Category Archives: Church

5 Ways To “Dumb Down” The Gospel

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I sometimes hear about churches who have been criticized for “dumbing down the Gospel.”    Usually the criticism is about their use of  modern music, preaching of practical messages, or their getting too big because they are “too entertaining”  and “only telling people what they want to hear.”

Well, there are certainly a few churches out there who have probably gone a bit overboard in their attempts to reach people, but I think that a lot of “dumbing down” happens in other ways.

Here are five ways that I believe churches can really “dumb down” the Gospel:

1. Preach only to the choir.

That is, tailor your preaching and services to those who already have experienced the Gospel.  Use insider lingo.   Assume everyone in the room knows where the book of  Micah is in the Bible.  Assume everyone has brought a Bible with them.  Assume that everyone knows all of the songs you’ve been singing for years.  Assume that everyone in the room is a Christian.  Assume that everyone in the room understands the meaning of “Propitiation” and a host of other theological terms.

2. Equate “spiritual maturity” with “knowledge” only.

Don’t emphasize doing anything.  Emphasize “knowing” everything.  Name the 12 tribes of Israel?   Check.  Define “Propitiation?” Check.  Memorize a lot of Bible verses? Check.  Dig “deeply” into Scripture to discover nuances of Hebrew and Greek that put the passage into historical and cultural context? Check.  Congratulations.  You’re mature.  Because of course, the “Spiritual Maturity” test involves written “fill in the blank,” “true/false” and “multiple choice” answers…

3. Wrap & build your Theology around a human Theologian or movement.

Put that Theologian’s name or movement in your church name, way of thinking, and pretty much everything you do.  Seriously.  Just that one guy.   I’m not talking about your denomination or affiliation, but rather, your overall perspective.  Example: Larry started the Recycled Church movement.  So I’m a Recycled Larryiest and we are a Recycled Larryiest Church with a theology of Recycled Larryism.

Use these descriptions and “Larry” rather than or along with Scripture to “defend the faith.” ….Of… Larry, I guess?

4. Separate it  from everyday life as much as possible.

Make your preaching and your worship service so unconnected to the rest of the real world that people easily leave it at church and pick it back up the next week.  Think to yourself that this is what it means to be “holy” or “set apart.”

5. Make it as dull as dirt.

For heaven’s sake, don’t be interesting or captivating.  That would be entertainment, and if anyone is enjoying any part of your worship service, you must be doing something wrong.

So there you go.  Five ways to dumb it down.

Here is what I believe is a better way:

I believe spiritual maturity is about becoming Christ-like.
I believe unbelievers should be present, welcomed and helped to understand as we present the Gospel.
I believe we should learn from and be influenced by Theologians but not wear them on our jerseys like football teams.
I believe the Gospel should impact every area of life.
I believe the Gospel is the best, most exciting news on the planet and that it is wrong to communicate it in a dull and lifeless way.

When we forget that “Gospel” means “Good News,”  the “dumbing down” cannot be far behind.

They Started A New Church

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Paul and Silas started a new church.

Acts 17:1-11 records the account of their travels to Thessalonica, and how Paul used the Scriptures to reason with the people about Jesus, the Messiah.  It tells of the hospitality of Jason, who welcomed them into his home.  It reveals the anger and obstacles Paul and Silas encountered, their imprisonment as a result of it, and their subsequent release when the new believers were forced to post their bail.

The record in Acts provides us with the story of a brand new church that encountered persecution from its beginning and was left without its founders a very short time after it came into being.

And yet – it persevered, thrived and endured.

It became an example of faith to churches far and wide, and the word of the Lord rang out from them to people everywhere….

When God wants to start a new church, He uses people He has called to do it.  And through them, with them and beyond them, God does it.

He builds His church.

Two books in the New Testament are actually letters to the church in Thessalonica.  So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it is in 1 Thessalonians 5:24, that we find the words, “The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it.”

So now, of course, I must correct my first sentence: God, Paul and Silas started a new church.

It was from scratch.

It encountered obstacles.

It was unstoppable.

And it was worth it.

Hymn Jazz

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Saxophone on Stage

I like Jazz.

You may not.

If you tell me you don’t like jazz, I’ll think, “Wow, I can’t believe you don’t like jazz.”

Then I’ll wonder what kind of jazz you do not like:

  • Traditional Jazz
  • Big Band & Swing Jazz
  • Dixieland Jazz
  • Bebop Jazz
  • Cool Jazz
  • Mainstream Jazz
  • Vocal Jazz
  • Third Steam Jazz
  • Hard Bop Jazz
  • Progressive Jazz
  • World and Ethnic Jazz
  • Avant-garde Jazz
  • Fusion Jazz
  • Crossover Jazz

Or just “All That Jazz?”

If you don’t like any jazz at all, I’ll think, “Wow, I can’t believe you don’t like jazz.”

But I won’t think, “It doesn’t matter whether you like it or not, because it is sacred music. It’s God’s music.”  Because for me to think that would be silly.  You not liking Jazz would mean you just have a different preference in musical style.

