In this Lenten season of giving-things-up, I want to suggest something that we United Methodists and other mainline Christians could give up for Lent—in fact, for good. Let’s give up trying to fix our church. Let’s give up trying to save/renew/bail out failing, floundering, foundering institutions that are at best resistant to change and at worst incapable of the “adaptive change” that some would make our new United Methodist buzzword. (When I told my wife what I was writing about, she said, “So you want to let the church go to hell?” Of course not. Stay with me as we move toward a transforming alternative.)
I’ve been reading the latest round of “how-to-fix-the UMC” blogs, articles, and ponderous pronouncements. This excruciating experience has driven me to offer this drastic strategy. Let’s give up trying to fix/revive/bail-out/prop up our church. Let us embrace anew our stated mission: “Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world”. Let us dare to make our stated mission our actual mission by aligning the expenditure of our money, time, energy, prayer, and attention. Let us begin with ourselves and the brothers and sisters in Christ within our reach on any given Sunday.
One obvious question arises. “What is a disciple?” We could spend endless time and energy pharisaically debating the issue. Some (including myself) would say that our penchant for endless debate and insufficient action has gotten us exactly the results we should have expected. We’d also point out that our planet already has a climate-change crisis. The last thing we need is more hot air!
My working definition of “disciple” comes from Dallas Willard:
“A disciple or apprentice…is simply someone who has decided to be with another person, under appropriate conditions, in order to become capable of doing what that person does or to become what that person is…as a disciple of Jesus I am with him, by choice and by grace, learning from him how to live in the kingdom of God…I am learning from Jesus to live my life as he would live life if he were I. I am not necessarily learning to do everything he did, but I am learning how to do everything I do in the manner in which he did all that he did.”
Nearly every church has at least a few people who embody this vision of discipleship. Nearly every church also includes others whose growth has been severely stunted. Sometimes these are long-time church members, but “developmentally delayed” immature disciples. (DISCLAIMER—All of us have periodic relapses into immaturity—especially when we judge and point fingers at someone else’s “immaturity”.) With that in mind, consider Johnny, the clearly-out-of-place student in this video, “Faith in Kindergarten”. [For those unable to view the video, “Johnny” is a 40-ish man enjoying his “career” in kindergarten. He embraces his success and steadfastly refuses to leave his comfort zone to face the challenges of first grade and beyond. If you can’t see the video, I urge you to get some technical support—perhaps your child or grandchild! It’s really a must-see.]
Who’s responsible for our collective spiritual immaturity? I am—along with my clergy colleagues, laypeople in every church I know, and conference and denominational leaders. We have settled for mediocrity in ourselves and others. We have accepted and even cultivated spiritual immaturity. Granted, we have seen notable individual and institutional exceptions. But they have been just that—exceptions. Our growing desperation to reverse decades of decline points like garishly flashing neon to our collective immaturity. Mature discipleship focuses minimally on ourselves and mainly on God and our neighbor. But we care more about ourselves, about “my church” “my needs”, and “being fed”. We care more about not rocking the boat and maintaining the institution than about embracing and immersing ourselves in God’s mission where we live life.
Bishop Robert Hoshibata, the recently-appointed leader of the Phoenix Area, wrote recently in his column “Living the Connection, Renewed by the Spirit” about getting acquainted with the congregations he now serves. He says that he’s heard inspiring stories of sacrifice, dedication, and accomplishment in his visits with churches. But so many of those have been “good old days” stories. Now those same congregations struggle with decline. A few, not nearly enough, are finding a way forward. He identifies three questions that seem to shape that way forward: “‘Who is my neighbor?’…‘What are the… physical…AND spiritual needs of the people who live around the church who are not yet part of the church?’…‘What can I or we offer them if we really want to reach out and touch their lives with the love of Jesus Christ?”’
NOW, AS PROMISED, A TRANSFORMING ALTERNATIVE— Let’s give up trying to fix our church. Let’s invite the Holy Spirit to heal the brokenness of our “developmentally-delayed” discipleship. Let’s stop living out of fear and start living by faith. Let’s decide to be who we say we are. Let’s intentionally focus all available resources on “making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world”.
