Rob Prince's Blog, page 7

What do Mosques, Buddhist temples and your church have in common?

We are living in post-Christian America. This is not news. More people mark “none” when asked about their religious preference than ever before. Knowledge of the Bible and acknowledgement of the need for Biblical truth is at an all-time low. People are no more interested in entering a church, as they or even a long time Christian might be interested in entering a mosque or Buddhist temple. 

For argument sake, let’s say a mosque or Buddhist temple was being built on a corner that a fine Christian passes every day. They watch the building getting built. Maybe they even think to themself, “that’s a nice building.” Would they go to jumah (prayer service) in the mosque on a Friday or a gathering at the Buddhist temple?  Probably not. What if there was a big sign out front that said “All are welcome” would the fine Christian go in? Probably not. More than likely, it doesn’t even cross the fine Christian’s mind to attend a meeting.  They just drive on by.

For argument sake, let’s continue to think the fine Christian had a neighbor who is super nice. They’ve had cookouts together. The neighbors are always willing to lend a hand, a cup of sugar and they grab their mail when gone. They are the best neighbors. What if that guy comes to the fine Christian and says, “Hey, we are having a special service at the mosque or temple, I’d love it if you would come. Don’t worry about not understanding things, I will help you and explain everything. If you get uncomfortable at any time, we can leave. No worries. It’s a special day and I’d love to share it with my special friends.” Would the fine Christian go? There is a far more likelihood that they would go to the mosque or temple with the friendly neighbor under those circumstances. Even with no intention of converting, they will go because it was important to their friendly neighbor.

Nonbelievers in Post Christian America think about your church, the way you might think about a mosque or temple. It’s foreign to them. No matter how well kept the building. They aren’t coming in. No matter what is put on the electronic sign in the front of the church. They aren’t coming in. They don’t know the customs. They have questions: Can anyone just show up? Does one need to get permission to attend? They wouldn’t want to offend anyone. It’s foreign to them. As they drive pass your church, it doesn’t even cross their mind to attend a service. But if a trusted friend invites them to attend a church service, they just might come. If for no other reason than curiosity. They know their friend would be with them, answer any questions and would help them. A friend’s invite is what it will take to get Post Christian America population to come to church.

Be that friend.                                                                                                                                                             

Invite that neighbor. 

Allow God to do the rest.

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15

Why I Choose to Stay Nazarene

I was saved in a Nazarene church. Called to preach on a Nazarene campground. Sanctified while attending a Nazarene college. I graduated from a Nazarene college and the Nazarene seminary. The Church of the Nazarene is the church who ordained me. My first job with a real paycheck was at a Nazarene campground. Except for a brief time when I was working at a Presbyterian church while in seminary, every paycheck I have received from the age of 19 forward has been from a Nazarene institution (summer intern in college; worked at the library and in admissions while attending college; worked for the Nazarene Publishing House for two years in seminary; and of course pastoring in six different Nazarene churches). If not for the summer intern position, I would not have met my wife (she was transferred to the local airport for the summer, while I summer interned in the church). Both my sons and their wives are graduates of Nazarene universities. All of my siblings and their spouses are Nazarene institution grads. All their kids went to a Nazarene college too. I owe a lot to the Church of the Nazarene in other words. A. Very. Lot.

But that doesn’t mean that I have blind loyalty. Like everyone with even a passing interest, I see the divides within the church. There are various factions within the church—on the far left, the far right and nutty folks somewhere in the middle. I have friends who’ve left on their own accord and others who were pushed out. I know very capable individuals who have been overlooked for leadership positions, while much less qualified people were pushed to the front. Politics, bad theology, nepotism, greed and pettiness have all infected the church at various times. As a global denomination, I see the challenges in keeping unity across international borders. During last year’s General Assembly, I heard gossip from the floor of the assembly and in social media posts and I saw first-hand its malicious undergirding. I see her faults in other words. The Church of the Nazarene isn’t perfect.

Still I am a Nazarene. I love this church. I will work, pray and do all I can to help her. For me that means working in the local church. Doing all I can to enable this local outpost of the Church of the Nazarene to being a bright shining light in its community. In my opinion, it is. 

If you are reading this, you probably know I write a lot. Some golf, I write. But you won’t read me bashing the church I love. You won’t see me hypercritical of decisions made (even decisions I completely disagree with). Why? I have a debt to her. I want to help her, not tear her down. There are ways to see positive change. Condemning or attacking on social media is not one of them. I love the church. I want her better. I want her to remain true to P.F. Bresee’s vision in the footsteps of William Greathouse and Mildred Wynkoop and so many others. I will work toward that end. I hope you stay and will join me. 