And God doesn’t have a favorite musical style.

What about Hymns?

If you don’t like Hymns, then I have to wonder what kind of hymns do you not like:

  • 17th Century Hymns
  • 18th Century Hymns
  • 19th Century Hymns
  • Gospel Song Hymns
  • Gregorian Chant type Hymns
  • A cappella Hymns
  • Classical Hymns
  • Western Harmonic Hymns
  • Gospel Song style Hymns
  • Spiritual Hymms
  • Contemporary Hymns

Or is it just that you do not like the general idea of a worship song with music from a different decade?

If you don’t like any so called “hymns” at all, I’ll think, “Wow, I can’t believe you don’t like ‘hymns.’”

But I won’t think, “It doesn’t matter whether you like it or not, because it is sacred music. It’s God’s music.”  Because for me to think that would be silly.  You not liking what you call “hymns” would probably mean you just have a different preference in musical style.

And God doesn’t have a favorite musical style.

  • The piano was invented in the late 1600′s.
  • There was an instrument called a “hydraulis” (water organ) developed in the 3rd century, but an organ that even resembles anything you’d recognize wasn’t developed until at the earliest, the 13th century or so.
  • Four part harmony was developed throughout the 1600′s.
  • “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19) was written around 61 AD.

“Hymns.” Before pianos. Before four-part harmony. Before the modern Organ as an accompaniment.

Any idea what Paul was talking about? I think it’s safe to say that he probably wasn’t humming the tune of any song in any American Church’s Hymnal, because none of those songs had been written yet. Basically, even the style of those songs hadn’t been developed yet.

Wait. Maybe he wasn’t talking about a particular style. Because God doesn’t have a favorite musical style.

A Biblical Hymn is a song of worship & praise to God. Whether it was written in the 1500′s or this morning.  The sound and style of the tune isn’t what makes it a Biblical hymn.  The instrument that plays it doesn’t make it a Biblical Hymn.  Who it is about and/or to Whom it is addressed make it a Biblical Hymn.

But when you sing them, I’d suggest that you sing ones that you enjoy and that you think the others who are gathered with you would enjoy. Ones that are doctrinally sound.  Ones that you can sing wholeheartedly to God.

Not ones that you think sound more sacred.

Because that would be silly.

God doesn’t have a favorite musical style.

Such Very Much

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Such Very Much Neighborhood

If you are not interested in people who do not follow Jesus, you haven’t been following Jesus very much.

If you do not care about a world that doesn’t know Jesus, you’re not getting to know Jesus very much.

If you care about a good cause more than you care about people who are not following Jesus, you don’t understand the cause of Jesus very much.

If you care more about exegesis than you care about your neighbors, your heart does not reflect the heart of Jesus very much.  (Nor did you do a good job with your exegesis.)

If you care more about doctrine than you care about others, you don’t understand the doctrine of Jesus very much.

And if you are a church and all of that is true about you,  that is such

A shame.

Because you can do much

Better.

And so much

More.

Very much.

Did Paul and Silas Sing “Hymn Number 54?”

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The prison was dark and dismal.  Paul glanced once at his chains, and then at his friend Silas, who was sitting next to him on the cold rock floor.   Noticing the weary look in his companion’s eye, he offered him words of encouragement.
“Silas,” Paul whispered, “Let’s sing a hymn.”
“What shall we sing?  They took our hymnals when they imprisoned us.”
“Ah, Silas, old friend, we’ve sung them so many times, we both know many of them by heart.  Let’s sing, ‘A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.’”
Silas smiled, and together with Paul he began to sing the grand and majestic hymn with all of his heart.  Moments later, the chains and walls came crashing down.  … And of course they would, if such an anachronistic event ever actually occurred!

Old Brown Wall note

The prison was dark and dismal.  Paul glanced once at his chains, and then at his friend Silas, who was sitting next to him on the cold rock floor.   Noticing the weary look in his companion’s eye, he offered him words of encouragement.

“Silas,” Paul whispered, “Let’s sing a hymn.”

“What shall we sing?  They took our hymnals when they imprisoned us.”

“Ah, Silas, old friend, we’ve sung them so many times, we both know many of them by heart.  Let’s sing “Hymn Number 54.”

“A Mighty Fortress Is Our God?”

“That’s the one.”

Silas smiled, and together with Paul he began to sing the grand and majestic hymn with all of his heart.

Moments later, the chains and walls came crashing down.

And of course they would, if such an anachronistic event ever actually occurred…

Preaching is for People.

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Billy Sunday - you ole hypocrite 2

This may be a loaded sentence, but basically, at Stoneview we will teach people the Bible more than we teach the Bible to people.

(Don’t get lost in the wording, there. I’m talking about the “how” now, not the “what,” brown cow. :D )

This is because we want people to understand the Bible and we care enough to communicate it in a way they will understand.

Preaching is for people. If you’re a preacher, I hope you don’t think you’re preaching to God… He already knows this stuff.  If you’re not interested in teaching people the Bible, you don’t really need the people, do you? You can do that alone in your study.

