I cannot imagine watching a game without some kind of scoreboard.  One of the first pieces of information a person wants to know when they turn on a game which is in progress is . . . .

What’s the score?

Walk into a room, where people are watching a game in progress, and you will probably ask . . . .

“What’s the score?” 
or
“Who’s is ahead?”

Knowing the score is important for both sides of the game — those who are winning, in order to know that they are ahead, and to those who are behind, so that they realize that they need to up their game.

If there were no scoreboards, surely somebody would be recording the score on a piece of scrap paper or in the dirt.

SCOREBOARDS:

√ At times, a scoreboard was not needed because the score was not important. Some games are not that serious, and “no one” is really keeping score. If you have ever played a pickup game of basketball, or the youth group has played “tag” football, you probably had nothing close to a scoreboard. The game was recreational, not competitive — except perhaps to the most competitive.

√ At other times, keeping score was mentally manageable.   If you have ever attended a church or city-sponsored recreational team competition, there are no scoreboards — not even the simplest. Everyone watching the soccer game is keeping score in his/her mind. Many could even tell you who made this-or-that goal — especially moms and dads.

√  Sometimes a scoreboard becomes absolutely necessary.  The game is “point-intensive” — such as basketball — or is professional and/or competitive.  There are too many “points” to keep track of, and/or the outcome of the game has significant reward implications — March Madness / the Super-Bowl / FIFA / Wimbleton / The Open.

√  At times, a team wishes there was no scoreboard — 101 to 42.  The score is rather embarrassing.

In fact, the “Mercy Rule” — “if one competitor has a very large and presumably insurmountable scoring lead over the other,” the game can be ended.  In some sports (wrestling – a 15 point lead), the game is over if there is a designated point disparity.  There is even an ongoing discussion as to when a coach should stop running up the score against another team.

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Some ministries’ only scoreboard is one that reflects those who have come from other ministries and local churches. Church growth is built on the disappointment with and failure of other ministries, not on the heart-felt and effective ministry outreach. The scoreboard does not reflect outreach to their community, but outflow from other ministries.

Some ministries don’t keep score because it is not important and/or it involves so few. They really have little interest in outreach or evangelism. They are settled and satisfied as a ministry or local church. There may be an individual – or two – or three who come to know Jesus, but through little real effort or effectiveness on their part.

Some ministries don’t “keep score” because it is embarrassing! There has not been a meaningful inflow of new believers over years of ministry. Those ministries and churches are monolithic in their spiritual demographics. It is uniform, rather than diversified, in its attendance and membership. The spectrum of “Just-Saved-to-Seasoned-Saints” is sorely missing.

It ought to be embarrassing to a ministry, but too often, it is not because there is no scoreboard seen or referenced — “It’s not about numbers, you see!”  If they can get away with it, they will play down the need for any such accounting!

There are those in ministry who speak the “Rhetoric of Failure.”  They excuse themselves out of their responsibility or justify their lack of effort — or both — by saying something like . . . . .

Success in ministry is not determined by numbers!

• We are called upon to be faithful, not successful.
• Only the Spirit of God can move the hearts of people.
• I can’t change a person’s heart.  Only God can do that.
• We preach Christ and Him crucified.  That’s our responsibility.
• We are called to preach, not persuade.

Of course, each of the comments calls up a biblical truth. That is what makes such excuses so useful and effective. Some call up the same kind of excuses when it comes to raising their children, as if there are no promises given to those who work hard in raising their children, as if raising your children in the nurture and admonitions of the Lord has no purposeful effectiveness.

There is a human or natural element in reaching out to those who know not Christ.  If we did not believe that, we would not even do what we do in ministry.  Whether it be a Christmas-Easter program, Summer Vacation Bible School themes-decorations-promotion, Youth Group events, etc. — They are all designed to make this-or-that outreach attempt more effective.

But when a ministry is floundering or failing at outreach, the mantras begin — “Ministry is not about how many people attend.”  “God is not interested in programs, but people.”  “We can only preach the Word; God must do the rest.”  “Success in ministry is not determined by numbers.”

