Welcome to the Wal-Mart Church…

Posted on February 5, 2009 by Tim Farley
Wal-Mart = Success

Wal-Mart = Success

The Wal-Mart phenomenon has had a tremendous impact on our culture.  In the beginning, the Wal-Mart business model was to avoid competing with other large stores by placing their stores in under-served communities.  Instead of going into busy, high-population areas, Wal-Mart built its stores in small towns and suburbs where the main competition came from small businesses and Mom & Pop stores.  The theory was that the smaller stores located in these areas would not be able to compete with a large store’s ability to offer a huge variety of products and services at such low prices.  The result?  Well, if you look at the small towns across the country where Wal-Mart exists, most of those small stores have closed up shop because they were unable to compete.

In our culture, the Wal-Mart name has become synonymous with success.  We desire efficiency in everything that we do.  Give us a large variety of options from which to choose, give us great service, and give it all to us at one convenient location at the lowest price possible.  We even place these same demands on the church.  We often choose our church based on how many ministries are available for us, how many activities we can take advantage of, the quality of the “product” being offered (bigger is usually better, right?), and how much it is going to cost us (think time and effort and emotion here).

I am not against large churches that offer a large variety of programs and that strive to offer the best product possible.  I think that churches should do the best that they can with what they have.  My question is, should churches have as their primary goal to become large churches that have bigger and better programs to offer so they can get more people and offer bigger and better programs?  Should we, as churches, adopt the Wal-Mart model of success?  If so, should we go into areas that are lacking large churches and plant a large church that can out-compete the smaller churches in the area and absorb their people?  It would be more efficient, right?

We have already discussed in previous posts that small churches are uniquely positioned to minister in ways that large churches cannot.  Small churches seem to have their particular strengths and offer vital ministry needs to their people.  If this is true, why does it seem that every small church desires to abandon its smallness and become a large church?  Do we really believe that the small church has a unique place in God’s plan or have we defined the mission of the church as “growing in size and in number”?  I wonder if some small churches are missing out on their unique calling because they are so consumed with a desire to get “big.”

What are your thoughts?

Posted in Church Growth, Consumerism | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Need some free Bible study software?

Posted on February 2, 2009 by Tim Farley
Free e-Sword Bible Software
Free e-Sword Bible Software

Have you ever wanted to have some Bible study software on your computer, but you either did not want to spend the money or you were unsure which software to get?  Well, e-Sword is available for FREE!

 While most free software is worthless, e-Sword actually is a nice user-friendly program that has some nice applications available for it.  The initial free download includes the King James Bible and the Strong’s Concordance.  The Bible and concordance are linked for easy word studies using the Strong’s numbering system.  If you want additional applications, there are many others available for free (and for purchase) at the e-Sword website.  Below are some applications that I believe are worth the download:

  1. The ESV Bible – it is free and it is a newer translation.
  2. The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon – this is a standard reference for Hebrew word studies and it works with the Strong’s numbering system as well.
  3. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon – also a standard in Greek language study.  It is also keyed to Strong’s.
  4. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) – want to know more about a person, place, or thing in the Bible?  This is an excellent source arranged alphabetically by topic.
  5. If you are a student of Greek or Hebrew, do not fail to download any or all of the original language texts available (a few are keyed to Strong’s for easy cross-referencing).
  6. Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin – a must for every library!
  7. A good devotional is Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening.
  8. Keil & Delitzsch’s Commentary on the Bible – it is older, but still excellent.
  9. Barne’s Notes on the Bible – still has some value even if it is older.
  10. The Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary – another older commentary that still has some great value.
  11. There are many atlases that are good if you want to study maps.
  12. Also valuable are Nave’s Topical Bible and Torrey’s Topical Textbook if you want to study what Scripture says about a particular topic.

There are many other add-ons available for download.  You can go and decide for yourslef what will be helpful to you.  For a free program, I think e-Sword is tough to beat!  Let me know what you think if you already have it or decide to give it a try.

Posted in Bible Study | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

What will Christians do for the Super Bowl?

Posted on January 31, 2009 by Tim Farley
Posted in Culture | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Love our neighbors? Do we even know them?

