Ever since the age of 19, I have always felt unsatisfied after reading Christian leadership books with the supposed "magic fairy dust" to building a successful church. Countless times I would read the principles, how-to's, 5 steps, building a successful "this" and building a successful "that", and close the books in disbelief. Let me say this, it's not that I don't think there are truthful elements in some of those books but I was always left with an overwhelming question, "Who is it that builds the church?".

This concerned me.

I saw (and still see) a pattern of the "Church" being treated as a business.

A place where books, tips and trade secrets can be sold as gimmicks to people looking and searching for the answer to build their churches and ministries.

A place where God's Word is replaced by the latest and greatest devotionals and self-help books (I typically classify any book that isn't The Bible as a devotional).

A place where church models become the shaping mechanism behind how ministry is done.

I believe that this is a dangerous place to reside.

I believe we reside here because we have bought into the notion that it is we who build the church and not Jesus.

I believe that if we truly want to see a church built up we must understand that Jesus builds His church. (Matt 16:18)

In Jesus' final teaching to his disciples (John 16) He promised them the coming of the Holy Spirit and it was through the Holy Spirit that the world would be convicted concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. Finally, the day of Pentecost arrived (Acts 2) and the Holy Spirit descended and the Early Church began to multiply in unprecedented ways. Still to this day, even with all the modern technology and insane availability of communication methods, the modern Church has never experienced the rampant growth that occurred through the Early Church.

So you want to know how to build a successful church?

Stop trying to build it.

Stop modeling yourselves after anything other than Jesus.

Stop searching for an answer, you have it already.

Instead, desperately read God's Word, urgently preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, longingly live by the Holy Spirit and be dependent on His transforming power and understand the foundation of what THE CHURCH is by studying the Early Church.

To Be Continued...

I hope this video inspires you in your journey.

The other day, I was at lunch with some friends and family talking about past experiences and the difficulty, brokenness and growth that came as a result. Long story short, I heard one specific story about a senior pastor who was told by other leadership that he was "too pastoral" and that he spent too much time investing and caring for the people in the church.

I have to be honest, this didn't surprise me.

It did however remind me of another conversation I had several years back in California with an actor friend. Our conversation went along the lines of him asking me why I would want to identify myself as a Christian when Christians have repeatedly failed to be Christ-like. He brought up James 2:14-26. He gave me examples of his friends who are not "Christians" but live selflessly, with more compassion for the hurt, broken and needy than most Christians. I then shared with him how Jesus lived perfectly, loved perfectly and took compassion on people, perfectly. I apologized for imperfect people who fail on a daily basis to depict Jesus in their lives, prayed for him, paid for our food and parted ways. *By the way, he and I still keep in touch and talk about everything from Jesus to food to Broadway*

Why do I tell you these stories?

Because I believe there is a serious need for Jesus to permeate every aspect of our life.

Because I believe that being a Christian involves obeying and actively seeking the King and His Kingdom first.

Because I believe that as people who profess Jesus as our Lord and Savior, then our lives, our identities, our pursuits and our passions should SCREAM that.

All that said, I felt like sharing a poem (or at least I would like to think of it as such) I wrote several years back about the issue of Christianity and compassion.

So Where Is Compassion?

Mahatma Gandhi once said, "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

Why is it that man, no matter how much he experiences God, is in a constant pursuit of happiness?

Some may say it is our sinful nature...

that may be right.

Some may say it is because we haven't fully experienced God...

that may be right.

Regardless of the source, it is a constant struggle for all of humanity.

Most people search their whole lives for true love.

Some succeed.

Some never.

Yet once humanity experiences the TRUE LOVE of God, we can continue our search or reject it completely.

WHY?

Could it be because we don't fully understand the love of God?

Could it be because our concept of love is so terribly tainted by our own experiences?

Regardless of the reason, it is a constant search.

But it shouldn't be.

And it must not continue.

Zechariah 7:9-10A “The Lord of Hosts says this: “Render true justice. Show faithful love and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the stranger or the poor…”

How is it possible that a group that labels themselves "the body of Christ" can deny compassion and love to the hurting, needy and the broken?

After all have we not received the ULTIMATE GIFT of compassion?

And if we have, then why do we continue to hoard it and live only for ourselves?

If we truly label ourselves followers of Christ, then why is it that we continue to look less like him everyday?

We say we have faith,

But we choose to live so faithless.

We say we trust God,

But then why is there so much fear?

Fear to live beyond ourselves,

Fear to live for someone else,

Fear to finally let go.

James 2:14-17 “ What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

Do we as followers of Christ experience true compassion?

And if so then why is it that those who do not know Christ can live more compassionately than those who DO KNOW HIM?

Have the teachings of Jesus Christ become modern church myth and fable?

The Good Samaritan

The Adulterous Woman

The Crippled Man

The Leper

The Blind

The Poor

The Lost

The Broken

The Sinner