Consumer, Critic, or Committed

WHICH ARE YOU?

People in our American culture who attend church, tend to fall into one of three categories:

CONSUMER:
One who consumes, but generally does not contribute through either financial giving OR service. Someone in this category of church involvement might bounce around from church to church and sample various programs and ministries (like a buffet), while never making a commitment to any church family. Typically, this person is trying to avoid deep relationships, within which accountability may be required. Too many people treat church like a shopping mall, where it is all about "ME"!

CRITIC:
The "consumer" mentality tends to lead toward a "critical mindset". The "critic" shows up and picks apart all the things they don't like about a particular church, usually because they think the church is all about "ME". Their cries range from, "I don't like the music!" to "I don't like the preaching!" to "I don't like the building!", etc., etc. These obviously "perfect" people find it really easy to cast judgment without getting to know and/or care about anyone.

COMMITTED:
These are people who understand that church is "family" (I Tim. 5:1-2) and that we are to love each other and be gracious to one other. Family is imperfect and sometimes even "messy", but we stick with each other through thick and thin. It is easy to leave a "church", but much harder to leave a "family". These individuals "get it" and understand that Jesus true church is like "family" (Luke 8:19-21). Church isn't a business and/or an organization to be critiqued and picked apart by people who have made NO commitment to her. Frankly, those who show up and do so, should be ashamed. That person preaching and/or that person singing is my family. I might offer constructive criticism and/or guidance as a member of the family who is committed to her success, but how dare you who show NO commitment make this attempt. You don't love the family, YOU are all about YOU!

Soooo....the next time you walk into church, why not try to get to know and/or care about the people? Perhaps learn to love your church "family"?

Pastors and church leaders:
When people come to church and start complaining, the first questions to ask are:
"Do you support this family financially?" and
"Are you committed to helping her succeed by serving in a ministry?"

This will eliminate Jesus "True" Family, from Consumers and Critics!

See you at the home of the "COMMITTED" this Sunday!
Blessings,
PC (Pastor Charlie)

Church Growth is Your Responsibility!

Pastors spend valuable time preparing messages and lesson plans, managing the "business" of the church, providing oversight to the staff and ministries within the church, developing leaders, counseling members, and rushing to meet crises in their various forms.
In addition to these numerous responsibilities, most church members view the pastor as the sole promoter of the church within the greater community and
the one "responsible" for filling up the seats!
I would argue when numerical growth doesn't happen, it is RARELY the pastor's fault
and it is NEVER the pastor's fault alone.
I would argue nobody wants the church to grow MORE than the pastor/staff.
Most pastors and church staff spend hours praying for people to come
and additional energies inviting people to church everywhere they go.

HERE ARE A FEW REASONS WHY CHURCHES DON'T GROW:

1) Members don't invite people! Statistics show that many people would come to church if a friend/family member invited them, yet we withhold the invitation for reasons ranging from fear of being too pushy to the desire to "blend-in" in the workplace. Jesus needs people who can overcome their fears and stand boldly for Him and His Church!

2) Members fail to speak positively about their church in the community! The pastor is viewed as having a self-interest in promoting the church out in the community. Members have a much more powerful ability to be advocates/promoters within the community! Accentuate the positives and minimize the perceived weaknesses. Weaknesses are merely potential growth areas...especially for a "young church" such as New Venture.

3) Members are friendly enough, but NOT welcoming!
What's the difference? When people come to church, YOU might say "Hello!" and feel your obligation stops there. Rather, take it one more step and invite new people to sit with you, join you for lunch, participate in your life group, and BE YOUR FRIEND! The pastor/staff can only befriend so many people....and some people might just have a better connection with you! The pastor/staff cannot spend personal one-on-one time with everyone in the church on a weekly basis, it is just not logistically possible. It is one thing to make people feel welcome on Sunday, but another to make them feel like they are part of the "family".

4) Members are not "involved"! If you are serving in a ministry, it sends the message that you not only enjoy attending worship, but that you are ALL-IN when it comes to the success of the church. This sends a powerful message to friends and family! It has been my experience people who do the most complaining are often those who give and serve the least! Others invest their energy into helping the church overcome challenges and growth areas.

Next time you begin to wonder why the church isn't achieving it's potential, the answer may be closer than you think! Ask yourself: Have I been "involved" in helping my church succeed? Have I supported my church financially? Have I been vocal in my support for the vision of the church in the community? Have I been personally inviting people? Have I reached out to "befriend" new people, or have I just said, "hello" and moved on?

Invite someone to church with you THIS SUNDAY!!

CHRISTMAS SUNDAY RANT!

I realize the CHRISTmas season is full of parties and family get-togethers, but I hope you will take the opportunity to worship with your church family on CHRISTmas Sunday!

Christmas rarely happens on a Sunday, so we have a unique opportunity this year! Sadly, I have heard of churches cancelling services on Christmas Sunday morning and/or changing worship times to accommodate people's "gift" time and/or other Christmas morning rituals (most of which gain their root in pagan practices anyway...but that is another blog for another time). Respectfully, I believe this kind of accommodation sends the wrong message on one of our Most Holy and Sacred times of the year. If there is ever a Sunday where God's house SHOULD be full and people SHOULD demonstrate their faith commitment to the World, CHRISTMAS is one of those days. I mean, would we cancel Easter Sunday Worship to do an "Easter-egg hunt?" or because we have "family/friends" in town? Don't answer that! Sadly enough, some would....and have!!

