I am not going to compromise….
Pastor Tim and I were talking today just about “church” related things. Essentially, the make up of our church, Crossroads Church here in Lithopolis.
We have seen God do amazing things here,… Salvations, baptisms, lives changed forever and truly seeing the vision God gave Tim come to reality. What’s that vision?…
“Helping people get on the path to God”
That’s it. That’s all there is.
We exist, here at Crossroads, to reach those who don’t know Jesus RIGHT NOW. Our services are designed as such, that if a person who currently doesn’t know Christ walks in the building, they will be able to connect with what’s going on immediately. Then, they hear the Gospel preached at them uncompromised. They hear THE TRUTH. They hear about JESUS. Hopefully, they open their heart to Him.
Where’s the rub?
Well, we don’t really fit in with the “Churchy” people.
What does that mean?
Well, when people come to Crossroads who have been in the church for a long time, or are leaving another church cause of some fracture they had with their previous church home, when they get to Crossroads, it doesn’t look like their definition or “view” of what church is.
The music is BIG. It’s edgy, it’s loud, it’s relevant. Is it worship? Uh…yes. It’s just not “God of Wonders” being sung by a praise team at volume levels pre-approved for an old folks home.
There are lights and haze. Needless to say, the experience is BUSY. The room is dark and the light is controlled to bring about an effect. It is something that the unchurched person is use too….it is something they identify with.
Sounds good. What’s the problem?
Well, the churchy person who doesn’t like our style is the person who gives. They don’t like what we do cause we don’t fit their “view” of what their church should look like. Therefore, we lack the funding we need to effectively reach MORE in our community for Christ.
Those “Churched” people take their wallets to another church where they can be “fed” some more and attend in a situation that is selfishly geared towards them. Church is for them……not for the unchurched.
Not for me. Not any longer. I used to be that way. I used to go to church so I could be “churched.”
But not anymore….
God saved us to BE the church, not to BE churched.
So they can take their money and their selfish church ideals,….. Send us the lost. Send us the broken. Send us the poor in spirit and those who need the love of Christ in their hearts. We are a church about the Great Commission….. Not about money.
I have a passion to reach those who don’t know Jesus with the Gospel. I will not compromise it to appease people who have known Jesus their whole lives.
Random rant over.
~jfm3~
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November 17th, 2010 at 3:37 pm
Joe – I agree with you that you should not compromise. Steve and I had been searching for a church, and if we had not found Crossroads, we would still be among the ‘unchurched’, the lost, searching.
I think what you have to keep in mind is that by making it your goal to reach people who do not know Jesus, you are reaching people who have never in their lives set aside money for God. They come to you broken and broke, with already established debt and obligations.
Crossroads is a very young church. I think with time, those who have found Jesus because of Crossroads will pay off their debts and take out those wallets. But when they do, please promise not to call them ‘churchy’.
November 17th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
Danette! You are exactly right, and we do recognize that those who are coming from the darkness to the light are now dealing with concepts of giving that are completely foreign to them.
My thread is not to condemn the new believer, but the more so the ones who have been in church their whole lives and KNOW Jesus.
We need them to get on board so we can win this city for Christ!
November 17th, 2010 at 7:21 pm
If people wait to get out of debt to open their wallets, they never will. The biblical act of the tithe is 10% off the top no matter what. Now I didn’t always do this, but I can’t imagine not doing it now. Debt, no debt, no matter what, I can’t not give. I don’t say this to brag, or build myself up. I did it “wrong” for many years, or did it in spurts. This is one area of my life that I have surrendered to the Lord. Is my life rosy financially? No. Am I in debt. Yes. Do I have disposable income? No. These things are my fault though, mostly a functiion of mis-management of years of income, and living beyond my means. I know that the Lord says that we are to test him in this, that if we bring our tithes to the storehouse (the local church) he will pour out blessings that we will not be able to contain. Does this mean that I will be financially wealthy? Probably not. Blessings come in all forms. My life has been spared numerous times. My family is CHANGED! My adult kids are all turning toward God! We have jobs, and food, and housing, and transportation, and ALL we NEED. Nothing extravagant by any means, but we are BLESSED. Thank you Jesus.
Sorry for the fragmented ramble.
RW
November 17th, 2010 at 8:09 pm
Joe – love the post! I have to admit, way back when, when we came to Crossroads I would definitely be classified as being in the “churchy” crowd. I came to church for me – but I remember a message PT gave several years ago called “The Table”. He told me that the church was not for me! I was kind of offended, but once I let our mission statement sink in and help contribute to making it a reality, I’ll never look back! As far as the church finances go – Matthew 6:33 is my assurance!
November 19th, 2010 at 6:30 am
I must admit that I am also a churchy type. I do feel that not all my needs are met, selfishly! I was use to having a relationship with the pastor in my previous place of worship, but he left for Texas. It does not seem to be the thing Tim tries to do with this church due to numbers. I had the thought of taking my tithe somewhere else. But, after prayer, I believe God told me to keep investing in his kingdom with this church. I will look for the relationship thing in the CC group, which I think we have a great thing going. Love the message and love the fact that people are finding their way. I am investing my tithe for that purpose. It is not about me, it is about Jesus and helping people find him. He is the only way, the truth and the life!