Do You Think Your Church Is a Country Club?

“God did not give us local churches to become country clubs where membership means we have privileges and perks. He placed us in churches to serve, to care for others, to pray for leaders, to learn, to teach, to give, and, in some cases to die for the sake of the gospel. Many churches become weak because we have members who have turned the meaning of members upside down. It’s time to get it right. It’s time to become a church member as God intended. It’s time to give instead of being entitled.”

This is how Thom Rainer begins his excellent little book I Am a Church Member: Discovering the Attitude that Makes the Difference. Growing out of the research of 557 churches in his denomination from 2004-2012, Rainer issues forth a kind, but firm call to Christians to re-examine their attitude and actions in relation to their local church. Rainer’s goal is biblical. He wants his readers to become functioning, unifying, unselfish, praying members of a local church who also lead their family members to be healthy church members who treasure the precious relationships God has given us in the body of Christ.

In Chapter 1, “I Will Be a Functioning Church Member,” Rainer relates the mindset he developed as a young boy when his middle-class parents became members of a country club. As he took in all the amenities that membership in the club provided, Thom writes, “I began to learn a lesson. Membership means perks. Membership means privileges. Membership means others will serve me. Just pay the going rate, and you can have others take care of you while you enjoy a life of leisure.”   Continue at Paul Tautges

Ten Things I’ve Learned about Pastors in Two Years

Though this blog is four years old, I did not get serious about the pace of my blogging until about two years ago. If you have spent any time at my blog, you know that I devote a lot of my writings to local church matters in general, and to pastors specifically.

The world of the pastor is not unknown to me. I served as a lead pastor in four churches and, when I was a seminary dean, as an interim pastor in eight more churches. I also served as a church consultant for about 20 years before coming to LifeWay.

But it has been at this blog the past two years that I really feel like I know pastors more in breadth and depth than ever before. I hear from them in the comments of the posts. Others read my posts and leave comments at Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. Some choose the privacy of direct messages on Twitter. They number in the thousands.

If you read my posts, you know I often like to do numerical lists. I will do so here, but I struggled to stop at ten. Perhaps I will continue the list later. For now, here are ten things I’ve learned about pastors in the past two years.

1. They truly sense God’s call in their lives. It’s not just another job for them; it is, as one pastor told me, “an inescapable reality.”
2. They love their churches and the members. The metaphor of “shepherd” is truly appropriate for these pastors. They care deeply for those they serve.    Continue at Thom Rainer

What To Say To Church Members Leaving for Poor Reasons

Let’s face it: there are better and worse reasons to leave a church. Are you moving to another city? That’s a good reason. Are you harboring bitterness toward someone who has offended you? That’s a bad reason. Does the church neglect to preach biblical sermons weekly? A good reason. Do you not like the church’s style? Probably a bad reason.

The question is, how should you respond to a fellow member who is leaving for what sounds like a bad reason?

The question raises a number of tough theological issues, such as how far the authority of the church extends, or how much weight should be given to cultural preferences. There are also difficult pastoral issues, such as knowing how to differentiate between a bruised reed and a fool.

But let me see if I can pack some of that theology into the form of practical counsel. Here are some bad ways to respond to such a situation, combined with better responses:

Bad response: “Oh.” This is the non-response. This is the “I don’t care” or “I need your approval so I’ll say nothing” response. I’m not saying that it’s never right to keep your mouth shut. I’m just saying that fear-of-man or the failure-to-love should not be what’s motivating you to say nothing.

Better response: “Why are you leaving? Can I help you think through it?” Love takes an interest and asks questions. Love recognizes that we’re responsible for the discipleship of our fellow members, and it investigates. Love does not fear having people not like you. It’s willing to ask the awkward question or offer the risky counsel for their good.   Keep Reading >>>

Why "Not Many Should Aspire to be Teachers"

One of the things I find most helpful in Presbyterianism is the clear distinction it makes between members and office bearers.  To be a member of a Presbyterian church, one need only confess with the mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in one's heart that God raised him from the dead (Rom. 10).  In practice, this means that if you profess to believe Jesus is Lord and risen and you live a life that appears consistent with that testimony, you can be a member. of the church.

To be an office bearer, however - a minister or elder  - one has to take a vow to uphold the teaching of the Bible as elaborated in the Westminster Standards.  In other words, there is a lot more material that you need to believe, articulate and be prepared to defend in order to hold office.  That seems consistent with Paul's vision of elder; and it is also consonant with the notion that elders are to bring the congregation to maturity.  If the elders were only as mature and as informed as the average member, then congregational growth to maturity would be dramatically hindered.

Of course, this also means that ministers and elders are to be held to higher standards.  For a congregant to make a silly and incorrect doctrinal statement in a conversation over coffee after the service is one thing; for a minister to make a public statement as a minister which is wrong is a far more serious matter.   Public mistakes by ministers cannot be dealt with privately because the mistake is part of his public teaching role.  People look to the minister for a lead; and when he falls dramatically short, the implications can be very significant for the church.  I cannot deny election, for example, and expect a free pass.  I will be held to my vows, and that publicly.  In fact, I would probably be required to step down from my teaching position until such time as I was able to honour my vows with a good conscience.    Keep Reading...