Starbucks and Salvation

Christmas/New Years blogging sabbatical...

I'll be taking some time off in the blogging world over the next week and a half.  Between all our Christmas adventures and such, blogging will not be a priority.  Merry Christmas to you all, and Happy New Years as well!  

What makes a Merry Christmas for you?

I'm sitting in my office here in Phoenix.  When I arrived this morning, the parking lot was full of cars which is very unusual for a weekday.  I suspect there were probably 35-40 vehicles.  Directly behind my office is Operation Care, an organization which helps people with food, clothing, and furniture.  As I got out of my car I noticed a line outside of O.C.'s facility about 30 people deep.  I assumed people were getting food for the holidays.

I've been watching out my window the last half hour or so, and what I've seen has been both heart-breaking and joyful.  People are here getting toys, food, clothing, car seats, and whatever else they need to be able to have something under the tree for their family.  I'm watching adults get out of their cars with heavy looks on their faces, then returning to their cars with arms full and faces filled with relief.  This is a scene playing out all over the valley.  Sunday, a church in North Phoenix handed out 3,000 bicycles, 12,000 wrapped gifts, and more than a 1,000,000 cans of food...yes you read that right, 1 million cans.  

What makes a Merry Christmas for you?  There are 3 days left before Christmas.  Are you in panic mode because you haven't gotten that perfect gift for someone?  Are you freaking out because the grocery didn't have the right turkey or ham you planned on serving?  Are you basing what gifts you give on what gifts you might receive?  

What I am viewing outside of my window and reading about locally in the Valley is what the church is to be and do...we don't need more government intervention to take care of people.  We don't need more government programs to feed, clothe, and give to people.  We need those who are believers in Christ to step up more than ever and loosen their purse-strings.  We need those believers in Christ who are mired in debt (I am one) to get more serious than ever about shedding their debt so we can be in a position to give more generously than we already do.  We need tough evaluations in our lives of what is really important, and we need to shed that which is not.  We need to realize we are all one decision or action away from being in a place where we need the compassion and benevolence of others.  Reading Paul's writings on giving in 2 Corinthians 8:13-15, "I do not mean that others should be eased and you should be burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness.  As it is written, 'Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack'."  Paul makes it clear...there are seasons we have plenty and should relieve others of their burden, as there will be a season we will be in need ourself and depend on the plenty of others.

Some people resent this idea, as we are led to believe people will "take advantage" of things and get stuff when they don't really need it.  The reality is that is true in some cases...but God sees that as well in us.  Jesus said in Matthew 5:45, "...For He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."  Our goal is not to pick and choose and decide who is worthy of generosity...our goal is to be generous.  

What makes a Merry Christmas for you?

The Image of God, part 2...

Previously, I examined the idea of the "image of God" from scripture in relation to mankind being created in His image.  You can read that here http://www.starbucksandsalvationblog.com/starbucks-and-salvation/2009/12/the-image-of-god-part-1.html

Now, in part 2, I plan on examining how the idea of people being created in the image of God should affect our lives.  Let's start with this question...do we really think that all people who exist on this earth are made in the image of God?  I have to begin here because our personal answer to that question will in large part dictate the carrying out of our personal decisions in regard to human beings.  I suspect that on some levels, certain people in America believe the image of God only applies to white, American born people who look like them.  Certain extremist groups wrapped up in white supremacy thinking certainly believe this.  However on some levels, even if you're not wrapped up in white supremacy thought, a person may unconsciously believe this as well.  How can I say this?  It's simple...if we really believed that all persons are made in the image of God, we would probably make very different decisions in how we choose to intervene or in some cases, not intervene in their lives.  As a believer in Christ, my decision to believe the people of Iraq, the Sudan, China and other similar places are made in the image of God should greatly dictate how I support military action, economic sanction, and other measures against said people.  Many use the idea of America being a Christian nation as a means to justify military/economic intervention against others.  Early Puritan leaders believed the arrival of America as a new nation to be the "new Israel" spoken of in scripture and considered it their 'Manifest Destiny' to become this nation.  Scripturally, we would be hard-pressed to make that connection.  The new "Israel" spoken of in scripture has little to do with a geographical location and more to do with the separation of the walls dividing Jews and Gentiles into one people unified in Christ, not in geography.  Additionally, it would be difficult for one human to say God "told" them to unite a country or nation into the new Israel, as the days of the prophets were abolished by the arrival of Christ and He certainly did not speak or teach in terms of a geographical nation, but a spiritual one.

