Category Archives: Strategy

Main, Mission, Strategy

Modern Day Indulgences

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I was eating my breakfast, thinking about The Who concert I had attended Friday night and thinking to myself, “What if I were a missionary returning from a 40 years ministry among a primitive people. What would my expectations be?” Yes, I would imagine The Who would still be a known group since they are celebrating 50 years as a group this year. But what about something simple as going to the music store? “Where is your record section? Or possibly, your 8 track or cassette?” If perhaps during their re-introduction to life in the modern west, the missionary is hosted by a Christan family, what kind of impression will there be? They will surely be impressed by the comforts and conveniences we enjoy. If they attend a church whose seeker-sensetivity is so accute that “people” are the predominant center of worship, they will surely be impressed. As far as that goes, any sample of churches having carpeting, a paved driveway, and a sound system will surely be impressive, if even slightly.

Now, think of the 40 years of the missionary, and consider our lives in retrospect. What resources have we squandered in our consumerism that would have been better used in sowing the seed of the Kingdom? What interest has been paid to a mortgage company by way of usery that would have met the dietery needs of an entire community for a year? A missionary, concerned solely with the prospect of saving souls will have the least ambition of consumerism. It is indeed an appalling reality.

Let us consider our attention now on evangelism. It is not the building in which the church meets that God offered the world as a vessel of salvation. The facilities do not save a person, nor does a program. The community of believers met and are to meet for the edification and equipping of the saints. To make a structure into the saving vessel is to put it in the place of a pagan temple, equal in its devotion and the service of its devotees to that of Athena or Apollo. Is it not by the Word we are saved when by faith we came to it through hearing? It was the intruction from a person who took us into the Word and by  the influence of the Spirit through the vessel of a human being that we came to know this faith. It was not through the works of any person nor the waters at any particular location that we were saved through baptism.

To the missionary, the tools that brought about life changes were the scarred hands that worked and knees calloused from prayer. A bedroll was more than adequate for resting from a tiring day of labor. The banquets held with thanksgiving were rice and beans with maybe a small portion of meat when rarely available. The satisfaction was not in the sacrifice of an austere life, but in the produce of God in the Kingdom. Sending money to missioneries has become a modern form of indulgences convincing the giver of a greater holiness that would cover the sins of apathy.

If evengelism is to be an impetus, then let us first consider how to best equip and edify the saint to this holy task, as was the purpose of the church. Let us no adorn the church with the expectation that the furniture or carpeting will win a single soul. All the conveniences that exist in our homes by virtue of our many technological advances can not replace the work of our hands and knees and the personal relation that will make for vessel of God.  “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” (Romans 10:14)

Main, Mission, Strategy, Work

The Difference IS One

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The Difference IS One—A strategy developed by Joe Thomas for the corporate world, but applicable to the church.

Mathematical equation—the answer to subtraction is the DIFFERENCE.

Not, “The difference OF one,” which is a slogan for benevolent/philanthropic organizations but “IS one.” I didn’t choose the “power of one” because it may detract from the dynamic of a team.

Two choices, one difference—In the world of customer service, there is a lot of competition. A customer’s choice between two difference suppliers can be determined by many things including price, warranty, convenience, and satisfaction. For most if not all people, their choice boils down to a selection of TWO. By eliminating the competition, you can stand out as the difference and answer to the customer’s needs.

What does the ONE difference mean? It means repeat business and the integrity of all the legs of the proverbial “three-legged stool.” The first leg is the benefit to the customer. The second leg is the benefit to the company. The third leg is the benefit to the employee. If I could add a fourth leg, it would be the benefit of the community by maintaining a retail business with all the benefits that add to the local economy.

A reputation is valuable. If person leaves a place of business with a bad experience he will tell another person when the subject of choice is discussed. The person with the bad experience will likely persuade the other to make a purchase elsewhere. Two people have decided not to patronize your store based on one experience. How can this be changed? Your strategy is to cancel out the one bad experience by producing a positive one.

As I said before, I deliberately chose to use the difference IS one and not the phrase “the power OF one.” A TEAM with common interests as in the above three-legged stool will also be the ONE difference. You can easily find other various differences that conflict and cause a team to be divided. Teams may be divided by a few things, but mostly by policy and management. Payroll, practices, wages, hours, etc., all fall under the umbrella of policy and management. The best resolve to bringing about a positive solution is being the ONE difference. Addressing the situation, finding the source of the conflict and determining the solution will bring unity back. If it’s a policy conflict, the organization must come to an agreement that it rarely, if at all, can change and finding a way to comply, without complaint, is the best solution.