I will not be doing the deep exegetical study in front of everyone as I’m delivering the message.  That will happen before and in preparation for the delivery of the message.  The goal is that the “deep, accurate message” is clear and understandable.

I’ve heard deep, accurate sermons that connected with the hearers and I’ve heard deep, accurate sermons that bored the heck out of people and caused them to walk away not understanding anything.

The Bible is deep.

It’s also simple.

It’s never simplistic.

I want people to understand as much as possible as the Spirit opens their hearts to hear.

Moving Away From a Culture of Losing

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Chess Win

I first noticed this at one of my son’s football games a few years ago.  His team had been on a losing streak for several weeks, and it made a difference in the way they played the game.  And with each new play that went astray, their approach to the next one was affected.  

In the same way, there is a “Culture of Losing” that develops over time in some organizations and churches.  

Here’s how it plays out:  After experiencing a series of “losses” the team begins to expect to lose.  And before long, without even realizing it, they may actually begin planning to lose.  Then the team knows nothing of winning, only of losing, and a “Culture of Losing” is the result.  ”Losing” becomes the norm.  It’s what they know.

But one good win can change everything.  It can turn a game around, put wind in your sails, provide hope, and plant the seed of a “culture of winning.”  

I watched it happen in my son’s football game after a great play.  I felt it on the 18th hole of a round of golf when, after 17 holes of  lame attempts, I hit the ball straight down the fairway.  I noticed it in the attitudes of team members after a successful event that followed ones that were not so successful.

Good leaders recognize the frequency of “losses” and learn to ask themselves the following question:  Without manipulation or ‘head games’ with my team, what small wins can I create that in turn will create momentum enough to banish the “Culture of Losing” and create a new “Culture of Winning?”   

Never underestimate the power and momentum of a good win – no matter how small.

Roofer Madness

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roof-hands

Recently, a huge hail storm came through our area.  It was pretty freaky.  Some of the hail was baseball sized, and the storm caused a lot of damage in our neighborhood.  I suspected that we’d probably be hearing from “hail damage repair” companies before long.

Then it happened.   The next day we were up to our roof in roofing companies.

First, it was one door hanger.  Then two, then three.  ”Ralph’s Roofing Company!”  ”Big Top Roofing Company!” “Roofy Roof’s Roofing Company!”  For over a week – no kidding – we received 3 to 4 door hangers a day promoting one roofing company or another.

Then the signs began springing up. “Shingles R Us Roofing Company!” “Better’n Yer Neighbors’ Roofing Company!”  All over the neighborhood there were lawn signs advertising the companies that my neighbors had chosen to repair their roofs.  … Er, rooves?   Whatever.  It looked like a campaign season.

Then the doorbell started ringing.  Literally, the roofing companies started going door to door.  I personally talked with 3 or 4 representatives.  At least 2 of them explained to me that the other roofing companies were using all sorts of gimmicks and some of them were even breaking the law!  (Apparently it is against a Federal law for a company to pay your home insurance deductable for you.)  These guys were very nice, generally respectful and kept their visit short.

Then we started receiving mailers.  ”Super Roofer Roofing Company!”  ”Roof Roof Rover’s Roofing Company!” There they were in my mailbox along with Grocery store circulars and Furniture Store inserts.

Then I started seeing random signs around town at railroad crossings and traffic lights.  I’m surpised I even noticed them before the Fort Worth code enforcement car started removing them.

So to sum up:  We had a real need.  We were bombarded with door hangers, signs, personal visits and direct mail.

  • The door hangers became annoying after the 3rd one.
  • The signs were just a sea of noise – no one sign impressed more than another.
  • The personal visits, though amiable, were uninvited sales pitches nonetheless.
  • The mailers were just one more piece of junk mail.
  • The random signs around town just seemed like desperate cries for help.

And we’ve decided on no one.  (Not sure we can meet our deductable anyway. )

But if we do, it won’t be because one door hanger was cooler than another or because I drove past a sea of signs and thought, “That one.  That blue one there in the middle.  That’s the company for us!”

I very much could be wrong (I often am) but I have a feeling it will be because of something else.    And that something else will have to wait for another post.

And yes, churches sometimes come across like roofing companies. :)

It’s All About God…And People.

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crowd-rock-concert

If you are a follower of Jesus, you go where He leads and you care about what He cares about – and that always leads to people. 

If you want to say, “No, it leads to making God famous!” then I have to ask, “Famous to who?” And again, we’re talking about people.

The Bible is about God’s revelation of Himself and His redemption of people.

Some Christians seem to imply that people are irrelevant in ministry because it’s “all about God.”  Um… Hello? I think something’s being missed, there…

Sometimes I want to shout to these well meaning Christians  something along the lines of:

Yo!  Dude!  You are People!  And that ‘whooshing sound’ you just heard was the point sailing past your head…

I understand what is meant by the phrase, “It’s all about God.”  I’m just saying that if that is indeed the case, then we should care about what God cares about.

And God cares about people.