Rob Prince's Blog, page 59

Why is there not a Nazarene Mega Church?

Outreach Magazine once again came out with its list of the top 100 churches in worship attendance in America (http://outreachmagazine.com/outreach-100-largest-churches-2017.html) and once again Nazarene churches are more absent than a Buckeye at a Michigan Wolverine victory parade. Making the Outreach Magazine cut are Baptists, non-Denominationals, Methodists, Assembly of God, and even a Lutheran church but no Nazarene churches. I wonder why? Is it our theology? The Wesleyan Church has pretty much the same theology as Nazarenes but they are represented. Theology isn’t the problem. Is it our conservative bent to social issues? Many churches on the list that are far more conservative than the Church of the Nazarene, so I doubt that’s it. Why isn’t there one Nazarene mega church? Here are a few observations:

1) Nazarene ecclesiology. I have heard it said that our system of governance hurts us. The argument is that heavy handed District Superintendents thwart creativity and too many pastors of growing churches hop, skip and jump when another opportunity arises. There may be some truth these arguments. I’ve seen DSs that are more qualified to be a meter readers than the leader of churches and sometimes pastors jump around too much. But not all DSs are goobers and not all pastors have itchy feet, so you would think that tremendous growth could have happened somewhere.

2) Nazarene apportionments. The argument is: It’s all about the money. If growing churches weren’t outrageously taxed by the denomination (anywhere from 13-20%), they could invest more into mission and evangelism. I’m all for cutting our “franchise fees” but I’m not convinced that money is the sole reason for lack of phenomenal growth. The early church grew to mega church status overnight and while they didn’t pay their WEF budget, they also didn’t have any money.

3) Nazarene Community. The majority of Nazarene churches’ attendance is under 75, and several of these churches are located in close proximity to larger churches. Moreover, most of the churches on the Outreach Magazine list have more than one campus. I think Nazarenes have been reluctant (either because of a District Superintendent mandated injunction or, more times than not, a sense of duty to our Nazarene Community) to “invade” the territory of a small non-productive churches. Nazarenes don’t like to step on another Nazarene’s toes. Large churches have heard the whispers that they are “stealing the sheep” from the smaller Nazarene pastures and so rather than deal with such innuendo and criticism, they tend to not start satellite campuses.

So what is the answer?

Recognizing there may be a little truth in all of these arguments, there is probably not a single solution. But freedom seems to be at the heart of the issue. Our churches and pastors need:

Freedom to be creative.

Freedom to take risks.

Freedom to fail.

Freedom to use our District apportionment (at least) to start satellite campuses.

Freedom given by our Nazarene brothers and sisters to move into their “territory,” while not targeting “their sheep” to start new campuses.

Freedom to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in the days ahead.

Some could conclude having a mega Nazarene church is not necessarily a bad thing, but it still begs the question: With over 4,650 churches and over 14,000 elders, deacons and licensed ministers in USA/Canada why isn’t there at least one mega church?

Mission-Minded Scorecard. How mission-minded are you?

If you went on a short-term mission trip last year, add 40 points

If you think eating at your favorite Mexican restaurant counts as a short-term mission trip, subtract 20 points

If you gave more to missions than you spent on sporting events or craft supplies, add 25 points

If your mission giving consists of tossing the change from your dollar that you received on a 98-cent candy bar purchase into the Salvation Army bucket, subtract 25 points.

If you pray for world areas on a regular basis, add 25 points

If while watching Travel Channel, you pray to hit the lottery so you can build a summer home in some exotic location, subtract 25 points.

If you participated in a one-day mission project (Mission Blitz, Convoy of Hope or Angel Tree), add 20 points

If you had other important plans on those days like rearranging the spare closet or counting your socks, subtract 20 points.

If you weekly volunteer at Dillon Elementary School, Carriage Town or Celebrate Recovery, add 30 points

If you live by the motto, “I’m not helping no stinkin’ kids,” subtract 30 points.

If you give two percent of your income above your regular tithe to missions, add 25 points.

If you spent two percent of your income on coffee, subtract 25 points

If you can name seven missionaries, add 15 points

If you thought Meadowlark Lemon of the Harlem Globetrotters is one of them, subtract 10 points.

If you heard a missionary speak within the last year, add 10 points

If you heard a missionary was speaking at church on Sunday and suddenly you developed a cold, subtract 20 points.

If you have prayed over your Mission Outreach Commitment Card and how you might participate in missions this year, add 20 points.

If you ask: What’s a Mission Outreach Commitment Card? Subtract 20 points.

If you scored above 100 points you are a missions Super Star! Thank you!

If you scored below 100 point you might need to work on your missions’ acumen.

If you scored in negative numbers, be warry for the fleas of a thousand camels may infest your armpits in the coming days.

Ten Excuses on why you SHOULD NOT give to Missions.

1. If I gave to missions, I wouldn’t have my Starbucks money. I know that people are suffering in the world, but c’mon to start my day with a McDonald’s dollar coffee instead of a five dollar Starbucks Non-Fat Frappuccino With Extra Whipped Cream and Chocolate Sauce is suffering.

2.  I’m not cheerful. The Bible says you should be a “cheerful giver.” I’m not cheerful about anything. Oscar the Grouch seems like Miss Congeniality compared to me. Grumpy the Dwarf and I should be exempt from all giving.

3.  I heard if you give to missions you don’t care about your neighbors. I really care about my neighbors. I can’t remember the last time I talked to them, but they are really nice people.  At least, I think they are nice. They look nice, except for the little ugly one, what’s-his-name?  He was a goblin last Halloween or maybe he just looks that way. I can’t remember.  But I love my neighbors, so I can’t give to missions.

4.  I’m a little short on funds these days. I just paid for my three-week cruise (balcony suite, of course) to South America and my manicurist upped her weekly rate… AGAIN! Have you seen the price of caviar these days? Ridiculous.  I’m going to have to cut back.  I’d love to give, but it’s about priorities.

5.  Have you seen the new boat the Jones’ just purchased? They should give.  In fact, they should give double!

6.  I’m young. Let the old people give.

7.  I’m poor (compared to Matthew Stafford the Detroit Lions’ Quarterback). See if Matthew Stafford can stop throwing interceptions and instead throw some money toward missions.

8.  Missions? Jesus never said that we should “make disciples in all the world.” He did?   Well, Jesus never said to “care for the least of these.”  He did?   Jesus never said to “love your neighbor.”  He did? Umm… Jesus never said, “What does it profit a person to gain the world but lose your soul.” He did? Oops. Jesus never said, “Cut that guy in Michigan some slack he just doesn’t want to give any money.”  You’re right, Jesus never said that last one!

9.  If you were counting my excuses at home, you will notice that this is my final excuse and it is my ninth (not tenth) excuse of the Top Ten Excuses on Why You Should Not Give to Missions. Clearly, I can’t count.  If you can’t count, you shouldn’t give. Who knows you might give $10,000 to missions instead of the much-easier-on-the-bank-account ten bucks and boy oh boy, you don’t want to make that cheap skate, I mean, mistake!

 

I hope NONE OF US make any of the above excuses but ALL OF US prayerfully determine what the Lord would have us give to make a difference in the world.

Why Not Rio for the 2021 Nazarene General Assembly?

With the 2017 General Assembly in our rear-view mirror, can we start thinking about 2021? Is it just assumed the gathering will be held in Indianapolis? I like Indy. It’s a great city, but can I vote for someplace else?

75% of Nazarenes live outside of the United States, isn’t it time to seriously discuss having a General Assembly outside of the USA too?

In the past when the notion of holding a General Assembly outside of the USA is mentioned, Toronto, Canada seemed to be the first destination of choice. It’s clean, Canadians are generally nice people (unless you remind them that the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team hasn’t won the Stanley Cup since 1967) and technically it is not in the United States (I’ve heard that it’s a little too “American” for the “anywhere but North America” crowd, which I think bothers my Canadian friends who aren’t thrilled with such a descriptor.). I’ve also been told that there aren’t enough Nazarenes around Toronto to have the needed, money saving volunteers and that Toronto is an expensive city.

So, if Toronto is out of the running, why not Rio? Let me offer this disclaimer: I have never been to Rio de Janeiro. The Rio de Janeiro chamber of commerce did not pay me to write this blog. But the city has hosted an Olympics and a World Cup, so shouldn’t Rio also be able to handle a bunch of Nazarenes? We can’t be more trouble than soccer fans, can we?

