State Street Community Church
Posts tagged Church
Thinking Orange
Sep 23rd
Reggie Joiner recently penned a book called “Think Orange”. The premise of the book is the necessity of combining influences to make a greater impact. Often times in the church we have an either/or mentality.
We’re either missional or we’re attractional.
We’re either traditional or lack any substantive connection with our heritage.
We’re either seeker driven or organic.
We either like Mark Driscoll or don’t.
It always puzzles me when someone asks about my leadership style and beliefs. Are you emergent? Are you missional? Are you a wanna-be megachurch pastor with a beautiful smile and catchy axioms? It puzzles me not because it’s a bad question but because (1) I don’t know nor (2) do I feel the need to compartmentalize who I am (and who we are as a community at SSCC).
Think Orange is an attempt at leveraging two equally good forces to illicit better responses (think yellow & red coming together to produce orange). Joiner specifically talks more about the family unit and the church partnering together to be a stronger community of Christ-followers. I, on the other hand, am wondering what would happen if we thought “orange” about leveraging modernity with the sacred. What would happen if today’s world would understand the timeless God?
It is the goal of EVERY church to help people take their next step towards Jesus Christ. You could attend 10 different churches and find 10 different ideas on HOW to help people take their next step but, ultimately, it is the challenge set before us by God in the Great Commission. At SSCC, we recognize that if churches only do what churches are currently doing, we will only get the results that we are presently getting. If we are to experience a different outcome (ie. reaching people who have never been reached for Christ), then we must embrace a different strategy. But, how do we get our minds around different strategies or even start asking the right questions? Quite simply, we start thinking orange.
We have a primary force in the church that is our backbone and core; Jesus Christ. Yet, we have another force working almost as strong in our lives; time or modernity (or, rather post-modernity). The place that I’m trying to get my mind around is the crossroads of Jesus Christ and today. What I see happening (and the temptation is real for me as well) is to focus on one of those primary entities too much and an unequal balance happening producing unwanted (or undesirable) results in our efforts at discipleship.
For instance, I remember going to Pigeon Forge, TN once and I saw a man with a microphone preaching about the end of the world (which, I believe by now, is past the date of his beliefs). He was 100%, unequivocally talking about Jesus Christ. He (mis)quoted scripture, proclaimed a message of repentance, and understood the importance of evangelism (or, what I believe HE thought was evangelism). But, NO ONE stood next to him and few passing by likely listened. The content of his message aside, this man was ineffective at communicating because he failed to bring his message into the contexts of today. I don’t (nor do you) listen to men on the sidewalks yelling out of megaphones. He could be preaching a message that I completely agree with and I still wouldn’t listen. The means in which he communicated were not a means in which effective communication happens today.
On the other side, we could also communicate a message that is completely relevant to today’s conscience and totally miss the mark when it comes to the love, grace, peace, and hope of Jesus Christ. Effective communication TODAY doesn’t mean effective discipleship TODAY.
Like Reggie Joiner, I’m starting to think orange. How can we leverage the sacred with today? The ways of flannel graphs, McGee and Me, and angry street preachers are done. We live in a new reality. Today is a new day that we’ve never seen before. The way to communicate the Gospel tomorrow might not (and likely will not) be exactly the same as it was today. It is now my most common prayer for our community; God, help us to think “orange”.
Thinking “orange” is the stage in which we find ourselves currently. The slate is wiped clean and there’s a chance to do some really incredible things in LaPorte that have never been done before. But, it’s going to take all of us to be willing to cast aside our preconceived notions on how ministry should be done and how it was done in 1994 and be ready for God to direct us in ways we never thought imaginable. In all honesty, that might be the most exciting thing about our future!
Name that Church!
Jul 20th
When we found out that Ema was expecting our daughter, Nora, it didn’t take us very long before we started talking about names. It was a stressful and humbling task. After all, two-thirds of her name will be carried with her the rest of her life. Every suggestion brought to the table would go through a rigorous test; can an adult be named this, can it be used in a derogatory rhyme on the playground, do we know any of our friends that have already named their child this name? We settled on Nora and I truly can’t imagine her being called anything else.
