Pastor, I’m Not Being Fed!

“Pastor, we need to leave because we just feel we’re not being fed anymore.”  That probably is the most overused statement in the modern day church today would you not agree?  I’ve been convicted in this “feeding” thought after reading “The Divine Mentor” by Wayne Cordeiro.  I remember a time when I was told in one week that the message I preached on Sunday was “too deep” for one family while another told me the very same week that the message was “too shallow”.  Say what?  I also remember when I used to take this personally but now, I realize it’s normal and depending on the side of the fence you’re on, one response or the other will suffice when leaving a church.

In 2008, our church is going to increase its emphasis on “self feeding”.  I’ve been reading other blogs regarding Cordeiro’s book and the challenge it lays out and see a similar trend developing.  Pastor Phil Print has put together a couple of posts on this topic, including one you can read by clicking here.  Bob Franquiz also did a nice job reviewing this book as well.  If you’d like to check out the first few pages of the book, you can read the introduction at Crosswalk’s “First Chapters” site.

Teaching people of the importance of reading their bibles DAILY isn’t a popular idea for sure.  Oh, we give it lip service in our messages don’t we?  We sprinkle in thoughts while we speak about “taking the time to listen to God every day” and “praying every day” but do we really follow up on it?  Even in a traditional Sunday School or modern small group program do we hold folks accountable for their devotions?  One part in Cordeiro’s book that got my attention was a story he shared about a staffer at his church announcing that he was leaving because he wasn’t being fed anymore.  This was someone on staff!  Cordeiro quickly countered by asking the man about his devotions and when silence was the only reply, Cordeiro willingly accepted the man’s resignation.  This is the type of accountability we need at our churches today.  People who daily meet with God will willingly put selfish desires away and much of the pettiness that we see in our churches that have conflict would be decreased dramatically.  That is not to say that we would be conflict free.  Not at all.  But increased unity would bring about quicker resolution and a peaceful congregation would be the result.

The ideal would be to have everyone involved in a daily time of devotions.  Obviously, that will not happen but we have to strive to make it a part of the church culture and stress it every time someone asks.  Part of our follow up and welcoming procedure at our church is going to include some type of encouragement to get started journaling and reading the bible daily.  It’s still in the works for us as to what that’s going to look like. I know this.  It’s not going to have to be complex.  It’s pretty simple right?  We just want to stress to our people that “self-feeding” is the only way to develop spiritual strength.  All of the other ministries of the church will flow from daily time with our Lord.

More thoughts later..