I have little sympathy for interfering with someone's "fun," when my Savior made such an incredible sacrifice on the cross for my sins! If you have family or friends who are upset because you want to go to church...boo-hoo-hoo!! I don't want to hear the "whining" and am frankly disappointed ANY committed Christian would miss ANY Sunday (let alone Christmas Sunday) because of what someone else thinks! How about taking a stand for Christ with your family and friends??

I understand some of you will be out of town or on the road (there ARE probably churches where you are going), but for those of you who will simply be missing from church because of "present opening" and/or some other activity, I would challenge you to consider what the Lord sacrificed for you and joyfully go to God's house for worship on Christmas!! The presents can be opened and the family activities can probably be done at another time. I am proud that our church (New Venture Church) will worship on Christmas Sunday @ 10:30 a.m. We will sing some Christmas favorites and have a great worship time!

Pastors and other church leaders:
Please don't feel guilty for expecting your congregations to SHOW UP for worship on Christmas Sunday! However, don't be astonished if they don't make it in....the pull of the world is strong! Those who DO make it will likely be blessed beyond measure...so give the day YOUR best!

Blessings
Charlie Arms
Lead Pastor, New Venture Church
Titusville, FL

Casey Anthony: "Innocent" vs. "Not Guilty"

First of all, I have to admit I have NOT watched one single moment of "THE TRIAL". Of course, Floridians know this means the Casey Anthony Trial. People have been obsessed over this "event" which wound up receiving national attention. Having lived through the infamous "OJ Trial", I have come to accept that many people in America apparently have nothing better to do with their lives than to be wrapped up in the life of someone they don't really know!

As a conscientious parent, I will admit my disdain for Casey Anthony's parental oversight and my amazement at the circus of her life. However, a jury of her peers found her "not guilty" of murder. Apparently, the "evidence" wasn't strong enough for those responsible for the decision to "convict" Casey Anthony. Ultimately, only Casey Anthony (and GOD) know the full truth regarding what happened between her and her daughter. Our legal system may be flawed, because people run it, but I am blessed that we go through the process. I would rather a few people "get away" with something than someone receive the death penalty (or a prison sentence) who didn't do it. Want to know why I feel this way? Because God is JUST and NOBODY ever truly "gets away with it"!

What the reaction from this decision DOES teach me is that people desire JUSTICE! We hate it when we feel someone "gets away" with hurting others! The Psalmist cries out about injustice with the following words:

For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. (Psalm 73: 3-4).

When people do bad things, or are bad people, we scratch our heads over why they seem to prosper. No doubt, Casey Anthony will probably get a book deal, a movie, and will remain a celebrity for years to come. We must not forget that a declaration of "not guilty" is not the same as being "innocent" of a crime! "Not guilty" only means there wasn't enough "evidence", in the eyes of the jury, to convict.

We MUST move on and NOT allow anger to fester over this, as God will deal with all things in due time. Even the Psalmist came to this conclusion as he writes:

Psalm 73

¹⁸ Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin.
¹⁹ How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors!
²⁰ They are like a dream when one awakes;
when you arise, Lord,
you will despise them as fantasies.

He goes on to write:
²⁷ Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.

Please remember when you see people "get away" with something, God sees it too, and His Justice is TRUE and FINAL! In the end, we should worry more over our own "guilt"...not that of others!

Here is how Psalm 73 ends:

But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds. (v. 28)

Blessings,
Pastor Charlie

Guarding the Flock

Post-Father's Day, I have been reflecting on my role in our home as a protector. It is our God-given duty to protect our children and our wives from harm!

Most churchgoers do not realize how often the pastor serves as protector of the congregation. From a Biblical analogy, this is certainly one of the roles a "shepherd" had over his flock. Paul’s description of the pastor in Titus 1 closes with:

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict. (v9)

The reason for this qualification is seen immediately in 1:10f. Pastors need to be the sort of men (or women) who can refute false teachers because false teachers are around and they will cause trouble unless they are dealt with. This is also in view when Paul exhorted the Ephesians elders:

“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears” (Acts 20:28-31)

You cannot serve the church as pastor if you are unwilling to confront error for the good of the church. Those who cower at danger or try to say these issues are not their concern show themselves hirelings and cowards. The true shepherd is willing to give his life for his flock. Surely here we are to imitate the pattern of the Chief Shepherd who said:

I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He
who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees
the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and
scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about
the sheep. (John 10:11-13)

The shepherd loves his flock and is ready to die for them. This is not the creating of unnecessary conflict (as some take it). This is love in action, and can only really emerge as we establish close knit community where pastors are not CEO’s or simply hired guns but rather members of the community, the family, who have been called out for service.

I urge others in the church to answer the call to be on guard to "protect" the church. Each member of God's Church can fulfill this role of "protector" by refusing to engage in gossip and refuting those who would seek to create dissension!