Something is seriously corrupt in the lack of accountability and transparency about how church leaders distribute our money to themselves. We need a new openness not just in disclosure of what goes on with the finances, but in changing the compensation system itself. Although frequent disclosure of any and all vested interest in the status quo would be a welcome addition to most sermons!
It may not be possible to sew this patch on an old garment, or to fill this new wine into an old wineskin: such innovations belong on the frontier of missions and church starting.
But if we want to increase growth rates, we must embrace new paradigms. The old compensation system isn't growing us there; it is merely an protestant extension of papist ways. Change how the money flows, and watch hearts change.
What I'm imagining is pools of funding managed the way academics grant funds for research projects, but managed the way today's business handles telecommuters and outsourced labor. We have to get the workers beyond the four walls; there are clear models for the church in academia and business for doing so, and to think that it can be done without changing tithe distribution is stubbornness.
Tuesday, November 27
Spending the Tithe
Whenever someone blogs about something in which they have financial interest, and therefore are potentially biased by potential personal gain, it is customary and expected that they should disclose this fact to readers. But I cannot recall a single instance of clergy doing this from the pulpit, and something is gravely wrong there. They like to focus on the responsibility to tithe, but I have never heard even one biblical sermon about the responsibility of the tithe. Now why is that?
Ok, I have heard one sermon, from Canada, over 10 years ago. But that was like giving me one ritz cracker with peanut butter. Ah, well Tony Campolo did give some pages to it in his book The Kingdom of God is a Party; I should reread that one.
We need both greater disclosure of where the money goes, and unbiased (ha, likely? not) biblical exposition about what required giving is required to be allocated to. Probably the reason we don't hear this is that it would seriously challenge the unbiblical compensation systems in place?
Ok, I have heard one sermon, from Canada, over 10 years ago. But that was like giving me one ritz cracker with peanut butter. Ah, well Tony Campolo did give some pages to it in his book The Kingdom of God is a Party; I should reread that one.
We need both greater disclosure of where the money goes, and unbiased (ha, likely? not) biblical exposition about what required giving is required to be allocated to. Probably the reason we don't hear this is that it would seriously challenge the unbiblical compensation systems in place?
Friday, November 23
Revelation is the Rock
Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. I also tell you that you are Peter (little rock), and on this (large) rock I will build my assembly." This simple truth is that Jesus lauded the ability to hear the word from God and confess it (the prophetic). Forget the stupid arguments of silly religious people motivated by their vested power interests.
For a second opinion, Ephesians 2 says "the household of God, being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone." Last time I checked, Jesus is alive according to our faith, not dead; one should wonder why are churchleaders so eager to replace him as the chief. We don't need either pope or pastor; we need faith in the living Son of Man (not to totally dis human leadership: which is a precious gift He gives; but let not the gift eclipse the Giver!). Anyone who wants to be a key stone needs to 1st get close to the living Jesus and 2nd get some capability to hear like Simon Bar Jonah.
The ability to spiritually hear God, and grok Him, is the foundation of Life, true life, on earth. This air is open for you to breathe.
For a second opinion, Ephesians 2 says "the household of God, being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone." Last time I checked, Jesus is alive according to our faith, not dead; one should wonder why are churchleaders so eager to replace him as the chief. We don't need either pope or pastor; we need faith in the living Son of Man (not to totally dis human leadership: which is a precious gift He gives; but let not the gift eclipse the Giver!). Anyone who wants to be a key stone needs to 1st get close to the living Jesus and 2nd get some capability to hear like Simon Bar Jonah.
The ability to spiritually hear God, and grok Him, is the foundation of Life, true life, on earth. This air is open for you to breathe.
Monday, November 19
Over Simplification
I've observed a trait in humans that we tend to be weak-minded at times, wanting concerns to be overly simple. Example: God is good because good things happened to me; I am angry at God because bad things happened. Maybe just maybe it is more complex than that?