So, if we cannot point to one geographical entity as being the "people" of God (and we can't) and we cannot say that God by scripture favors one geographical place over another (and we can't) then although we may strive to be a nation founded on Christian principles, we don't have the authority to say that God allows at our discretion the judgment to destroy life in any way on foreign soil.  Some will point to self-defense reasoning for the authority to do so, and that is valid in terms of decision making...but not valid in terms of spiritual authority.  Some may point to Romans 13 where Paul speaks of civil authority having authority given to them by God to "wield the sword" as a servant of God.  However 2 things must be examined with that discussion: 1) in context, Paul was writing to Christians specifically under Roman rule and oppression and was challenging them to be submissive to such authority, not uprise against it; 2) in the section at the end of chapter 12 where Paul speaks of the marks of true Christian lifestyle he advises believers to feed their enemy if they are hungry and give them drink if they are thirsty...not destroy them.  On a global scale, if believers are convinced all humans are created in the image of God, our actions and the actions we use to put people in those power positions of authority should reflect that thinking.

Most of us, however, don't believe we have much in the way of opportunity to do things on a global scale.  So that leaves us to take the idea of others being created in God's image and narrow it down to our individual lives.  For me, there have been several things occur in the past few months that have sparked my mind and reasoning to new levels...

The first thing would be the situation of the homeless here in the Phoenix valley.  I have interacted with several homeless on my own since coming here.  On Thanksgiving, my family and I took leftovers from dinner to the streets in hopes of changing someone's night for the better.  We plan on doing the same on Christmas Eve, as well as just picking random times to do so. On Thanksgiving night, one interaction I had affected me deeply.  I asked the gentleman if he would like a Thanksgiving dinner and his reply was that he had just eaten at a local shelter, but he would take it for later.  As we conversed, he then said, "I was really hoping to get a shower today, but it didn't happen."  We spoke some more, and then moved on to find someone else.  As I reflected on the events the next few days, his shower comment weighed heavily on me.  You see, here was someone created in the image of God.  It didn't matter how he became homeless...it didn't matter if he took money people gave him and bought booze with it...he was created in the image of God, and the image of God deserves a shower. 

A second thing is the situation of children in the Phoenix valley.  Big Brothers/Big Sisters has over 10,000 kids available for sponsorship.  That is unfathomable to me.  You have to be a resident at least 3 months before you can apply...I will be applying when we get back from Christmas in Ky.  Children in Phoenix are diverse and come from all walks of life, but they all need the same thing.  They need someone to care.  

A third thing occurred this past week.  Our sponsoring church here in Phoenix holds a German language Christmas service each December.  This was their 13th year.  I was asked by the person who heads up the logistics of the event to help out, and was glad to.  They have a German preacher, a German choir, and usually about 500 people in attendance.  As we were standing in the back of the sanctuary, I was told that most of the people in attendance migrated from Germany and many were most likely in Germany during WW2.  At my hearing of this, I have to admit my first thought was troubled...I was most likely looking at some people who had fought against Americans and had taken shots at American soldiers; I was most likely looking at people who had shaken their fist against democracy and had a hand in the Holocaust.  My thoughts, for a moment, were shaky.  Then I was hit with this thought, "They are made in my image.  They may have been led astray by a mad dictator.  They may have made immoral decision after immoral decision...but they are made in my image."  My mind then raced to that German preacher that was going to deliver the Christmas message.  His name is Pastor Vogel, and he and his wife have been some of our biggest supporters since we moved here.  He was a young teen during the rise of Germany under Hitler, and was probably at one point part of the movement of the Third Reich...that is, until an American serviceman in Germany shared the gospel with him and he gave his life to Christ.  The remainder of his life has been devoted to the cause of the one whose image he was made in.

