Ok, here goes, my first blog post...and maybe my last.
Harvest Church...Leading people into healthy relationships with Jesus Christ. Nice catchy mission statement isn't it? But what's the point of a mission statement if it is just something buried on the website or in some brochure? Every church has a mission statement, one that was undoubtedly pounded out with much prayer, sweat, and plagiarism. But how many churches or organizations for that matter, really live by their mission statement? Is it something that is allowed to shape and define the organization? Is it protected at all costs? Are good programs and ideas cut because they don't further the mission? If not, then the mission statement is worthless.
That's why we've adopted a strategy (thank you www.northpoint.org) that defines and grounds our mission statement. "Leading people...By creating irresistible environments where people are encouraged and equipped to Pursue Intimacy with God, Community with Insiders, and Influence with Outsiders. So everything we do should move people in the direction of one of those three vital relationships. That's right Vital Relationships. I think these are so important I am willing to not do anything that doesn't support one of these three areas. That means saying "No" more than saying "Yes" and may even mean "killing" some great programs or things that we have done longer than anybody can remember in order to protect the mission.
I've said before, that these three relationships are the best gauge of spiritual maturity, period. I don't care who you are or how long you've been a Christian, if you can't look at your life and say, "Yep, got something going in all three." Then you are no more spiritually mature than the day you first heard about God and church. Now, before you get all whiney and all of a sudden hear God telling you to go to another church, I want you to think about the difference between knowledge and action.
Instead of wearing your Bible knowledge badge and pointing to your certificates of completion for 18 different Bible studies that you can't really remember anyway, why don't you think about what you have done with that knowledge. May I suggest that we place a little less emphasis on depth of knowledge and a little more on breadth of application. Last time I checked, the Bible makes some pretty clear statements about what it looked like to be a follower of Christ.
He set the standard pretty low. In fact, most of us learned more than we ever needed about spiritual maturity in kindergarten. Yet none of us have it figured out yet. Jesus said things like, "Do for others what you would have them do for you", ever heard of that one? Are you doing it perfectly yet? How about love your neighbor? I'm still working on that one. "Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church" Are you kidding me? How am I supposed to love my wife when I'm married to her? (sarcasm). If I can't get these simple principles down perfectly, do I really need more knowledge about the history of Biblical first century trade routes as they relate to the rise and fall of Rome? I mean come on. Do I have to be the first to admit that its not always easy keeping my mouth shut? Its not natural for me to be nice all the time, I'm not tempted with generosity. There, you know my secret...I'm human, just like you. Now quit trying to be so ridiculously spiritual and religious and join me as we do everything in our power to actually make a difference in our community.
I'm talking real life change. The kind that only happens in the context of relationships. When you are actively pursing an intimate relationship with God, your life will change (intimacy with God). When you have true friends that know you and are there for you and are worshipping and serving with you, your life will change (community with insiders). When you are actively investing your life (because you actually care, not cause they're a project) into those who you know don't agree with your spiritual outlook, your life will change (influence with outsiders). Isn't that what its all about anyway? What's the point of more knowledge if your still stuck at home living in mom's basement?
So let me ask, How are you doing in each of those vital relationships? What are you doing to "Grow"? What does this look like for you?
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