It doesn’t take years of political maneuvering. It doesn’t require mountains of legislation. It begins with a critical mass here and there. The size of a “critical mass” varies according to our context. Jesus did a lot with twelve people. He told those twelve that “two or three” plus his presence could form that critical mass (Matthew 18:20).
Talk to folks who might join you in becoming a “critical mass”. Share your hope and dreams. Pray together deeply and frequently. Keep your pastor in the loop. Work with him/her, not against. Don’t be secretive. Do be humble and open. Find people who are serious about apprenticing themselves to Jesus. Explore together what that means for you separately and as a community. Your “critical mass” may well include formerly-churched, differently-churched, de-churched, even unchurched people.
Bishop Bob offers us one model for living out our mission. It’s hardly the only one. But it’s a great starting point. It’s simple, Biblical, and comprehensive. PLEASE—Let’s not engage in endless debate like good Methodists. Let’s be good Nike-ists. “JUST DO IT!” Let’s give up trying to fix our church. Let’s take up following Jesus as faithful apprentices wherever he leads us.
Hi! Someone in my Facebook group shared this site with us so
I came to take a look. I’m definitely loving the information. I’m
bookmarking and will be tweeting this to my followers!
Terrific blog and fantastic design and style.
LikeLike
Please thank your Facebook friend for sharing–and go and do likewise! Glad you’re part of the conversation.
LikeLike
Please…I do get tired of folks dismissing those who want to “be fed”.
Man’s gotta eat! It’s like mature theologians dissing those who experience emotional highs in worship… that bugs me, because sometimes those are gifts from God, for those who need them.
How can we carry on without sustenance?
Please excuse my rant…I do agree with most all you’ve written in this post.
And I actually looked up ‘disciple’ today in the dictionary, before I read this, as I am thinking of this too.
I hope I can step out of my comfort zone. But I feel very unprepared, and if God does not provide sustenance from other apostles and His Holy Spirit, I can do nothing.
LikeLike
So I actually moved you to the dictionary? That’s a pretty high compliment. Nothing wrong with being fed. We all need it. My problem is with folks focused on getting themselves “fed” without understanding that we are fed in order to help carry out Jesus’ post-resurrection commission to “feed my sheep” (John 21:17). A colleague speaks of spiritual maturity as becoming a “spiritually mature self-feeder”. One thing I think that means is that we take responsibility for our spiritual “nutrition”. We may not know all the answers, but we have an idea of what we need and where to find it. Spiritual maturity won’teat a steady diet of “junk food”. It understands that we need a balance of comfort and challenge, solitude and community, action and contemplation, etc. I’m watching my grandchildren (ages 2 yrs. and 9 mos.) learn to “self-feed”. It’s a messy process. They need lots of assistance and guidance to be sure their young growing bodies get everything they need. But I’ve seen the three older grandchildren who are now teenagers learn to “self-feed” and take responsibility for what they eat and make good choices–along with an occasional glorious trip way off the reservation!
Thanks for your comment. Was in your town recently.
LikeLike
Mike — well put. Lately, I have realized that the next greatest idea, product or workshop for the church continues to divert my attention and focus away from the workshop I need to continue to work and give my full attention and self — being a disciple. We already have what we need, or more importantly, who — Christ — He’s the way for us. Thanks for the focus and challenge!!!
LikeLike
Thanks, Dan. One of the temptations of ministry is to be distracted from the best and most important by “good things”. That’s why one of my mottoes continues to be “The main thing is keeping the main thing the main thing.”
LikeLike
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Because of my family, I have a complex relationship with the United Methodist Church. I have an ongoing writing project that is helping me to understand “where I come from” and the role The United Methodist Church has played in my life. (During the last months, I have been “forced” to give up all things church to gain some perspective). I now classify myself as an immature, mature Christian. I say that because for starters, I have not had enough consistent information about who God is and who I am, which, as i have discovered is the true beginning of redemption–I chased down the info on my own. I have also not had any good role models as to getting discipleship out of simply “going to church” and into my life. The following is my description of what my journey has felt like:
“My knowledge of God was sketchy:
what I knew was far less than what I did not know.
What I did know was gathered in tiny fragments in random fashion;
from liturgy and hymns and brief glimpses into the lives of others
There was no cohesive “teaching”
It all depended on “who crossed my path” at the moment
My knowledge and understanding were random snapshots.
