I have vivid memories of churches that misunderstood the role of Pastoral gifting. In those fellowships there were good reasons for effective ministry and growth, yet to everyone's surprise and in the face of all the efforts, things always drifted into uneasy and destructive currents.
In each situation, senior leaders would spent time and effort in making the fix -- bringing the ship into more quiet waters. But every well-intentioned course correction couldn't straighten the listing vessel. The crew, as hard as they tried, never seemed to perceive or understand how to properly implement the necessary corrections.
Let's apply a borrowed and reworked Mark Twain quote: "Everyone talks about pastoring, but no one does anything about it." The clever Twain noticed how people talked a lot about things of which they had little control or understanding. The whole issue of pastoring may be the most misunderstood of all the ministry gifts, primarily because our culture has secularized and redefined it. We talk endlessly about pastoring, but have limited insight into its intended meaning or anointing.
The Greek word rendered "pastor" is mentioned once in the New Testament (Ephesians 4:11), and the Hebrew word likewise translated is used only a handful of times in the Old Testament. So Paul's understanding of such a gifting would have its roots in Old Testament thought accompanied by divine insight. While God didn't give Paul a textbook definintion, his efforts in church planting reveal God's intentions. For Paul, pastor didn't suggest executive, visionary, or senior leader responsibilities. Perhaps it could, if the person was wired just right, but pastor isn't synonymous with leader.
Hearkening back to my opening description of several church leadership situations, in each case there were individuals in place with the title of Senior Pastor, but the name didn't make it so. Each of the struggling churches had gifted men in the senior position, the problem was that they were unable to effectively pastor the people in the pews. Whatever was necessary for building community and healthy relationships within the fellowships, they lacked -- that is the essence of Pastoral gifting. The New Testament indicates that a foundational part of ministry is to guide and nurture believers - tend the flock. We often think that feeding is the pastor's role, but it is only a part of the tending process.
Elders are identified because they have been graced with one or more of the five-fold ministry gifts. Teachers can feed, but may struggle with guiding, prophets can speak forth a powerful word, but lack any nurturing abilities; similar observations can made about the other ministry giftings. The power of the pastor lies in his ability to foster and maintain an atmosphere where healthy relationships can grow - a spiritual and emotional place where believers can mature spiritually and peacefully do life together.
December 28, 2005
December 21, 2005
The Evangelist - Insightful and Persuasive
In the last several entries we endeavored to step back and catch an objective view of the church as it functions in our world today. This is the second in a series probing the five-fold ministry offices that Christ gave to mature and motivate the church for its mission. The first on our docket was the New Testament Prophet. Today we'll explore the more well-known Evangelist ministry gift.
Near the end of Paul's life, and perhaps in his very last letter to his spiritual son, he alludes to the value of the ministry gift of evangelist. The letter was no doubt written to leave a lasting impression on Timothy, and near the closing Paul gives final instructions to the young minister. He makes four specific points: 1) keep a clear mind, 2) don't be afraid, 3) do the work of an Evangelist, and 4) complete the mission given to you (2Timothy 4:5). The first two points deal with Timothy's state of mind, the last two deal with the state of his mission. We'll deal with the latter.
Aside from the passage above, The Greek word translated evangelist is used only two other times in the New Testament. It is used in Acts 21, in describing Philip the Evangelist, and in the Ephesians passage where Paul delineates the five-fold ministry gifts. In light of very sparse information defining this gift, it would stand that there must have been an obvious and common sense understanding of the gifting. I would speculate that people so gifted were always looking outside the church, concerned about those still waiting to be touched by the gospel.
Paul nudged Timothy to do the work of an evangelist because he knew him very well. Left on his own, Paul suspected that Timothy's ministry gifts could render his focus too narrow - consumed with taking care of the believers and not engaging the community outside the church. That concern is certainly applicable for today's leaders as well.
The evangelist is given a unique ability and passion to move people toward God. We see this in God's selection of Philip to sit one-on-one with the Ethiopian eunuch and lead him to the point of baptism (Acts 8:26). Contrary to popular belief, the Evangelist ministry gift doesn't describe an activity, it is an impartation that enables insightful and persuasive interaction with those still ignorant of the gospel. It is the exact opposite of brazen and confrontational preaching (note the very persuasive ministry of Evangelist Billy Graham).