I want to live holiness. Working locally. Praying globally. Staying focused. Being positive. Promoting unity. Encouraging others. Loving people. Making disciples. I will be with her to my ending days when a Nazarene preacher prays the benediction at my funeral service.

The Church of the Nazarene is stuck with me. I choose to stay.

National Day of Prayer: Shut Up and Listen

Have you ever been in a conversation with an overly-wordy-talker (OWT)? You know how those conversations unfold:

OWT: Hey you, blah, blah, blah, and then I said blah, blah, blah, blah and oh yeah… blah, blah, blah and you know blah, blah, blah…

You: Hi…

OWT: well, I think blah, blah, blah because he said blah, blah, blah also blah, blah, blah, blah blah and I meant to tell you blah, blah, blah…

You: That’s interesting, but…

OWT: No, no blah, blah, blah have you heard blah, blah, blah, and don’t forget blah, blah, blah, blah blah, blah, and who knows blah, blah, blah. What do you think?

You: You could try…

OWT: Of course, blah, blah, blah is better than blah, blah, blah and If you don’t mind blah, blah, blah, when you blah, blah, blah and then blah, blah, blah…

You: Excuse me, but…

OWT: Oh, blah blah, blah really irritates me and blah blah, blah and did you hear blah, blah, blah and I’m going to scream blah, blah, blah…

You: Wait…

OWT: Ok. Good talking to you. Bye 

You: Bye (under your breath) Grumble. Grumble. Grumble.

That’s not a conversation. It’s a monologue. I wonder if that’s how God feels about our time in prayer with Him? Have you heard ourselves pray? Too often it goes something like this:

Us: Dear God, blah, blah blah, and oh my God… blah, blah blah, and don’t forget blah, blah blah, blah, blah, blah, and if you don’t mind, blah, blah, blah, and one more thing… blah, blah blah, and ok two more things… blah, blah blah, and blah, blah, blah, blah and then there’s… blah blah, blah, blah and Aunt Martha’s gout…blah, blah, blah and please, please, please… blah, blah, blah and pretty please… blah and, blah, blah, blah… ummm…  Amen. 

God:  

Of course, I can’t speak for God. I don’t know how the Almighty responds to the too wordy, one sided monologues that we too often call prayer. I just know how I feel when a too-many-words-talker starts bending my ear. Ugh!

Today is the National Day of Prayer. How about trying this… instead of thinking of it as the National-Day-to-Place-As-Many-Requests-to-the-Almighty-As-One-Possibly-Can Day, think of it as the National Listening-for-the-Almighty-to-Speak Day. 

Psalm 46:10 doesn’t say, “Blab on and on and know that I am God.” It says, “Be still and know that I am God.” Maybe we should do that on this day of prayer. Be still. Quiet. Listen. It’s being like Samuel when he took Eli’s advice in 1 Samuel 3:9 and simply prayed: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” 

God might be trying to say something to us, but can’t get a word in edgewise. We might be surprised at what the Lord might say if only we’d stop talking and started listening. Slow down. Quiet. Still. 

In other words, (I write this in the nicest way that I can): Shut up and listen!

A few simple Questions Concerning Heaven, Hell and Judgment Day

1)  Do you believe in heaven, hell and a coming Judgment Day? 

2) If you answered “no,” then might I suggest reading the Gospels. Jesus seemed to talk a lot about such things.

3)  If you answered “yes,” then (here’s a tough, in your face question) how much do you have to HATE someone to NOT TELL them about the either/or eternal accommodations for everyone who has ever lived?

The Bible is clear on the cost of our salvation. Peter put it this way: For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. (1 Peter 1:18-19. NLT).

“Jesus paid it all,” we sing. What about us? What is our investment in others?  In assessing our efforts to see people come to Christ, are we going “all out”? Do we give a maximum effort to see that the people we love have a relationship with Jesus too? If not, why not? If we believe people will face judgment and then spend eternity without Christ, shouldn’t we walk over broken glass if needed to see these folks spend eternity with Jesus?

I’m not suggesting that we bully, guilt, scare, annoy or manipulate people to make a decision for Christ. No knocking people on the head with our big King James Bibles. I am suggesting that we take our call to make disciples much more serious than it seems that we do. Have you prayed for people who don’t know Jesus today? Have you fasted on their behalf? Have you thought through conversations you might have with them concerning their eternal accommodations? Have you asked the Lord to give you wisdom, the right words and to open the doors when the time is absolutely right? Are you prepared to walk through those open doors?

