Okay this is going to be a ranting and raving blog if you don't like don't read it...
For those of you who have ever left a church and decided to stay in the same community and plant a new church how many of you have ever been accused of "stealing people". We in the church use a fancier word "proselytizing". I knew that when we decided to stay where we have been for the last five years and plant a church it would eventually tick some people off. After a phone call that I received today I believe the ticking off officially started. Even though the conversation was friendly it still amazes me that the people that I ministered to for nearly five years would ask me if I was "stealing people". "Stealing people" that sounds so stupid and childish!!!
First of all, people don't belong to us they belong to God. I'm not trying to sound super spiritual about this I just want the church to stop looking at people like trophies and begin to see the real needs of people. The people in our community need a real God to come to their rescue. But how will they ever see, how will they ever hear about this real God when all that the "leaders" of the church do is accuse the next church in town of "stealing people". For the love of God grow the heck up! Image what would happen if the church began to WORK TOGETHER to met the needs of the people in our communities. What a concept...
Second for you Pastors, don't leave the community that you have invested you life into unless God himself tells you to move. Read this very carefully Pastor you have been called by God and not by man. Stop letting the people around you dictate your destiny. First of all if anybody has a problem with you they need to STOP talking to everyone else (which is called gossip) and come talk to you about their concern (read Matthew 18) if they don't let God deal with them and move forward. Don't lower yourself to their level. Don't allow what they are saying about you distract you from your destiny I promise you your Heavenly Father has your back!!!
Finally for you trophy collecting churches maybe if people are leaving your church that might be an indication that something is wrong. I know that we would all like to believe that our church is perfect and is the only church that God moves in but I got some bad news for you God can and does move in a lot of different churches. Here's the thing people want strong leadership. They want leaders with a vision and a back bone and if they don't get it they will go find it!
So stop blaming everyone for the issues that you are having at your churches! Maybe it's time to reevaluate if your church is relevant and is meeting the needs of the people in your community. It's time to grow up!!!
For those of you who have ever left a church and decided to stay in the same community and plant a new church how many of you have ever been accused of "stealing people". We in the church use a fancier word "proselytizing". I knew that when we decided to stay where we have been for the last five years and plant a church it would eventually tick some people off. After a phone call that I received today I believe the ticking off officially started. Even though the conversation was friendly it still amazes me that the people that I ministered to for nearly five years would ask me if I was "stealing people". "Stealing people" that sounds so stupid and childish!!!
First of all, people don't belong to us they belong to God. I'm not trying to sound super spiritual about this I just want the church to stop looking at people like trophies and begin to see the real needs of people. The people in our community need a real God to come to their rescue. But how will they ever see, how will they ever hear about this real God when all that the "leaders" of the church do is accuse the next church in town of "stealing people". For the love of God grow the heck up! Image what would happen if the church began to WORK TOGETHER to met the needs of the people in our communities. What a concept...
Second for you Pastors, don't leave the community that you have invested you life into unless God himself tells you to move. Read this very carefully Pastor you have been called by God and not by man. Stop letting the people around you dictate your destiny. First of all if anybody has a problem with you they need to STOP talking to everyone else (which is called gossip) and come talk to you about their concern (read Matthew 18) if they don't let God deal with them and move forward. Don't lower yourself to their level. Don't allow what they are saying about you distract you from your destiny I promise you your Heavenly Father has your back!!!
Finally for you trophy collecting churches maybe if people are leaving your church that might be an indication that something is wrong. I know that we would all like to believe that our church is perfect and is the only church that God moves in but I got some bad news for you God can and does move in a lot of different churches. Here's the thing people want strong leadership. They want leaders with a vision and a back bone and if they don't get it they will go find it!
So stop blaming everyone for the issues that you are having at your churches! Maybe it's time to reevaluate if your church is relevant and is meeting the needs of the people in your community. It's time to grow up!!!
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