With a little bit of checking this is what I discovered:

There are 17 Nazarene churches in Rio.  I think that should cover the volunteer quota.  There are plenty of Nazarenes in Brazil.

I checked on hotel costs. There are 27,000 hotel rooms in Rio (more than enough). The rooms seem priced quite a bit lower than in Indy. I think meals would be lower too.  Obviously, it would cost more to fly to Rio, instead of driving to Indy like I did in June, but the flight from Johannesburg, South Africa to Rio is about the same ($100 more) as it is to Indianapolis. So the airfares are more (depending on your starting point), but daily expenses are less in Rio than Indianapolis.

Rio has a convention center. It has sporting arenas. It has a mission opportunity for “one heart many hands” too.  I’ve heard it’s a beautiful city.

People come from all over the world to General Assembly.  Would it be easier or more difficult for the delegates to get visas for Brazil? I don’t know the answer to that, but ask our delegates from Guatemala or the Philippines who ended up sitting at home during the General Assembly how easy it was to get a visa to come to Indy last summer. I’m not sure it would be more difficult (and maybe it would be easier).

Just like in Indy there would be costs in holding the Assembly in Rio.  Would those costs be more or less than Indy?  I have no idea.  I believe that the actual cost of a General Assembly is a secret held nearly as tight as the nuclear launch codes. No doubt there would be a cost to hosting the GA outside of the USA, and maybe it would be more.  But isn’t that the price of having a truly international church? With half of our General Superintendents born outside of the USA, let’s have our next General Assembly outside the 50 states too.

Why not Rio in 2021?

Anticipating the 2021 Nazarene General Assembly Debate on the Use of Intoxicants

One of the interesting discussions from the 2017 General Assembly was in the Christian Action committee about resolution CA-710 regarding the Use of Intoxicants.

Living (apparently) under a rock in Flint, Michigan, I didn’t think resolution CA-710 brought to us from the good people of the Nebraska and Mid-Atlantic Districts would wet anyone’s whistle (so to speak).  In Flint, we don’t drink the water and as Nazarenes we don’t drink the spirits (except for the Nazarenes that drink and don’t tell).  But much to by surprise, the committee voted in favor of social drinking. It wasn’t close.

When the matter came to the floor of the assembly (I believe) General Superintendent Warrick, informed the delegation that there was a proposal for a study on the use of the intoxicants, so resolution CA-710 was referred to the General Superintendents. Our drinking discussion was put off for four years.

Then last week, a study published in JMAA Psychiatry stated that 1 in 8 Americans have an alcohol problem. One in eight!  Moreover, the article stated that the population segment that is seeing the biggest increase in alcohol abuse is not those “gotta-have-a-beer” millennials who we are trying to stop from leaving our churches, but senior citizens.  African Americans and women also saw dramatic increases in alcohol abuse in the last ten years.

My question is this:  Will we take this latest study into account when the discussion heats up at GA2021?  Will we continue our historic stance on the side of those that struggle with alcohol (which apparently is growing every day) or will we say (as I heard in the committee debate): 1) Our people (especially millennials) are already drinking; and 2) If it was good enough for Jesus it should be good enough for us (that is an over-simplification of the debate, but that was mostly the point).

Shouldn’t a holiness church side with the 1/8th of our society that struggle with alcohol abuse?  If not us, who will?  Can’t we honestly and simply say, Jesus drank wine and having a beer at a ballgame isn’t going to send anyone to hell.  But given what we know about the devastating effects alcohol has on society, whether that is in the form of the growing number who daily struggle with addiction, the deadly mix of alcohol and automobiles and the vast majority of domestic violence circumstances that are fueled by liquor, as a group we still choose to say “thanks but no thanks” to the use of intoxicants.

Just my two cents.

Christ’s love compels us to stand up against hate

This little article is designed to be a lighthearted, 500 (or less) word essay to help bring a little hope and joy to your week.  We read enough bad news. This blog is designed to be a breath of fresh air.  Not too heavy.  Not too controversial.  A little scripture.  A little humor. Everybody’s happy.

But then along comes a week when neo-Nazis are in the news and White Supremacists are spewing their hate. It’s been ugly.

