My Club is Better than Your Club (part 1)

Let's face it: Churches, organizationally speaking, are faith-based clubs, of which you are either a member or not.

They are all looking for new committed members, so that they can continue to exist, or possibly even grow. Every one of them has good reasons why theirs is better than the other ones in town. It might be better music, better drama, a better pastor, better preaching/teaching, better facilities, nicer people, better multimedia, staff, missions projects, community activities, outreach programs, Bible studies, doctrinal statements, counseling, youth activities, kids' programs, political associations, status in the community, etc.

Go ahead, ask any pastor or priest why their church is a better choice than the other ones in town--if they are a good salesperson, you should get a nice list of reasons.

I remember once seeing a Catholic priest meeting with some potential members, saying "the thing about the Catholic church is that everything you see inside the building MEANS something." I don't know...that might be a selling point for somebody, but I don't really care that much about symbolism.

I guess I need a different kind of club--maybe something a little more intellectual and edgy. That's my personality, after all.

There's nothing wrong with joining a club that fits your personality, right? So if you find one you like, why not? Go for it.

What is a club? It's:

"an association of persons for some common object usually jointly supported and meeting periodically; also : a group identified by some common characteristic b : the meeting place of a club <lunch at the club> c : an association of persons participating in a plan by which they agree to make regular payments or purchases in order to secure some advantage." (Merriam-Webster)

That could describe most churches, I think.

So then, what does it take to join a club?

First, you need to be eligible and willing to commit to membership. In the case of church membership, to be eligible, you need to agree to the church's doctrinal statement. In some you need to say you have a personal relationship with Jesus. Of course they hope that you believe the statement with your whole heart, not just agree mentally. But since there's no way of proving that one way or the other, a mental agreement will have to do.

Most churches also have some doctrinal "distinctives" that set them apart from the other churches in town. These might be something along the lines of baptism, communion, spiritual gifts, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the nature of the trinity, predestination, free will, or the end times. You'll need to agree to those too. On the other hand, if you're not sure about your beliefs in these areas, don't worry that much. You'll have plenty of time to be taught these things as a member. Just sign the paper, ok? Let's not split hairs.

Second, you will need to be accepted as a member. You're not going to embarrass the church with your reputation, are you? Or make it seem like the church is condoning a sinful lifestyle? Or, maybe you have baggage from your last church. If you have a pentecostal background, for example, are you going to disrupt our worship services with your demonstrative worship methods? You're not going to fight with us over our view on baptism, are you? We need to make sure you really "fit" here.

But if everybody's agreeable up to this point, you can become a member--you're in! What now?

Well, of course there's the whole money issue. How else can we keep the lights on and the staff paid? We might call it a tithe, or an offering, or something else; the important thing is that our club keeps running. So above all, make sure you are giving money regularly, sacrificially, and faithfully. You don't want to be responsible for "robbing from God" and letting our club fall apart, do you?

Beyond giving money, you should also make sure to participate in the activities and classes as they're offered. It might fill up your schedule to an unmanageable level, but the important thing is that you are getting attached to THIS group of people and that you are learning OUR way of thinking and relating to God. Then you will truly understand, at a deep level, why our club is better than the others in town.

I remember being raised Lutheran, and being taught why their view on communion was right and the other Synod's view was wrong, and why they didn't associate with churches that associated with certain Christian movements, like ecumenism, for example. Later on, I discovered literature from the Worldwide Church of God, where I learned all about why they "got it" about God's plan and all the other churches in the world didn't.

Later, I became involved in a United Pentecostal Church and learned how the rest of Christendom had been deceiving the world with their unbiblical, tri-theistic view of the trinity and baptism. I also learned there that your clothing and appearance set you apart from the world (and the other so-called "Christians") that doesn't know God. In those days, I felt very superior to all the other, less enlightened, Christian clubs. That was a great feeling!

After a few years in that club, however, I started investigating into the world of Fundamentalism, where I learned that everything I learned at the Pentecostal church was wrong. I learned this from the best of the best, at a seminary led by a high-powered Bible teacher named John MacArthur. It totally messed up my previous church associations, and I had to upend my life once again, but at last I had found a better, more biblical club to join...for now.