How often has it been said . . . .

“It is hard to grow a church in our area of the country because . . . .
(and then a demographic was called up).

• this area of the country (New England) has a whole different attitude toward
• we are located in the inner-city, and people in the inner-city are
• the people we minister to are so transient – military / college town / immigrants.
• we are located in a very internationally diverse community
• our community is very rich
• our community is very poor
• our town is overrun with churches
• our town is primarily Italian Roman Catholics

After 36 years of ministry, in a heavily Roman Catholic, Northeast community, I refused to give any credence to those who excuse-out and excuse-away their responsibility.  There is not a business in the world which can talk that way and hope to prosper.  Only floundering and failing churches and ministries have that so-called “luxury” of such excuse making.

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“Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.”

“I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air.”

“To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”

Some Purposefully Play Without A Scoreboard — Because It’s Embarrassing!

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When you begin believing the excuses of others in ministry, you are now on the road of excusing and lying to yourself about your responsibility for outreach!

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Who have you talked to about Jesus this week . . . . okay month . . . . okay year.[1]

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When it comes to ministry . . . .
I cannot imagine watching, no less playing a game without some kind of scoreboard. 

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1. I didn’t say. . . . “Who has come to the Lord because of your talking to him or her?” But who did you begin a conversation with, for the intent of building toward and/or sharing the Gospel with this year?  Or don’t you have a scoreboard which holds you accountable for that biblical responsibility?

10 Questions To Ask!

COVID-19 — A REAGENT

Are Present Giving Patterns A Lagging Indicator?

Lagging Indicators:  “A lagging indicator is an observable or measurable factor that changes some time after” another apparent correlated factor.

For instance, hospitalizations for COVID-19 are a lagging indicator of the infection rate.  It lags behind the infection rate.  A “lagging indicator” stands in contrast to a  “leading indicator.”   The number of hospitalizations on any particular day or week becomes a leading indicator of a shortage of beds and possible deaths.

It may be that present church offerings are a “lagging indicator” of a local church ministries’ financial stability. While present giving may be consistent with past giving patterns, they will take a dramatic fall in coming months. 

Past giving patterns do not guarantee future performance.

Rerouted: There will be those members who will become acquainted with other legitimate and good ministries worthy of their financial support. [1]  Some percentage of that which was typically given to the church may be used to support yet other new and worthy ministries.  Maybe this-or-that ministry has a greater need, or appears to be much more effective in what it accomplishes, or has shown itself to be more creative and productive in what it aims to accomplish, or . . . .

Distracted: There will be those members who must cut back on their giving – who were able to give more than 10% of their income before COVID-19, but now there are needs within the home, within the family, among the grown children, etc. which will demand such cuts.

Disillusioned: There will be those members who will have become “disillusioned” with their local church as they have lived and worked through COVID-19.  The church leadership hasn’t performed very well –”Is this COVID-19 just a long paid vacation for our church pastors and staff?  Maybe it is time to rethink what we are giving to support.  They may be staying, but not giving as they have in the past because they expected a much better overall response.

Voting Present: There will be those members who will be looking for a different church ministry, having become disappointed in and/or disenchanted with the way their leadership has handled, spoken about, addresses the many and varied crises of 2020.  They are just out looking and are still financially supporting the local church they may end up leaving.  When they actually leave, their giving will follow them.  “Giving” will be a lagging indicator of their dissatisfaction and absence while looking around.

Grace Not Law: There will be those members who are hoping that they will be able to continue to give, but it is looking more and more like that isn’t going to happen much longer.  The clock is ticking, and while they are giving10% of their income today, a hard decision is coming down the road as to whether they can keep up with giving what they have been giving much longer – “Remember, Pastor has been teaching against legalism! – “Tithing is part of the OT law, and tithing is not taught in the NT.”

Declining Income: There will be those whose income has dropped, and while they may still be giving the same amount as they always have, the reality of giving more than 10% of one’s income will become clear, and their giving will drop, while not in percent of income.

