Jesus Wasn’t Always Seeker Sensitive

Neither Were Other Leaders of the Bible

Podcast (listen-to-this-article-here): Play in new window | Download (Duration: 8:31 — 15.6MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

Carolyn and I just got back from a wonderful vacation to the Caribbean. On Sunday we had the joy of attending St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Kirk in Nassau, Bahamas. Rev. Bryn MacPhail gave a message from Galatians 3 starting with verse 1 which reads, “You stupid people of Galatia! Who put you under an evil spell? Wasn’t Christ Jesus’ crucifixion clearly described to you?” (Galatians 3:1 GW)

“Kirk” is a Scottish word meaning “church.” This church’s history goes back to 1798!

Wow, he actually called them stupid!

The Phillips paraphrase reads even more strongly, “O you dear idiots of Galatia…”

It’s almost funny how bluntly he spoke to them. Not many pastors would speak to their congregations that way today—or else they probably wouldn’t be pastors for long.

But there are many other instances of blunt rebuke in the Bible by other spiritual leaders:

• John the Baptist: “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, ‘Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?’” (Matthew 3:7 NKJV)

• When speaking to the Chief Priest Ananias we read, “Then Paul said to him, ‘God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?’” (Acts 23:3 NKJV)

• Paul encouraged Titus saying, “This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith.” (Titus 1:13 ESV)

By far the most common “straight talker” was the Lord Jesus Christ Himself:

• When one of Jesus most faithful followers opposed His plan to die on the cross we read, “But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.’” (Matthew 16:23 NKJV)

• “Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, saying to them, ‘It is written, “My house is a house of prayer,” but you have made it a “den of thieves.”’” (Luke 19:45-46 NKJV)

• “Then Jesus answered and said, ‘O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.’” (Luke 9:41 NKJV)

• “You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?” Matthew 23:33 (ESV)

So what’s my point? Here it is: There is a time for straight talk.

Reading Facebook and talking with believers, it seems that being Seeker Sensitive has so eclipsed “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15) that the only people some Christian criticize is other Christians who have the courage to call sin, sin. What a shame.

When I recently wrote about What to do When the White House Celebrates Sin, I was strongly criticized by one believer for writing something that could offend unbelievers. As if the last thing we would ever want unbelievers to know is that the Bible actually calls some practices “sin.”

The biggest potential problem with a “let’s never call sin, sin” approach is that no one ever has anything to repent from. 

In addition, when we don’t call sin, sin, then Christians get confused. Some think homosexual practice and “gay marriage” is acceptable.

At this point you might think that I am opposed to a Seeker Sensitive approach. In fact, I am not.

I am only opposed to that approach when it never proclaims the truth of God’s Word.

I am for BALANCE. 

Again, “speaking the truth in love’ is the appropriate approach and what I believe is the example biblical leaders set.

Some Christian leaders today argue, “you don’t have to tell people they are sinners, they already know it.” That might be true some of the time, but not always. In fact, I think it is rarely true, because most people are not seeking a solution for their sin. They are practicing whatever sins they can get away with, and still not go to jail or perhaps end their marriage.

It seems very few people realize the full weight of their sins—that their sins separate them from a holy God for eternity.

When I wrote an article about our sin nature titled “Why I Burned My Sister at the Stake” one Facebook friend from high school replied strongly that he was no sinner. (See also my article “Who Needs Jesus, I’m a Good Person.”) I think he spoke for many. He was offended that I would suggest he is a sinner who needs forgiveness. 

So rather than being more Seeker Sensitive in terms of calling sin, sin, we need to be more straightforward.

You might ask: But what did the Apostle Paul mean when he wrote “I have become all things to all men so that by all means I might reach some.” (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)

I believe he meant not allowing a barrier such as circumcision to keep a person from Christ. (See Acts 16:3)

I am all for eliminating barriers:

• Using contemporary music that people can relate to.

• Using a Bible version that is easily understandable.

• Not using theological terms (sanctification, propitiation, etc.) in church services without explanation, so that unsaved people cannot understand what is being said.

But when it comes to making sure people know they are sinners in need of a Savior, let’s speak the truth forthrightly so people know that God has established standards and people must be saved from their sins.

As Pastor MacPhail in Nassau pointed out, this is certainly the biblical approach.

The Top 10 Reasons To Plant New Churches Now

Podcast (listen-to-this-article-here): Play in new window | Download (Duration: 11:10 — 20.5MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

Some time ago, a pastor challenged my teaching during a seminar. He wasn’t happy that I was saying that churches should plant churches. He seemed convinced that giving birth to other churches would harm or destroy his church. It was an uncomfortable exchange right in the middle of the meeting.

Our church, New Song Parkside, meets in an elementary school that we rent. We’re not quite 1 year old yet we had had over 250 profess faith in Christ. Last month (July 2015) 52 were baptized in the ocean. (Note on the banner the word “church” is blanked out—the school district wouldn’t allow that word on our signs on school property!)