I want to write happy thoughts, but my sad heart is breaking for America.

I want us to sing happy songs, but the dirge in my soul is too overwhelming.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (a guy who stood up to the Nazis and who was executed for his stand two weeks before the end of WWII) said:  Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.

My dad fought the Nazis.  My uncle was captured and tortured by them in WWII. The men and women from “the greatest generation” knew that evil must be actively and forcefully opposed.  For them it was in Germany. For us (I can’t believe I’m writing this) it sometimes raises its repulsive head in America.

Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians are for us as we see injustice, sin and hatred:  For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all (2 Corinthians 5:14). Christ’s love compels us to speak, to love, and to practice hospitality.  Christ’s love compels us in our stand against hatred.  Christ’s love compels us to action and not show indifference.  Christ’s love compels us to pray and keep praying until His Kingdom comes in America (and throughout earth) as it is in heaven!

In Honor of Palindrome Week

In honor of Palindrome Week (7.10.17 – 7.17.17) I give you the following:

We panic in a pew weeping with tons o’ snot if the solos are out of tune or the preacher’s still preaching at noon. “Rum… Rum,” I murmur, as the sermon goes on and on. “Don’t Nod,” I tell myself.  Embarrassingly, I realized, I am the preacher.  “Is it I? It is I!”

Here was my sermon:  Dennis, Nell, Edna, Leon, Nedra, Anita, Rolf, Nora, Alice, Carol, Leo, Jane, Reed, Dena, Dale, Basil, Rae, Penny, Lana, Dave, Denny, Lena, Ida, Bernadette, Ben, Ray, Lila, Nina, Jo, Ira, Mara, Sara, Mario, Jan, Ina, Lily, Arne, Bette, Dan, Reba, Diane, Lynn, Ed, Eva, Dana, Lynne, Pearl, Isabel, Ada, Ned, Dee, Rena, Joel, Lora, Cecil, Aaron, Flora, Tina, Arden, Noel, and Ellen sinned.

Oh No Don Ho!  The folks didn’t like that sermon.

“You preach too long,” they yelled.

I did, did I? I yelled back. Mad as Adam, they stormed out and I ended the homily as a civic duty to the remaining hungry souls. That day, the Baptists beat us to the restaurant even without a racecar. I’ll level with you, I guess I did preach too long.

Usually, following the service, Nurses run, a boy in a kayak floats, and Neil, an Alien flies to the closest eatery.  As I made my way to join them, a kid from my gym (that I always refer to as Yo Bozo boy) yelled “Go Dog!” Finally, I arrived and the waitress said, “Sir, I’m Iris. There’s no lemons, no melon. Would you like soup?

“Wonton? Not now,” I replied. “Madam, I’m a tuna nut. My mom made the best casseroles, but desserts, I stressed, were her specialty.” Iris was not impressed and brought me a sandwich.

And so, ends my palindrome tale, no wonder my boys say, “Pa’s a sap.”

 (If you were counting at home, there were 30 Palindromes in the previous story.)

5 Hopes for the 2017 General Assembly of the Church of the Nazarene

The 29th General Assembly of the Church of the Nazarene will convene in three weeks in Indianapolis.  Here are my FIVE BIG HOPES for the gathering:

I hope that General Assembly is like a family reunion.

Four years ago, when the question on the floor was to move General Assembly to every five years, one of the persuasive arguments to continue every four years was that our gathering is like a family reunion. As our church family expands in this ever-changing world, we need more gatherings (not less) to keep the bond between us strong. Like the motto for the gathering, I hope we are One.

I hope the resolutions concerning Article X (Christian Holiness and Entire Sanctification) and Human Sexuality pass.

While I’m not ready to state that either resolution is perfect, both are HUGE improvements to the current manual statements.  The current Article Ten could best be described as a mishmash. If ten different people (including pastors) were to describe our “distinctive doctrine,” there would be ten different expressions of Article Ten.  The new precise statement is more readable, teachable, preachable, Biblical and Wesleyan.  I really like it.  The statement on Human Sexuality takes one of the most the complex and divisive issues of our times and gives our people a Biblically based, grace-filled position from which to speak. The resolutions are well written and show both scholarship and grace.

I hope the resolution concerning the use of intoxicants does not pass.  