Posted on January 30, 2009 by Tim Farley

A 93 year old man in Michigan froze to death after the electric company put a power-limiting device on his home.  The device was installed due to an overdue balance on the man’s account.  However, the man had plenty of money available to pay the bill and, according to family, had never been late in paying his bills in 50 years.  Read the entire story at the link below:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090128/ap_on_re_us/frozen_indoors

Of course, no one wants to take the blame for this sad ending to a WWII veteran’s life.  Plenty of blame is being pointed at the electric company’s method of handling the situation, including the use of limiters in the first place.  However, I was particularly struck by a statement from the city manager of Bay City where this tragedy took place.  Robert Bellemen said that he was “deeply saddened” by the man’s death and that neighbors have a responsibility to each other.

That is interesting.  This city manager looks at the situation and says that neighbors have a responsibility to each other.  I am reminded of Jesus’ command in Scripture that we are to love our neighbors.  This command is repeated often in Scripture, but one of the key passages is found in the book of Matthew.

Mat 22:34-40 ESV But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. (35) And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. (36) “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” (37) And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. (38 ) This is the great and first commandment. (39) And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (40) On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
 
So Jesus and this city manager in Bay City, Michigan agree on at least one thing: neighbors have a responsibility to each other.  I wonder, if this 93 year old man was your neighbor, how long would it take before you realized he needed help?  If your current neighbors were in need of assistance would you know?  Do you even know your neighbors names?  Have you ever talked to them? 

We talk a great deal about loving our “neighbors” as Christians.  We realize that Jesus’ words are not to be taken literally; he was not talking about only those who live next to us on our streets.  He was talking about everyone we come into contact with, which includes those who live next to us.  How can we really claim to fulfill what Jesus called the greatest two commands in all of Scripture if we do not even know who our neighbors are?

Yes, we can point the blame at the electric company in a case like this, but we all share in the blame.  We all fail to care for our neighbors as we should.  It is our responsibility.

Posted in Culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Can a “Successful” Church Fulfill its Calling?

Posted on January 29, 2009 by Tim Farley

Yesterday, I posted asking if you preferred a large church or a small church.  Today, I want to quote a couple of paragraphs from a book I am reading and ask for your response.  This quotation is taken from Ruth A. Tucker’s book, Left Behind in a Megachurch World.  The quote comes from the introduction of the book on page 16.  When you read “left-behind church”, it is the author’s way of describing the typical small church in America, which is under 100 members.  Ruth Tucker writes:

 Left-behind churches are in a unique position to reach out in community service with the love of Christ and to be countercultural – particularly in the area of materialism and self-centeredness.  Left-behind churches can reach out in their neighborhoods more effectively in many ways than can the megachurch.  They are part of the community themselves, and it is out of their poverty that they most effectively serve others.

That is not to say that megachurches are not concerned with caring ministries.  Indeed, to suggest that megachurches do not give money to help tsunami victims would be mean-spirited and false.  They sponsor mission projects and have access to volunteers and funds that no left-behind church could ever match.  But in matters of lifestyle, the megachurch mentality promotes an outlook that embraces materialism far more than repels it.  In that realm, the megachurch world has abdicated its responsibility.  And, considering its very nature of being defined by size and success, can it ever be a credible advocate for a Christianity of sacrifice and self-denial?

Do megachurches, by their very nature, promote materialism and self-centeredness?  Does the small church better reflect the Christian ideals of caring and self-sacrifice?

Posted in Church Growth, Consumerism | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Large Church or Small Church? Which do you prefer?

Posted on January 28, 2009 by Tim Farley

I am just beginning a book titled Left Behind in a Megachurch World: How God Works through Ordinary Churches by Ruth Tucker.  The author was formerly a professor at Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  I had the opportunity to hear her speak on two occasions while I was attending seminary in Grand Rapids.

The premise of the book is that God is working in small churches.  In fact, the notes on the dust cover seem to hint that the author believes that God may actually be working in greater ways through smaller churches than through larger megachurches.  After pointing out that only 2 percent of churches have over 1000 members and that the average church in America has less than 100 members, the back of the book reads:

After studying various smaller, “plateauing” churches from around the country, Ruth A. Tucker weaves together her interests in church growth and spiritual formation to show that smaller churches bear the greatest mantle for Christlikeness.  Left Behind in a Megachurch World shatters the myth that only megachurches are leading the way for Jesus and shines a spotlight on ordinary churches doing extraordinary things.

Like I said, I have just started the book, so I have nothing specific to critique at this time.  However, I do wonder what you think about small churches vs. megachurches.  What are the strengths and weaknesses of each?  Does it seem like we measure success by numbers?  Is this a good way to measure our success?  What other ways can a church measure its success if not by numbers?