He isn’t alone. Many Christians around the world wonder why we need to plant new churches. It seems to them that there are too many churches that are struggling and the better approach is to help them. Why start new when the old needs reviving? (You can read the thought of one of these objectors in the comments at the bottom of my article 4 Reasons We MUST Start New Churches Now.)

In addition, they wonder if it is worth the costs, worth the effort, the best use of resources, the biggest priority and so on.

So, in response, here are my top 10 reasons to plant new churches now: (drum roll please)

10. Most localities are seriously under-churched.

You’d be hard pressed to find a place that has enough churches anywhere in the world. New churches are needed almost everywhere.

To demonstrate this for your own location, take the seating capacity of all the churches in your town or cities near you. Multiply it by 3 (since you might be able to use it for 3 services on a Sunday). What is the total? Very likely it is no where near the population of your city. From simply a seating capacity viewpoint new churches are needed.

Further, most existing churches are not reaching the lost. Research churches in the USA found that:

• 85% are plateaued or declining

• 10% are growing from biological or transfer growth

• 5% are growing because of conversions

As I’ve traveled around the world to 70 countries so far, this seems to be a common pattern.

09. Existing churches have life cycles and eventually die.

Like it or not, and I do not, the reality is that churches usually eventually die. New churches must be planted to replace those that die out.

Talk to any denominational leader who will tell you how a significant portion of their role is to oversee the death and disposition of the assets of dying churches. Sad but reality.

Eventually every church will die. It may be a thousand or ten years and the end may be slow or come quickly. All church leaders need to ask themselves if there will be “daughter” churches and “granddaughter” churches, and even “great granddaughter” churches to carry on their legacy.

08. New churches reach lost and unchurched people.

While existing churches tend to serve their existing constituents, new churches cannot serve their own constituency since they don’t have one. They must reach out and win the lost and the unchurched.

Who comes to new churches? Usually it is the lost and unchurched who are attracted to new churches. The churched by definition already have a church home. But the lost and unchurched are available and willing to go to a new church that doesn’t have all the amenities of existing churches since they don’t even know what they are missing.

It is scarier, harder and more intimidating for an unchurched person to come into an already established group than to one that is being newly formed. They may think:

I won’t be the only new person.I can be on the ground level of something new.These people are not stuck in a rut.

There have been many studies to see if the age of a church has an impact on how effective it is in reaching new people with the gospel. The Southern Baptist Convention did a study and stated that:

• It takes 50 members to reach one unchurched person for Christ per year when a church is 50 years old.

• Churches 10 years old take 7 members to reach one new person.

• If the church is 1 year old it takes just 3 members to reach one person per year.

07. They can target unreached people and populations.

If we open our eyes, we see all kinds of people groups that are unreached in virtually every location of the world:

• Different language groups

• Different cultures

• Different neighborhoods, towns, villages

Churches must be planted that speak the languages of the population, that connect with the culture, and that are near enough that people can travel to worship gatherings.

06. They are unshackled by tradition.

People who start new churches can’t say, “we never did it that way before.” New churches do not have a history that holds them back from innovation.

The apostle Paul wasn’t shackled by the past and the “never did it that way before” problem. He wrote: “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.” (1 Corinthians 9:22b)

New churches find outreach methods that work—they have to since their very survival depends on it.

05. They revitalize existing churches

What do mother churches get from daughter churches?

• A renewed vision and ideas for reaching the lost

• Fulfillment in fulfilling the Great Commission

• Joy in pleasing the Lord

• Church family legacy and continued fruitful labor

04. Research shows that planting new churches is the most effective evangelistic methodology.

Dr. C. Peter Wagner, well known expert in evangelism, church growth and missions has written in Church Planting for a Greater Harvest:

“I begin this book with a categorical statement that will seem bold and brash to some at first sight, even though it has been well substantiated by research over the past two or three decades: The single most effective evangelistic methodology under heaven is planting new churches.”[1]

[1]Church Planting for a Greater Harvest, (Ventura, California: Regal Books, 1990), p. 11.

03. Planting churches is the biblical pattern for spreading the Gospel.

When Jesus finished His work and ascended into heaven, he commissioned his disciples to spread the Gospel “to all nations.” (Matthew 28:19 KJV)

What did they do? To answer this question read “The Acts of the Apostles” and you will see that they went from town to town, preached the Gospel and planted churches. The result was that they “turned the world upside down.” (Acts 17:6 KJV)

What can turn the world upside down today? The same strategy—preaching the Gospel and planting churches.

02. All the lost individuals who need Jesus. 

We can wax philosophical and cite research, but the bottom line is individuals who are lost for eternity being brought into Christ’s Kingdom for eternity. These people have names, personalities and souls. They are individuals who matter to God. 

Too often Christians are like folks who belong to a Lifesaving Station Club, which you can read about HERE.

01.  Jesus likes and wants us to plant new churches!

There are all kinds of commendable ministries: Christian camping, mercy ministries, Christian schools, Christian radio and television, and so on.

But what did Jesus say? He said, “I will build my church.” (Matthew 16:18) Our priority must be Jesus priority: church planting.