I like the affirming, grace-filled language in the resolution. Moreover, I do not think people who have a glass of wine are going to hell.  Still I am not ready to do away with denominational injunction against the consumption of alcohol.  This resolution is a bit personal with me.  My dad prior to becoming a Christian was an alcoholic. Had the church allowed the consumption of alcohol following his conversion, I’m not sure moderation was possible for him. So, I’m glad the church said we are coming along side of you in this struggle and as a people we say, “no alcohol.” Alcohol related problems are well documented. Most domestic violence and sexual abuse has an element of alcohol involved. Drunk drivers kill innocent people every day.  I’m thankful for a church that says “we choose to side with those who struggle and have been harmed by the abuse of alcohol by abstaining from its use.”

I hope we elect two visionary and godly individuals to be General Superintendent.

Godly but not visionary leaders tend to lead from memory instead of imagination.  They lead based on fear (“we are going the way of the Methodists”) or nostalgia (“Let’s make the Church of the Nazarene Great Again”) instead of inspiration, grace and hope.  Conversely, visionary but not godly leaders are drunk on personal ambition. Elevating self instead of elevating Jesus seems to be their top priority. Our church has plenty of godly but not visionary leaders and we have our share of visionary but self-promoting individuals too.  We need General Superintendents to be both godly and visionary.  We need to elect two individuals who see what we can become and selflessly lead us there.

I hope we leave Indianapolis ready to promote the message of Holiness and making Christ-like disciples with a renewed zeal and commitment. 

General Assembly will be a success if we leave inspired and ready to accept the challenge of working to see God’s Kingdom come and His will done in our neck of the woods.

 

 

What’s Needed for Another Pentecost

The 120 believers in the upper room experienced firsthand the Pentecostal wonders that we will remember this Sunday.  The color red splashed throughout the sanctuary and candles burning remind us of the tongues of fire. Scripture read in different languages reminds us that the good news was heard in many dialects.  We will remember the day, but the 120 experienced it. Heard it. Saw it. Lived it.

Pre-Pentecost the group wouldn’t have impressed a class of freshman Intro to the Bible students.  No one was particularly noteworthy.  All had recently failed Jesus.

They weren’t particularly courageous.  The 120 men and women were hiding behind locked doors when the Holy Spirit showed up.

They weren’t evangelistic. Not one person is recorded to have become a Christian in the time between the Resurrection and Pentecost. Not one.

They didn’t display great leadership skills. The only leadership decision they had was to replace Judas, and it could be argued that they choose in a poor manner (casting lots) and they made a poor choice (Matthias is never mentioned again after his lucky number was called).

The one thing they had (that we are lacking?) was obedience. Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem and that is exactly what they did.  They waited and prayed.  I wonder if we obeyed Jesus more if we would see similar results? There are plenty of conferences, sermons and lessons on being bold, evangelistic and displaying Christian leadership in order to change the world (all the things lacking by the pre-Pentecost, upper room group), but maybe to see a Pentecost we simply need to be more obedient. Maybe what’s needed for the Pentecostal power to impact our world is a few men and women who will simply and emphatically say “Yes” to Jesus.

I am praying for another Pentecost like movement of God and I’m praying that it would begin with our collective and resounding “YES, Lord, yes! I will go where you want me to go and I will do what you want me to do.”

A Dozen Steps to a Mostly Dead Faith

Only Pray when you need something.
Only Worship on Sunday morning.
Only Read your Bible when you are at a Bible Study (that your spouse or parent insisted you attend)
Only Attend church if you are not working or on vacation or have a case of the sniffles or have tickets to a big game or it’s your favorite second cousin’s birthday party or your kid has a soccer game or a dance recital or you’re tired from a late Saturday night or you overslept because of Daylight savings time or there are snowy roads or wet roads or possibly snowy and wet roads or there is a guest preacher or your pastor is preaching on a topic you don’t like or you have nothing to wear or you are needing a “me” day.
Only Sing when you have no choice.
Only Give when you get something in return.
Only Fast if you are on a diet.
Only Serve when made to feel guilty.
Only Speak well of people if you think your words might get back to them
Only Pursue justice if it costs you nothing.
Only Promote Unity if everyone else promises to think, vote, and agree with you.
Only Share your faith… no skip that… never share your faith.