In observing Philip's ministry in Samaria (Acts 8:18), the evangelist's narrow ministry perspective can be seen. Philip had turned Simon the sorcerer from his evil ways, and he became a helper to Philip, following him and assisting him in ministry. When Peter was sent to check out the revival in Samaria, he soon identified areas of Simon's Christian life that were not yet in order. Philip evidently had not detected the immaturity, or perhaps was too busy winning the world to do the mentoring that was needed.
The wise church leaders will identify and embrace the evangelist ministry gift; it should be a respected part of the inner circle of leadership. In turn, the evangelist will benefit from the influence of pastoral and teaching gifts, and the evangelist's contributions will ensure an outward looking focus - motivating and training people for the mission.
Near the end of Paul's life, and perhaps in his very last letter to his spiritual son, he alludes to the value of the ministry gift of evangelist. The letter was no doubt written to leave a lasting impression on Timothy, and near the closing Paul gives final instructions to the young minister. He makes four specific points: 1) keep a clear mind, 2) don't be afraid, 3) do the work of an Evangelist, and 4) complete the mission given to you (2Timothy 4:5). The first two points deal with Timothy's state of mind, the last two deal with the state of his mission. We'll deal with the latter.
Aside from the passage above, The Greek word translated evangelist is used only two other times in the New Testament. It is used in Acts 21, in describing Philip the Evangelist, and in the Ephesians passage where Paul delineates the five-fold ministry gifts. In light of very sparse information defining this gift, it would stand that there must have been an obvious and common sense understanding of the gifting. I would speculate that people so gifted were always looking outside the church, concerned about those still waiting to be touched by the gospel.
Paul nudged Timothy to do the work of an evangelist because he knew him very well. Left on his own, Paul suspected that Timothy's ministry gifts could render his focus too narrow - consumed with taking care of the believers and not engaging the community outside the church. That concern is certainly applicable for today's leaders as well.
The evangelist is given a unique ability and passion to move people toward God. We see this in God's selection of Philip to sit one-on-one with the Ethiopian eunuch and lead him to the point of baptism (Acts 8:26). Contrary to popular belief, the Evangelist ministry gift doesn't describe an activity, it is an impartation that enables insightful and persuasive interaction with those still ignorant of the gospel. It is the exact opposite of brazen and confrontational preaching (note the very persuasive ministry of Evangelist Billy Graham).
In observing Philip's ministry in Samaria (Acts 8:18), the evangelist's narrow ministry perspective can be seen. Philip had turned Simon the sorcerer from his evil ways, and he became a helper to Philip, following him and assisting him in ministry. When Peter was sent to check out the revival in Samaria, he soon identified areas of Simon's Christian life that were not yet in order. Philip evidently had not detected the immaturity, or perhaps was too busy winning the world to do the mentoring that was needed.
The wise church leaders will identify and embrace the evangelist ministry gift; it should be a respected part of the inner circle of leadership. In turn, the evangelist will benefit from the influence of pastoral and teaching gifts, and the evangelist's contributions will ensure an outward looking focus - motivating and training people for the mission.
December 20, 2005
What is a Prophet?
Following up on the previous "What the Heck Is It" blog, let's look at a snapshot of how the ancient church functioned as God's newly formed community. The Rabbi no longer spoke with spiritual authority, and the synagogue was no longer central to the gathering of God's people. For a variety of reasons, believers gathered in smaller venues where spiritually gifted men were appointed as elders and leaders. (Some scholars suggest the groups were approximately 100 people in number.)
In Jerusalem the church leadership positions were initially filled by the twelve, and they appointed others who were recognized as spiritually gifted for the role (they were identified as apostles and elders). In the later church plants around the world the Apostles served as overseers, appointing elders to lead at the local level.
It is valuable to remember that the five-fold ministry gifts delineated by Paul in Ephesians were not clearly identified for almost 30 years after the church was conceived. It was as Paul went about his ministry of planting and nurturing churches that God began revealing more of the intricacies of the church's divine leadership structure, and so he penned the Ephesians 4:11 passage. It is also important to recall that Paul's teaching was interpreted in the context of the above Jewish leadership concepts, not those of our twenty-first century.
