Foundations

This church was built on a bend in a creek. There is not much land between the road and the creek – but the church is tucked neatly into place. Unfortunately, over time, heavy rains and the increased currents that come with them have worn away against the curve and have washed out a significant portion of the buildings foundation. There is no saving this structure. One day it will cave into the creek below, an even lesser image of what used to be.

Foundations are important.

Years ago – somebody put this church here for various reasons. It is a good bet that one reason is the people who lived near would attend. Perhaps the small plot of land was very reasonably priced. And though the land was not big – it surely was unique to be surrounded by water – a small but picturesque setting.

And that backdrop serves as a striking analogy for many leaders in today’s church. It looks great when a pastor is engaged. Heading boards, at every church function, never missing a person in the hospital, seeing people in their homes. They are offering online services, online devotionals and maintaining visitations. Buildings are being built and they are visionaries pouring effort into bringing people on board with the future of the church. Community relations, evangelism and connecting with other pastors in their denominations as well as across denominations. And we have not even addressed their roles as husbands, wives, mothers and fathers.

Pastors – you must stop. It looks amazing, it’s incredibly impressive what talented CEO’s, administrators and leaders we see among us. But the foundation is falling away.

The foundation that will not fall away is found at the beginning of the story of Stephen. When the distribution of food was happening poorly, the church looked to it’s leadership to fix the problem. It is shocking that Acts 6:2 describes how the spiritual leaders of the church were saying that it would be wrong for them to neglect the Word of God to wait on tables – wrong for them to fix the problem. Their work, was the Word of God. And yet – our churches and denominations demand that pastor’s function as administrative gurus. In my training for the ministry the teaching given to us was that a pastor functions in many was as a CEO of an organization, and in living out my life and ministry I have seen how wholeheartedly pastors embrace this.

The more I read God’s Word, and the closer I draw to Him – the more clearly I see my own need to neglect the CEO expectations that have been thrust upon me. And here is what I’ve done: in the past month I have given away 2 ministries. I will no longer lead them, head them and be the necessary figure pushing them forward. I have received a lot of pressure to duplicate our Sunday Morning content for online viewing, and I have refused. I have begun to redraw my focus to spending more time in God’s Word, along with looking for ways to plainly share God’s Word with people I have not met yet.

This is simpler. In comparison to many other pastors I will work less. But I will work more in line with what scripture tells me I need to be focused on. And that is the only place it will ever be ok for me to be.