As most of my blog followers know, we’re launching part of our Lamb’s Chapel community out into their own church this Fall. We’re very close to working out a contract for a building (the former Salvation Army building on State Street in LP), people are starting to assume roles and responsibilities for the future, and the date for launching draws nearer each day. It’s to the point where we must give it a name. But, instead of me picking out a name for this new community in LaPorte, I thought that I’d put it on my blog. You are now in control of the naming of this new church. It’s up to you!
Below I’ve embedded some choice that you can vote on for names. Some of them I came up with, some of them were given to me by other LCers, and there’s a spot for you to write-in a name. So, get ready, get set… vote! If you can’t see the poll below, you can visit here and vote instead.
Identity
Jul 9th
I’m figuring out more of who I am. I often wonder if God knows who I can be and rejoices when I take steps towards that likeness. Planting a church does funny things to a person. It’s made me realize that:
I don’t preach as well as Craig.
I don’t have the intellect of Greg.
I’m not as clever as Los.
I’m not as innovative as Mark.
I’m not Don, Anne, Scott, Andy, or Rick.
I am Nate.
I’m Nate; the son of a construction worker and husband to a beautiful European. I’m the father of the funniest 1 and a half year old around. The brother of many siblings and the grandson of very involved grandparents. The pastor to a bunch of crazy, passionate Christ-followers who are ready to take a giant leap into the unknown. These things I know about me.
There’s lots of things I don’t know about me. I’m learning quickly to say these simple yet profound words, “I don’t know.” I don’t know how to plant a church or proper methodology of being a “church planter”. There’s many things in the Bible that confuse me and leave me saying, “I don’t know.” I don’t know everything about denominational ecclesiology or the paradigm for pastoral identity in the Old Testament offices or exactly how intentional growth groups look/happen. I don’t know if it’s even right to tell people in my church that I don’t know EVERYTHING about the Bible. But, I don’t. I don’t know a lot of stuff.
But, what I do know is that I’m me. I am loved by God and being made more in the likeness of Him as I grow closer to Him every day. I know that God has blessed me with an incredible wife and daughter. He has given me gifts to use for His glory and a vision within to use those gifts. He has given me an opportunity to plant a church in LaPorte and be just me.
If you’re reading this and you’re coming on this new adventure with me, please know that I’m excited about you being you. There’s no need to fake piety or be a cheap imitation of another Christ-follower in a way that isn’t sincere (you know, in a non-1st Corinthians 11 way). Be you and be willing to allow God to form you into His likeness. I’m figuring out that it’s the best way to truly live. I’m really excited for “us“.
I’m leaving Lamb’s Chapel…
Jun 17th
After nearly 7 years of being on staff at one of the greatest churches I’ve ever been around, the time has come to move on. Starting Thanksgiving 2009, I will no longer be an employee of Lamb’s Chapel. Instead, I (and a group of really incredible/adventurous people) will be planting a new church in LaPorte.
As many that read my blog know, I’ve been our “downstairs” pastor for over a year. At our downstairs service (aptly named because it is held in our sanctuary on the lower level of LC), a unique culture was created, one that has the same heart as Lamb’s Chapel but different manifestations of that vision. It was never mine (or LC’s) intention that this newly formed group in our downstairs service would one day be an autonomous community, separated from Lamb’s Chapel. However, after seeing the evolution of this community we had the increasing feeling that God was/is about to do something larger than our small vision would allow.
Last night we had our first “Core Meeting” where 60 people came to talk about future vision. We laughed, some cried, and it was genuinely a spirit-felt night (or so I believe) where we talked about what could be. As of now, we carry on as one church with two communities taking their next steps towards Jesus Christ. But, soon, we will take that large step out of our safety net of Lamb’s Chapel and into a new locale with new people and a new vision.