For example, very early church leaders were loosely categorized--apostles, teachers, prophets, and elders--it was an inspired organizational development rooted in prevailing cultural and theological concepts. There were the founding twelve apostles, then additional men who were able to instruct new converts, then prophets (primarily preachers) emerged to inspire and challenge the believers, and the elders who oversaw church community life
In Jerusalem the church leadership positions were initially filled by the twelve, and they appointed others who were recognized as spiritually gifted for the role (they were identified as apostles and elders). In the later church plants around the world the Apostles served as overseers, appointing elders to lead at the local level.
It is valuable to remember that the five-fold ministry gifts delineated by Paul in Ephesians were not clearly identified for almost 30 years after the church was conceived. It was as Paul went about his ministry of planting and nurturing churches that God began revealing more of the intricacies of the church's divine leadership structure, and so he penned the Ephesians 4:11 passage. It is also important to recall that Paul's teaching was interpreted in the context of the above Jewish leadership concepts, not those of our twenty-first century.
For example, very early church leaders were loosely categorized--apostles, teachers, prophets, and elders--it was an inspired organizational development rooted in prevailing cultural and theological concepts. There were the founding twelve apostles, then additional men who were able to instruct new converts, then prophets (primarily preachers) emerged to inspire and challenge the believers, and the elders who oversaw church community life
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In Acts 15, the role of Prophet is defined as one with the ability to minister orally ("they spoke encouragement and strengthened believers in their faith"), and in Acts 11, one of the prophets (Agabus) proclaimed supernatural insight concerning the future. This fore-telling incident is sometimes cited by teachers to support an overly narrow view of the prophetic ministry role.
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In reality, the fore-telling (or directional) element is simply one aspect of the prophetic minister's larger role -- preaching the message of God. A clearer definition of a prophet emerges when considering the explicit definition given to false prophets. A false prophet teaches a message contrary to that of the apostles. (The ministry gift of prophet should not be confused with the spiritual gift of prophecy.)
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Our more contemporary definition of the prophet's ministry has caused present-day church leaders considerable angst as they attempt to release five-fold ministry gifts within the church. The widespread teaching that God has gifted prophets to function primarily as seers has moved some leaders to attempt to walk in that ministry focus, while others look to them for direction. The result is unreliable and inconsistent messages, as well as paralyzed and confused local church leaders. The mistake has brought suspicion upon the whole topic of five-fold ministry gifting.
Our more contemporary definition of the prophet's ministry has caused present-day church leaders considerable angst as they attempt to release five-fold ministry gifts within the church. The widespread teaching that God has gifted prophets to function primarily as seers has moved some leaders to attempt to walk in that ministry focus, while others look to them for direction. The result is unreliable and inconsistent messages, as well as paralyzed and confused local church leaders. The mistake has brought suspicion upon the whole topic of five-fold ministry gifting.
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As discussed earlier (previous blog entry), the church's ministry is very dependent upon a clear understanding of what the church should look like in our world. Tantamount to that are the more complex issues of how it should work. As we clearly see in God's awesome natural creation, form closely follows function. It is likewise true with those called into fellowship under His lordship -- the Church. (Ephesians 4:11)
December 14, 2005
What the Heck is It?
It was weird looking, unlike anything I'd ever seen. The longer I examined the strange contraption, the more convinced I became that its design rendered it useless.
That was the draw of this particular segment of the popular Antique Road Show. The host would showcase some ancient device and challenge the viewers to figure out what it was. I was never able to successfully identify any of the old gadgets. The reason... I couldn't relate to the needs of the homemaker or businessman living generations ago. My connection to the item was from a remote 21st century perspective, and it was difficult for me to perceive its value back then.
Timeless truths, not cultural traditions, are the "spiritual batons" that should be passed to our neighbors and communities. The truth of God's word will become more potent as we shine it unobstructed onto the facets of our freshly cut culture. Divine perspective will gain new life as teachers and ministers take the time to carefully peel truth from its ancient culture and present it within the story of today.
Perhaps that is why I get frustrated when well-meaning believers attempt to graft aspects of ancient Jewish culture into our worship. Certainly we can glean spiritual insights as we consider how God spoke through His people, but the culture itself had no intrinsic value - it was simply the vehicle. It's all about the message, not the media. The church must focus on the task of shining God's truth on the culture in which she finds herself. In so doing, God will speak as distinctly and forcefully as He did millenniums ago.
The purpose of church liturgy, whether Episcopal, Baptist, or Pentecostal, has no sacred function, save its communicative role in expressing truth as His people understand or experience it. If Christ's church chooses to wrap herself in the culture or liturgy of decades ago, she will lose her voice and value in the world today.
