Are We Doing It Right?

I have been a Clemson fan since childhood…so I am used to something that Carolina fans are not used to…winning on a consistent basis! :-)

They style of Clemson football has changed dramatically over the past 20 years. We used to win games with running the ball and defense. Every once in a while we would throw a pass…but that was merely for entertainment purposes only.

And what was the bottom line? We won ball games—plain and simple.

Today it is a little different. Since Tommy Bowden became the coach at Clemson we throw the ball a lot more than we did in the 80’s. He seems to strive for a more balanced attack in his game preparation. However, even though the strategy looks completely different than it did years ago—Clemson is still winning football games.

My question is this—by not doing it the way that “it has always been done” has Tommy committed a sin against the football gods? Is there a right way and a wrong way to play football. Seriously—what is a coach supposed to do? Is running more than passing the right way? Of course, passing the ball is a lot more exciting than running…but then is that too entertaining?

I don’t think we can say there is a right way to play the game—the bottom line is scoreboard. As a Tiger fan I don’t care how we win—just as long as we win. Running, passing, whatever—I like to identify with a winner.

And the same can be said for the church!

I have noticed in the world of the internet a quite lively debate over “the right way” to do church. In my mind this is a DANGEROUS place to be—declaring that one way is right and every other way is wrong.

But the debate is raging…traditional vs. contemporary—house church vs. mega church—postmodern vs. well…I don’t know what THEY are against—usually everything!!!

My point is that people get trapped into thinking that there is one way to do church—and if other churches are NOT doing church that way then they are WRONG. And to take that even further…the people in the churches that feel as if they are right openly criticize and condemn…and some have even staged protests outside of other churches.

Uh, somehow I am not thinking that is what Jesus meant when He called us to love one another AND to make disciples.

People ask me, “Is the way NewSpring doing church the RIGHT way.” My response is always, “No, it is a different way!” There are so many different people in this world…and it is going to take so many different styles to reach them. To claim that there is ONE worship style that is right is both narrow minded and egotistical. And to attack people who ARE NOT compromising the Gospel…but are also NOT compromising Scripture is both arrogant and wrong.

There are several questions that I think need to be asked when evaluating a ministry to see if it is in line…

#1 - Is It Growing?

Jesus called us to reach people—period. Healthy things grow—period. And NO ONE can make a BIBLICAL case for a church remaining small & not caring about the community in which it exists.

I hear it from time to time, “We’re small—but we love each other and it is our call to minister to one another.” That is a partial truth…it is A PART of our call…but another part is to go and reach people for Christ. A church that is inward focused & gives the community the middle finger and tells them to go to hell is not doing it right—period.

It’s not about the style of worship either. There is a church right up the road in Easley that is growing like mad—and they are as traditional as they come. We must be VERY careful NEVER to confuse methodology with theology!

#2 - Is It Scriptural?

I say win the game no matter what—but if a team is caught cheating the ref throws a flag. I am all for doing whatever it takes to reach people; however, Scripture must never be compromised.

Now here is where people will look at churches like NewSpring and claim we are compromising Scripture by not dressing up…or they will condemn the fact that we have a band—things like that.

The problem is that these objections are based on personal preferences rather than precepts, and that is a dangerous line to cross.

I once heard of a legalist objecting to rock and roll music because it had a “4-4” beat. But as I remember flipping through the hymnals that exist in many churches most of the songs were written in…uh…yep…4-4 time.

#3 - Is It Engaging?

I think there is one word to describe a church that is boring—SIN!

Look at it this way—God is not boring. He invented laughter. He invented the sunset. He’s the One who developed the concept of sex! (Thank you Jesus!)

And Jesus—He was not a boring dude. He was always telling stories…and wherever He went there was this crowd that followed Him. (So much for keeping it small!) And when He walked on the water…or turned water into wine—trust me—he engaged people.

And the Holy Spirit—one good read through Acts chapter two will highlight the fact that when He moves it is completely obvious!

And the Bible—this is the most exciting book ever written. There are stories of war, romance, kings and queens, you name it—it’s in there.

Unfortunately I know of many churches who have taken God, Jesus, the Spirit, and the Bible and made them the most boring and irrelevant things on the planet.

God is NOT boring—His Bride should not be either!

These three questions are things that I use to evaluate this ministry. To be honest, I don’t have time to go around and inspect other people, churches, and ministries, take the time to listen to the messages that the teachers in that church does, read all the things that comes out of that church, and then criticize that ministry through random e-mails and blog comments. (I would argue that a person who does have time for that needs a few things…such as a job…)

I know we are not perfect—we never will be. I tell this church often that as long as I am the pastor that things will probably be screwed up around here. However, I believe with all of my heart that we are doing exactly what Jesus has called us to do…and that we are doing it exactly how He has called us to do it. And that is the conviction that a pastor and the leadership of a church must have.

So—style—doesn’t matter. Dress—doesn’t matter. Political preferences—doesn’t matter. The thing we need to agree on is this—let’s love Jesus with everything we’ve got—and love one another that way as well. That is His call on our lives—not to point out the faults that exist—but to strengthen, encourage, and build one another up.

Are we doing things right? Yes—for where we are, for our church—yes. Does this mean that other churches need to do exactly what we are doing? Nope! That’s my thoughts on the matter—what are yours?