If one believes in a real heaven, a real hell and a coming Judgment Day in which all will stand before a holy God, then giving maximum evangelistic effort seems like the only appropriate response. 

What could possibly be more important?

If the Church had an NFL-Style Draft

The NFL Draft is happening in Detroit today. Thousands of football fans have descended upon the city waiting to see what college football player is picked by their favorite professional team. The Chicago Bears with the first pick are predicted to choose a quarterback from the University of Southern California. Following the Bear’s choice, the Washington Commanders will have 10 minutes to make their choice. They will be “on the clock.” The Detroit Lions fans have to wait until the 29th pick to be “on the clock” in the draft (unless they trade up to select a player earlier) to see who will be wearing Honolulu Blue and Silver in the fall. 

Teams have been examining their own shortcomings; evaluating talent; and trying to predict what type of player is needed to achieve their goal of winning the Super Bowl. They are all looking for the next superstar and those hidden gems in the later rounds. Some teams find them. Others don’t (for many, many years the Lions did not choose wisely, but those days are over! That noise you are hearing is all the Lions’ fans roaring their approval of the previous parenthetical sentence). 

All this draft talk got me thinking of who the church might pick if it had opportunity to draft church members. What skills and qualities are needed to be considered a #1 draft pick in the church? If one evaluated a church’s weaknesses would it be determine a better preacher is needed? The fastest soul winner?  A sound Bible student/teacher? A savvy tech team member with a good ear for sound? A pied-piper-like youth worker? The ultimate kitchen volunteer or the best multi-tasking nursery worker?

The church isn’t like a football team. It doesn’t need a superstar in one area. The church needs people willing to serve with little regard for recognition. People who discover their gifts, then use them for the glory of God (not their own glory). The church needs people who love like Jesus more than simply being able to run fast or throw a ball far.

The goal of any church is not being the sole team that wins at the season finale. Instead, the goal is to get as many souls into glory at eternity’s grand finale (Notice the word play: sole vs. souls). Unlike Detroit football fans, our celebration will not be for on-field accomplishment of the Lions, but rather we will glory at the on-earth accomplishment of the Lamb! (Notice the word play: Lions vs. The Lamb). All this to say, the church isn’t looking to draft a few players; it should welcome all people whether they can throw a football or not.

The draft strategy according to that old football coach, the Apostle Paul (Ok, Paul never played football. If he had played in the NFL he undoubtedly would have been on the New Orleans Saints) is this: God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them (2 Corinthians 5:19-20a The Message. Underlining mine). Let’s do that—tell everyone, men and women—what God is up to and be the best representatives of the King of Kings that we can possibly be!

Church, you are “on the clock.”

Be a Carrier Pigeon, not just a Sponge

Discipleship in many churches means a classroom; a teacher; and a Bible in everyone’s hand. It’s learning the nuances of scripture. Some folks have been in a Sunday School class or a home group for years. Years and years. They have studied scripture inside and out. They know their Bibles. 

But is that discipleship’s end goal? Make Bible scholars? Please note: This isn’t an anti-Bible slant. The Bible is the inspirited word of God. People need to read it, know it, preach it. Still the goal of the church isn’t to make Bible scholars but to make disciples who will, in turn, make more disciples.

The Great Commission does not read:
Therefore go and study the Bible, soak it all in, understand all the theological nuances of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,and then TEACH. TEACH, TEACH, and continue to TEACH folks to learn everything I have commanded you. 

As we have emphasized teaching and learning, we have created churches full of sponges. They soak up all the theological truths that they possibly can. They are ready to argue and debate any Biblical topic. They have read 1 Peter 3:15: Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. They are ready to give an answer. 

The problem is that these Bible students are rarely asked “to give an answer.” All their friends are fellow believers sitting beside them in the same Bible study. They only hang around Christians. So who are they discipling? Do they know even how to make a disciple? (Reminder: That’s what the Great Commission call us to do).

We need carrier pigeons not just sponges. We need those who will take the message of Jesus far and wide. (Here’s where my metaphor falls apart). Then we need those carrier pigeons (disciple-ers) to make more carrier pigeons (disciple-ers). Those brand new carrier pigeons will likewise take the message out too. It’s creating a culture where the message receiver (discipled) then becomes a message distributer (disciple-er). It’s disciples making disciples making disciples making disciples. 