I made sense of them as best I could;
tucking each away, patiently waiting for the whole picture to emerge.
Tell me the story of Jesus…”
I end each section that details one facet of my “journey” with “Tell me the story of Jesus” because, amazingly enough I have not had a clear understanding of who He is and His impact on my life–the gospel and its impact on a person’s life is the best kept secret for those of us that have no other way to hear about it, see it lived out:
“I knew there is a Trinity:
The Father had some substance from Old Testament stories;
The Son, Jesus, was in the shadows, murky
There were stories of wonderful things He did while walking this earth
We celebrated his birth
He rose from the dead
I knew He died on a cross, but that was never directly addressed:
Church went directly from Palm Sunday to Easter;
leaving me to wonder, “What is so Good about this Friday?”
The Holy Spirit was something “I believe” when I recited the Apostle’s Creed.
It had more to do with “that church” over there.
Tell me the story of Jesus…”
What inspired me to configure “my story” in such a fashion was this comment written by a young pastor/seminary professor on his blog:
“I am almost tempted to say that United Methodists should fast from doing things for God. Instead, we should relearn how to talk about what God has already done for us. We need to start by telling ourselves about Jesus, about what he has already done for us and which we cannot do for ourselves – practicing it until none of us are embarrassed or hesitant to say the name of Jesus. We need to state clearly that we are all desperate for God’s grace, that without it we are utterly and hopelessly lost.”
Here is my summation, as I am struggling with what’s next:
“So what is the future for this “genetic methodist”?
an imperfect church kept me from completely sinking into the darkness
but she never quite helped me walk in the light of God’s salvation, either
which left me “muddling around in a grey area”.
(My knee jerk reaction: I wish there was somebody around I could sue!)
Tell me the story of Jesus…”
My suspicion is, I am “not alone”–people may be immature simply out of ignorance. I found this comment by another pastor on his blog:
“I remember being told in seminary that most church members wouldn’t have the time patience or tolerance for deep and difficult bible study. However, when I got into the local church and started pulling out the harder stuff I discovered a whole pool of folks who were longing for something deeper and more substantive.”
I also have a word for the UMC from Steve Jobs:
“Simple can be harder than complex: you have to work hard to get your thinking clean, make it simple. It’s worth it in the end, because once you get there, you can move mountains.”
Thanks for letting me share your space. It is so exciting to find someone else “who gets it”. :0)
LikeLike
Betsy, Your writing’s clean, simple, and expressive. It clearly conveys your journey/quest/struggle for depth, understanding, and clarity. “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus” is a Sunday School song that still loops in my mind from time to time. It’s a good theme for our discipleship training in the church and for our life int he world. But it’s critically important 1) to get the story straight; 2) to learn the languages of the people with whom we seek to share the story so that we can communicate effectivedly; and 3) to find our own places in the story as we live out and incarnate the next chapter in our mission and ministry wherever we are. End of Sermon! Keep writing and journeying!
> Date: Sat, 2 Mar 2013 21:27:13 +0000 > To: soulmanlv@msn.com >
LikeLike
Thanks for your thoughtfulness. We’ll talk again.
LikeLike
Hi there! Someone in my Myspace group shared this website
with us so I came to look it over. I’m definitely enjoying the information. I’m book-marking
and will be tweeting this to my followers! Great blog and
excellent style and design.
LikeLike
Thanks. Appreciate your sharing with others.
LikeLike
I believe what you posted made a bunch of sense. However, what about this?
suppose you added a little information? I ain’t suggesting your information isn’t good.
, but what if you added something that makes people
want more? I mean Lets Not Fix Our Church | ancoraimparo87 is kinda boring.
You ought to peek at Yahoo’s front page and see how they write news titles to grab viewers interested. You might add a related video or a related picture or two to grab readers excited about everything’ve written.
Just my opinion, it might make your posts a little livelier.
LikeLike
Thanks for the input. Will check it out.
LikeLike
I’ve learn some good stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how much effort you put to create such a wonderful informative web site.
LikeLike
WordPress format helps a lot. Takes a few hours a week once you’re up and running.
LikeLike
Oh my goodness! Impressive article dude! Thank you, However I am going
through difficulties with your RSS. I don’t know why I am unable to join it. Is there anyone else getting identical RSS problems? Anybody who knows the solution can you kindly respond? Thanx!!