Had Enough: They have come to realize that they are just a number and/or a check. Whether they are there or not, there is no personal interest in them, their family, and/or their children. “The church doesn’t care about me …. I have come to believe that it never has as it turns out.” Whether it be due to the pastor’s inexperience, a lack of creativity, self-centeredness, or laziness, the pastor(s) have woefully failed to navigate the ship through this testing time. These weeks and months have just certified what I have been seeing over the years.”

If or when such a financial drop occurs, that drop will not be due to what is happening at the time.  That drop was merely a lagging indicator of what was taking place months ago, what has been taking place long before the time of awareness and possible remedy.

If pastors or ministry leaders do not realize that the drop in giving is a lagging indicator, they will mistakenly focus on what is happening when the drop occurs or when it becomes acute.  They may make their evaluations and adjustments based on the financial drop’s present context, rather than looking back on what has been happening over the past months..

Result?  Another navigational mistake will be made by some pastors and church leaders as they try to address the financial storm they then find themselves experiencing, not realizing that the navigational decisions which needed to be made, needed to be made many months ago, long before “today.”  They will be making adjustments and changes which will not get them out of the storm.  Those changes in course had to be made long ago.  Their only course of action now is to try to push through the financial storm – which may last far longer than imagined – perhaps years – perhaps several years later when another “captain” steps on board and tries to navigate through it all, after the damage of the previous “captain” has taken its toll on the ship, its cargo, and passengers.

It may be the better part of wisdom for local churches across America to look ahead, down the financial road, and plan for such a potential drop in income.

A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself:
but the simple pass on, and are punished.
Proverbs 22:3; 27:12

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1. “Storehouse Tithing”:  There are those who teach “Storehouse Tithing or Giving” – Malachi 3:10.  They teach and believe that the “tithe” – the first 10% of income ought to be only given to the local church, and then anything above that (“offerings”) can be given to other ministry endeavors.

I am not advocating that God’s people should not give out of their income, and in my understanding of the Scriptures, giving 10% is a right and reasonable minimum for God’s people.  What I refuse to argue is that “Storehouse Tithing” is a biblical mandate for “the church.”  Unfortunately, for self-serving reasons, some pastors teach that position.

Interestingly, while some will teach that tithing is an O.T. practice and was part of the law (“Legalism!” ),  some still go on to teach that “Storehouse” giving is a biblical pattern for N.T. saints – that the “tithe” should go to only the local church.  What happened to “legalism.”

That is not to say that you should or should not give to support the local church ministry.  But it does mean that there is no biblical mandate for giving the first 10% of your income to the local church.

There are some good reasons for choosing NOT to give to your local church!  You may not realize it, but some ministries and churches are flush with cash and have excessive and unconscionable amounts of reserve in the bank. I know of some personally.

Other ministries abuse and misuse what is being given through terrible and repeated purchasing decisions, top-heavy administration cost, over-staffing, the multiplication and layering of ineffective staff and pastors, sloppy purchasing habits, etc.  I know of some personally!

Some ministries have leaders who have made unwise and foolish financial decisions, and that ministry has been forced to limit their ministry because of those terrible decisions.  Then, instead of removing such individuals from positions of financial authority and responsibility, they ask God’s people to dig them out of this-or-that crunch.  I know of some personally.

Some ministries give far too much financial authority to those in leadership, with little transparency or accountability to the membership of the church.  The financial reports are broad-brushed and little is actually known as to who is paid what, what was purchased, are funds co-mingled, who are and who are not the paid staff, etc. Far too much is covered and concealed from those who support the ministry.  I know of such ministries personally.

Some ministries allow the pastor to know, specifically or generally, the giving patterns of the people.  I have even personally heard a pastor state in a sermon that while he does not know what people give, yet he had asked the treasurer if the leaving of so-in-so from the church will make a difference to the ministry financially.  And she said, “No.”  Good reason not to give to that ministry!

Much more could be said about these various areas of financial concern! All are reason enough for some to purposefully chose to give to other ministries rather than the local church.

