I come across...!

Since several want to know who I really am - and since I often come across so strongly and "right" let me share some insights into.....

After serving as pastor for over 24 years I have learned and experienced some things that have caused me to re-examine why the church is losing ground in America. What I discovered has shaken me to my core. With the opportunity and blessing of the church I serve, we are trying something new. It's not a house church, it is not a present institutional model, it does not make going to church more important the being the church, it refused "let believers off the hook" to to hide in the church and instead all are expected and taught to move beyond "Becoming authentic Christ followers" to "Becoming authentic Christ following incarnational disciple multipliers."

*I'm not as arrogant as I sound.
*I am passionate about the manifold purpose of God throughout Scripture to "be fruitful and multiply" as culminated in the Great Commission to do the same in a spiritual sense.
*I believe with passion what I am saying about being fruitful and multiply as everyone's supreme and personal command is biblically clear regardless of your denominational affiliation.
*I love communion, songs, giving, teaching of the word, giving praise to God, worshipping Him.
*I grieve over the fact that "going to church" has largely replaced "being the incarnational Church in the world.
*I am committed to seeing a movement of disciple-making and incarnational transformation sweep America in an "out of control" movement of God as led by His Spirit.
*I don't like cool-aide.
*I do confront, I do challenge, I do rock the boat, I am serious, I always think I am right (though, I admit I'm not always.) Boy, I hate to admit that. :)
*I know thatBlogs are like email, you don't always get a clear picture of heart and love and motivations. I know there is always room for personal inflections.
*I don't care if people disagree with me, but I wish all would post comments either way.
*I'm not very tactful.
*I know that it seems like a "me and you" in my writing. That is meant not to condemn but to stir status quo and cause people to think beyond the barriers, box, methods, and present way of doing church to incarnational "Jesus" transformation in the lives of all outside of the Christ family. It's really us - we are the leaders - these are strategic days, there is hope for renewed vigor in the mission we are called to.
*I am challenging the church to become the Church. And, I am not talking about outreach programs designed by church leaders, but rather, each of us being led by the Holy Spirit and letting Him work through us to impact lives personally in the world
*I'm not asking, nor can we throw the church away, we are the family of God, we do what we've always done - I taught people to do this my entire life. Now I am trusting God for a movement that makes the ownership of disciple multiplication everyone's passion and responsibility. I dream of the day when all will make disciples who also do the same by using their gifting and passions out in the world as God leads. The church in America will have to decide if it is going to move into the world as individual Christ followers rather than just doing approved ministries of the church.

I wish I could meet with all of you face to face to love you as members of the Christ family.

Jesus does want to do more, He always has. Scroll down for a post on God's Manifold Purpose.

Now let's push for a movement that doesn't focus on the subtle but limiting "3 priorities" of the church or in far too many churches in America. Let's move from Buildings, Budgets, and Butts to the priority of being the Church and living incarnationally "by being fruitful and multiplying" in the world as the main thing.

Please consider:
1. Pushing the church out in the world.
2. Not babying people by making it easy for them "to not" live personally the "Great Commission" purposes.
3. Trying something "new" and exciting or is it "old" and exciting.

Are you really satisfied with our declining church in America? I could say more, but I was so good in this post I don't want to ruin it for anyone.

I just have my sights on something we have never seen predominant in America.