But then, after a while, I discovered that Fundamentalism not only has deep divisions within its own ranks, but it ultimately cares a lot more about being doctrinally right than loving people (especially people with inferior doctrine)...so, I slowly walked away, shifted my paradigm once again, and joined a more moderate kind of Evangelicalism. It was kind of a mix of former Fundamentalists and Protestants and Catholics and Pentecostals who decided not to talk about these things in the open. Just keep things simple, don't dig too deep, put on an inspiring presentation on Sundays, keep people busy with activities and classes, and we're good to go! That worked really well for quite some time.

But a funny thing happened there, too...

After ten years of commitment to this particular club as a member and as leader/pastor, I was informed that I was a "square peg" where they needed a "round hole". I didn't fit in anymore, if indeed I ever did in the first place. How could this be, I wondered? I thought the body of Christ accepted all kinds of people, even different kinds of leaders? Nope, it really doesn't work that way at this club. You really need to fit in. You really need to be a representative of "our way" of doing things. If you're going to be a member and a leader in our club, you have to see things our way, and fit in with our style. Apparently one of the games they played in this club was "King of the Mountain"--and in the end, I lost.

Fair enough, I guess. If I joined the team at McDonald's and refused to wear the uniform, I would probably get fired. If I joined the local Republican party, but kept bringing up problems and questions with the party, I might get tossed out. I can appreciate that.

I just have to wonder though...what do all of these clubs have to do with the body of Christ? Is this really what Jesus had in mind when He birthed The Church? Didn't Jesus come up with something better than a myriad of Christian clubs competing for members?

Gosh, I sure hope so! More on this to come...

Actually, I AM Looking for the Perfect Church

Ever heard these kinds of statements before?

"If you find the perfect church, don't join it, because then it won't be perfect anymore."

"If you should find the perfect church
Without one fault or smear,
For goodness sake! Don't join that church
You'd spoil the atmosphere."

I get the point. True, there are no perfect people, so if you put a bunch of them together there will be flaws. And to look for any group of people that will meet your every human need and never disappoint you is a vain pursuit. I get that.

But let's cut to the chase: These are statements typically made by people that want you to join (or stay in) their church, but don't want you to criticize anything that you might find wrong. Right?

• Is there a culture of gossip in the church? Don't criticize, there's no perfect church.
• Is there favoritism toward the rich? Don't criticize, there's no perfect church.
• Is there corruption in the leadership? Don't criticize, there's no perfect church.
• Are people in positions they are not gifted for? Don't criticize, there's no perfect church.
• Is scripture used inappropriately to manipulate people's insecurities? Don't criticize, there's no perfect church.
• Are the relationships in the church co-dependent or abusive? Don't criticize, there's no perfect church.
• Are all tough questions answered with a pat answer from the "inner circle"? Don't criticize, there's no perfect church.

Just keep attending and giving your money, and don't criticize. There's no perfect church.

But actually, I am looking for the perfect church. As it turns out, so is Jesus:

"He [Jesus] gave up his life for her [the church] to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish." - Ephesians 5:26-27

Jesus prayed to the Father: "The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they [the church] may be perfected in unity..." - John 17:22-23

Does this mean I expect to be treated perfectly by every believer? No, I don't. Does this mean I expect moral perfection and impeccable behavior? No. Does this mean I expect every believer to have no struggle with any vice? Of course not. Is that Jesus' real goal for his church on earth? No.

What I do expect from the church is that it will display the same qualities of love, peace, courage, forgiveness, grace, hope, conviction, and faith that Jesus did.

A perfect church is not made up of perfect people--it simply expresses the spirit of Jesus, who is perfect.

Is this too much to expect? I don't think so--I've seen it happen:

• I've been in churches that are anxious, and ones that are peaceful.
• I've been in churches that gossip, and ones that refuse to.
• I've been in churches that abuse people, and ones that don't.
• I've been in churches that control and manipulate the weak, and ones that don't.
• I've been in churches that stir up guilt, and ones that understand grace.