Of course, we need to know the Bible in order to be a disciple maker. But the goal, the end game, is to make disciples, not simply Bible scholars. Our prayer should be that of Paul’s in Colossians 4: Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. (Colossians 4:4). We are to be proclaimers of the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Sponges just soak up information and stay put. 
Carrier pigeons deliver the news. 
Be a carrier pigeon. 

Is JB Chapman Rolling Over in His Grave?

The 2024 Eastern Michigan District Assembly Journal had been distributed. The reports aren’t great. 

30% of churches on the district reported no conversions this year. Zero. 
46% of the churches reported no baptisms. Zippo. 
50% reported no New Nazarenes. Nadda.

If a body had no pulse (no conversions); no blood pressure (no baptisms); and no brain activity (no new Nazarenes), we would conclude that the body is dead or at least dying. 

Hey Lenexa, call hospice. The Church of the Nazarene is in trouble. 
Call the weed control company, the grassroots of the Church of the Nazarene are in the briar patch.
Call the WWE scriptwriters, the Church is on its back, and the referee is about to slap the mat for a third time.

Pick any “We’re-in-trouble” metaphor and that is us.

At least our cemetery has company, the Southern Baptists just reported that 43% of their churches reported no baptisms. You can read it here. Whoopie, we are not alone.

Blame the culture. Blame past church abuse. Blame politics. Blame Covid. Blame whatever you want, the truth of the matter is that churches (no matter the brand) in America are not fulfilling the Great Commission (see Matthew 28:19-20).  We aren’t making disciples (30% no conversions); we aren’t baptizing (46% no baptisms); we aren’t teaching (50% no new Nazarenes). 

So what are we doing? Why do we exist if we aren’t fulfilling what Jesus called us to do? 

In 1946, JB Chapman was disheartened by the state of the Church of the Nazarene and published a little booklet titled, “All out for Souls.” You can read it here.  In it he wrote: 

“Brethren, I was born in the fire, and I cannot endure the smoke. I am a child of the bright daylight, and mists and fogs and depressing gloom are not to my liking. I want to go all out for souls… 
“I want a revival that, like a summer shower, will purify the atmosphere of our churches everywhere, and which will awake the dormant forces of our people young and old. I want something so general and so divine that it will be uncontrollable. I want something that will reemphasize old-time moral and spiritual conditions…
“Something that will make this namby-pamby, soft-handed, compromising, cringing sort of holiness as obsolete as Phariseeism was on the Day of Pentecost.” 

If JB Chapman was saying that in 1946, what would he say if he were looking over the sorry state of many of today’s churches?  Once again we must “go all out for souls!” Once more we need to be revived. If not now, then when?  We can’t look at the reality and be unmoved. We must do something. Anything. It takes going all out for souls once more.  

And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
So I answered, “O Lord God, You know.”
Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. Ezekiel 37:3-5

The Solar Eclipse is God’s Handiwork– and That’s Not All

Millions and millions of people will be looking up in the sky today (hopefully with protective lenses on). All in an effort to see a total eclipse of the sun. Depending on the location, some spots will see the moon fully cover the sun for up to 4 minutes and 28 seconds. The best watching time for Central Church is 3:14PM. The sun will be 95% covered. The next total solar eclipse from coast-to-coast across the continental U.S. in will occur in 2045. So it makes sense that folks would want to look up and see it. It will be 21 years before another eclipse occurs throughout the USA again. 

But do we really need to wait 21 years before we see the handiwork* of God again? Not even close. We can see the handiwork of God in many areas and we don’t need protective lenses to see it. We are in Eastertide, and we celebrate the fact that Jesus is alive. As such, Jesus is enabling His people to do the work of God Almighty in the world through the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s more than talk. It’s happening. Look at all the good, Christ-followers are doing in the world. There are hospitals, orphanages and counselling centers. There are compassionate ministry centers, schools and, of course, churches. Every day ordinary Christians are doing extraordinary things in the name of Jesus Christ. God’s handiwork is all around!

Yes, today we see Creator’s handiwork in the skies, but every day we can see God’s handiwork if we just open our eyes and see it.

*FYI… some social media posts notwithstanding, I do not believe that solar eclipses nor the recent earthquakes in New York are indicators of the second coming of Jesus. His return is not precipitated by events in the United States. These events have been taking place as long as there has been a planet earth. Jesus will return when the perfect time has come. We are one day closer to His coming than yesterday, that is all I know for sure. 

