grace Posts

The Great Evangelical Decline

05 Jun , 2008 5 Comments

I’ve had hunch for a long time that something’s gone wrong. As a lover of Jesus and His Church I’m in ongoing conversations about the effectiveness of the church in our world today. I’m constantly thinking about how we can optimize our redemptive potential in this generation. Last Sunday I read an article in the Dallas Morning News that shocked my system. Christine Wicker, the author of The Fall of the Evangelical Nation: The Surprising Crisis Inside the Church, wrote an article entitled, The Great Evangelical Decline. After you read this blog, you need to take time to read her article at http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/points/stories/DN-wicker_01edi.ART1.State.Edition1.46dace2.html

Because she’s a former Southern Baptist she caught my attention. She begins with, “What Baptist leaders have known for years is finally public: The Southern Baptist Convention is a denomination in decline. Half of the SBC’s 43,000 churches will have shut their doors by 2030 if current trends continue. And unless God provides a miracle, the trends will continue. They are longstanding and deeply rooted. The denomination’s growth rate has been declining since the 1950s. The conservative/fundamentalist takeover 30 years ago was supposed to turn the trend around; it didn’t make a bit of difference.”

Those who know me know that I’m a consummate optimist, often to a fault. What’s probably added to my blissful denial of reality has been the wonderful ride that we’ve been on at FBC McKinney over the past 9 years. Two weeks ago I asked a group of leaders if they knew of any church (and particularly any Baptist church) that was blowing the doors off in terms of growth. No one could name one. The mega-church of the eighties and nineties seems to be an ever-decreasing expression of the Kingdom in our culture.

Now, I’m a Christian before I’m a Baptist, but as a Baptist I found Mrs. Wicker’s article startling. While I disagree with much of the article (why the trend has taken place and her suggestions to right the ship), I agree that it’s time for us to wake up. Though I don’t want to admit it, the ship is sinking. As I see it leaders have one option: change or die. Many church leaders have decided to stay the same non-effective course (keep preaching what you’re preaching, only louder). Others have decided that the only option is to bail: “If the ship is sinking, everybody out. Abandon ship!” Others, like me have decided to be a prophetic voice in the midst of radical change from within (and besides, it’s easier to have a voice at the table if you’re still a loving member of the family).

At FBC we’re making some radical changes. In fact, it’s jolting our collective DNA. We’ve determined to do whatever it takes to join Jesus on mission in our world. I’m well aware that the strategies of the past are not working today and that fewer and fewer are hearing our message, regardless of what it is; they’re simply not listening.

Mrs. Wicker ends her article with these ominous words: “Evangelical faith is failing in so many other ways that a growing number of Christians believe a New Reformation is needed. If they are correct, the Southern Baptist Convention is unlikely to lead that reformation. Let’s hope it is at least around to participate.” Count me in. Let’s be among those who, with an ear towards heaven and a resolve to follow Jesus, are courageous enough to ask the hard questions and do whatever it takes to see His Kingdom come (regardless of the cost). A reformation is needed and it will come as God’s Spirit falls upon a prayer-soaked people, clinging to God, with a simple and uncluttered message: “Jesus is Lord.” Let’s continue the conversation…

Jesus has left the building.

06 May , 2008 No Comments

We went looking for Jesus on the move.  Many of you have asked “What happened?”

We found Him… 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68ajJVIISZU

The Church has left the building

28 Apr , 2008 No Comments

I’m told that when Elvis finished his concerts (back when he was even bigger than Hannah Montana) organizers would announce that he had left the building, presumably so everyone would stop screaming and leave themselves.  This past Sunday the members of First Baptist Church of McKinney left the building.  We decided not to go to church but to be the church.  It’s all part of seismic shift that’s taking place in the church.  Thousands of people across McKinney, Collin County, and the metroplex decided to be the very presence of Jesus among the least, lost, and forgotten.  We joined such partners as the Samaritan Inn (the only homeless shelter in Collin County), Relay for Life, Children and Community Healthcare, McKinney Housing Authority, Habitat for Humanity, Seed Sowers Prison Ministry, Kiwanis, Union Gospel Mission, and countless others.  Hundreds of projects were established that resulted in a wild and wonderful display of the radical grace of God.

 

Not long ago I heard pastor/author Rick Warren say, “The Body of Christ has had its hands and feet amputated and all that’s left is a big mouth.”  Ouch.  His words broke my heart because I’ve sensed this truth for a long time.  As church attendance continues to decline across America many emerging leaders recognize that something’s wrong and we need to change (the biblical word is repent). 

 

How did the apostolic (early) Church grow from as few as 25,000 in AD 100 to as many as 20,000,000 by AD 310?  Consider the odds: They were an illegal religion throughout most of this time.  They had no church buildings, no professional leadership, no worship bands, Power Point, children’s programs, or sound systems.  They didn’t even have the Scriptures as we know them.  Essentially they little of what we’ve made church out to be.