If your particular church group is characterized by anxiety, suspicion, gossip, manipulation, dysfunction, or fear, look for something better--NOW. Don't waste any more of your precious time looking for a healthy meal in a dumpster; it's not going to get better without a demolition. You have my permission to go out and "look for the perfect church".

You may have to wander in the wilderness to find it, but it's there.

...and as it turns out, the perfect church is not made up of perfect people at all!

If you have discovered a relationship with fellow believers that is peaceful, open, honest, free, emotionally healthy, growing, and full of faith--you have found the perfect church! Live in it, participate, use your gifts, glorify God, and tell people the good news you have discovered.

Jesus is creating the perfect church, and yes, you CAN find it.

A Tribute to Trashed Pastors

Today I want to take a moment and remember those who have been crushed under the load of institutional "pastoring"--for the most part, good, godly people who believed they were following God's calling to serve, but who unwittingly got sucked into a mechanical religious system, only to be spit out when their usefulness came to an end.

I never thought I would be in those ranks, but I am. I realize I am only one person with an extremely narrow scope of experience, but in my 20 years of actively serving God in ministry, I have personally witnessed the demise of several strong, sincere leaders as they lost their livelihood, dignity, and human spirit, in their effort to "pastor" a local church. If you haven't been through this yourself, I suspect you may know someone who has.

I use the word "pastor" in quotes, because I am referring to the modern-day definition of pastoring, not the biblical one. The modern-day pastor is not "pastoring" in the New Testament sense as much as being the head of a religious organization. These kinds of "pastors" are expected to be in equal parts a leader, a teacher, a counselor, a strategist, a family person, a business manager, an orator, a fundraiser, fun-loving, social, morally impeccable, and of course Christ-like.

A pastor who is paid to take on this ridiculous level of responsibility is constantly evaluated by their performance in every one of these areas. Their career, and the their income, depends on it. They are expected to not only understand the political and relational minefield contained in their local church body, but also to maneuver it with skill, confidence, and poise. Admitting the inability to keep up will be fatal to their career.

The pastor's family must be in a constant state of approval by the church's money people, elders, and other key position holders and influencers. A pastor might be walking the tightrope of his/her job description adequately, only to have an errant spouse or child throw everything out of balance. Some pastors find this environment revolting, while others thrive on it, like a celebrity thrives on an audience. No one goes unaffected, however. This environment corrupts even the most sincere.

One of the pastors I knew lost his spirit and his position after a daughter became pregnant out of wedlock. The next one fell to an online relationship resulting in adultery. Another was humiliated, along with his wife and small children, in front of the church, because they didn't measure up to the expectations of the various boards and committees. The most successful of the ones I knew valiantly fought the "old guard" for over a decade, and helped a church grow, only to ultimately succumb to burnout, career loss, and bankruptcy.

One of the ways that churches suck is how they suck the life out of its leaders.

For me, it was stubbornly believing that an institutional church could function organically--for believing that people should serve through giftedness, not position. My insistence was more than this system could tolerate, and I was also "thrown under the bus" in a wave of political maneuvers. My own experience of getting trashed by the church came after twenty years of pursuing ministry; when I was a young adult, I abandoned my previous career, believing I was giving myself to the most noble of professions. I was deceived, and now I have a lot of catching up to do.

Someone outside of the situation might reasonably ask: Weren't these leaders at fault? Don't they take some responsibility for their own results? Of course they do. I'm sure they are reminded of this daily, through regret and guilt. I know I am.

Sinners or saints, martyrs, well-meaning fools, or self-centered egotists, whatever you want to call them, they all lie on a huge, invisible scrapheap. They may find new work, they may manage to rebuild a life, they may even continue on and take on another pastoring role; but the fact remains that they have been sucked in and spit out by the church machine.

THE Church described in the Bible is not without its problems and faults, even under the purest of circumstances. But this religious-political entity we call "church" today has an even deeper challenge: It is not a community at all. It is a religious business above all, and it is stealing, killing, and destroying the most sincere, the most generous, and the most sacrificial people in its ranks--those who would dare take on the role of "pastor."