If we subscribe to the idea that all of mankind is created in the image of God, our lives need to reflect that.  In the fight against abortion, the idea that man is created in God's image is often central to the discussion for pro-lifers, and it should be.  That same idea should also be central to our discussion for children who are born but cast aside...for people and families who are without a home...for peoples and countries on a global scale.  I understand the theological implication that until we are "born again" with Christ, our image is marred...I also understand that for God, our marred image was important enough that according to Paul in Romans 5:8, "God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners (marred), Christ died for us."  If it God didn't wait until our image was redeemed to act, why should we?

I'm still not sure for me how all this plays out.  I believe mankind, ALL of mankind is created in the image of God as defined in my previous post.  I know that assisting that image on a global scale is important to me, and we will seek ways as a family and church to do so, such as the girl we sponsor through Compassion International.  I know locally we will seek to do things as a family that affects people's lives positively and we will raise our daughters to do the same.  Just this week, Katie told us about a girl in her school who didn't have a backpack, and had told Katie her family couldn't afford one.  Katie wanted to buy her one, and we did.  That little girl was made in the image of God, and deserved a backpack.  In reality, the idea and implication of people being created in the image of God is most likely not a "one-and-done" implication...I suppose as we grow older and have different interactions with people the implication will grow and sometimes change.  Not change as in diverting away from it, but change in how we apply the idea.  There was a time I thought I knew all God wanted me to do...now I realize each day is just another tip of an iceberg.   

The Image of God, part 1...

The theological idea of mankind being made in the "Image of God" has been central to my life over the past 3 1/2 months since moving to the Phoenix area.  There is something about living in a big city, where the news of human tragedy is on a greater scale, and the opportunity to see human tragedy in some way, shape, or form is every day.  I've had thoughts brewing about this for some time, and have waited until now to put them to words.

Part 1 of my thoughts will focus on the biblical/theological idea of being created in the Image of God.  Part 2 will lean toward practical, everyday thoughts and findings...

The Image of God theme is first found in scripture in the creation account, found in the book of Genesis.  Genesis 1:26 & 27 - Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

According to Baker's Evangelical Dictionary, there are three possibilities to consider in examining the words "image" and "likeness" (the distinction between these words is minimal).  1) that man is created in the image of God due to his intellectual capacity (the difference between mankind and animals), 2) that God issues mankind the mandate to govern and rule creation is the replication of His image, 3) mankind innately desires relationship(s) with each other, as God desires with us, therefore we are made in His image.  All three possibilities have merit in their thought and help us when thinking about the Image of God concept.  Most likely, the best approach is to use the three possibilities in unison as opposed to individually.

Due to the rebellion of Adam and Eve, mankind living as the Image of God was shattered.  Sin corrupts our mind, sways our will and damages our relationship capability.  Sin separates us from our greatest relationship, with God.  Though mankind is affected by sin, it is not without possibility for redemption; we recognize that fact through God sending Jesus Christ for us.  Jesus taught the importance of mankind being made in the Image of God by attributing value to the life of man.  Scriptural references such as Matthew 6:25,26; 12:11,12; Luke 6:27-36 and others point to Jesus concern for mankind's image.  His healing of the blind, lame, and sick are indicators of His love for the Image of God.  His preference to hang out with the outcast, the poor, the rejected are markers of His love.

Paul takes this scriptural idea of the Image of God and explodes it in his commands concerning human reconciliation in 2 Corinthians 5:11-21...verse 17 states, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"  For Paul, this new creation is the redemption of mankind to the Image of God.  Through Christ, the old sin dominated nature of man is replaced by a nature that is no longer enslaved to sin, but is led by the Spirit.  Free from the power of sin, we are still surrounded by the presence of sin; this is why the redeemed Image of God has to be led by the Spirit.

So for part 1 we see the Image of God has to do with our intellect, our emotional/spiritual ability, and our relationship need/ability.  In part 2, we'll see how the image of God should impact our way of thinking and interacting with society. 

