religion

“So, I’m trying to find Jesus in the tangled mess of ministry and Christianity. I feel lost in the forest of institutionalized BS, religious culture, judgmental Pharisees and those that are lost but think that they are found. Sometimes it’s just way too easy to lose Jesus in the religion.”

-someone I know

When I head this, I connected with it. I’ve been here (and frequently visit this place). How about you?

I always looking for real world examples to back scripture.

Revelation 21 – “Behold, I make all things new”

Now I know in the history of Christendom this will be seen as a pretty communion wafer thin example, but nonetheless I like it.

Do you remember back in the 80′s? The band INXS? Well remember the song, “Never Tear Us Apart”? You know the one with the over the top orchestra and that “cheesy is good” vibe that permeated that decade…

Here’s your reminder.

The band Record Club (put together by Beck) has redone the song. I love how you can find beauty in making things new. The Lord continues to make things new in us. And I like anything that remotely reminds me of the newness that He’s working in me (2 Cor 5:17).  So what is God creating new in you?

You know you’re a Youth Pastor if… you think you’re important enough to need a really expensive phone.

You’ve got an Android? Or an Blackberry? You don’t work on Wall Street. Don’t fool yourself. You’re not that important (but Jesus still loves you). And you’re not that organized. You’re a youth pastor.  You really bought the phone because it looked cool plus it had tons of  non-productive apps and games (though you’ll never admit it).

I’ll admit I was once a Blackberry owner. I confess my ministry narcism. I have repented (and downgraded).

So I salute you Overly Self Important Youth Pastor with cell phone that costs more than the church van or bus!

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. I think Falwell is wrong. This time I’m referring to junior.

Half of pastors would leave the ministry tomorrow if they could. Seventy percent are fighting depression and 90 percent can’t cope with the challenge of ministry. Those are the statistics Pastor Jonathan Falwell laid out to thousands of ministers who were in Lynchburg, Va., Tuesday for the “Refuel” conference.

The well-known pastor stated bluntly, “Something is wrong in ministry.”

Citing surveys from such groups as Barna, LifeWay and Acts 29, Falwell lamented that 1,500 pastors walk away from ministry every month because of moral failure, burnout, conflict, discouragement or depression. He was also shocked to find that 80 percent of seminary and Bible school graduates will leave the ministry within their first five years.

Part of the problem, he indicated, is trying to make it to the big numbers and most influential lists or aiming for the most Twitter followers.

“I believe that we have self-imposed measurements of success that are skewed, that are wrong,” said Falwell, pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church – which is notably one of the largest churches in the country. [Christian Post]

I’ll say that I’ve been there… burned out, that is. I’ll go as far to say that I visit it from time to time. But while I agree, in part, what the findings of this study. I’ve never experienced burn out from worrying about numbers or comparing. Ministry can simply be tough, heart breaking and wearing on you. You invest the best of yourself into people that may not even care. You may never see fruit from your labor (this side of heaven). You’ll be under appreciated and under paid. There will be spiritual battles, BUT, you do get to be a a part of kingdom work. You do get to work for the industry of hope and redemption. You do get to invest in people on a daily basis.

So is it hard? You bet. Will you feel burn out? From time to time yes. But I love what I do.  Take any job where you pour your passions into it 100% and tell me that it’s odd to experience “moral failure, burnout, conflict, discouragement or depression.” When you labor, you sweat. That’s just part of it. None of life is easy. Ministry isn’t exception.

I will agree with him when he said that, “something is wrong in ministry” but I’ll clarify a bit by saying, “something is wrong with [many] ministries.” But it’s not an issue with numbers, it’s because many have become institutionalized, comfortable, and ineffective. They’re less concerned with being missional, relational and incarnational.

Maybe I’m wrong. What do you think?

Evidently we should be praying for Jesus because:

Police say a Pittsfield woman has been cited for running down a man named Lord Jesus Christ as he crossed a street in Northampton on Tuesday.

The 50-year-old man is from Belchertown. Officers checked his ID and discovered that, indeed, his legal name is Lord Jesus Christ. He was taken to the hospital for treatment of minor facial injuries.

Police say 20-year-old Brittany Cantarella was cited for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. [USA Today]

I’ll keep you updated if there’s more.

Want to change the world? Want to go to on a missions trip to Hati?

I had a great time hanging with Adam McLane from YS for a few days last week and he’s heading up a trip to go back to Hati.  Want to go?

Ministry Confessional #87: I’m a leader in Christian ministry and I can’t stand John Maxwell books. I find him dull and boring. I’m sorry. I repent.

That’s my confession, now fire me.