Nowhere is this more evident than in the two party system of the United States come general election time. I love this pre-primary time when our activism (and then actualy primary vote) actually counts. But come November, there will be a good guy and a bad guy, our hero and his archrival, and America will stay up late watching network television rooting for their one of the two. We need to get a fire lit under us to CARE NOW and PARTICIPATE NOW and vote in the primary election. But O how we prefer to be simpletons and wait until things fit the 0 or 1, black or white, hero or villain. Are we not weak?
And now you're asking me, "Monty, what relevance this has to the thread of posts you've been making on using digital technology to realize growth potential?" Ok, well I was wondering that in case you didn't! I think it fits in nicely.
We think that either the Internet is not very helpful or relevant to our mission, or that it is the end, the means of propagation of vision and mission and outreach. It is, in fact, neither of these binary options. The internet can be a cost-effective tool to supplement an effective strategy, but "there is no loyalty in a high-tech relationship" (Raffele & Hendricks, 1998, Successful Business Networking).
Most humans are just not that proactive and imaginative to think circumspectly about communications received over the Internet so as to create a sense of holistic involvement and relational commitment, even when they may to some degree identify with the goals or vision inherent. And we tend to exhibit our weak-mindedness when we equate the value of something with its cost; that which costs us little is little valued.
The Internet, even Web 2.0 Internet, can be an important tool in an effective strategy to vision-cast and enthuse people, when coupled with an intentional design to create and strengthen relational connections, apart from cyberspace.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the two party system of the United States come general election time. I love this pre-primary time when our activism (and then actualy primary vote) actually counts. But come November, there will be a good guy and a bad guy, our hero and his archrival, and America will stay up late watching network television rooting for their one of the two. We need to get a fire lit under us to CARE NOW and PARTICIPATE NOW and vote in the primary election. But O how we prefer to be simpletons and wait until things fit the 0 or 1, black or white, hero or villain. Are we not weak?
And now you're asking me, "Monty, what relevance this has to the thread of posts you've been making on using digital technology to realize growth potential?" Ok, well I was wondering that in case you didn't! I think it fits in nicely.
We think that either the Internet is not very helpful or relevant to our mission, or that it is the end, the means of propagation of vision and mission and outreach. It is, in fact, neither of these binary options. The internet can be a cost-effective tool to supplement an effective strategy, but "there is no loyalty in a high-tech relationship" (Raffele & Hendricks, 1998, Successful Business Networking).
Most humans are just not that proactive and imaginative to think circumspectly about communications received over the Internet so as to create a sense of holistic involvement and relational commitment, even when they may to some degree identify with the goals or vision inherent. And we tend to exhibit our weak-mindedness when we equate the value of something with its cost; that which costs us little is little valued.
The Internet, even Web 2.0 Internet, can be an important tool in an effective strategy to vision-cast and enthuse people, when coupled with an intentional design to create and strengthen relational connections, apart from cyberspace.
Sunday, November 18
Mashing it up
When a small business or church leaders asks "What is the internet for?" the immediate answer is "an electronic brochure so young people can locate us and consider us relevant to their lives." This was indeed the correct answer in the 1st generation of the world wide web, retroactively labelled "Web 1.0" by the next generaion commonly called "Web 2.0." The next generation of technology and tools is mature and ready and is in use by the new generation already, who consider it essential to the connnectivity of their lives. It is time to re-examine our "Web 1.0" perspective on how the Internet plays a role for us.
Web 1.0 was about a read-only network of web pages, created and maintained by an elite society of those who called themselves "webmasters." In Web 2.0, "webmasters" create the canvas and leave the content to the enthusiasts who enjoy content but may not have mastery of the underlying technology that enables it. Web 2.0 is about collaboration and community, interaction and creativity, "every man a journalist," and participation through supplementing, remarking, reviewing, and remaking content they see. When a 2nd generation surfer reaches a read-only website, they have that "oh, another relic" feeling and move on to something more inviting and participative, through which they can have expression.
We live in a post-YouTube world, pastors and leaders. Get with it, and deprecate your old website, your old webmaster, your entire web department: sublimate them to a new team who can build you a Web 2.0 community. Or you will be left behind and become increasingly irrelevant to anyone born after 1987.