Posted in Church Growth | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Christians, Magic, and the Powers of Evil

Posted on January 26, 2009 by Tim Farley
Do ouija boards like this one have any power?

Do ouija boards like this one have any power?

I posted a story from Yahoo! news that discussed a claim that a man in Nigeria had turned himself into a goat.  Since posting that story, some interesting questions have been raised on this blog concerning the validity of black magic and the powers of evil.  Are they for real?  What should we think about these things?

I know the Church has always directed its people to stay away from things like tarot cards, palm readers, and ouija boards.  You may even remember that many churches were very outspoken against the Harry Potter books because of the inclusion of magic and witchcraft.  I remember when I was younger, my church was against the Dungeons and Dragons games (which had just come on the market) for the same reasons.

So, why do we avoid these things?  Is it just because of what these things represent?  Or, do we believe that there is actually some kind of power in them?  If we believe there is a power at work within these things, what is the nature of this power and what are its capabilities?  Could a man really turn himself into a goat?  Why or why not?

Posted in Magic and Witchcraft | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

In a jam? Just transform yourself into a goat.

Posted on January 23, 2009 by Tim Farley

Read this article about a man who supposedly transformed himself into a goat when he was about to be apprehended for stealing a car.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090123/ap_on_fe_st/odd_goat_thief

Bet you wish you could do that!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Obama Closes Gitmo – Who Is Acting More Christian Now?

Posted on January 22, 2009 by Tim Farley
President Obama signing executive order

President Obama signing executive order

President Obama has signed an executive order that will shut down the Guantanamo Bay detention center.  This detention center has come under frequent attack during the Iraq war with accusations of improper treatment of detainees there.  It is alleged that the CIA has used torture in an attempt to gain intelligence in the war on terror.

Here is an article discussing Obama’s executive order: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090122/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_suspected_terrorists

I have posted a few entries on this blog discussing how Christians should feel about the use of torture.  This discussion also led into the discussion of whether there is ever a time a Christian should be supportive of war.

While it is my opinion that there are times and circumstances which justify the use of war, I do not believe that the use of torture is ever appropriate.  The Bible, which is the Christian guide, tells us that ALL people are created in the image of God.  To torture a person is to treat them as sub-human.  I do not even think it is ever appropriate to torture an animal.  Torture of any kind degrades the fact that everything is the creation of our God.  We should seek to honor Him with how we treat His people and His creatures.

Also, the U.S. has agreed to abide by international law, which condemns the use of torture.  Whether or not one can justify torture for any reason, the U.S. has said they will not use these methods.  If we say it, we should abide by it.  Scripture is clear that when you enter into a covenant, even an improper one, you should seek to honor that covenant.

Lastly, as someone commenting on this blog stated, there is really nothing to gain from the use of torture.  The intelligence we need can be gained from less severe methods.  Why damage our international image by using such methods?

It is interesting to me that a Democratic president seems to be the one taking the moral high road in this situation.  Maybe this should be a reminder to us all that their is not a Christian political party and that we need to be willing to hold our leaders accountable (even Republicans) to do the right thing.

What are your thoughts?

Posted in War, Worldview | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Forget actually talking to people, just place your thoughts on a bus

Posted on January 21, 2009 by Tim Farley
Christian bus ad in London

Christian bus ad in London

There is an interesting war of words going on.  It seems that humanists and Christians are duking it out on the sides of buses.

Atheists groups recently started running ads such as “Why believe in God?  Just be good for goodness’ sake.”  And “There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.”  These ads appeared on public buses in Washington, D. C. and London respectively.

Of course, not to be outdone, Christians answered the atheists’ ads with their own.  The D. C. ad was answered with “Why believe? Because I created you and love you, for goodness’ sake. – God”.  And the Christian response to the London ad was “Crunched?” along with a reference to Luke 2:10-11.

You can read a full article on this topic at: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/february/7.16.html

What do you think of this exchange?  Is this an effective way of evangelizing?  How should Christians respond to the humanist ads?

I find it interesting that we as Christians are so willing to post fliers, posters, and advertisements, but we are unwilling to actually dialogue with others about our faith.  Have we come to the point where the best we can do is post our thoughts on the side of buses and hope someone reads and responds to it?

Posted in Atheism, Culture, Gospel | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments