Writing a story worth telling

I started a new volume in my journal today.

Volume One was started in 1990, and it took roughly a decade to fill. Volume Two was stated in 2010, and it took 12 years to fill. This edition will be Volume Three – and we'll see how long it takes to fill.

I began this one differently. I wrote:

"When you let the Lord be the author of your life, he writes a story worth telling."

It's a phrase I heard at church last week, and it resonated with me. It's not a new perspective.  But as a visual artist, storytelling through words is relatively new to me, even though I help the people I work with tell their stories every day.

Sometimes the author is able to begin the story from a blank page. In our lives, we find ourselves at a place where we want the story that is being written to be different, to have a happier ending, or from a different perspective. The author has no choice, but to start a new story that follows the narrative that's already been told.

I'm opting for a new author, and a new perspective.

Thanks for nothing

Do you serve in a ministry? When was the last time you were thanked? Do you lead a ministry? When was the last time one of the church leadership thanked you for your volunteer service?

Have you ever been asked to do something, with the assumption that you would because you're a "brother in Christ?" Did you do it, only to feel unappreciated because the other person didn't express their gratitude?

Pastors and leaders need to remind themselves, and their congregations, that even though it it's God's desire for us to serve one another, everyone needs to be grateful for that service.

Don't take your congregation's service for granted, and don't dare to use guilt or misplaced exhortations to motivate them. Lead by example. If your words affirm your actions, then we'll consider following your lead.

So exactly what would Jesus do?

Two thoughts to consider; not aligned but obliquely related. Please note, that if the points in this article share any resemblance to personal behavior or situations with which you are familiar, it is purely coincidental. But feel free to share it if you're afraid to talk to that person or group about it.

First, why does one leave a church? I suppose when it comes down to it, there are many reasons:

• Environmental (too dark, too loud, don't like the music, too long)
• Theological (too much topical preaching, inaccurate interpretation of scripture)
• Social (not connecting with the community, too many cliques, judgmental culture)
• Cultural (too focused on attraction and not enough on the building up of the body, too charismatic, not charismatic enough, too emotional, not balanced)
• Personal (He/she did/didn't do/not do something).

Have I left out any? Of course I have. The churches across America (and I suppose the world – but here in the US, we are particularly keen on our own selfish desire for a church where we "fit.") are filled with people who have left other churches, or will eventually leave the church they are attending. We all carry the baggage from one church to the next, piling it on top of our spiritual experience and attempting to maintain a relationship with Christ while we juggle the load and attempt to unpack the baggage so we can move on. (Have you ever wondered how that looks to an nonbeliever?).

Lifers are the exception to the rule. Church lifers will stay at a church, believing that they will either make a difference in that church (despite all evidence and experience to the contrary), or that they will outlast whatever leadership or cultural shift has occurred or is occurring. They just have to endure, because it's their church.

Ultimately, the only reason people ever leave a church is because of the leadership – including pastors, teachers, elders, deacons – or whatever post-modern leadership structure the executive management of the church has decided to setup. Leaders create the culture, make the decisions, and affect the relationship their congregation has with them is so many ways. It's unavoidable.

Even Jesus did not tolerate the leadership of the Jewish church (let's not assume that the church of Jesus' day was the same as ours – it was strictly Jewish). The Pharisees had their own ideas of morality, religiosity and faith – and expected their followers to adhere to that vision. There was no room for an individual relationship and support of that personal relationship from the leadership.

It's not so different in many churches today. Would Jesus tolerate the behavior and attitude of your church leadership (or you, if you're a church leader reading this?). It is an inescapable fact that the culture of a church is an expression of its pastor, pastoral staff and in some instances, its congregational leadership. It's leadership that influences the factors in the list at the beginning of this article.

Second, why do we think that other people are validated in their faith, only if they are serving in a manner we judge to be worthy?

Some will claim they must serve because "Jesus said they must," or that it's out of obedience, or that they are guilty.

We're called to serve out of love. Not love of serving, but love for God through Christ. We should obey because we love, not obey to prove our love. A legalistic, law-driven approach to service (I scored points today because I served!) is completely contrary to grace – expressed in a relationship where I love and serve as an expression of that relationship with Christ and love for Christ. It's the truest form of worship – our spiritual service – because I am responding to who God is and what he's done in my life through Jesus Christ.

Some people love to serve in ways that affect individuals on a one-to-one basis. Others choose to serve in ways that have greater impact that is just as valid. The key is, not everybody serves in the same way, and not every individual is gifted for every service opportunity, and that's OK. Don't forget, we are one body, made up of many parts.

If church leadership neglects to encourage people to serve outside of the church and its chosen programs, then the leadership (and the congregation) have completely missed the point of the gospel. We are to be salt and light in the world. There are many organizations that provide opportunities to serve, but since we can't get past the fact that they aren't called ministries, we don't consider them valid. In fact, I think Jesus would say "You know, the gospel is just part of the story. There's a lot of history about my Father and his love for humanity, his relationship with Israel, the glory of creation, the beauty of relationship. If you're only concerned with sharing the gospel, you're missing the point. I want you to be an ambassador for me wherever you go, wherever you serve. Represent me. While you're at it, mention that I came to reconcile people to myself, and you want to share this message of reconciliation." (2 Cor 5:17-20).

If a church's leadership does not value the service of an individual, and by extension the members of its congregation – especially if the service is outside of the officially endorsed church service opportunities – then the congregation will carry that same attitude in their relationships with others in the faith. This is how Pharisees are created.

Church leaders have a solemn obligation to create a culture where service flows from relationship with the Savior; from grace and not guilt. Equipping your congregation to serve and be examples of service means that you will embrace and encourage opportunities for service – especially outside of your church.

Church leaders need to recognize and support those who take personal risk and initiative to volunteer for leadership positions. Do not fail by assuming that you as a pastor are the only one who knows how to be a leader. Don't play favorites, and don't set your congregation up for failure.

Don't make Pharisees. Teach people to be ambassadors. Then, by God's grace, they will make disciples.