Redemption in a $5 cell phone...

Kids have the capacity to teach us so much.  Unfortunately, sometimes we learn not by what they do, but by what we do to them.  Monday was one of those days...I've always sought to be fairly transparent as a pastor, to let people see the bad as well as the good, to see that I'm human and struggle just like them...this is one of those transparent accounts.

Alissa was at school, attempting to get her class schedule set for next spring.  I was working at home, and had Kenzie with me.  It had been a fine day until it came time for "rest time".  Kenzie rarely takes naps anymore, unless she and I lay down and catch one together like we did this past Sunday.  In place of a nap, we have rest time...a time for her to be in her bed, watching a movie, so she rests, and whoever is home with her has some quiet time for themselves.  On this particular day, Kenz was in no mood to stay in her bed...

The first time she got up, I put her back in bed and told her not to do it again.  There was a 2nd and 3rd instance, so after the 3rd one, she got a swat to the behind.  Usually that's where she stops...but not on Monday.  Hearing her a little later, I get up to see what she is doing, and when I walk in the room she is standing in front of the laptop where her movie is playing.  I inquire as to what she is doing out of bed and she replies, "I peed in the floor."  Now Kenz has been potty-trained for some time...she doesn't have accidents anymore.  Upon closer examination I see her clothes are soaked, the sheets and blanket are as well, and there is indeed some pee on the floor.  I immediately hit boiling point.  I grab her and take her to bathroom, strip off her clothes and start running water in the tub.  After getting her washed and throwing all the stuff in the washer, and wiping down the floor I take her back into her room in new clothes, set her in her recliner chair in her room, and instruct her to NOT get up again.  Of course, she's crying the whole time, and it's a crazy scene.  I settle back into work and in less than 5 minutes hear the familiar "beep beep beep" of her play cell phone.  When I walk in the room she is in her chair, but has a lap full of toys that she had to get out of her chair to reach.  I lost it...I yelled, I stomped, I slammed the laptop shut...and then, I picked up the toy cell phone out of her hands, looked her straight in the face...and snapped it in two.  As she cried I told her it was her fault...that if she hadn't gotten up the cell phone wouldn't be broken now, and that she had no one to blame but herself.  In other words, I did and said all the things as a pastor I would counsel parents to never say or do.  I had crossed the line from constructive discipline, to crushing her spirit.  

I left her room and sat on the couch.  I could hear her wailing in her room.  The image of her face as I snapped that phone in half played over and over in my mind.  Here was her father...her protector...not loving...being destructive.  I wept.  After a few minutes, I went and got her and brought her onto the couch with me.  I asked her why she didn't tell me she had to go to the bathroom...I asked her why she kept getting up...I asked her why she wouldn't listen.  After my inquisition, I told her she had to stay with me on the couch the rest of the afternoon.

That night, I had volunteered to help out with the German Language Christmas program at our sponsor church.  So I left about 5:00, and by the time I got home the girls were asleep.  The whole time I was at the program, the events of the day replayed over and over in my mind.  Kenzie's face...the ridiculous image of me demonstrating my "authority" by snapping a cell phone in half...the words and blame I had hurled at her.  Some may say she deserved it...that she didn't listen...that she did bring it upon herself.  Did she deserve correction for not listening?  Sure...but not to the extent that I carried it.  There is a difference between loving discipline and out-of-control domination...Monday I did not discipline, I dominated.  

On my way home from the Christmas program, I stopped off at Wal-Mart to buy a replacement phone.  She did not deserve for me to be destructive in that manner.  This morning, as I was getting ready to take Katie to school, Kenz woke up and heard me.  From her room she called for me...and as I went into her room she looked up at me and said, "Are you happy?"  I replied that I was, and she proceeded to jump from her bed to embrace me.  I had the phone behind my back, and I asked her to sit on her bed.  I told her she needed to listen better...I told her when we say it's rest time we mean it, and she has to stay in her bed/chair...I then told her I was sorry for breaking her phone, that daddy was wrong to do that and asked her to forgive me for acting that way.  You might say a 3 year old doesn't know what forgiveness means and you might be right...but there's only one way they learn it; they need it modeled for them.  I handed her the new phone, and told her I would not break another toy out of anger.  