Are you podcasting? you should be. Do your blogs allow visitors to leave remarks and public responses? the world has changed. It isn't about a new look with shiny buttons - it is about giving your audience a voice and empowering your customers and clients to communicate. As we lerge on the precipice of 2008, prepare for the new year with a new point of presence on the Internet.
Fight the politics necessary to sideline your Web 1.0 site and personnel.
Web 1.0 was about a read-only network of web pages, created and maintained by an elite society of those who called themselves "webmasters." In Web 2.0, "webmasters" create the canvas and leave the content to the enthusiasts who enjoy content but may not have mastery of the underlying technology that enables it. Web 2.0 is about collaboration and community, interaction and creativity, "every man a journalist," and participation through supplementing, remarking, reviewing, and remaking content they see. When a 2nd generation surfer reaches a read-only website, they have that "oh, another relic" feeling and move on to something more inviting and participative, through which they can have expression.
We live in a post-YouTube world, pastors and leaders. Get with it, and deprecate your old website, your old webmaster, your entire web department: sublimate them to a new team who can build you a Web 2.0 community. Or you will be left behind and become increasingly irrelevant to anyone born after 1987.
Are you podcasting? you should be. Do your blogs allow visitors to leave remarks and public responses? the world has changed. It isn't about a new look with shiny buttons - it is about giving your audience a voice and empowering your customers and clients to communicate. As we lerge on the precipice of 2008, prepare for the new year with a new point of presence on the Internet.
Fight the politics necessary to sideline your Web 1.0 site and personnel.
Saturday, November 17
We are the House
Yesterday, I prayed and chatted with my friend Mason, about the need to move from the limitations and zero to loglog growth of seeing The House of The Lord (which is a house of prayer, per scripture) (hereafter simply "The House") as meetings on a calendar or people gathering in a building, to the more accurate conception of the House as a network of individuals in active relationships with one another, meeting all over the city all of the time. This scriptural model of constitution provides for exponential growth.
The question I'm asking (Ps 27:4 in the House) is - "But how to (continually) promote this identity and provide for cohesion and communication?" The reason I don't merely say that I'm brainstorming this is that (1) I do not have the best of class solutions and (2) Jesus knows better how to do His job than any of us do (He made it His job when He said "and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not stand against it").
Here are some ideas which have come to mind, after posing the question to Mister J in prayer and in the context of worship and fellowship: (a) one to one communication by visit and telephone, (b) one to many communication by email, web, podcast, videoblog, CD, brochure, (c) many to many communication through social networking technologies on the internet; (d) many to one communication of the believers to our head, the God of our confession, Jesus Christ.
As I type this blog, I'm aware of an annointing that came upon me for this. I looked around me to see if there is any situational reason for a visitation of the Presence where I sit in this cafe - there is nothing here promoting the Lord. I have come for such a time as this. I take this annointing as a confirmation the vision and the work is the Lord's, and that I'm His tool for this.
The question I'm asking (Ps 27:4 in the House) is - "But how to (continually) promote this identity and provide for cohesion and communication?" The reason I don't merely say that I'm brainstorming this is that (1) I do not have the best of class solutions and (2) Jesus knows better how to do His job than any of us do (He made it His job when He said "and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not stand against it").
Here are some ideas which have come to mind, after posing the question to Mister J in prayer and in the context of worship and fellowship: (a) one to one communication by visit and telephone, (b) one to many communication by email, web, podcast, videoblog, CD, brochure, (c) many to many communication through social networking technologies on the internet; (d) many to one communication of the believers to our head, the God of our confession, Jesus Christ.
As I type this blog, I'm aware of an annointing that came upon me for this. I looked around me to see if there is any situational reason for a visitation of the Presence where I sit in this cafe - there is nothing here promoting the Lord. I have come for such a time as this. I take this annointing as a confirmation the vision and the work is the Lord's, and that I'm His tool for this.
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