Easter is Over. Now what? (For pastors and other concerned church members)

Yesterday was the church’s Super Bowl. “He is risen” was proclaimed. The building was full. Everyone was excited. “He is risen, deed” was the shouted response. Today, the church is quiet. It sits empty. The Easter lilies are wilting. There are a few unfound plastic colored eggs in the courtyard. Some unread bulletins are in the pews and scattered about.

Now what?

Rest today if need be, then get to work. Preparing Holy Week services was not the “hard part.” The hard part is getting visitors and the occasional attender to return. That’s the goal. Priority #1. 

Contact any new guests that left their information. If they left a phone number, text them. If they left an email address, send a message. If they left a home address, send a personal note (not a form letter). If all they left was a name, Facebook stalk them and send them a private message. If they have children, have a children’s worker invite the child to an upcoming children’s event. Same goes, if there was a teenager present. If they left nothing at all, no name, no address, nothing– remember their face and pray for them. Let God do the rest. 

Keep the message short. Thank them for coming and invite them back. Simple. If you personally talked to them, refer back to that conversation. If they came with a family member or friend, mention how glad you were that person invited them to the service. Make any connection that you can. Pray they return.

Remember their names. Write them down or put it in your notes section on your phone. Pray for them daily. Be on the lookout. If they return this week or next, greet them by name. Ask about their family. Thank them for returning. Again, let the Holy Spirit do the rest. 

Your church need not be modern, cool, exceptional or in away similar to a megachurch. The music doesn’t have to be loud. There need not be special lighting and smoke. The sermon doesn’t have to be better than Billy Graham’s. You church may have none of those things. Let it be warm, inviting, caring, welcoming, interested in others, hospitable, biblical, missional, loving, and kind– that is Christ-like—and people will return. People still are looking for a place where they can encounter Jesus, feel a sense of belonging and be loved. Let that be your church. 

Easter is over. Let the work of the Kingdom begin!

Is the Church of the Nazarene the next Blockbuster?

Blockbuster and mom and pop video stores, once in every town, are now gone. Seeming overnight our viewing habits changed and today the buildings have been repurposed or sitting empty. Blockbuster couldn’t compete with new technologies and quickly became obsolete.

What does this have to do with the Church of the Nazarene? You can probably guess. Is your church like Blockbuster? Some are predicting that in the next twenty years, 100,000 churches in America will close their doors. How many of that 100,000 will be Nazarene churches? (You can read about the church emptying phenomenon here).

Unlike Blockbuster, not all the churches will close. There will still be a lot of churches in twenty years. The questions for the Church of the Nazarene are: 

What will the USA Church of the Nazarene look like if 25% of the churches close?  What will happen to the global church which relies on the USA churches’ investment in the World Evangelism Fund (95% of WEF comes from USA/Canada)? How might the Church of the Nazarene repurpose buildings or utilize the funds from closed churches? More personal, will your church be one of those that closes its doors forever?

It’s an easy math equation. Look at everyone in your congregation, add twenty years to the ages of the folks sitting in the pews and if nothing changes you can draw your conclusion. 

“If nothing changes… “ What needs to change? Clearly, the Church of the Nazarene needs young people coming through the doors. What will it take to get younger people? These ingredients:

1)  Young people like Jesus. Preach Jesus.
2) Young people don’t need flashy. They need authentic. Young people can spot a phony a mile away. Be real. 
3)  Young people need to know you love them. Love without exception.
4) Young People need ownership. Don’t be afraid to give young people key roles and leadership. Listen to them. Help them. Teach them.
5) Young People aren’t perfect (neither are you). Don’t expect perfection. Leave room for errors, mistakes and outright failure. Keep trying. Don’t stop trying. 
6) Young People want their communities to flourish. Be the best neighbor.

I recently heard of a young alcoholic who had a Nazarene upbringing and went to a Nazarene college, then walked away from faith. Finally the prodigal made the good, hard decision to enter rehab. The Christian employers responded by telling this struggling addict not to worry about a job. It would be there after rehab. There were bigger matters at hand. “Get better” was the message from the owners (Way to go!). Blown away, the on-the-way-back-to-faith addict was grateful for their love and response. Their reaction spoke more volumes than a thousand sermons. The business owners were acting like Jesus. That’s our hope in a nut shell.

Have a church full of people who love, sacrifice, and are committed to Jesus – and one need not worry about shuttering the doors. The life-changing message of Jesus is still compelling!