That was the draw of this particular segment of the popular Antique Road Show. The host would showcase some ancient device and challenge the viewers to figure out what it was. I was never able to successfully identify any of the old gadgets. The reason... I couldn't relate to the needs of the homemaker or businessman living generations ago. My connection to the item was from a remote 21st century perspective, and it was difficult for me to perceive its value back then.
Timeless truths, not cultural traditions, are the "spiritual batons" that should be passed to our neighbors and communities. The truth of God's word will become more potent as we shine it unobstructed onto the facets of our freshly cut culture. Divine perspective will gain new life as teachers and ministers take the time to carefully peel truth from its ancient culture and present it within the story of today.
Perhaps that is why I get frustrated when well-meaning believers attempt to graft aspects of ancient Jewish culture into our worship. Certainly we can glean spiritual insights as we consider how God spoke through His people, but the culture itself had no intrinsic value - it was simply the vehicle. It's all about the message, not the media. The church must focus on the task of shining God's truth on the culture in which she finds herself. In so doing, God will speak as distinctly and forcefully as He did millenniums ago.
The purpose of church liturgy, whether Episcopal, Baptist, or Pentecostal, has no sacred function, save its communicative role in expressing truth as His people understand or experience it. If Christ's church chooses to wrap herself in the culture or liturgy of decades ago, she will lose her voice and value in the world today.
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I've got to believe it hurts the heart of Jesus when those He loves and died for look at His church and ask, "What the heck is it?" (2Timothy 4:17)
December 9, 2005
Getting To Oz
Over the years I've had many opportunities to observe the ways of a leader. Leading people is an intricate and highly technical role - some can do it naturally, others acquire skills through experience and training. Though many men and women are successful in life, few understand or function as leaders. The entrepreneur, businessman, scientist, athlete, orator, or musician can all be effective in their work without a clue about leading others. They may inspire, but seldom do they lead. As we look back in history, it seems that God always had a man or women waiting in the wings, prepared for that critical time when leadership must step forward. We can be confident that our future will be no different.
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As Dorothy found out in her quest to see the wizard, leading others on their journey to Oz can be filled with frustration and struggles. People without heart, courage, and wisdom will invariably weigh us down and make us crazy, not to mention the menacing villains flying pell-mell in and out of our lives.
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In my journey spanning a handful of decades, I've been able to identify four principles that may help the Dorothy's of our church world safely navigate the yellow brick road to their land of Oz.
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Four Christian Leadership Principles
Embrace the Validity of Your Call
God calls and anoints leaders in a variety of ways.
Embrace the Validity of Your Call
God calls and anoints leaders in a variety of ways.
Gideon experienced God's miraculous call -- Judges 6:20 -22.
Samuel was asked to grow into God's call -- I Sam. 3:19 .
Timothy was required to walk out God's --Acts 16:1,5.
Cast Your Vision
A primary role of leadership is to identify the destination.
Where Is the leader going -- What is our destination?
Why shuld we follow him -- Do we want to go there?
What role will each have -- Will we find fulfillment as we follow?
Manage Your Vision
The secondary role of a leader:
Keeping everyone involved.
Keeping everyone informed.
Samuel was asked to grow into God's call -- I Sam. 3:19 .
Timothy was required to walk out God's --Acts 16:1,5.
Cast Your Vision
A primary role of leadership is to identify the destination.
Where Is the leader going -- What is our destination?
Why shuld we follow him -- Do we want to go there?
What role will each have -- Will we find fulfillment as we follow?
Manage Your Vision
The secondary role of a leader:
Keeping everyone involved.
Keeping everyone informed.
Keeping everyone inspired.
Keeping everyone in community.
Be a Person of Integrity
Be honest before God -- Gideon was authentic.
In contrast, Saul had two 2 personas -- public and private (1sam. 15:1-3; 7-9)
Be honest before God -- Gideon was authentic.
In contrast, Saul had two 2 personas -- public and private (1sam. 15:1-3; 7-9)
Be Honest before others.
Keep your promises.
Keep your hands out of the till.
Don't manipulate people.
Work harder than anyone else.
Keep your hands out of the till.
Don't manipulate people.
Work harder than anyone else.