It was amazing to me her response when I went into her room..."Are you happy?"  As my child, she was well within her rights to be mad herself; she could have held a grudge.  She could have woken up belligerent, determined to make Tuesday worse than Monday.  But she hasn't been swayed by the idea of "personal rights" yet.  As my child she was concerned about one thing...me.  How often are my first thoughts as a child of God to say, "Are You happy?"  Perhaps a better question for Him would be, "Are You pleased?"  Is He pleased with my choice of words?  Is He pleased with my choice of actions?  Do I look past my "personal rights" and aim to please Him?  Sadly, Monday I know the answers to those questions.  Joyfully, Tuesday I was reminded His steadfast love never ceases, His mercies are new every morning.

Several years ago Sheri Cann and I co-taught a book titled "Grace Based Parenting".  It is an amazing book, challenging parents to consider the aspect of grace, specifically God's grace, when parenting our children.  Today I will begin to re-read that book.  I have not read it since Kenzie was born...I think it is time to refresh myself.  

Redemption...in a $5 cell phone, and the heart of a child.

Sign your name on the dotted line...

I received an invitation today via email to sign the "I Am A Christian" declaration, being pushed by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, seen here...

http://www.salememail.com/specialoffers/bgeaIamAChristian/default.asp

Similarly, a few weeks ago Christian leaders across Catholic, Evangelical, Anglican, and Eastern Orthodox lines came together with the announcement of the "Manhattan Declaration", seen here...

http://www.manhattandeclaration.org/

Both groups are encouraging Christians to "sign" these declarations, and in doing so show the world what we believe in terms of marriage, the sanctity of human life, the rights of conscience and religious liberty, and in terms of declaring our faith to the world.  I have a better option...

Why don't we show the world what we think about marriage by honoring our spouses, placing their lives/needs above our own and sticking with them through all the tough times?  Why don't we show the world what we think about the sanctity of human life by not only opposing abortion, but by also becoming foster parents, adopting unwanted kids, ministering to the social outcasts instead of driving by them, etc...?  Why don't we show them what we think about rights by living out the words of Paul from Galatians 5:13, "You were called to freedom, brothers.  Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."  Perhaps if we served and loved one another in the church in a greater, truer fashion we would not have to "declare" our faith to the world...it would be visibly seen. 

As said by a Muslim...

Yesterday I was driving around the Valley of the Sun and hitting the scan button on the AM radio, searching for some talk radio to listen to...I came across what sounded like an interview between a person of Middle East descent and an American, so I paused.  It turned out to be an interview with a self-described "moderate" Muslim believer, so I gave it a listen.  In the course of the 20 minutes or so I had to listen, he made 2 statements that have really weighed on me...

1) In talking about "extremist" Muslims, the man made this statement..."Understand that they hate me as much as they hate you (talking to the American)...if you and I were standing together in front of an extremist, and he only had one bullet in his gun, he would have a hard time deciding which one he wanted to kill, as he hates us both."

2) Again referring to "extremist" Muslims, the man said, "I am as interested as you are in their defeat.  They take what is holy (the Koran) and sacred, and pull snippets of it out of context to twist and turn it into their agenda."

We know that Muslims have been at war with each other for centuries.  Different factions of Muslim ideology believe themselves to be the "true" believers, and much blood has been shed over that issue.  We also know there are Muslims like this gentleman, who state the Koran is being twisted for certain agendas and who fight to regain control over the scriptures.  

As I thought through these statements and others, I began to think about my own belief system, Christianity.  I hesitate to use that phrase, 'belief system', because I don't have a belief in a system, I have a belief in a man, Jesus Christ...a man who was fully human and fully divine, and who gave His life for me.  However, for the sake of discussion, the phrase seems more adequate...in Christianity, history is littered with accounts of believers who saw to it that other believers were put to death.  The Crusades not only pitted Christians against Muslims, but also against other Christians.  Historically people who were viewed as "heretics" within a certain Christian camp faced beheading, or burning at the stake.  Generally what classified those individuals as heretics was failing to interpret scripture or certain scriptures solely different than others.  History also shows us those within the Christian faith who have used scripture or portions of scripture out of context to support their own particular cause.  Think slavery, the lack of civil rights for any  non-Caucasian, the oppression of women, the elevation of America as the "new Israel", etc...

