08.24.10
Silverdale Baptist Church... Being the Church
Those of you who know me understand what I mean when I speak of a church doing church rather than being the church.
- Churches doing church are made up of people who attend worship services.
- Churches being the church are made up of passionate followers of Christ who gather together at weekend worship services anticipating God is going to do something outrageous.
- Churches doing church believe the ultimate goal is great programming.
- Churches being the church believe the ultimate goal is to see Christ bring "good news to the poor," "bind up the brokenhearted," "proclaim freedom for the captives," and "release from darkness for the prisoners." (Isaiah 61:1 – 2)
- Churches doing church are led by senior pastors and staff members who have chosen a career.
- Churches being the church are led by senior pastors and staff members who have an intense calling on their lives and sacrifice much to accomplish Kingdom purposes.
- Churches doing church make the scorecard bodies in seats which leads to bigger budgets which ultimately leads to more or bigger buildings.
- Churches being the church make the scorecard lives transformed, more growing disciples, and a realization that God is transforming them.
- Churches doing church pray passively during worship services to complete another requirement in the order of worship.
- Churches being the church cry out to God behalf of one another expecting God to be at work in one another's lives.
- Churches doing church decide who their target audience is and go after the young or the old, the rich or the poor, the blue collar or the white collar. Demographics play an important part in determining how the church functions.
- Churches being the church allow the Spirit of God to be the drawing card and all races and ages and the rich and the poor gather in one accord as equals to celebrate the God who brought them together.
- Churches doing church want a small group ministry for the purpose of keeping people from leaving the church.
- Churches being the church nurture a small group ministry realizing that they are responsible to present every congregant mature in Christ. (Col. 1:28)
Sunday I had the chance to be in a church that I believe is being the church… really. I had the opportunity to share a vision for small groups at Silverdale Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
All three services were nearly full. But it would have made no difference if the worship center had been nearly empty (although it would be hard for a church with the passion of Silverdale to remain small.). The enthusiasm of these people for Jesus and one another opened my tear ducts on more than one occasion. Yes, in all three services.
The choir sang the opening number. This choir, made up of young and old, white and black, svelte and folks like me, a bit more well-rounded (I love to use that term.), not only sang like angels they worshiped their heavenly Father with passion. Eyes were lifted to the heavens, hands were lifted in praise, freedom abounded and it overflowed onto all of us who were listening. They realized God was in the house, that they were humble servants in His presence, and so they sang to Him with all of their hearts.
During the service, not at the end of the service, Senior Pastor Tony Walliser invited the staff (I think some lay leaders joined them.) to come forward. He then welcomed anyone who needed or wanted to pray at the altar. I noticed some individuals coming forward were bypassing the staff members. In moments a staff member had left his/her perch, placed an arm around the lone beggar and called out to God on their behalf.
Between services I met an older gentleman who had been singing in the choir. I noticed him because he seemed to be so different than most men his age. As the choir sang both hands were lifted toward God in heaven. His countenance was beautiful as he seemed to be adoring His Heavenly Father. He told me he had had a stroke and that his entire left side had been paralyzed but that God had worked a miracle on his behalf. Obviously, Silverdale believes God is more than just a concept, that He is a Father who lovers His children and is still doing "immeasurably more than we ask or imagine."
Sunday was definitely not my strongest day. I had taken a fall and my left foot was causing extraordinary pain and was swollen. I had to go without one shoe (looked pretty weird I'm sure) because my foot wouldn't go into the shoe. So… I was distracted at times. At one point I hit my foot on a monitor and made the mistake of announcing, "I'm glad I didn't say the word that came to my mind." Some laughed, I in evaluation cringed. In the last service I showed a video testimony promising I'd tell the rest of the person's story when the video ended… I forgot.
Sunday wasn't my best day as a teacher, preacher, communicator, but it was one of my best Sundays ever. I was so very encouraged to see a church so intently focused on Christ, His power, His love, His willingness to transform and to be with a people who truly are being the church.
Pastor Tony, thank you for allowing me to be with you and your people who are being the church.
P.S. To Tony, Ken, David, and all of you who make up the staff at Silverdale… If I ever move to Chattanooga, I'm looking forward to you caring for and leading me and my family. Silverdale will be my church.
I really look forward to your blogs. Your wisdom and sensitivity mirror the man I know. I am sure you don't realize how huge your impact is on mankind. God Bless you brother.
Thanks so much, John. The reason I am able to discern between a church doing church and being the church is because I am part of one, The Bridge, that is a fantastic model of a church that is truly being the church as Jesus intended her to be. Thanks for being an elder in that church. All of you are guiding us closer and closer to being a biblically functioning community of believers. I am very grateful for that.
I covet your "being" church. As part of my small church's praise & worship team I "get" to look out to the 60 - 70 people we have in our congregation and see everything from yawns & apathy to folks closing their eyes and raising their hands in true worship. I try to encourage them to be church, but some of them just don't get it. While I know it's not my place to judge someone else's relationship with Christ, their actions speak louder than their praise & service sometimes.