LikeLike
Not sure what’s going on with RSS. Will check it out.
LikeLike
Good web site you have here.. It’s hard to find good quality writing like yours nowadays. I honestly appreciate people like you! Take care!!
LikeLike
Thanks. You too.
LikeLike
An interesting discussion is definitely worth comment.
I think that you ought to write more about this issue, it might not be
a taboo subject but generally people don’t talk about these issues. To the next! Kind regards!!
LikeLike
You may have discovered that I address a variety of issues. I’ll be back in this neighborhood soon.
LikeLike
Thank you for another excellent post. Where else could anyone get that kind of information
in such a perfect means of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I
am at the search for such info.
LikeLike
Thank you. Hope your presentation went well.
LikeLike
Hi would you mind sharing which blog platform you’re working with? I’m going to start my own blog in the near future but I’m having a difficult time making a decision between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your layout seems different then most blogs and I’m
looking for something completely unique. P.S Apologies for getting off-topic but I
had to ask!
LikeLike
I’m using a stock format from WordPress. Nothing fancy, readily available.
LikeLike
Excellent blog here! Also your site loads up very fast! What web host are you
using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host?
I wish my web site loaded up as fast as yours lol
LikeLike
I have read so many articles or reviews concerning
the blogger lovers except this piece of writing is truly a pleasant piece of writing, keep it
up.
LikeLike
What’s up, I wish for to subscribe for this webpage to take hottest updates, therefore where can i do it please help.
LikeLike
I do not know if it’s just me or if everyone else experiencing problems with your website. It looks like some of the written text in your content are running off the screen. Can someone else please comment and let me know if this is happening to them too? This may be a problem with my browser because I’ve had this happen previously.
Appreciate it
LikeLike
Sorry you’re having problems. Haven’t had other reports like this, but will check it out.
LikeLike
I’ll right away snatch your rss feed as I can not find your e-mail subscription link or newsletter service. Do you have any? Please let me recognize in order that I may just subscribe. Thanks.
LikeLike
Not sure how things work in your part of the world. Click the “Follow” button and you should start getting email notification of future posts.
LikeLike
Fantastic post however I was wanting to know if you could write a litte
more on this topic? I’d be very grateful if you could elaborate a little bit further. Thanks!
LikeLike
I address various topics, will be back in this area soon.
LikeLike
Everything is very open with a clear description of the challenges.
It was truly informative. Your website is very useful. Thanks for sharing!
LikeLike
Thanks for reading and responding!
LikeLike
This is a topic which is near to my heart… Take care!
Where are your contact details though?
LikeLike
This is a sufficient way to contact me for now. Thanks for taking time to read the blog.
LikeLike
I just like the valuable info you supply to your articles.
I’ll bookmark your blog and check once more right here regularly. I am slightly certain I’ll
be told plenty of new stuff right right here!
Best of luck for the following!
LikeLike
What’s up it’s me, I am also visiting this site regularly, this website is really nice and the people are in
fact sharing pleasant thoughts.
LikeLike
May I simply just say what a relief to discover someone that really knows what they are talking
about over the internet. You definitely realize how to
bring an issue to light and make it important. More people really need to look at this
and understand this side of your story. I was surprised you aren’t more popular because you definitely possess the gift.
LikeLike
Thank you Margaret.
LikeLike
What a material of un-ambiguity and preserveness of valuable experience concerning unexpected feelings.
LikeLike
I know this web site offers quality depending articles and additional material,
is there any other web site which offers these kinds of things in quality?
LikeLike
Check the blogroll. I’ll be updating it soon.
LikeLike
Hey there! I’ve been reading your site for a long time now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Lubbock Texas! Just wanted to mention keep up the good work!
LikeLike
Haven’t been in Lubbock for a very long time. Thanks for taking time to read and respond.
LikeLike
Wow, amazing blog layout! How long have you been blogging for?
you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your
website is fantastic, let alone the content!
LikeLike
I’ve been at it a little more than a year. Thank you.
LikeLike
If some one wishes expert view on the topic of blogging afterward i propose him/her to go to see
this blog, Keep up the nice job.
