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I have been reading Church Next: Using the Internet to Maximize Your Ministry by Aubrey Malphurs & Michael Malphurs for an upcoming class.
In the book the authors make an interesting prediction:
As these churches dwindle, it doesn’t take a Nobel laureate economist to predict that their finances will dwindle with them. As the builder generation-the most affluent generation of the twentieth century-continues to age and die over the next decade, we will see an accelerating shift of financial assets to their children. These succeeding generations are largely unchurched, and they’re not interested in the church. Thus, much of the funding that builders have generously contributed to the church will likely be diverted elsewhere. Consequently churches and denominations that have depended on support from the builders will have to rethink how they’re going to finance their ministries.
I can see the reality of what they are saying being played out in my church. The older generation in our church contributes the most. The younger generation, while they desire to give, has nothing to contribute because they are saddled with huge debt loads. As the older generation dies, the church is going to face a financial crisis.
The implications of this coming reality, should give us pause concerning how we spend money now and what level of debt we lead our churches into.
With the announcement of the death of Dr. Jerry Falwell, I am somewhat surprised by the affect that his death has had on me. While I did not have a personal relationship with him, I was impacted by his ministry in many profound ways. Liberty University is my spiritual home. It was where my view of ministry was formed as a young Christian. It is where I met my wife Lori. It was where I was impacted by the life, vision and ministry of one man who was sold out to the cause of Jesus Christ.
There is a sense of sadness, loss and uncertainty concerning the future with this loss of a spiritual leader in my life.As I have reflected on his death these last two days, my thoughts were moved to an Old Testament prophet who experienced the loss of a great leader in his time. In the midst of his sadness, loss and uncertainty he recorded this profound experience.
1In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
3And one cried to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
The whole earth is full of His glory!”
4And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. Isaiah 6:1-4 (NKJV)
While I, as many, have lost a significant spiritual leader, the reality is God is still on the throne. In the midst of our loss, we need a fresh vision of God. We need to see the God whom Jerry Falwell served with all of his heart.
Recently a friend suggested that I read Phil Vischer’s book, Me, Myself, and Bob (Nelson, 2007). Being a big fan of Veggietales (Lori says I like them more than the Kids do), I was really interested in an interview that Leadership Journal conducted with Phil Vischer.
In the article, Phil makes a candid confession. He states:
“As everything was falling apart, I started reading a weekly study by Henry Blackaby. On the first page Blackaby more or less said, If what you are trying to do for God is not working, it may be because it came from your own head and not God. You may want to do something significant for him, but he just wants you to be obedient. That skewered my false gospel of impact.”
“….Now I understand God has a unique journey for each of us with unique measures of success. Now I ask myself, Have I done what God has asked me to do? Am I walking with him daily? Success has very little to do with where I end up. It’s not about measurable impact.” (” No More Big Ideas”, Leadership Journal Spring 2007)
Vischer’s point is profound. It is too bad that he had to lose everything to learn it. In fact what he learned as a profound implication for the rest of us. It is easy for me to think in terms of “doing great things for God.” That was my training. That is what I glean from the current trend of pastoral resources. But there is a problem. Too often it is this line of thinking that brings me to a point of defeat as I measure myself against the concept of “doing great things for God. “
The truth is that God never asked me to go on my own and do great things for Him. He simply wants me to be obedient to what He wants me to do. The reality is that I have substituted the idol of Impact for the Living God.
I am reading Elmer Town’s How to Pray: When You Don’t Know What To Say. In his chapter entitled, “Intimacy with God” he makes the following point:
“But how can we pray without words? When we are in an intimate relationship with the Father, we can simply pray with our feelings. Picture the little children sitting on their father’s lap again. They can tell their father that they love him without using any words-their very presence communicates to the father that they love him and want to be with him.” (Elmer L. Towns How to Pray: When You Don’t Know What To Say, Regal Books 2006), page 33.
Towns’ point came to life the other day when my four year old son, Hudson, awoke from his nap and made his way into the living room where I was sitting. Without a word, he got up into my lap and snuggled in. No words were exchanged between the two of us, simply love. At that moment, Towns’ point illuminated my mind. This is what prayer is. It is simply climbing into the lap of God and snuggling in. Like Hudson, I don’t need to say anything; I simply need to enjoy the love and security of His presence.