As far as the church is concerned, the basic need of people is the same. Whether or not the expectations are correct, visitors still have expectations of why they came to church. Facilities, teaching, accountability, fellowship, challenge, and direction are but a few examples that most people have. Of course, doctrine is built into all these things and will be understood of all the above expectations are translated properly through the dynamics of a functional church. The worst thing that can happen is for a church to be doctrinally sound with no conviction found. Yes, conviction is probably the highest expectation a visitor has when coming to a church. A reputation is built on the integrity of it’s team. Men of God, integrity IS the ONE DIFFERENCE. It is all you have left after everything else is taken away, as in the story of Job. Consistency with God’s Word is a reasonable expectation. When your life and His Truth are resonating at the same frequency, then the world will know the cost, the worth, the satisfaction, reliability, benefit of godliness and like the pearl merchant of Matthew 13, seek its purchase and own it.

Please feel free to add your thoughts to this strategy.

Main, Strategy

Know God and Be Strong

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“The people that do know their God shall be strong.”

– Dan 11:32

Every believer understands that to know God is the highest and best form of knowledge; and this spiritual knowledge is a source of strength to the Christian. It strengthens his faith. Believers are constantly spoken of in the Scriptures as being persons who are enlightened and taught of the Lord; they are said to “have an unction from the Holy One,” and it is the Spirit’s peculiar office to lead them into all truth, and all this for the increase and the fostering of their faith. Knowledge strengthens love, as well as faith. Knowledge opens the door, and then through that door we see our Saviour. Or, to use another similitude, knowledge paints the portrait of Jesus, and when we see that portrait then we love him, we cannot love a Christ whom we do not know, at least, in some degree. If we know but little of the excellences of Jesus, what he has done for us, and what he is doing now, we cannot love him much; but the more we know him, the more we shall love him. Knowledge also strengthens hope. How can we hope for a thing if we do not know of its existence? Hope may be the telescope, but till we receive instruction, our ignorance stands in the front of the glass, and we can see nothing whatever; knowledge removes the interposing object, and when we look through the bright optic glass we discern the glory to be revealed, and anticipate it with joyous confidence. Knowledge supplies us reasons for patience. How shall we have patience unless we know something of the sympathy of Christ, and understand the good which is to come out of the correction which our heavenly Father sends us? Nor is there one single grace of the Christian which, under God, will not be fostered and brought to perfection by holy knowledge. How important, then, is it that we should grow not only in grace, but in the “knowledge” of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. –Spurgeon

It is easy for us to increase wholly in grace and avoid the instruction of God by the Word. We trust too freely in the knowledge of a loving and merciful God. The people of Israel stood condemned before a jealous and merciless God who also poured out grace upon grace as chronicled in the pages of the Old Testament. There is also written how a people favored by God showed contempt for His goodness and mercy by their lack of knowledge. God tells Hosea (4:6), “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.” (2 Peter 3:17, 18) We have taken advantage of God’s tolerance for too long. And too often, due to our own lack of knowledge, we believe that it is by grace that others will be redeemed without the law. For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, not of ourselves, but the gift of God. An inadequate faith in the obligation of God to fulfill His great redemption has made ignorant those whose active obedience is replaced with an indulgence of grace. The Bible never says that the law is ineffective. On the contrary, it brings us to a guilty remorse. The elementary effects of God’s ever-present and relevant Law leads us to repentance. In the last day it will be by the knowledge of the neglect of the law that will convict us. The Law to which I refer is not the ritualistic code of social practice redacted by rabbinical tradition over centuries. It is the Law to which Paul’s Gospel to the Romans refers which is a “law written on every person’s heart.” The knowledge of this Law and the consequences of being bound to this course of the earth is most fully understood when juxtaposed to the cross. Of necessity, Christ came to claim those whose conscience was seared with the conviction of justice. It was by the elementary principle of law that the sinner first encounters grace. (Hebrews 6:1-2) With the greatest remorse we have become a people who as revealed in Job (35:10ff.) where, “none say, ‘Where is God my maker, who gives us songs in the night; who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds of heaven?’” Our attempt at knowledge has reduced us to a barnyard mentality and comparable to the beasts of the earth.

In what then must we grow if not in the knowledge of the covenant law? How will we prosper then without the knowledge of consequence and benefit; of reciprocity and rejection? We sin without remorse because the knowledge of God has not been perfected in our lives and we are destroyed as those in Hosea’s day. We strive without gain because we know not the law by which we can attain peace and we are destroyed. In this, I hold myself condemned. How little of the knowledge of grace is exhibited by our lack of grace exercised toward others? When little grace is known, little grace is shown. When you show little grace, you show much lack of its knowledge and comparatively great lack of God’s law.

I can think of many whose own law they exercise contrary to God’s. Many who in all appearances are godly. They consistently give of themselves to others, are devoted husbands and wives and are committed to their families. They are called by such titles as philanthropist. It would seem that this elementary knowledge would save, but it does not, as revealed to the rich young ruler in Luke. The law on the hearts of men is a convicting sentence, condemning us to damnation unless we loose ourselves of our contempt of God. “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4, NIV)

Coinciding with the knowledge of grace is the expectation of justice; the preparation of condemnation, and the habitation of damnation. Justice will be executed, by the law of grace. Preparation is being made for God’s justice to be meted out upon the world. There is a habitation for those who will eternally stand condemned by the law where grace did not save. There is also a habitation being prepared even now for those whose guilt of the law once condemned, but by the righteousness of Christ stand redeemed from the law’s effects. How great a grace there is “known” with the knowledge of the law. How great a confession and repentance there is with the knowledge of the grace.