I know there's a time to move beyond this, think positively, embrace God's grace, release the pain of the past, and experience the best of the life God has planned for us. I know there is no real value in dwelling on this level of personal carnage. So if this is too heavy or too negative for you, I apologize.

Still, I think this is a story that needs to be told.

Do you have a story?

Church Heirarchy, part 2: Who Are You "of"?

Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. For some members of Chloe’s household have told me about your quarrels, my dear brothers and sisters. Some of you are saying, “I am a follower of Paul.” Others are saying, “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Peter,” or “I follow only Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:10-12)

Who do you follow? Who are you "of?"

When you are asked about your faith or your church life, how do you answer? Do you answer with the name of your church, the name of your senior Pastor, or the name of your denomination? That is what most people want to know, usually. What denomination are you with? What church do you go to? Who's your pastor?

In other words, who are you "of"? Inquiring minds want to know!

We really do want to know. People really like, even need, to have clean categories by which to associate or disassociate with one another. Oh, you're Catholic; you're Southern Baptist; you're Assembly of God--now I know how to relate to you. Oh, you're part of Bethel, St. Mark's, Calvary, House of Praise, Community Church, etc--I know about them. Oh, you're at Pastor Johnson's church, Pastor Bill's, Father Tom's, or whatever--I've heard about them.

And once we can name who we are, then we can also know who we are not. We are NOT traditional, contemporary, pentecostal, liturgical, reformed, Calvinist, pre-millenial, emergent, denominational, etc. That's wrong; we're right. This gives us our identity, our tradition, our sense of security.

There's just one rather large problem with all this, however: The Church described in the New Testament is not like this; in fact, it directly opposes this way of "doing church."

In The Church, the Body of Christ, all members are members of one another--every other believer, both locally and universally (Ephesians 4:25). It is an invisible community made up of relationships that are equal, loving, considerate, forgiving, and encouraging.

Jesus very clearly said that we should not identify ourselves under particular teachers.

“Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters. And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father. And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah." (Matthew 23:8-12)

The Apostle Paul also made it clear that dividing ourselves up according to church leaders is divisive and wrong.

Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. For some members of Chloe’s household have told me about your quarrels, my dear brothers and sisters. Some of you are saying, “I am a follower of Paul.” Others are saying, “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Peter,” or “I follow only Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:10-12)

Let me ask this question a different way to pastors: If you are a church leader, who follows you?

Yes, there are such things as pastors, elders, teachers, and other kinds of leaders in the church. But they are only there for one purpose--to encourage the Body to grow up under Jesus Christ, the true leader, teacher, priest, and authority:

He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ, until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ. Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or because someone has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth. Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. (Ephesians 4:11-15)

Here's another reason why churches suck:

When people divide up into camps, they suck loyalty away from Jesus Christ, suck the growth potential out of their members, and suck the life out of those human leaders by placing superhuman expectations on them (see Church Hierarchy, part 1).

In "churches" of the top-down hierarchical variety, members are members ally themselves under one particular Senior Pastor, who is usually under one particular governing body, who is usually under one particular denomination, who in turn find their identity in how they are distinct from, and in some way superior to, the other denominations, governing bodies, and local pastors and members.

The Church that is really alive in Jesus Christ and functioning as His Body has one head--Jesus himself. Churches that rely on a top-down chain of command find their "life" and identity under a human organization or a human leader, which sets them apart from all the other human organizations and leaders out there. When you become a member of a hierarchical church, you commit yourself to operate under that particular "head", who is not Jesus Christ, but a human leader or organization.

So who are you "of"? And if you're a pastor or other appointed church leader, who is "of" you? How much identity do you find in who you are "under" or "over"?

I'm not suggesting that you quit your church, if you are part of one. I'm not suggesting that you stage a rebellion against your pastor, priest, or denomination. I'm not suggesting that you go "house church". I'm just asking. Who are you "of"? When you need to understand something about God, who do you go to? When you are looking for authority in your spiritual life, who do you look to? When you are looking for a sense of security, leadership, vision, direction, or assurance, where do you turn? To Jesus or your pastor?

If you are a pastor or other church leader, where do you want people to turn for these things? Do you really want them to turn to Jesus Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit that's found in the open fellowship of all believers? Or does that concern you that they will get "off track"? Do you feel a need to be the guide, the leader, the teacher, over the body of Christ? How much security do you find in your position?

