Looking down

It hit me hard I must admit, though I think I kept my face from giving away the fact that my world slipped out of orbit more than I cared to let on. We had finished lunch, and our church staff were discussing church stuff. As often happens these days, the topic turned to the gnawing sense we have that a huge part of our community is becoming increasingly ambivalent to all things "church." We've looked around and seen that our growth among the almost retired set is faster than among the 25-35 year-old group. And so, after hearing some of my staff offer the same old critiques, I decided to hit it straight on.

"So" I demanded, "what would you do to make Northpoint (our church!) more attractive to younger folks?" One of my staff friends looked at me, trying hard to figure out if he really wanted to venture out on the limb that his answer demanded. Finally, after pleading with his eyes that I not retaliate, he offered this: "We'd need younger preachers."

There it was! A blast that rocked my world. Fortunately, another staff guy came to my rescue, scooped the puddle of my heart off the floor, and carefully poured it back into me when he said "I think the age of the preacher isn't the thing that matters, only the Gospel being well represented and authentically declared." Okay, I'm alright now, really.

The next day the first guy asked if he'd hurt my feelings. Of course I lied. "No, I really enjoyed hearing your ideas!" But the truth is that it really hurt even though he wasn't in anyway suggesting that I am too old to be effective as a preacher and herald of God's truth. What he was trying to say is just a new twist on the old adage that "congregations tend to end up looking like their preacher." And what really hurt the most was that I think - in part - he was right. But before I explain what I mean, let me take a rabbit trail that is worth remembering.

Rabbit Trail: It struck me after the lunch conversation that things have really changed. In 1 Timothy 4:12, the old Apostle Paul - at the height of his apostolic effectiveness! - has to encourage Timothy not to let his youthfulness stand in the way of his ministry to the people of Ephesus. "Don't let anyone look down on your youth! Rather, use your youth to your advantage and show the world that Christ can transform the follies of youth into exemplary, spiritual character"(Hegg paraphrase!). Crazy as it may seem, in that day, youthfulness (and Tim was probably a robust 35!) was seen as a detriment, an obstacle to effectiveness.

Today, Timothy would be doing the writing: "Paul, hey look ... I know you're getting into your late 40's - or is it 50's? - but, dude ... don't give up! I know you're being told to die your hair black, and grow that soul patch, and expand your collection of tee shirts, but man ... don't let anyone look down on your age-fullness! Rather, use your oldness to your advantage! Show the world that Christ can keep life worth living even through the 'age of colonoscopy', and the creaking bones, and the Metamucil! Be an example of what years of experience and spiritual maturity can bring to a church community!"

So, I hope you get the point: IT NEVER WAS ABOUT AGE! Not in Timothy's day, and not in ours. What it is about is the extent to which the life is overflowing with Christ. And here's why: Christ is eternally relevant; when a life leads with Christ ... when the character and compassion and wisdom of Christ ooze out of a person, he/she will be useable by the Spirit of God regardless of their chronological position.

So back now to the primary trail. My staff friend was on to something. I'm not sure that what I am about to suggest is what he was thinking, but his boldness turned on the motor of my mind, and I think I've come to some ministry-defining conclusions.

But first, we go backward, all the way back to the fundamental ideas of communicating the Gospel. And by communicating, I am talking here about the corporate activity of a gathered people who come together, under the leadership of a few appointed ministers, to celebrate God, appreciate one another authentically, and consecrate themselves to the service of the Gospel. The simple word for this is "worship." We gather to "worship." The challenge here is so much greater than the challenge of personal worship. Gathered worship demands that we use tools - we might call them elements - to keep a large group of hearts and minds focused on the same thing, moving in the same direction, intent on elevating Christ Jesus and His truth above our own desires. These "tools" include songs, and prayers, and sermons, and readings, and creeds, and all sorts of other things we normally don't include, like lights, and chairs, and air conditioning. All of these, to a lesser or greater extent, remove distractions and/or provide a type of "herding" force to keep a group of diverse people moving in the same direction, down the same path, to engage with God. The purpose of our singing, our praying, our everything is to bring unity to diversity, focus to chaos, and intentional engagement with God to those who have entered the room filled with myriad different feelings, opinions, hurts, needs, experiences, and so much more. As I write this I come even more to understand how difficult corporate worship really is! No wonder so few achieve lasting success!

And so, if we take this further, and combine my lunchtime findings, we come to see that different types of "tools" work better to direct and focus different kinds of people, even groups or categories of people. A young preacher, using the tool of his style may just be better at directing the attention of a young audience.

Imagine the challenge: people aren't just different in terms of their ethnicities, and ages, but also in terms of the way they process information, the ways they respond emotionally, their preferences, their maturity, their sinfulness, their selfishness, and a whole bunch of other things! So, how in the world do we ever think that we can successfully herd a bunch of people to engage with God unless, by the tools we choose to use we self-limit the kinds of people who will come through the doors in the first place?

Let me explain further. I have come to lean toward perhaps suggesting cautiously (what boldness!) the idea that it is good to have different venues where the one message of the Gospel story (the Bible, and all of its commands, consequences, and delights) is preached, but that the set of tools selected in each venue are those that best herd a recognized group of people. I am not talking about just playing to the selfishness of every group, but of recognizing, from among the large number of godly, biblically-aligned tools available, which ones best "herd" which people, and then using them without the guilt of having to provide a service that benefits every type or group.

You may respond to my "herding" idea with less than full enthusiasm, so let me go further. All we can do is herd. We can't force anyone to worship. All we can do is lead them to the water of heaven, but drinking is up to them. We can put enticements before them, offer elements to move the heart and mind to engage with God, but ultimately, worship must be the action of an individual's will. He/She must abandon themselves to God. Just as all politics is local, all worship is essentially personal, even when we are in a crowd of worshipers.

Of course, like me, some of you are saying "but different venues threaten the unity of the Body!" And yes, we're right, but all that means is that we have to find ways to keep that from happening. And, if we stop and think about it for a minute, we'll realize that those "people" we are trying to reach are either 1) not gathering anywhere to engage with God, or 2) are more than likely gathering in a place where they have a kickin' band, and a pitiful Gospel. So, if the tools we use are God-honoring, and biblically-aligned, and the Gospel message is pure, where is the frown of God? And besides, if those in different venues are pulled together in service for the community, or taught to prize "team" wins (where venues applaud one another for using resources well to further the mission), then an authentic unity of the Body is not going to be any more elusive than it is in a single-venue congregation.

So, lunch was great, the conversation was hard, and the end-result is that I have a whole new set of dreams. Chuck Swindoll once said, in speaking to preachers, that when your memories are better than your dreams, you're through, and you ought to find someone to take your place. Well, my dreams actually have grown as a result of someone suggesting that others take my place ... and I couldn't be more excited about it!
There is more energy in putting mission first than in making sure "me" is getting taken care of. I think Jesus lived that way, and He's calling us all to follow Him .. closely. And O yeah, I'm not giving up preaching just yet!

Hope this helps; it sure helped me,

David