December 4, 2005
Time Is On Our Side
Is time a friend or foe? We often spend our day bemoaning our lack of it, never having enough to complete a particular task or project. Time is a commodity of enormous value, like money, most of us can't get enough to do what we really want. But, unlike money, we can never collect or save time for a future day.
Our God transcends time. His existence and activity are never held in subjection to time's earthly constraints, yet it was God who thought to create it. Time is a divine concept, initiated to support and propagate the creation of Genesis. So it's not surprising to note that throughout history every divine manifestation and intervention was in some way shaped by time. In fact, scriptures show us that God is very much a clock watcher, making reference to time at nearly a thousand different places.
His creation was accomplished and explained within the context of a specific timetable. Virtually every passage reveals His cognizance of time and the force it exerts upon creation. The Bible is replete with scriptures that speak of the passing of generations, often detailing the exact life spans of people who served Him. God understands time better than any of us, for His words spun the earth and set the whole time continuum in motion.
God comfortably works within the context of human time constraints. The Acts twelve account of Peter's miraculous release from prison places God squarely within the context of mankind's time crunch. What strikes me in the passage is how the angel awakened a sleeping Peter who was chained and guarded by Roman soldiers. The first word uttered by the angel dealt with the element of time; he jarred Peter from his sleep with: "Quick! Get up!"
In considering this passage, we might ask the question, Why was time an issue here? Did the angel have another mission scheduled for that night? Was the angel afraid of more soldiers arriving? Perhaps the angel was aware of those praying for Peter and wanted to promptly answer their prayer. There was a reason for his sense of urgency and the intensity of his words.
While I can't be certain, I propose the angel's concern for "quickness" was rooted in his desire to connect with Peter's human dilemma. Conventional wisdom has always been: when escaping prison, do it quickly! God's hand in freeing Peter was carried out in a manner consistent with the circumstances surrounding his plight as a prisoner.
God is continually at work in our lives... He sees time as our ally, not our adversary. It is a force conceived to motivate and guide us in our journey with Him. As we watch His universe meticulously click through its revolutions and orbits, we can see a God desirous to move through the calendars and timepieces that govern us.
Time reminds us of our mortality and His eternality. Though His existence is untouched by time and space, we can take comfort in the knowledge that His words created them. Our daily schedules should anticipate His presence and power, for certainly He is a God aware and active in the times and seasons of our lives. (Acts 12:6-17)
Our God transcends time. His existence and activity are never held in subjection to time's earthly constraints, yet it was God who thought to create it. Time is a divine concept, initiated to support and propagate the creation of Genesis. So it's not surprising to note that throughout history every divine manifestation and intervention was in some way shaped by time. In fact, scriptures show us that God is very much a clock watcher, making reference to time at nearly a thousand different places.
His creation was accomplished and explained within the context of a specific timetable. Virtually every passage reveals His cognizance of time and the force it exerts upon creation. The Bible is replete with scriptures that speak of the passing of generations, often detailing the exact life spans of people who served Him. God understands time better than any of us, for His words spun the earth and set the whole time continuum in motion.
God comfortably works within the context of human time constraints. The Acts twelve account of Peter's miraculous release from prison places God squarely within the context of mankind's time crunch. What strikes me in the passage is how the angel awakened a sleeping Peter who was chained and guarded by Roman soldiers. The first word uttered by the angel dealt with the element of time; he jarred Peter from his sleep with: "Quick! Get up!"
In considering this passage, we might ask the question, Why was time an issue here? Did the angel have another mission scheduled for that night? Was the angel afraid of more soldiers arriving? Perhaps the angel was aware of those praying for Peter and wanted to promptly answer their prayer. There was a reason for his sense of urgency and the intensity of his words.
While I can't be certain, I propose the angel's concern for "quickness" was rooted in his desire to connect with Peter's human dilemma. Conventional wisdom has always been: when escaping prison, do it quickly! God's hand in freeing Peter was carried out in a manner consistent with the circumstances surrounding his plight as a prisoner.
God is continually at work in our lives... He sees time as our ally, not our adversary. It is a force conceived to motivate and guide us in our journey with Him. As we watch His universe meticulously click through its revolutions and orbits, we can see a God desirous to move through the calendars and timepieces that govern us.
Time reminds us of our mortality and His eternality. Though His existence is untouched by time and space, we can take comfort in the knowledge that His words created them. Our daily schedules should anticipate His presence and power, for certainly He is a God aware and active in the times and seasons of our lives. (Acts 12:6-17)
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