People who have not found security in Jesus Christ need a human leader to give them step-by-step directions. And pastors who have not found their true confidence in Jesus Christ need followers to depend on them and give them a sense of purpose.

Church hierarchy sucks, because it is essentially co-dependent. It is also very, very hard to escape and discover true freedom and security in Christ.

But that's where faith really lives. Your identity is in Jesus Christ and your membership in his one body.

Who do you follow?

Church Heirarchy, part 1: Someone to Watch Over Me

“Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters. And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father. And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah." (Matthew 23:8-12)

When you think of a "pastor"--what comes to mind?

Not any particular pastor, good or bad. Just a pastor, in general. What is that person? What do they do? What is their job and responsibility? What makes a good one? A bad one?

If you're like most people, you think of a pastor as the primary leader of a local church. In some churches, the pastor is the CEO, or final authority; but even if he (or she) doesn't have spiritual authority over the church, they are at least the most visible staff member--the one everyone looks to (and pays) for inspiration, leadership, and an example of mature Christianity. They typically need to function as the churches chief manager, counselor, and public speaker specializing in Bible teaching.

Regardless of the particular politics of a given church, the pastor (and pastoral staff) are usually expected to fill these roles and responsibilities. They are expected to spend more time on the business of the church than the "non-pastor" members. It is expected that they will devote their full-time efforts to leading and managing that particular church. They are also expected to live at a higher ethical standard then the typical "non-pastor" members.

The church member's job is to attend and participate, and pay for their pastoral staff to uphold these roles. The pastor's job is to uphold these roles; if they do not, they will lose their position. After all, that's what they're paid for, right? They need to be about the business of the church full time, because the "non-pastors" are already busy with their "secular" work. Somebody needs to make sure the church keeps running and growing. That job falls to the pastor, of course.

That's the predominant thought, anyway--that's what we have all been conditioned to think about pastors. Pastors (clergy) have been given more responsibility and authority than laity. They are "over" and the rest of us are looking up to them. So, if you're looking for God's direction, you really need to check in with your pastor. They have the position of authority; they are your spiritual covering; they are your 'teacher'; they have been given the wisdom.

So what's the big deal? I see at least two really big problems with this:

1. It puts certain "specially qualified and approved" people in the unbiblical role of spiritual Teacher and Father-figure--roles which belongs only to God.
   
2. On a practical level, it does more harm than good to the people involved. Take a look at these stats from The Fuller Institute, George Barna, and Pastoral Care, Inc.
   

• 90% of the pastors report working between 55 to 75 hours per week.
• 80% believe pastoral ministry has negatively affected their families. Many pastor's children do not attend church now because of what the church has done to their parents.
• 33% state that being in the ministry is an outright hazard to their family.
• 75% report significant stress-related crisis at least once in their ministry.
• 90% feel they are inadequately trained to cope with the ministry demands.
• 50% feel unable to meet the demands of the job.
• 70% say they have a lower self-image now than when they first started.
• 70% do not have someone they consider a close friend.
• 40% report serious conflict with a parishioner at least once a month.
• 33% confess having involved in inappropriate sexual behavior with someone in the church .
• 50% have considered leaving the ministry in the last months.
• 50% of the ministers starting out will not last 5 years.
• 1 out of every 10 ministers will actually retire as a minister in some form.
• 94% of clergy families feel the pressures of the pastor's ministry.
• 66% of church members expect a minister and family to live at a higher moral standard than themselves.
• Moral values of a Christian is no different than those who consider themselves as non-Christians.
• The average American will tell 23 lies a day.
• The profession of “Pastor” is near the bottom of a survey of the most-respected professions, just above “car salesman”.
• Over 4,000 churches closed in America last year.
• Over 1,700 pastors left the ministry every month last year.
• Over 1,300 pastors were terminated by the local church each month , many without cause.
• Over 3,500 people a day left the church last year.
• Many denominations report an “empty pulpit crisis”. They cannot find ministers willing to fill positions.