As we observe this, we see our own history is fraught with much of the same problems and issues as the Muslim world.  Make no doubt about it, I still believe solely in the work and person of Jesus Christ as the only way to the Father...but it's intriguing to see some of the parallels.  Perhaps through examining our own history a little deeper, and learning from it, we would begin to see Muslims as brothers and sisters of a certain fashion...and share the truth of Christ with them more often, instead of vilifying them.

Kenzie is 3!!!

Our youngest daughter Kenzie turns 3 today!  Some of you may not know that Kenzie was a preemie, born at 34 weeks.  Alissa suffered a couple of placental abruptions, the first one at 22 weeks, and ended up being on bed rest for 10 weeks, the last 5 of them in the hospital.  Here are a few pictures of Kenzie's journey to today...

As you can see, she is quite healthy, energetic, and full of life...it's amazing to think those hands that were barely big enough to hold my wedding band, are now 3.

Kenzie, like her older sister Katie, teaches us so much everyday.  She has a mischievous air about her that keeps us on our toes, but is the first to come to us with a compassionate hug or kiss if she thinks we are sick or sad.  She has never known a stranger, and I believe she takes it personally when a kid doesn't immediately reciprocate her kindness.  She has been a blessing not only to us, but to many of our closest friends in so many ways...

So, Happy Birthday Kenz!  You may have struggled coming into this world, but your mark is being made.  May God bless your path and empower you to an incredible life.

Isn't this going a little too far?

Apparently, Focus on the Family has published a website where they rate retailers on how "Christmas-friendly" they are...you can read the results here.

http://www.standforchristmas.com/pages/home

Apparently Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's are VERY friendly, while Banana Republic and the Gap are among the most offensive (did they really use that word?) to Christians this time of year, by not saying "Merry Christmas".  Personally, BR and the Gap are offensive to me because their clothes are expensive and they don't cater to 41 year old's with a slightly (?) overlapping gut-line...but that's for another time. :)

I'll be honest, I don't really get this.  I will say Merry Christmas everywhere I go this year, but it doesn't really affect me, my season, or my belief in Christ if someone says Happy Holidays back to me, or Happy Hanukkah, or "Thanks for your money moron!"  These stores listed are not Christian stores...they are not advertising $5 sweaters with a free John 3:16 scarf to go with them...I don't expect them to say Merry Christmas, and frankly that's not why I'm there in the first place!  

Focus on the Family has huge influence on people.  I really think it is your own personal choice where you shop, and personally for me, I'm shopping where the good prices are!  However, there will be people who will look at this list from FotF and completely change where they shop...or start to picket the stores.  When you have huge influence on people, with that comes responsibility.  FotF is not the only entity that does this type of stuff.  Remember the "boycott" of Disney, Pepsi, and Spongebob?  How about entities in the past who told Christians to stay out of public schools, not eat "French fries" (freedom fries is a phrase that should be banned forever), and stop using Procter and Gamble/Liz Claiborne products because they were devil worshipers?  

Here is where "organized religion" goes wrong...Paul writes at length in numerous places in the New Testament about Christian liberty and individual choice/responsibility.  I don't care if you're baptist, methodist, catholic, or pentecostal, anglican or presbyterian...if you are a follower of Christ, don't allow other people/groups to make up your mind for you!  If you like to shop at the Gap, and they don't say Merry Christmas and that DOES NOT bother you...spend away!  If whether or not a shop says Merry Christmas negatively affects your season (which was an adopted season by Constantine in the 3rd century by the way, again...another post) then maybe your season was out of whack to begin with.

I'm still waiting for the report to come out that lists all the "Christian" retail stores that are guilty of selling trite, uninspired, overpriced goods that add nothing to kingdom value or purpose...

