in love to those who are lost and perishing. We are called to love our brothers and sister in Jesus Christ. We are called too hold others accountable to the Word of God, to encourage people to live a life under God, and allow God to work on their hearts as He works on ours. We are not called to judge, gossip, look down on others, or condemn any Christian or lost person. If we, as the church start doing this; I believe that God will do amazing change in our lives, in our churches, in our communities, and in the lives of lost people around us! 

Church lets start to being the church! Loving people and pointing them to Jesus; allowing God to change them into exactly who He wants them to be. Get on board with what God is doing or get out of the way. Once again: "We will not leave our unsaved family member behind! We will not leave our unchurched neighborhood behind! We will join with what God is doing around us and do everything in our power to tell people about Jesus! Churches we leave no one behind!"

Today is a monumental day for me!

Yes, it is my birthday and I hit 29 (the last year of my twenties); but the biggest thing about today is that I have now lived for Jesus more than half my life! At age 14; I surrendered my life to Christ and it is still the biggest, smartest, and most fulfilling decision of my life.

I coined a phrase right after college called WhereverChristLeads and have been sticking true to that in life. Along with that phrase I include Proverbs 16:9 which says: "In his heart man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps."

It has been another amazing year of life in following Jesus! I have married a beautiful woman that I am looking forward to better days, months and years with. I live, breathe and sleep youth ministry! I have been able to play a lot of basketball over the last year with great friends at the YMCA! This year past year has been good.

My words for today for me and for you would be: "Life is a journey, make the most of every opportunity, develop life stories, take adventures, live life to the fullest; all while living a life of grace under Jesus. That is truly the best journey, opportunity, story, adventure, and living life that we can do!"

Life Stories

Life Stories, a set on Flickr.