And if this is happening to the leaders, how is that affecting the churches they are leading? How does it affect morale? The community life of the body of Christ? Spiritual growth? The mission of the Church?

Incidentally, these are not just statistics to me. They precisely describe my own experience as one who has been both a pastor and a former pastor. Maybe you can relate too; the numbers of us "ex-pastors" out there is growing every year!

Here's why I think church hierarchy (i.e. the Clergy-Laity system) sucks: The idea of putting a person in charge of God's church does not come from God. It comes from the human desire to have a human leader.

We crave structure that we can understand and see with our eyes. As a result, we naturally assign people these roles of spiritual leadership, even though God specifically told us not to. And we all suffer for it.

This isn't a new problem, by the way; the same thing happened with the people of Israel, didn't it? God wanted to lead the people Himself, but they didn't want that--they wanted a human leader, much like the kind they had seen over other nations. he prophet Samuel warned them of the consequences of this, but they insisted:

But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning. “Even so, we still want a king,” they said. “We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.” (1 Samuel 8:19-20)

This set a pattern that held for generations--with mixed results, and many, many tragedies for God's people. When Jesus finally came to reiterate God's view on this topic, he put it this way:

“Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters. And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father. And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah." (Matthew 23:8-12)

Later on, in the early life of the Church, the apostle Paul warned against Christian believers aligning themselves under particular church leaders:

Some of you are saying, “I am a follower of Paul.” Others are saying, “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Peter,” or “I follow only Christ.” Has Christ been divided into factions? Was I, Paul, crucified for you? Were any of you baptized in the name of Paul? Of course not! (1 Corinthians 1:12-13)

When the Roman Emperor Constantine gave Christianity a government-approved presence in the 300s A.D., he effectively gave God's people back the human leaders they craved. After this, churches became local organizations, each with their own dedicated building and their own human leadership--just like the government, just like the local pagan religions, just like "the nations" that Israel looked to. And this basic form, with some revision, has remained with us to this day.

Nowadays we say things like, "I am a Lutheran," "I am a Southern Baptist," "I go to Pastor _______'s church," or "I am a part of the _________ church family." What is the implication of all of these statements? They all imply that we find our spiritual identity under one particular group, organization or leader. But there is still only one Body, and only one Leader.

I figure that for many people reading this, the burning question might be: But doesn't the Bible teach that the Church has leaders, pastors, elders, etc.? Don't we as sheep need shepherds to guide us? The answer is, yes; but more on that next time...

Please understand that I'm not saying "pastors" are unbiblical; they are one of God's gifts to the Church. Beyond that, many people who are pastoring right now are great, godly people with a passion to serve God's Church. I am not against any people, especially those who have committed themselves to the call to ministry. I'm saying that how we've turned pastors into a clergy class, which has authority over the laity, is unbiblical.

The churches we know and experience today are more often operated like a government, a business, or a military organization. In those kinds of organizations, it's normal to have a top-down flowchart of command. It's what we all know, understand, and are used to.

But it's not how the body of Christ works.

I know this topic may be a tough sell for some. You may be reading this disagree with me, and that would be fine. This is my blog, you can write yours. Conversation is a good thing. I am not the be-all and know-all. I am only speaking from my own perspective, my own experience, and my own understanding of God's word.

In part two of Church Heirarchy, I'll focus more on the solution than the problem. If this clergy-laity thing sucks, then what doesn't? How can we as followers of Christ begin to trust our true Leader more and more, so we can follow where He's leading?

Thanks for taking the time to read through and consider this, and please feel free to sound off with any thoughts you might have about Church Heirarchy.

Church Politics, part 2: What Can Be Done?

In part one, we discovered that church politics suck. But you probably didn't need a blog to tell you that!

In his book The 8th Habit, Stephen Covey identifies what he calls "five emotional cancers" you might find in any given group or organization:

• Criticizing
• Complaining
• Comparing
• Competing
• Contending

He points out that when these things find their way into a group of people, or a culture, these cells will "metastasize" and infect the group so that it ultimately becomes so polarized and divided that it's incapable of producing anything of real quality.