Pastor Jay and Pastor Lynn, who will continue to carry on the vision of Lamb’s Chapel, are remarkable people who are willing to put selfish motives aside in order to make gains for the Kingdom. I can’t say enough how blessed I am to be working with the two of them. Though it might seem like it, this is not a “split”. There is not scandal. If anything, we have two communities who are all ready to take their next steps towards Christ and willing to take God of the box we’ve placed him in. Some will stay at Lamb’s Chapel, some will move on. This is exciting for all involved. We celebrate together.
So, where does that leave me/us? I’m excited, a bit nervous (not about God’s provisions, but about my assured follies), and incredibly blessed to have this opportunity. If you want to be a part of this, let me know. We will continue to have Core Meetings once a month where we talk about the future DNA of our community and how we take communal next steps. It’s been an incredible ride and I think it’s just getting better!
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1
Poverty in Your Backyard
Apr 2nd
One of the most important parts of who we are at Lamb’s Chapel is our food pantry. There’s a fire behind the eyes of all our food pantry volunteers. They’re surrounded by the socially, economically, and spiritually depressed of our community but passionately want to help all of us take next steps towards Jesus Christ.
Today a story was told to me about one family that has struggled to find work but hasn’t (and not because they aren’t trying). They have a few kids and are eager to take next steps. When asked about some of their immediate needs, the list included underwear (the whole family is sharing), toothbrushes (again, the whole family is sharing one toothbrush), and other basic conveniences that many of us likely take for granted. I was reminded about what God has called us to be and the identity we have with the Son of Man. Identifying with the poor and helping the social outcasts is not something we “do” as much as it is something we “are”. We are a community of flawed but hopeful people that exists to help all people take their next step towards Jesus Christ.
May we always remember that “church” is not about what happens on Sunday morning but, instead, about the way we choose to live and for who we live.
What to fight for?
Mar 24th
I’ve come to this place in my intellectual, spiritual, and personal pursuits where I feel like I’m at a fork in the road. I’m in the process of getting my Masters degree in theology so I feel I’m proficient enough in some subjects but am far from an expert in any subject (as my professors remind me through their intellect). It’s been over 6 years now that I’ve been at Lamb’s Chapel so I feel like I’m starting to feel comfortable behind the reins of “the pastorate” but at the same time there are situations and people that come to me and I’m without any experience or knowledge on how to advise or lead. This ideological and experiential middle ground is also behind my parenting, being a loving spouse, and even how to be a good friend while also being a “mature” adult. Some things I feel like I’m getting to “know” while others are still very foreign to me.
There are so many ideas to what being a Christ-follower looks like that I don’t know if I’ve met two people that would share identical beliefs. Many of them would be very close, but not identical. There seems to be a lot of black and white in the church (which some would argue is because we have an authoritative book where things are outlined simply). However, to illustrate this, I’ve got good friends that believe the way of Christ is one that upholds the ideals of nonviolence. I’ve got friends that are in small churches, medium churches, and mega-churches and feel that each of their communities are the right fit for them. I’m influenced by pastors that caution against the influential neo-reformed theology (which I do not subscribe), the hybridization of the message and medium, and the coming evangelical collapse. I’ve recently been talked to (which is a very nice way of saying, “lectured with a smile and a call to prayer at the end”) about baptism, the emergent church, TULIP, styles of music within the context of worship experiences, and whether video venues are legitimate forms of “church”. All of these people have chosen their causes to fight for and they’ve all been very passionate about them. In some ways, I’m likely influenced by them all as well.
I’ve been wondering (it actually kept me up last night) about what issues are worth the fight. Is it nonviolence? Is it infant baptism? Is it Calvinism? Is it holiness? Is it worship style? Is it the poor? Is it small groups? Is it creationism? Is it the broken? Is it church buildings? I’ve known people (and there’s tons of websites/blogs) to fight for each of these issues (though I’ve never met a person to fight for all of them).
What issues are worth fighting for and why? Is there an issue that you believe so strongly that you have to defend when it’s brought up? Or, are you living in the gray? I’m just curious.