 

What did they have?  They had a passion for Jesus and His restorative agenda in the world.  In partnership with God they were committed to bring hope, life, and healing to everyone around them.  They were willing to wade into the cultural, economic, financial, and social issues of the day and get their hands and feet dirty.  Simply put, they loved God and others.  How do we recapture this same missional heartbeat?  Clearly by doing the same.  Our love for Jesus must be made manifest in our love for others.  We must serve the most forsaken people, places, and issues in our world without fear, regardless of how messy, painful, or costly it may become. 

 

It seems that Jesus has been lost in an institution that bears His name.  The Church must rediscover its missional imperative and incarnational initiative in our world.  I’m critical of institutionalism not because it’s evil but because the greatest Jesus movements have always been when the Church had little of anything that looked like an institution.  What happens when the church leaves the building?  The poor are blessed, the hungry are fed, the homeless and the imprisoned are given hope.  God’s people realize that simply going to church will never bring the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. 

 

I’ve never been more excited about the Church than I am today because I’m seeing a host of emerging leaders who get it.  An amazing shift is taking place among us as we’ve discovered that the Gospel is bigger than any of us imagined and a loving engagement of all people is evidence of it.  Jesus did not come to simply save us from sin but to set us free from ourselves so that we might serve others.  Maybe then they’ll listen to what we have to say or maybe Jesus will speak for us.

“Don’t come to church.”

20 Apr , 2008 No Comments

This may seem like a strange challenge from a pastor to his church family. But that’s exactly what I said. This Sunday, April 27th, everyone who is a part of FBC McKinney has decided not to go to church but to be the church. What happens when the church leaves the building?  The Church becomes what it was always meant to be. The Church was never intended to stay in the building.  If you’ve been around FBC lately, or if you’ve talked to someone who has, you know that an amazing shift is taking place among us. We’ve decided that we do not exist for ourselves but for others. Jesus has come to transform our hearts so that we can transform our world with His love.  We want Him to be Lord of our lives and we’ve decided to join Him in what He’s doing in the world.

Throughout April we’ve been challenging each person to “Transform Your World”. Hundreds of projects have been established by our members and we want you to join us. Go to our website www.fbcmckinney.com and you’ll see all the Transform Your World information and how you can get involved. Many of the activities take place throughout the week and all weekend. Come rediscover the forgotten mission of Jesus and join us as we look at the Church and our world in brand new ways.  We desire to be a source of healing wherever we encounter injustice, discord, and neglect. We’re convinced that the Church Jesus envisioned is not an institution but a revolution of hope and healing to all people.

If Jesus lived in our community where do you think He would be found? We believe that if Jesus was in Collin County He would be among the least and the lost. His heart would break over those who have no food, no shelter, no healthcare, and no hope. He’s broken our hearts as well. That’s why we’ve joined such high-integrity partners as the Samaritan Inn, Children and Community Healthcare, McKinney Housing Authority, Habitat for Humanity, Seed Sowers Prison Ministry, area nursing homes, and countless others. It will be a wild and wonderful display of the radical grace of Jesus.  The entire month will culminate on May 5th with our annual “Transform Your World” offering that will be given away to help share the love of Jesus around the world.  It is going to be an earth-shaking, heaven-descending kind of movement.  Watch while stories of redemption emerge as we go find Jesus on the move and join Him in what He’s doing.  McKinney, let’s partner together and transform your world!

You can hear more from Jeff at First Baptist Church of McKinney at one their six services. For locations, service times, podcasts, or to watch live, go to www.fbcmckinney.com

When the Church Leaves the Building

29 Mar , 2008 1 Comment

What happens when the church leaves the building?  We’re about to find out.  The truth is the Church spends most of its time outside the building and was never intended to stay in the building.  If you’ve been around First McKinney much lately, you know that we seek to be a church on mission with Jesus in the world.  Jesus has come to transform our hearts so we can transform our world with His love. 

Our focus in April is “Transform Your World” and throughout the month we’ll explore what happens “When the Church Leaves the Building”.   We seek to rediscover the forgotten mission of Jesus and begin to look at the Church and our world in brand new ways.  We seek to be a source of healing wherever we encounter injustice, discord, and neglect.  We believe that Jesus is the Answer and He is the One who brings hope and healing to all people through us.   

On April 27th we will literally “leave the building” and worship the Lord through service in our community.  Instead of going to church, we’re going to be the church.  Our entire church family will be on mission throughout the weekend.  It will be a wild and wonderful display of the radical grace of Jesus.  The entire month will culminate on May 5th with our annual “Transform Your World” offering.  It is going to be an earth-shaking, heaven-descending kind of movement of God’s people.  Watch while stories of redemption emerge as we go find Jesus on the move and join Him in what He’s doing.  (We’ve got a hunch as to where we might find Him- among the least and lost of our community). 

Jump in and hang on!  www.fbcmckinney.com/Default.aspx?p=14526