We live in a tough time for denominations don't we? While the climate in my current ministry setting is clearly open to traditional religious beliefs, the church continues to struggle. There are many "programs" out there trying to help focus people on characteristics of what a church should be. While the standards are high, i am convinced that there are two standards which we have to start with: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind body and soul and love your neighbor as yourself.
Yesterday I was a part of a meeting in which we were talking about doing ministry in our local community. That went well but the initial conversation centered around a local church which was struggling. Maybe that is a mild word to say the least. The local newspaper wrote about the many people leaving and upset at the new pastoral team placed at the church. After reading the article it referenced a YouTube video of a recent service where as the pastor challenged the people, people got up and left. It did not end there, some started to leave but began to challenge the pastor one on one in the middle of worship. Then it became more than one. I was saddened that the wish to hold tight to what we have has gotten so prevalent. Believe me I may have not been challenged in the way this pastor was, but I am familiar with the pain we as Christians tend to inflict on each other and our leaders within our denomination.
I have written in this blog before, that as a pastor I am called to be pastor, priest and prophet. The first two are easy. The third has a tendency to afflict the comfortable and cause a great deal of pinching, frustration and yes even anger. Change is never easy. But I do believe that there is a way that pastors and lay leaders within a church can take a step into the waters of change and still bring people along. Reality is that there will be people who do not want to come. Which brings me to the story of the Exodus.
I truly see the story of the Exodus and the journey to the promised land to be ours today. We are being called to step out of our comfort zones and travel into our communities and do the work Jesus gave us an example of. We must be intentional as pastor and people to be in tune with God's Word, the Holy Spirit and understand the community in which our church is located. People get tired of hearing me says this but a church does not have an intrinsic right to exist on the corner. A church cannot exist on the corner if it does not engage and become a part of the community around it. I don't mean being a good neighbor. Although we need to be that as well. I mean we need to meet the needs of the people in our community.
I often recall the image of Moses preparing to do as God suggested in order that the sea parted for the people to cross. In order to for it to happen Moses had to step into the water. He had to get wet. He also had to trust, as he had done for so long, that God would take care of the people.
As leaders and lay people in the church, with the continued decline of denominations and the constant arguments about doctrinal issues, unless we refocus on Christ and the mission we are called to, unless we step into the water, trusting fully in the grace and love of God for all of God's children, we will be overrun by what ever enemy is pursuing us.

I am not talking about us doing cannon balls into the pool to do hit or miss ministry. I am talking about taking steps into the waters of our community little by little, learning the lay of the land before we even set foot in the deep end of ministry. There may be a time where we can identify a ministry need in the deep end and must dive deep together into our community, but more often than not, we take those small steps to build up the body of Christ. The people Jesus touched richly in faith were those whose names and conditions we do not know. While Jesus perform miracles and healed many, we must remember they were done to identify who Jesus was and to show God's glory. Sadly many people wanted to see these miracles rather than hear about the good news. Remember the story of the ten lepers healed? How many came back? One.
Where God is leading us as followers of Christ is not going to be comfortable but a place of pinching. If you are someone in the pew each week feeling the pinch, don't shoot the messenger. If you are someone who is offering those prophetic words to the people, please try not to take it personally. I know how how that can be.
All that just to say this as we follow our calling and use our spiritual gifts: In Essentials Unity, InNon-Essentials, Liberty and in all Things LOVE!