LikeLike
You’re very kind. Thank you.
LikeLike
We’re a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community. Your website offered us with valuable info to work on. You’ve done an impressive
job and our entire community will be grateful to
you.
LikeLike
Glad it’s helpful. I’d like to know how your new venture develops.
LikeLike
Hello! I know this is kinda off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you using for this
website? I’m getting fed up of WordPress because I’ve had issues with hackers and I’m looking at alternatives for another platform. I would be fantastic if you could point me in the direction of a good platform.
LikeLike
I am sure this article has touched all the internet
people, its really really pleasant piece of writing on building up
new webpage.
LikeLike
I have learn a few excellent stuff here. Certainly value bookmarking for
revisiting. I surprise how much effort you put to create
this type of wonderful informative website.
LikeLike
Very good information. Lucky me I came across your website by accident (stumbleupon).
I have saved it for later!
LikeLike
You ought to be a part of a contest for one of the finest blogs on the net.
I am going to recommend this web site!
LikeLike
Wow! Thanks for the vote of confidence.
LikeLike
Having read this I thought it was really informative.
I appreciate you finding the time and effort to put this
content together. I once again find myself spending a significant amount of time both reading and posting comments.
But so what, it was still worthwhile!
LikeLike
Thank you.
LikeLike
Awesome blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere?
A theme like yours with a few simple tweeks would really make my
blog stand out. Please let me know where you got your theme.
With thanks
LikeLike
Theme is basic WordPress material.
LikeLike
Woah! I’m really loving the template/theme of this blog. It’s
simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s difficult to get that “perfect balance” between usability and appearance. I must say you’ve done a superb job
with this. Additionally, the blog loads very fast for me on Internet explorer.
Outstanding Blog!
LikeLike
Glad to know it works for you.
LikeLike
Hello, always i used to check website posts here early
in the break of day, since i enjoy to find out more and
more.
LikeLike
magnificent submit, very informative. I wonder why the opposite specialists of this sector do not realize this.
You should continue your writing. I’m sure, you have a huge readers’ base already!
LikeLike
You’re too kind.
LikeLike
That is really attention-grabbing, You’re an excessively professional blogger. I’ve joined your rss feed and stay up for seeking extra of your great post.
Additionally, I’ve shared your web site in my social networks
LikeLike
“Excessively professional”? I’ve been at it about a year. Thanks for sharing with your friends.
LikeLike
I have been browsing on-line greater than three hours as of late, but I by no
means found any attention-grabbing article like yours. It is lovely price enough
for me. In my view, if all web owners and bloggers made good content material as you
did, the web shall be a lot more useful than ever before.
LikeLike
Thanks. We’re all doing our best.
LikeLike
I was able to find good advice from your blog posts.
LikeLike
Hello to all, since I am in fact keen of reading this blog’s post to be updated daily. It includes good data.
LikeLike
Can’t do it daily right now. Weekly is my target.
LikeLike
I would like to thank you for the efforts you have
put in penning this blog. I am hoping to see the same
high-grade content by you later on as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own blog now 😉
LikeLike
Good Welcome to the blogging community.
LikeLike
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that I’ve really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. After all I will be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again soon!
LikeLike
Just did. Glad you’re reading.
LikeLike
Awesome post.
LikeLike
Great post. I was checking constantly this weblog and I am inspired!
Very useful information specifically the last section 🙂 I handle such information
much. I was seeking this certain information for a
very lengthy time. Thanks and best of luck.
LikeLike
I just couldn’t depart your website before suggesting that I extremely loved the usual info an individual provide for your visitors? Is going to be back ceaselessly to check out new posts
LikeLike
I needed to write you that very small note just to thank you so much as before with the marvelous guidelines you have contributed on this website. It was simply generous of people like you giving freely all most people would’ve made available for an ebook to help with making some cash for themselves, precisely considering the fact that you might have tried it if you ever decided. These guidelines likewise served to become great way to understand that some people have similar zeal just like my very own to understand significantly more related to this problem. I am certain there are thousands of more pleasant sessions in the future for those who take a look at your website.
LikeLike
Whats up very cool site!! Guy .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your web site and take the feeds also¡KI’m happy to find numerous helpful information here in the publish, we’d like work out more strategies in this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .
LikeLike