“We would do much better as leaders in the Church to learn at the feet of the farmer rather than study with the CEO of a corporation. It is time we see that the Church starts in the fields, not in the barns (Prov. 24:27). We spend so much time building nice barns with padded pews, air-conditioned halls, and state-of-the-art sound systems, yet we have neglected the fields. We are as foolish as the farmer who builds a barn and then stands in the doorway calling to all the crops to come in and make themselves at home. It is time for the Church to get her hands dirty in the soil of lost people’s lives.”
Many of us, as church planters, have said something similar to this in the past. Maybe it is based on our own experience of serving in a corporate structure boomer church. Maybe we have seen spending which goes against the values which drive us. For whatever reason we read something like this and yell out, "YES!".
The issue I wrestle with today is that many church planters go into their church plant with the same error in philosophy. If a church planter describes their future church with service style, lighting and artistic style you know they are building a barn. I am guilty of this. It is so easy to get back into the old issue of "if you build it they will come". Do I think that the building, the music and the format all matter? Of Course! The thing that really gets my motor running though is to hear creative ways that church planters (and any believers) are engaging their culture and moving out into the field and getting some good 'ol soul dirt under their nails.
Growing up my dad worked with his hands, building. The conrete, wood and daily use of tools caused his hands to give away the fact that he worked with them. As the both of us grew older he transitioned from tools on the site to managing the site. Looking back now I see the transition in his hands. The rough skin and brused knuckles slowly faded away with the years. Although to this day his hands still show the signs of hard work.
I want there to be evidence in my life that I am working hard, toiling in the soil of lost souls. I wonder what it looks like to someone when we have been working in the field? What do they see in us? Can we inspire some to join? Let's get to work and stay hard at work.
The harvest is ripe and the workers are few.
The issue I wrestle with today is that many church planters go into their church plant with the same error in philosophy. If a church planter describes their future church with service style, lighting and artistic style you know they are building a barn. I am guilty of this. It is so easy to get back into the old issue of "if you build it they will come". Do I think that the building, the music and the format all matter? Of Course! The thing that really gets my motor running though is to hear creative ways that church planters (and any believers) are engaging their culture and moving out into the field and getting some good 'ol soul dirt under their nails.
Growing up my dad worked with his hands, building. The conrete, wood and daily use of tools caused his hands to give away the fact that he worked with them. As the both of us grew older he transitioned from tools on the site to managing the site. Looking back now I see the transition in his hands. The rough skin and brused knuckles slowly faded away with the years. Although to this day his hands still show the signs of hard work.
I want there to be evidence in my life that I am working hard, toiling in the soil of lost souls. I wonder what it looks like to someone when we have been working in the field? What do they see in us? Can we inspire some to join? Let's get to work and stay hard at work.
The harvest is ripe and the workers are few.
No comments:
Post a Comment