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Some churches may also teach “Faith Promise” giving for missions, which also has no biblical basis, but it does keep all the “tithes” going to the local church ministry.  Interesting, it protects the local church in that it doesn’t tie the survival of the various mission endeavors to the local church’s general income.  If the funds don’t come in to support the various mission endeavors, then they suffer, not the local church ministry – “sorry about that missionaries.”

Twisted Thinking & Failed Ministries:  They Are Connected!

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Here is a worthwhile read for those ministry leaders, pastors, and deacons who attempt to cover up the sexual immorality of others connected to and associated with their ministry!

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“Another witness—a victim of Trotter’s, Jennifer Baker—said she approached Loritts several weeks after the phone was discovered and was discouraged from reporting Trotter’s crime because it was “too late.” The phone was already gone.

Baker added that Loritts threatened her with church discipline if she told anyone at the church about Trotter’s crime.”

Link To Full Article

COVID-19 — A Reagent

COVID-19 Has Been A Reagent!

COVID-19 been a game-changer, impacting all shades of Christian ministry.

• Christian camps
• para-church organizations
• church planting
• international missions
• counseling
• VBS
• Christian Education
• AWANA
• evangelism
• seminars
• Christian colleges
• mission trips
• retreats

AND . . . .

• local churches

COVID-19 has also been a REAGENT!
A reagent is a substance that is added to another substance which is being tested.  The reagent is looking to triggering a reaction.  That reaction reveals something about the substance being tested.  A reagent is aimed at producing a reaction, usually visualized by change in color on a test strip.  Reagents are used to determine blood glucose, ketones, pregnancy, chlorine, and now the well-known COVID-19.

COVID-19 was a crisis mixed into American life and living.  It triggered a reaction within the Christian community and within a variety of ministries.  Perhaps, that reaction was most visible within the local church setting.

COVID-19 has been a reagent
— a detector —
of the thinking and attitudes of the hearts
of pastors and leaders in the local church.

Actually, a good number of revelatory reactions have taken place.  For some local church ministries, there were striking disclosures as to the thinking and attitudes of the leaders and leadership in church ministries.  As previously stated, the brightest test strip was the first on the list.  I am sure there are more that I have listed, but this might be a sampling of some of the varied-colored test strips which showed up and continue to  appear.

There was . . . .

√  far too little interest in keeping in contact with members.
√  a lack of ministry creativity as to how to handle the new challenges.
√  an initial priority on financial survival.
√  a diminishing of preaching-teaching God’s Word.
√  the pitting of fear against faith.
√  a new or renewed political focus in preaching which accompanied the politics of COVID-19.
√  a readiness to charge the government with persecution.
√  a new discussion as to the right of ministries to disobey the law.
√  the exciting of the waters, instead of the calming of God’s flock.
√  a propensity by laity and clergy to propagate “tin foil hat” theories.
√  more “membership” movement to other local church options
√  a new openness a live-streaming and a disinterest in attending by church members.
√  a “rending” & twisting of Scripture in order to fit the times — prophetically and institutionally.
√  a survival mentality instead of a serving mentality

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• What changes would I make in local church ministry if I were still pastoring a local church today?
• What would I do if I was starting a local church today?
• Where have some of the greatest. mistakes been made by others, which can alert us to those pitfalls?
• Who has been the most successful in navigating the COVID-19 waters?
• What will the local church ministry look like six-months from not, one-year from now?
• What must we do to still be effective in ministry months from now?
• Will we as a local church survive this in a way that still leaves us as a local church ministry, effective, or will be be impaired for years ahead?
• What can still be done to correct course and avoid some of the damage that is around the corner?
• What changes to ministry might we be forced to make?
• Is there one new avenue of ministry we need to add to be more effective post COVID-19?

Feel free to push-back !

We don’t have to agree, but as believers, we do need to
THINK why we do what we do.
(Tmart2007@Gmail.com).

Matthew Martens, representing  Capitol Hill Baptist Church  (Link to article)

. Partner @ Wilmer-Hale, Washington, D.C.