Losing It

We have our consultant, Carl George, in with us for a few days. He always helps us figure out our next steps with staff, building, etc. One of the wisest men I know.

So we’re sitting there yesterday talking about the maximum amount of people we’ll ever be able to get on our Orland property which honestly is a weird conversation. Because even though we have more buildings to build and more land to acquire, there IS a limit to the amount of traffic we’ll ever be able to support. We can probably still double in size, but that will be all we can handle here without having services every night of the week (which might be an option at some point).  All of this discussion is just a way of realizing that there has to be more sites and many other options of ministry OTHER than Saturday and Sunday at 183rd and Wolf Road.

It’s crazy to think that in 5 or 6 years we might literally be out of options here at this place. I LOVE IT. I love the discussion. The whole discussion was based on the fact that we’ve just jumped another thousand in attendance (again) and we’re still one of the fastest growing churches in the U.S. But we won’t be able to throw dirt and bricks at it forever. We’re going to have to continue to be creative like we were at Lockport. And we need our chapel YESTERDAY.
 
But this conversation stood in stark contrast to the trip I made to Uptown Chicago last week. I visited the Peoples Church, because we’re involved with a homeless ministry there through a very good friend of mine, and our three new Chicago church plants are going to be working with them. One of them will be in the area, and we were looking at the possibility of using part of this six-story, beautiful, old church building for services.
 
   
The really sad part about this church is that it has an auditorium that seats 1500 people and only about 30 worship there. 
 
I wish I had a copy of the picture of the auditorium that hangs in the hallway to show you from 1930. The place is packed; there is not an empty seat.
 
What happens to a church over the course of time that leaves it empty? It’s a good question, because we’ve already got a lot of building here and we’re going to still have more.
 
There are lots of answers. The community has changed a lot in 80 years; the sociology of the situation is understandable. But many churches are able to withstand the change of community and thrive. Moody Church is not far away.
 
Peoples Church still cares about the people around them. There are several ministries that use their facilities – 18,000 meals a month are served from within their walls. God told us to take care of the least of these, and they do a great job. So what’s the problem?

Simply – they belong to a denomination that forgot what church was supposed to be. They have lost their purpose. Jesus said that his purpose was to “seek and save the lost.” And they just stopped worrying about that along the way.

Helping the poor and being nice to everyone and offering a sense of “spirituality” to people is all well and good. But it’s a fast way to kill a church. Because Jesus didn’t come to help people feel good. He came to save them.

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news! Romans 10:13-15

I guess the contrast has really struck me. Just because we have too many people to find a seat for doesn’t mean we’re right either. Wrigley Field is usually sold out. J

But I find it really sad that a church would decide that giving a person a meal is good enough. The ministry in the building that we are connected to doesn’t operate that way. We know that giving a person a fish is not enough. But neither is teaching them to fish! We are to be fishers of men.  
 
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers; Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:18-19

So let’s not forget our purpose. We can’t forget to keep the main thing, the main thing. I hate it that so many churches forget their responsibility to care for the poor and the “least.” But we can easily lean too far the other way. If we take heaven and put it in the “urgent” box in our lives, we will realize that one minute after we die – only one thing will matter; WHAT WE DID WITH THE GOOD NEWS!
 
Tim
 
PLEASE get out of the 11 o’clock service! We’re being strangled to death in there.

Comments

[James1:1]

AMEN PT! That IS the cool thing about Parkview, Staying focused on the Message...

[Paula]

AMEN! AMEN!!! And HALLELUJA!!! This is Crazy GOOD I am losing it :). AND 2 blogs in one week !

[Paula]

I mean this is SO Crazy GOOD I am LOSING IT...tis true I can't even write right :)

[Paula]

I mean this is SO Crazy GOOD I am LOSING IT...tis true I can't even write right :)

[Kristin Ruther]

Love your blog, Tim. You are so transparent and real. I tweeted the link and hope many people see your message. When are you joining twitter? Bill's on it! C'mon we like to hear from you--

[Lee Ann Swanson Banas]

Parkview is a place where ordinary people feel safe at whatever stage they are in their faith. I have grown so much in my personal relationship with Christ since coming to Parkview and it has been a blessing to my children as well. I wish everyone could feel what I feel...so let's keep making room!

[Seeker]

I think this is so cool! He's right there helping us make the next step. This is exactly why it bugs me when people are focused on the "End of the World". If they focused on the present and what Jesus told us to do they would be learning, sharing, praising, and praying that in the time we have on earth we let everyone know how great God is and not be one bit shy about doing it! I thank God every minute that Jesus invited me back into his family!

[a neighbor]

This is a little off-topic, but I loved your sermon today. Your description of the transfiguration made me think of one of my favorite songs, so I thought I would share. And no, it is not country:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGQdadkC6-I