We already know we can find sick politics in our workplaces, governments, schools, and other organizations, so maybe it shouldn't surprise us to find it in churches as well.

But if it's in the church, isn't this simply a matter of "there are no perfect churches", and we must simply learn to accept it?

Absolutely not! "Politics as usual" is unacceptable in the body of Christ. Take another look at Covey's emotional cancers, and compare it to the apostle Paul's list of "the works of the flesh":

"...hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group..." (Galatians 5:20)

Our calling as THE Church, on the other hand, is to refuse that way of doing things:

"Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." (Ephesians 4:31-32)

But many churches don't refuse politics, they embrace them. Even worse, the leadership will very often protect the politics by reframing and justifying them with biblical language and/or reassuring words, whether in public or private. This is nothing more than a PR smokescreen to keep church members ignorant. And to complete the circuit, many church members would rather not know what's really going on--it's simply too disturbing.

If we find ourselves in an environment where anyone who questions how things 'really' operate gets labeled as "divisive" or "unteachable", and membership responds with "amen", then its clear we're in the church politics soup--and we're in deep.

So here's a question: If you discover that your church has been infested with politics--that it's more about control than community--what can you, as one person, actually do about it?

Now if you're a follower of Christ, there are some things you should not do. Mostly, the things you should NOT do include things related to revenge, returning evil for evil, or further dividing the believers into camps. For a believer, these approaches are not an option...they may be very tempting at times, but they are off limits to those who claim to follow Christ.

"That old law about 'an eye for an eye' leaves everybody blind. The time is always right to do the right thing." (Martin Luther King, Jr.)

"Revenge is always the weak pleasure of a little and narrow mind." (Juvenal)

"Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable." (Romans 12:17)

In other words, don't go there. You don't fight gossip by gossiping about the gossipers! That approach doesn't improve anything or glorify God in any way.

The spirit-led approach is to unclench your fists, take a deep cleansing breath, do the hard work of confronting the appropriate people graciously and thoroughly if needed, and then make a confident, peaceful choice about where you will continue to fellowship.

I'll explain this in more detail soon, but first:

Chances are you will be VERY emotional about this, because frankly, a church that operates on politics is wrong, and if you have God's spirit in you, this will offend you to the core. Make no mistake: When a church is functioning by strong personalities and under-the-table power moves more than by God's gifting of EVERY member of the body, it is messed up.

It's also hard to see this happen in a church you've connected with for any period of time. Chances are you have good friends there. You may even have a good relationship with the people in leadership. Everybody might have a great heart and the best of intentions; but if the system's got the cancer, it's got the cancer--you can't just ignore it.

So, because confronting a sick system can be an emotional, gut-wrenching, scary thing, it might be helpful to see what to do in baby steps:

1. Come to terms with your own political tendencies. As mentioned before, you're not immune to this problem; chances are you have played some yourself. Have you ever chosen to associate with those who you felt would improve your status or position in the church? Have you ever said things about your fellow believers that you would never say if they were in the room? You don't have to wallow in guilt about this--just acknowledge that you have played the game too, so there's no reason to feel superior. That being said...
2. Stop playing the game. Again, if you take a defensive, combative posture, or start using your own style of manipulation to make your point, you're still playing the game--stop it! The only way out of this mess is to stop playing the game. Refuse to participate, even when others are coaxing you back in.
   
3. Re-read Matthew 18 and confront the appropriate person/people. Follow Jesus' directions here and guide your actions accordingly. If you need to approach someone about this issue, do it individually at first, then bring others in by degrees. This will require courage on your part. It may even be some of the hardest stuff you've ever done in your life!
   
4. If positive change comes, rejoice! If you'll recall, the prophet Jonah didn't actually want Ninevah to repent; he would have rather seen them be judged for their sin, and he was actually disappointed that God showed mercy on them! If your confrontation leads to acknowledgment and real turnaround, rejoice! Don't forget that God does not rejoice in judgement; He rejoices in restoration.
   
