Pharisee’s.And.Institutions
Another glimpse into a chapter I’ve been working on for the book. Thank you Darren Rouanzoin for the great analogy!
Who owns a Mac? If your face just lit up with joy, your arm extended into the air, and you cried out with a yes, it is safe to assume that you and I could be best friends. Who owns a PC? I’m praying for you. And if you don’t own a computer of any sorts then I apologize for this analogy but I’m almost certain you will still understand the point I’m about to make. Mac’s have an operating system that makes life extremely easy for its users. It’s a point a click, drag and drop, no fuss, no hassle, idiot proof system that never has issues. PC’s on the other hand are so complicated that the guy in charge of making their mouse had to add a second button.
Dear PC users, unless your wasting your life away by playing online video games, please come to your senses and buy a Mac. You will never have to right click again in your life and that’s a good thing.
The point I’m making is that one operating system makes sense and the other one makes headaches.
This might be a leap but follow me for a second, I promise to land the plane. Lets say that there are two operating systems, one called Discipleship (Mac) and the other called Church (PC). When we use the Discipleship system, the one Jesus commissioned us to use and modeled for us, the church not only grows in depth but in numbers. But when we use the Church system, the man made system that we have created over the years, nothing seems to work quite right. For example:
When church is the operating system then we need to create small groups, home groups, life groups, whatever you want to call them, because community doesn’t come naturally. So we as the church have to create space for community.
When discipleship is the operating system community becomes a natural by product with the invitation of “Come, follow me.”
When church is the operating system then we need to create homeless ministries and out reach teams because the congregation naturally doesn’t serve. If you have ever been apart of a church plant you know how hard it is to get people to show up early and serve. Service is something we have to create space for and continually convince people is a good idea.
When discipleship is the operating system and we walk along side of one another teaching each other to obey everything that Christ had commanded us to live by, then a life of service is a natural by product.
When church is the operating system then generosity and the posture of giving is something that the pastor continually has to remind his congregation of. Our culture is a culture that worships money, status, and wealth as opposed to worshiping with our money, status, and wealth. This form of worship doesn’t come naturally.
When discipleship is the operating system generosity becomes a by product of a life striving to be more like Christ. If you don’t believe me please read Acts 2:42-47. The model the early church followed was the model of discipleship and time and time again we see them gathered together sharing everything they had.
When church is the operating system then worship is something that happens when the designated worship leader takes the stage begins to sing songs.
When discipleship is the operating system then a life of worship erupts as that person longs to be more like Christ in all ways.
When church is the operating system then prayer is something that is talked about and practiced only at the back of room or after service. The pastor prays at the beginning and end of each sermon and teaches on it from time to time.
When discipleship is the operating system a life of prayer comes from being in community with those who have amazing prayer lives as everyone desires to be more like Christ.
When church is the operating system then accountability becomes contracts and covenants that new staff members must sign. It becomes the weekly phone call or the monthly email telling your “accountability partner” what websites you visited.
When discipleship is the operating system then you are living in a close knit community that you can easily call your family. These people know the ins and outs of who you are and accountability isn’t something that is talked about but it is something that is second nature. The weekly phone call becomes discussions about what book of the bible your reading. The monthly email becomes passionate conversations of healing and testimony as we are reminded of what Christ has saved us from.
I have a feeling Jesus really knew what he was doing on this one. He doesn’t ask his disciples to plant churches, start ministries, or cut worship records. While I do think those things are important, I believe they would come naturally as a by product of our discipleship. Instead of church planting being the focus make discipleship the focus, and if you find your church growing as a result then God bless you as you plant more churches and raise up more leaders. Instead of making ministries the focus make discipleship the focus, and if you begin to notice a cluster of those disciples having a heart for homeless people then God bless you as you allow them space to live out the calling on their lives. Instead of making worship albums the focus make discipleship the focus, and as songs of praise and worship begin to erupt out of a life that is becoming more like Christ then God bless you as you share those songs with others as a form of encouragement…
…Please hear me on this one, I love the church and value you the church and think it plays an important role in our discipleship, but I do not love the church more than I love the Christ it points me towards. We cannot hold onto our religious set of rules and guidelines as we move forward in our discipleship. If we say yes to Jesus then we say yes to his revolution and it’s a revolution that runs in the face of Pharisee’s.And.Institutions
-Billy
