| "You did run well: who did hinder you that ye should not | | | | the best of secular culture with religious traditions. |
| obey the truth?" | | | | However, religion is not like mixing ice cream. Does it |
| Galatians 5:7 | | | | make sense to do this? |
| Why are so many religious institutions clueless in their | | | | Leaders shouldn't hide from their churches' |
| biblical mission? I guess this is a question most politically | | | | shortcomings. Some people suggest that churches |
| correct people will avoid. We won't be politically | | | | need to update their thinking. However, Richards & |
| correct in this column. George Barna, a leading expert | | | | Hoeldtke, authors of Church Leadership, argue that |
| in Christian trend analysis, argues that churches are | | | | you just can't apply institutional leadership to the |
| committing billions to religious outreach programs | | | | Christian body. The church is a living organism. Here |
| without much success, and confesses this church | | | | are Barna's suggestions for church improvements: |
| mentality must change. When analyzing the state of | | | | (a) teach an uncompromising truth (I Tim. 4:1, 5) |
| most churches in general, several questions need to | | | | (b) continue intercessory prayers for leaders (I Tim |
| be asked. Let's start at the top of the organizational | | | | 2:1-2) |
| pyramid. Are leaders guiding their congregations | | | | (c) be faithful (I Tim. 1:19) |
| correctly? I have sat in my share of church meetings | | | | (d) prepare for warfare (I Tim. 1:18) |
| and seen heated discussions. All families have some | | | | Therefore, leaders should carefully review their |
| disagreements, but fighting takes the focus off the | | | | purpose against their proven results. Are your |
| Christian mission. Some church members will claim that | | | | programs working to reach out to others? If not, |
| their church is loving and has no disagreements at all. | | | | organizations need to rethink their strategy. Churches |
| You know your church; however, you may have been | | | | can utilize a plain glass approach such as the Fruit of |
| omitted in your church "fight" meeting. Many leaders | | | | the Spirit to reach this lost culture (offered in Galatians |
| don't want followers' input because their followers are | | | | 5:22-23). Churches should focus on their first Love and |
| not as important as them. (Of course, no leader will | | | | make a difference in every community. Start today! |
| admit that.) | | | | References: |
| Let's expound. Leaders can't ignore cultural influences. | | | | Barna, G. (2000). Growing True Disciple. Ventura, CA: |
| Although some surveys portray a holy America (95% | | | | Issachar Resources. |
| believe in God), these are hostile times for Christian | | | | Cell Church Solution (2005). Book Review on |
| values. Yes, there is growing religiousness; however, | | | | Revolution. Received from |
| people are searching for God on their own terms. | | | | New King James Bible |
| Barna again argues that a new spiritual revolution is | | | | Pascarella, P. (1999). Christ Centered Leadership. |
| gaining momentum. Local churches are on the way | | | | Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing. |
| out. By 2025, only 1/3 of the current population will be | | | | Richards, L. & Hoeldtke, C. (1980). Church |
| members of a local church. Likewise, in black churches, | | | | Leadership: Following the Example of Jesus Christ. |
| there's a steady decline (5.6%) in church attendance | | | | Grand Rapids, MI: Ministry Resources Library. |
| for 18- to 35-year-olds, from 1995 to 2000. In spite of | | | | Morris, C. (1983). The Christian Leader. Printed in the |
| this situation, most people espouse some spirituality in | | | | United States: PhilBEST |
| their lives. Strangely enough, Pascarella, author of | | | | Sanders, J. (2005). Spiritual Leadership. Chicago, IL: |
| Christ Centered Leadership, explains that the moral | | | | Moody Press |
| decline has also prompted people to view religion as | | | | © 2006 by Daryl D. |
| the only way out. Some leaders advocate combining | | | | |