The Ideal Church for Me tagged: , , ,

The Ideal Church for Me

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Some time ago, as I candidated for a pastoral position, I was asked to describe my “ideal” church for me to pastor. The below statement was my answer. I am surprised and glad to find that, several years later, the church I now pastor is becoming this “ideal” church. Isn’t God amazing?

The ideal church for me is a church that is a true missional community, that is, a fellowship of people who really like, love and are committed to one another who have a fierce collective determination to fulfill the Great Commission and join God in His work of redemption. I love a church where every get-together does not have to be programmed, where people spend time together because they want to, and more importantly, pray together, evangelize together, talk about important things and study scripture together because they want to do so. I believe that this church culture can be created so that the status quo is authentic discipleship. I love a church with a sense of fun, where excellence is a value but gentleness in criticism is as well. I love a church where pastors are not put on pedestals but are recognized as servants and real people with certain gifts and a call to leadership. I love people who take people in, who adopt kids who need it, who mow each others grass without telling, and who laugh – a lot.

The ideal church for me is a church of integrity.  I love churches without titles. I want to lead a church that is more concerned about their sending capacity than their seating capacity. I love a church that would rather establish a new church plant in Canada than build a new $10 million dollar educational building; or more correctly, (for the same cost), establish 50 new churches in Canada rather than build a new $10 million dollar educational building. I love a church that considers themselves trustees of God’s resources rather than stewards of their own resources. I love a church that has leaders who lead by example and boldly say, “be imitators of us as we are of Christ.” I love a church that is not prideful, that does whatever it takes to reach people locally, but does not confuse their own desires for spectacular edifices with adequate facilities to attract and minister to the lost. I love a church that speaks the truth in love, that prizes patience and understands that discipleship is a process, not an event. I love a church whose leaders say, “I don’t know, but let’s find out together.” I love a church where marriages are more important than meetings, and where the leaders encourage the pastor to take vacation, rather than chide him for it. I love a church where the pastor does the same for his leaders, and where no one is at “church” five nights a week.

I love a church where men are strong but not macho, gentle but not weak, who are not “experts” but lifelong learners, who may not know what to say but will sit with you anyway for as long as it takes. I love a church where women are respected and loved, where they are prized for their capabilities and for their godliness, and where they are leaders who are glad to be led by godly, capable men. I love leaders who hold one another accountable, who are not legalists, but who choose not to watch or listen to ungodly movies or music because ungodly things turn their stomachs, not because it is a church rule. I love a church that respects and honors godly followership, and who loves and praises the man or woman who is  not a “leader” but who faithfully comes early to make the coffee every week. I love a church where people treat one another with respect, challenge one another, pray for one another, believe the best about one another and will die for one another, or live for one another (which is harder). I love a church that loves the body of Christ and does not see itself as the only church in town that gets it right. I love a church that is not afraid of what it does not understand, but measures all new things against scripture to test their integrity. I love a church that loves the church universal, who study our history and know where we have been, who keep the best of the past, who challenge the apathy of the present, and who are hopeful and determined and prepared for the future.

The ideal church for me is a church of influence. I love a church which shares Christ, in and out of its services. I love a church who loves people whether they accept Christ or not. I love a church that is proactive in its community and anticipates needs and meets them. I love a church that is reactive in its community and moves quickly to lend a helping hand. I love a church who does not just preach evangelism but shows people how to do it, not just in the classroom, but on the street. I love a church that ministers to people who work on Sunday morning and loves them instead of judging them. I love a church where members come late because they helped someone change a tire or gave a ride to a hitchhiker. I love a church where we are known for standing for good things more than we are known for standing against bad things. I love a church that loves its community, not codependently, but with tough love.

I love a church that teaches its people to share testimony about what God has done in their lives, where the testimony of what God has done is more interesting than the story of how bad their lives were before. I love churches who share the love of Christ with others and tell people why. I love a church that  is always ready to give an answer for the hope they profess in Christ. I love a church whose people look like they have hope. I love a church that loves missions, or more correctly, the mission and puts their money, time, and energy behind the mission. I love people who lie awake at night praying for places where there are no churches and who ask God to let them do something about it. I love a church that is not wrapped up in numbers, but who long to see results and “attempt great things for God, and expect great things from God.” I love churches that whoop and holler and clap at baptisms.

The ideal church for me is a church with imagination. I love a church who thinks of worship not as a performance for visitors, but as an act of service to God. I love a worship service that is put together with prayer and that is not designed to top the last one or to entertain, but is the cumulative result of the best we have to offer of our hearts, minds and resources. I love a church that works hard as unto the Lord. I love leaders who wipe up a spill in the hallway, who serve in the nursery because they love babies, and who gently instruct a child who is not their own. I love a church which is known for its creativity, who reclaim our heritage as the center for the arts and culture, and devotes all of it to the glory of God. I love churches that write their own songs and hang children’s artwork in the hallway. I love good coffee, especially when someone prepares it with joy as an act of worship. I love churches who want their people to be healthy, who enjoy a good barbeque, but also a good workout. I love a church where men cook and women hammer nails, and vice versa. I love a church who get together on Saturday morning and paint somebody’s house, and paint it well and have a good time doing it. I love a church where it is the thought that counts but where the quality of work, ministry, or art is also excellent. I love a church where people drop pillows and cokes off for toll-booth workers, and send out teams to give candy out to people working on Sunday mornings. I love churches that love to read, and learn, and study, and think, and discuss. I love churches who know that ministry is an art and a science and a calling and that we are blessed to get to participate. I love churches who know when it is time to quit a ministry and when it is time to start one. I love churches who love ideas, who see God doing a new thing, and do perceive it, and rejoice.