Six Traits of a Church Disrupter

Six Traits of a Church Disrupter -
Now being in my 33rd year of ministry, I've heard about and even seen this scenario played-out in various churches. Ask the majority of pastors and they have had to deal with disrupters. A mentor of mine, Dr. Ron Long, told me that church splits almost always start within the leadership; and mainly with pastoral staff and deacons. He works with pastors and churches across the country and around the world, so he should know. The biggest messes and most disruptive scenarios are usually initiated by people who have been in a church so long that they have come to believe it's "their" church, or novice staff members who think they know more than the senior pastor. Regardless of where the disruption starts, the Pastor better have the courage to take care of the problem as soon as it surfaces and before it destroys the body. As Barney Fife used to say, "Nip it in the bud."

If you haven't experienced a "Church Disrupter" it's only a matter of time. Tom Rainer "nails it" with this blog post and I encourage everyone to read it carefully. These people believe they are God's "watchmen on the wall," but they are really pawns that Satan uses to destroy the work of God. Time always reveals the disrupters, but usually not until after the damage has already been done.

http://thomrainer.com/2017/08/six-traits-church-disrupter/

Church Budgets Reveal the Focus of the Church

There are many reasons that churches die slow deaths, but I believe the root cause is a lost focus resulting in a lack of direction and loss of purpose. I believe the church is an organization that was specifically designed for those who are not its members. The membership gathers regularly to exalt the Lord, to train and equip believers for the work of ministry, and then the congregation goes out as an army to evangelize the world. Rather than an army, too many churches have been converted into social clubs. Rather than exalt, equip, and evangelize; too many are serving as little more than recreation centers for those who are religious, but not fully-devoted followers of Christ. The Church of Jesus Christ was called out and set apart to engage in spiritual warfare for the purpose of spreading the Good News and saving the souls of mankind from eternal damnation; but many congregations have been distracted by the things of this world.

How can a spiritual army, commissioned by the Lord Jesus Christ, lose sight of the battle? I believe it is due to an inward focus and membership mentality that says, “Ask not what you can do for the Church, but what the Church can do for you.” One of the easiest ways to determine if your church is a “spiritual army” or a “social club” is to examine your church’s budget. Where the money is spent will reveal what is important to that church.

I recently saw a budget explanation sheet informing the congregation of the budgeting decisions being proposed by its church leaders. I've included some of the points below. Read this list and evaluate whether you think this church has an inward (personal gain) or outward (reaching the world) mentality. While reading, compare this list to your church.

Budget summary items:
1) Removed funding for community outreach.
2) Removed funding for evangelistic services & events.
3) Removed funding for an annual audit (accountability?)
4) Removed saving toward future expansion.
5) Increased money to send staff on missions trips.
6) Increased staff salaries… while cutting the previously mentioned funding for community outreach, evangelism, etc. (I would ask that with all those previous cuts, why do you even need a staff?)

It should come as no surprise that salvation, baptism and membership decisions are down in this church and the weekly attendance is also declining rapidly.

The Bible is very clear in Matthew 6:21 and Luke 12:34 that “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” When community outreach is defunded, at the same time the church leaders are budgeting for personal profits that pad their own pockets; the church is already dying a slow death. On the flip side, when a church realizes “the fields are white unto harvest,” and their funding goes into reaching the community with the Gospel, the church will grow and thrive!

So, where does your church spend its money? Is money spent on outreach? What does your church's budget predict about future growth? Does your church's budget reveal an inward or outward focus? If you find your church turning inward… speak up! If you see these budget trends in your church, it is either time to expose the problem or "get out of Dodge." To summarize Edmund Burke, “All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”

So, get a copy of your church's budget and begin to ask questions. Remember, the only ones who are afraid of questions are those who don’t know the answers or those who are hiding something. Your questions could be the first step toward making corrections and putting your church back on course!