Browsing Tag

Pastors

Defining a More Generous Church

What is the church? It’s a question we need to be asking more urgently than ever. And I fear that good people are too narrowly defining church. We need a more generous definition.

I know there are millions of books on the topic, and countless papers, and nearly 2000 years of thought on the topic. I’m well aware that my amateurish opinion is no more than ramblings and I’ll likely regret this post because it’s not as carefully crafted as it should be.

Still, we need to redefine what church is, so I’m adding my two cents.

If we are …

Generosity, Philanthropy,

Pastors and Generosity

This is going to be a thread the needle kind of post that will be easily misunderstood. It will likely offend some pastors I’m not trying to offend. But here we go anyway.

Pastors should not be the primary source of information about generosity.

I can already see some pastors upset by that. But let me explain.

Pastors are, by and large, among the most generous people I know. They give of their time, their heart, and when possible their wallet. This post is most definitely not a rant about the pastor who invites you to lunch then expects you …

Random Thoughts,

Dear Pastors, Please Stop Posting Pictures Online

Dear Pastors,

When it comes to social media, please stop posting pictures of yourself on stage. Or the stage itself. Or the band. Or the cool lighting.

To you it looks like an invitation. You think it says, “Look, we’re cool! Come visit!”

In truth it says, “Look, we’re like every other gathering of people you’ve ever been to, with lights, music, and somebody who bores you for 30 minutes in a conference room!”

Most importantly, it does not tell people who Jesus followers really are.

Jesus said we should be known by our love. Not our sound system.

James …

Apocryphal, Emerging Ministries, Random Thoughts,

Church Fatigue

Okay, so I’m in a grumpy mood and need to be curmudgeon for a bit. Sorry, but this entry focuses on a pet peeve of mine.

It came to mind when I had an interesting conversation with a friend. He will remain nameless because he’s smart enough not to draw attention to himself.

The conversation was about fatigue with the Church. But we were having a hard time defining exactly what it is we are tired of. It took us some time to figure it out. We aren’t tired of what we’re doing in the Church or in our personal …