Strategy

Thoughts on Zacchaeus

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When Jesus Calls You By Name (Luke 19:1-10)

I really enjoy Christian service camp. It’s been a part of my life for over 25 years. I grew up in PA and attended Elkhorn Valley Christian Service Camp which was started in 1958. After attending, I wanted to help so I volunteered to spend the summers doing whatever it took to maintain the campgrounds. We were nicknamed the “Pollocks.” I was led to the decision to attend Cincinnati Christian University after the military. Returning years later to the area in which I grew up, I signed on as education and recreation director of Elkhorn Valley Camp and for years I was allowed to give back to the camp which had given so much to me. Camp was a life-changing experience. Make the most of it. Whether it’s camp, or church group, there is value in being together.

I get to experience the Lord

I get to serve the Lord

I get to grow in the Lord

I get to share in the people of the Lord

Zacchaeaus is widely known by the song that some of us learned when we were younger—a song about his experience with Jesus.

“Zacchaeus was a wee little man . . .” His name means “Pure, noble, bright or clean ”

Contrast Luke 18 and the Rich Reluctant Young Ruler with Luke 19 and Rich Ready and Repentant Publican. Luke 19:1 makes the point the Zacchaeus was “very rich.” The town of Jericho represented great wealth, so he was no small man of means.

Those who criticized Jesus only knew Zacchaeus the rich chief publican, the wickedest of the wicked. If you asked the crowd who Zacchaeus was, you may find his reputation would be one not worthy of salvation and too far gone to be shown grace.

What curiosity does? Curiosity seeks to find. It enables you to climb to great heights to get the vantage point you need. It’s first a fascination then an attraction and then an action. There are many things that move us in our life’s decisions. Most influences are first rehearsed in our minds by way of fascination which then progress toward attraction and then action/reaction. Some influences are a result of desperation. Sometimes we, like Zacchaeaus, are moved by the mob’s direction. I’m sure just as everyone who took to the streets that day to see Jesus, he was curious enough to be attracted to the spectacle.

A friend of mine from Haiti named Brennus Etienne shared a story with me of his experience one time with a mob in Porte au Prince.  He was in a store and noticed that everyone in the street was getting stirred up and starting to yell. Before long everyone had started bustling about in the street and the numbers and the volume level began to swell and then all of the sudden the crowd just started to run. What do you do? Of course, Brennus was curious as to what the commotion was all about so he randomly grabbed one of the running persons and asked them, “What’s going on?” The person said, “I don’t know, we’re just all running.”

The mob can move us. The mob can push us. The mob can convince us that being part of their crowd is the most rational and reasonable way to go. A mob can come to the wrong conclusion as to who a person really is. Look at Jesus. He was accused wrongly. But, the experience of the tree that separated Zacchaeus from the mob turned into the experience of a Savior. Our identity with Christ will place us into a group comprising what Hebrews 12 describes as a great cloud of witnesses—those of the faith whose conviction led them to overcome the world.

Wouldn’t you like to have an identity that can’t be trampled on by the world—an incorruptible name that identifies you with eternal significance? You can literally have the name, “Clean, Pure, Spotless, Bright, Noble.”  Knowing Christ is to know him as a person who is first of all seeking you—so find a tree. Knowing Jesus also means he is inviting you to come and follow and he will surely want to come to live with you. And you can walk away with a new name (Isaiah 62:2; Revelation 2:17, 3:12, 19:12).

Jericho to the cross.

Calvary is the tree that separates us from the world and introduces us to a Savior. Redemption means that someone paid for your escape. The wages of sin is death (Romans 3:23). Can a dead person offer anything to God to pay for his own escape? No. Like a tow away zone with the sign “Redeem your car at Joe’s Impound Yard. Fine is $1,000,000/ second.” What? The car’s not worth that much. But you are. You are worth everything to Christ. In the light of this grace, we, like Zacchaeus, would easily respond in repentance to the point he have half of all he owned and promised to return fourfold anything taken dishonestly.

If you are a Christian, think about this. All of us have people we know who need a glimpse of the Savior. We’ve probably had lessons on being a mirror to reflect the light of Christ. Today, think about being a TREE. Kind of like the famous book, “The Giving Tree,” by Shel Silverstein. After giving of itself entirely and the tree was spent except for a stump, it gave the character “Boy” a place to prop himself, and “the tree was happy.”

People may step on you to get closer to Jesus. They may tear off a limb to get a clearer vantage. Remember the sacrifice of others who came before us. Jesus laid down his life to bring us to the Father. Is it too much to sacrifice our Time, Resources, Effort and Energy (TREE)? And, are we Totally Resolved in Engaging the Enemy (TREE)?

“Trees” by Joyce Kilmer

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

 

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;

 

A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

 

A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

 

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

 

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.