5. If the politics are pervasive, consider a healthier fellowship. If, despite your best efforts, your attempts to confront the politics in your church go nowhere, you do have options. If you feel it's the right thing to stay and be a light in a dark place, then you have the option to stay--but if you stay, no more complaining! If however you find you are starving for healthy, Christ-centered fellowship, then it might be best to leave this church in God's hands, say your good-byes, and peacefully move on. The body of Christ is bigger and more alive than you may even realize, and you may find it in the most unlikely places!

And the adventure continues, right?

THE Church is a community where people work at loving one another. There is the "grace and peace" the apostle Paul mentioned so often. They don't divide into camps at the first sign of disagreement. If you've been living in politically-charged church environment for a long time, it may actually be shocking to discover that it doesn't have to be that way!

THE Church, when it rids itself of human politics, is a beautiful thing:

"Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love." (Ephesians 4:16)

Notice how it says "as each part does its own special work". One reason that doesn't happen like it should is church hierarchy, or a top-down approach to running the church. I'll get into that topic next.

Please give me your thoughts about this topic of dealing with church politics. Have you been through this? Are you about ready to go through this? What's been your experience? I'd love to hear from you.

Church Politics, part 1: The Power Struggle

"Politics are not the task of a Christian." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world? When one of you says, 'I am a follower of Paul,' and another says, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you acting just like people of the world?" - Paul the Apostle, 1 Cor. 3:3-4

Miriam-Webster defines politics as "competition between competing interest groups or individuals for power and leadership (as in a government)." But in a church? Inconceivable!

If you are new to the faith or to church life, it can be an exciting, amazing thing. Everything is new, God is real to you, you've discovered a new way of life, you love to worship with other believers, and you marvel at how different life is in the kingdom of God!

But along the way, you might start to notice things that happen in your church--things that are just a bit disturbing. Sure, you see people make mistakes and have flaws--you can handle that (who doesn't have flaws?). You may disagree with something that's said from the pulpit--you can live with that (we're not going to agree on everything, right?). But as you dig deeper, you start to discover some more unsettling dynamics within the church organization...things that are just--wrong.

You discover that there are "money people" who magically seem to get their way more consistently than others. You discover cliques, just like the kind you had in high school. You discover that decisions are made behind the scenes, and that every now and then staff members of the church just "disappear", with no clear explanation.

If you bring this up, you're told that "well, there are no perfect churches"--meaning, you just need to accept this as normal. If you press the issue, you may find yourself a bit more socially (or spiritually) marginalized than before. If you do get to have a meeting with a leader to express your concern, you may experience a politically correct response, an insincere head nod, a questioning of your spiritual maturity, or even outright hostility.

What is going on?

Welcome to church politics.

The unfortunate reality is that in many churches, politics are as natural as breathing--it's just "how things are done". But if that's the air we've breathed, it's given us lung cancer.

If you have the opportunity to get "under the hood" in many churches, you may just find all the things you thought only belonged in a good spy thriller: money, power, control, strategic alliances, lobbyists, secret meetings, scapegoating, lying, sex, you name it.

Some might say that if you have the right type of church, this doesn't happen. But the reality is, it doesn't matter which type of government is used, whether it's a congregation-led, elder-led, pastor-led, denomination-led, board-led, or whatever. Where there is a governing system involved, and where there is money involved, there will be politics.

As Galadriel so eloquently put it at the beginning of the movie The Fellowship of the Ring, we are still talking about "the race of men, who above all else desire power." How true.

From the inception of the church in the first century, it took less than three hundred years for it to be hijacked by the government and morphed into a religious institution, fully loaded with internal and external politics and power structures. And despite various reformations and upheavals since that time, politics continues to be the real "power" that keeps many churches functioning from week to week.

All of this, of course, stands in stark contrast to the kingdom of God that Jesus taught about, and how THE Church is taught by God to function:

“You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave." (Matthew 20:25-27)

^"When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear...hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division..." (Galatians 5:20)

"...throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body." (Ephesians 4:22-25)

So that's why church politics sucks; it feels wrong, because it is wrong; there is no place for it in THE Church.

But what's the alternative? Are there ways we can resist these all-too-common human power plays, and instead operate in the peaceful, yet powerful way that God designed THE Church to operate?

Absolutely. To quote another line from The Lord of the Rings, "there is always hope."

More on that in part 2...