Our priority must be Jesus priority: church planting. | CLICK TO TWEET

Jesus said about Himself: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke 19:10)

This should be our mission as well. Jesus also said, “As the Father hath sent me, so send I you.” (John 20:21 KJV) The vehicle for doing so is to plant new churches. It is biblical and the way that the gospel spread during the New Testament times. Churches planted by the original apostles gave birth to other churches.

Jesus’ strategy for reaching the lost is to start new churches. Why would we not do what is most effective in pleasing Jesus and the strategy employed by the Apostles to “turn the world upside down?”

How Reluctant Leaders Become Confident Achievers For God

Podcast (listen-to-this-article-here): Play in new window | Download (Duration: 9:23 — 17.2MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

Our culture in the USA honors bold, confident, even brash leaders. But God doesn’t always work through leaders like that. He often uses the reluctant, quiet, humble people. I for one am glad of that, since I haven’t always fit the cultural ideal for a leader. Perhaps you can relate.

The stories of some of the greatest leaders in the Bible are almost comical in their lack of confidence. God called Moses by name in a burning bush. He promised a land flowing with milk and honey and clearly commissioned him (Exodus 3:10).

What was Moses’ response? “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the people of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11 GW)

God asserted His authority and identity by saying, “I AM that I AM.” (Exodus 3:14) But Moses wasn’t satisfied.

When God validated His message to Moses by miracles, Moses thought up yet another excuse: “Please Lord, I’m not a good speaker; I speak slowly, and I become tongue-tied easily.” (Exodus 4:10 GW)

Wow! Reminds me of me—I told at least one friend I would not go into full-time ministry because I couldn’t imagine being a speaker. God has sure changed that.

Gideon was another reluctant leader. When the Lord told him that he would rescue Israel, he replied, “Excuse me, sir! How can I rescue Israel? Look at my whole family. It’s the weakest one in Manasseh. And me? I’m the least important member of my family.” (Judges 6:15 GW)

Then he demanded a sign which the Lord graciously granted. Later he again asked for another sign: a wet then a dry fleece test. (See Judges 6)

The Apostle Paul was not the team leader at first when he and Barnabas left Antioch, witnessed by Barnabas’ name being first. It took time for his leadership to manifest (see Acts 13). 

By contrast, the Apostle John mentioned someone overly eager to lead, named Diotrephes“who loves to be in charge” and was causing problems in the church (see 3 John 9, 10).

Are you a reluctant leader? You’re in great company. Be encouraged. God loves to turn the meek into the mighty. 

God loves to turn the meek into the mighty. | CLICK TO TWEET

Here are some action steps you can take to enable God to change you from meek to mighty—how reluctant leaders become confident achievers:

01. Reject notions of perfection

A big inhibitor to serving God is our past sins and indiscretions. We think we can’t serve God because we haven’t been good enough.

But do you realize that God delights in using flawed, imperfect people?

God delights in using flawed, imperfect people. | CLICK TO TWEET

Two of the examples above whom God used immensely were actually murderers: Moses and the Apostle Paul! 

Sin doesn’t get much worse than murdering—yet major portions of Scripture were written by three murderers: Moses, the Apostle Paul and King David.

Remember the words of Paul, “Brothers and sisters, I can’t consider myself a winner yet. This is what I do: I don’t look back, I lengthen my stride, and I run straight toward the goal to win the prize that God’s heavenly call offers in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14 GW)

02. Lean into God’s Power

Remember it’s not about your abilities but God’s empowering

The Apostle Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13 NKJV)

You are not in it alone—God has sent his Holy Spirit to guide, empower, teach and strengthen you.

It’s not about you—ministry success comes from God’s power in us. 

“‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6 NKJV)

When we start to think it is about us, we need to back away. Yes, we must work diligently… but in the final analysis, we trust the Lord.

“Unless the Lord builds the house,

    those who build it labor in vain.

Unless the Lord watches over the city,

    the watchman stays awake in vain.”

(Psalm 127:1 ESV)

I shudder to think where I would be without the empowering of God. Not only would I not be a Christian leader, I believe I would probably do some terrible things. I’m serious—check out one small example HERE.

In fact, if we think we are “good enough” we should probably reconsider our call. “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18 ESV)

03. Don’t fight it, pray and accept God’s call

How do reluctant leaders become confident achievers? They respond to God’s call despite their feelings.

What do you feel inclined to do for God?:

• Teach a class?

• Start a ministry?

• Go on a missionary trip?

• Build an online ministry?

• Begin a community action ministry?

• Go into full-time ministry?

• Plant a church?

Whatever you feel your heart tugging to do, instead of sloughing it off, move in the direction of the call.

The old saying is so true: “God can’t steer a ship that isn’t moving.”

God can’t steer a ship that isn’t moving | CLICK TO TWEET

Stop fighting the call and start moving.

Isaiah is another who felt totally inadequate. He wrote: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” (Isaiah 6:5 ESV)

But feeling inadequate didn’t stop Isaiah from moving ahead for God. A few moments later he moved ahead despite his feelings of inadequacy and reluctance, “And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” (Isaiah 6:8 ESV)