The Pastor’s Pen:
I previously shared this story that took place several summers ago in Chicago. I was involved in a discussion with several other pastors who serve in central city churches regarding the question, “Does the community take ownership of what the church is doing?” As the discussion progressed, it transitioned to the ministries of several pastors, who have established themselves as pastors in the community, as well as pastors for the community, and pastors with the community. Various things were shared as to why and how they distinguished themselves in their community. As we concluded that discussion, someone noted, “People would be more upset if a fish and chicken restaurant left the community than a church.” Later that evening, I continued pondering the question, “Are fish and chicken restaurants more impactful to a community than a church?”
Even more, I expanded my pondering to include the question, “Does the church take ownership of what the church is doing?” I understand that the easy answer is, “Yes,” but a realistic answer may possibly be, “Maybe, maybe not.” While this was not an indictment on a particular church or an individual pastor, nevertheless, the question is necessary to ask, and even more essential to answer.
There is a refrain that is commonly shared in the community, and often articulated on the local radio talk shows and in the community newspapers: “Where is the church?” While this statement is piercing, and initially moves those in the church to adopt a defensive stance, the statement is, nevertheless, appropriate, and in many communities, true. With all that is going on in our communities, where is the church?
Consider this story told of an individual who, upon leaving prison and desiring that no one else go there, decided to go to church the following Sunday, and become a part of changing his community. On his way to church, the pimps were pimping, the prostitutes were prostituting, the dope dealers were dealing dope and the gang bangers were gang banging. When he arrived at church, the people sang songs that lifted the attributes of Jesus and everything that He had done. They shared testimonies of how good God is. The preacher preached a dynamic message that extolled Jesus for the gift of salvation, and concluded with a celebration of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection from the dead. The people rejoiced and celebrated until they wore themselves out. The man left the church, and on his way home the pimps were still pimping, the prostitutes were still prostituting, the dope dealers were still dealing dope and the gang bangers were still gang banging. With everything that was happening inside of the church building, little of it was influencing what was occurring outside of the church building.
I have often shared that for too many of our churches, more emphasis is placed upon what takes place from Sunday morning to Sunday afternoon than the ministry that needs to happen in our community from Sunday afternoon to the next Sunday morning.
If we are not consciously and intentionally leaving the comforts of our traditions and rituals that keep us comfortably saved, sanctified and satisfied where we are, we will achieve little success at transforming and liberating our communities. God placed us, individually and collectively, where we are for a reason, and is expecting that we faithfully fulfill our ministry calling. God is expecting us to engage in Conscious and Intentional Ministry: This Is Why I Am Here.