How long should a local church exist???

Embarking on the journey of planting a new church here in the Valley of the Sun has set my mind to thinking on numerous ideals...one of those has been the above question, "How long should a local church exist?"  As I've dreamed, thought out vision, and looked into the future of Springwater Community Church, one of the things that has consumed me is the life span of Springwater.  Allow me to set this up a little better...

I suspect there are not many local churches that still exist which have spanned long amounts of time, especially throughout the Protestant denominations.  There are Catholic cathedrals who have long amounts of history, to be sure, but their tradition is a little different than Protestantism.  I have searched on the web for information on Protestant churches but found little.  Just in my own personal examination of places I've been, lived, and followed, it appears Protestant churches do not have particularly long life spans.

Why is this?  Why is this important?

This exists in Protestant circles most likely due to the following...a church begins, either around a certain theological ideal, or perhaps a geographical location, or possibly around a particular people group/generation.  Whatever the case, there comes a point in time where that theological ideal no longer holds "center court" so to speak, or the geography changes, or the people move on (possibly literally, or figuratively).  The church begins to decrease in numbers, cash flow for the buildings/grounds/staff decreases accordingly, and eventually the doors close.  Some members of the church will find homes in another local church body, while others will either drift from one church to another or stop going altogether.  This is important to think about because there is too much at stake here; too much at stake for those who are part of that local church, too much at stake for the geographical community the church is a part of, and too much at stake for those whose lives have not been impacted by the life-changing gospel message of Jesus Christ. 

So if it happens (and it does) and if it's important (and it is), then what needs to change?  What has been occurring in the past decades that needs to be reversed?  As a church plant, what choices do we need to make as we move forward to ensure Springwater Community does not end prematurely? 

One aspect that needs careful attention is the building of facilities.  Now, we are a LONG way from seeing that happen...we haven't even had a first worship service!  If I wait until we are ready to build to start thinking about it however, it will be too late.  For churches to last, facilities are going to have to be stream-lined, serving multiple purposes, and serving the community.  More than ever they need to be built efficiently, not just on the front end, but built so they stay efficient in terms of energy usage, etc...the facility is going to have to be one that is not a drain on the body, but is healthy for the body.  

Another aspect is balancing the 'consumer-driven' mentality that is so effectively destroying the life-span of the local church today.  My guess is this phenomenon is only occurring in our Western culture.  Take Springwater for example...we will be a church that is welcoming to all people.  The Builders, the Baby Boomers, the Busters, Generation X...African-American, Caucasian, Asian...you get the picture.  We will work towards operating in inter-generational formats, with older generation individuals being challenged by the youth and energy of their younger brothers and sisters and the younger generations learning from the wisdom and experience of their elders.  We will work towards the richest of the rich working side by side in missions with the poorest of the poor.  We will seek to break down racial walls and barriers by realizing the fulfillment of Revelation 5:9, every tribe, tongue, and nation.  In doing this however, we will be using the tools of our current culture...what happens when the culture changes?  What happens when what was "in" goes "out"?  Churches have to learn to be pro-active with the Gospel of Christ...when we are not, we die.  Part of that involves casting a vision to people that is not built simply around a style of worship, or internet bible studies, or Twitter based updates.  It involves casting a vision that encompasses deeper points of the Gospel; points that transcend time, culture, and geography.  It also involves realizing that vision is never stagnant...what may be the vision today, will be tweaked in the future.

This is not about the culture war...this is not about right vs. left, liberal vs conservative.  It's not about political parties, or political ideals...it's not about "us" vs "them".  All those battles have only done one thing...they have taken the eyes of the church leaders off of the vision and purpose of the church.  No, this is about one thing and one thing only.  Jesus Christ said He would build His church on the proclamation that Simon Peter stated in response to Jesus' question, "Who do you say I am?"...Peter's response?  "You are the Christ (Messiah), the Son of the Living God."  If we will proclaim Christ, the church lives...and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  The local church need not fear the culture, nor should it settle for an early death.  It is His church, and it will prevail.