#3 - “Let’s Risk It All,” to, “Let’s Play It Safe.”
I recently spent some time with the guys in the coaching network that I lead and told them I feel that most churches are just one risk away from breaking through barriers that once seemed impossible; however, because of the unwillingness of the pastor (and/or leaders) to take a risk that potential will never be discovered!
When a church first begins taking risks is easy…there’s nothing to lose. BUT…when momentum gets going, people are showing up and budgets are being met…well…all too often the focus goes from risk taking to people pleasing (which NEVER ENDS well!)
In reading through the Gospels it is easy to see that the church NEVER played it safe—ever. Individual followers of Jesus NEVER played it safe—ever. They didn’t form committee meetings to “pray” about a decision that everyone knew needed to be made…but no one actually had the guts to pull the trigger.
THEY WENT FOR IT! And because they were willing to try things no one else was trying…we are here today!
Here are a few questions for you?
- What risks am I wrestling with wanting to take…but have been too afraid to vocalize?
- What am I REALLY afraid of—failing OR people viewing me as a failure?
- Am I saying I am praying about something when, in actuality, I am delaying & hoping that God will just somehow “work things out?”
Those are a few that I have to ask myself from time to time.
I think one of the WORSE things a leader can do is begin to play it safe. It’s sort of like when a football team goes into a “prevent” defense…which usually prevents them from winning the game. (I’ve seen it so many times—when a team loses its aggressiveness…it’s over!)
The church was NOT called to play defense…we play offense…we don’t run from the gates of hell..we freakin’ kick them down! We are not called to see how many we can KEEP every Sunday…but how many we can REACH!
I know I make my fair share of mistakes as a leader. I know I will stand before Jesus one day and be held accountable for every stupid thing I have done; however, one of the things I pray I don’t have to hear Him say is, “You dishonored me by playing it safe! I didn’t die on a cross so you could please people…I died on a cross for you to reach them!!!”
I am pumped about the risks NewSpring Church is currently taking…and the ones we are getting ready to take. We can’t sit around with an “arrival” mindset and just give the world the middle finger…we’ve GOT to do all that we can to reach all that we can!
Let’s take some risk! MY GOSH! We’re THE CHURCH—we have been given the GREATEST MESSAGE EVER…we have the POWER OF THE LIVING GOD…we have the DIRECTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT…and GOD IS NOT LIMITED BY PERSONAL or RESOURCES!!!
WOO HOO…I am PUMPED!