I have though a lot about this lately and over the years. How is my balance? What is a good balance for a Christian? Should I just love people and forget about doctrine? Or should I just push my beliefs? I have tried both extremes. I have found an interesting outcome; one never works by itself. It’s not balanced.
Recently, I sent an email to one of my college professors who came and spoke at the small church I was pastoring at the time and warned my about something called “Seeker sensitive” movement. He told me that a large church was going to switch to this type of ministry. Now this was 20 plus years ago. This was a way of ministry that was virtually unknown then. I had heard of it and was intrigued and was considering going in that direction. I thought my wimpy personality, which it was, would fit into this perfectly. He went on to say there is no Pentecostal power in this type of church. He was right! About five years ago, after a two
year evaluation, one of leaders and pastor of mega church stood up before his church and admitted (and I admire his honest-it took courage) that their efforts had been a total failure. Now if you don’t know what seeker sensitive churches are; they try to appeal by changing things that would attract people. They kind of copy the world’s methods and try to be non-offensive. They might have sermonette or thought for the day or a drama. Everything is shortened and
watered down to get people in. I am so grateful I didn’t go down that road. It would take me fifteen years plus to discover how Pentecostal power really worked. I knew it was real, but like many, I didn’t have the foggiest idea how to access it.
So what is a good balance for a Christian? Speak the truth in love. You need knowledge and love. Either extreme will lead you down the wrong road and render you powerless and ineffective. You will either end up being someone who crams the truth down people’s throats, but has no love or you will be the person who just loves but leads that other person to no conclusion because you give them no direction. Something may look right by itself at first, but not be God's way. Don't be afraid to dig deeper!
People need the truth. That is what sets them free. But it is a whole lot easier to give them the truth if you have won the right to speak into their lives by loving them. They need both-truth and love. Then you can introduce them to a living relationship with Jesus. Now that’s balance!
So check your balance! I know I have to keep checking my regularly.
“Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.”
(I Corinthians 8:1)
‘"But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all
things into Him who is the head—Christ”
(Ephesians 4:15)
Recently, I sent an email to one of my college professors who came and spoke at the small church I was pastoring at the time and warned my about something called “Seeker sensitive” movement. He told me that a large church was going to switch to this type of ministry. Now this was 20 plus years ago. This was a way of ministry that was virtually unknown then. I had heard of it and was intrigued and was considering going in that direction. I thought my wimpy personality, which it was, would fit into this perfectly. He went on to say there is no Pentecostal power in this type of church. He was right! About five years ago, after a two
year evaluation, one of leaders and pastor of mega church stood up before his church and admitted (and I admire his honest-it took courage) that their efforts had been a total failure. Now if you don’t know what seeker sensitive churches are; they try to appeal by changing things that would attract people. They kind of copy the world’s methods and try to be non-offensive. They might have sermonette or thought for the day or a drama. Everything is shortened and
watered down to get people in. I am so grateful I didn’t go down that road. It would take me fifteen years plus to discover how Pentecostal power really worked. I knew it was real, but like many, I didn’t have the foggiest idea how to access it.
So what is a good balance for a Christian? Speak the truth in love. You need knowledge and love. Either extreme will lead you down the wrong road and render you powerless and ineffective. You will either end up being someone who crams the truth down people’s throats, but has no love or you will be the person who just loves but leads that other person to no conclusion because you give them no direction. Something may look right by itself at first, but not be God's way. Don't be afraid to dig deeper!
People need the truth. That is what sets them free. But it is a whole lot easier to give them the truth if you have won the right to speak into their lives by loving them. They need both-truth and love. Then you can introduce them to a living relationship with Jesus. Now that’s balance!
So check your balance! I know I have to keep checking my regularly.
“Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.”
(I Corinthians 8:1)
‘"But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all
things into Him who is the head—Christ”
(Ephesians 4:15)
RSS Feed