July 30, 2010 by clintclifton
“God saves sinners. God. – The triune Jehovah, Father, Son and Holy Spirit; three Persons working together in sovereign wisdom, power and love to achieve the salvation of a chosen people, the father electing, the sun fulfilling the Father’s will by redeeming, the Spirits executing the purposes of the Father and Son by renewing, Saves – Does everything, first to last, that is involved in bringing man from death in sin to life in glory: plans, achieves and communicates redemption, calls and keeps, justifies, sanctifies, glorifies. Sinners- men as God finds them, guilty, file, helpless, powerless, blind, unable to lift a finger to do God’s will or better their spiritual lot. God saves sinners… Sinners do not save themselves in any sense at all, but salvation, first and last, whole and entire, past, present and future is of the Lord, to whom be glory forever, Amen!”
- J.I. Packer, “Saved by His Precious Blood: An Introduction to John Owens’s The Death of Death in the Death of Christ” in A Quest for Godliness: The Puritan Vision of the Christian Life (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1990), 130.
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July 28, 2010 by clintclifton
I’m spending the week in Florida visiting family and relaxing a bit. The first day of the trip Jennifer and I started reading a novel together, the main character was a surfer… so I decided to carry the theme throughout our trip. Today we rented a long board from the “Surf Station” and hit the waves. All three of the kids got up within the first few attempts. Izzy was wearing “swimmies” as he rode the wave into shore.
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July 26, 2010 by clintclifton
This weekend we had a great time of worship at Pillar Church. We invited the people of our church to show up an hour early this so that we could have a focused time of prayer for Colby & Annie Garman, our missionaries to Iceland. The Garmans are within a week or two of giving birth of to their third child, Gracie, who has a heart defect. Gracie’s Dr’s are saying she is going to have a series of surgeries after birth. Pillar people gathered to pray that God would heal the baby and send the Garmans back to Reykjavik.
Since the Garman’s are here Colby has been working with me on the church planting material I am working on. This week he finished a chapter on the importance of Theology in the life of a church planter.
Here is an excerpt…
“Now here are a couple of thoughts about how a leader can develop and sharpen their theological discernment.
Read, Read, Read! There is no substitute for literacy. There is a little maxim that I believe to be true. I am not 100% sure, but thus far it fits everything I know about church leadership. Here it is: Some leaders love to read. Other leaders discipline themselves to read. I have yet to find a respectable leader that does neither. So here are some suggestions about reading
- Read the Bible. Regardless of what you think about N.T. Wright’s view of justification, he is a great scholar and has done some amazing work in defense of the bodily resurrection of Jesus. When I read The Resurrection of the Son of God I was amazed at the scope of his understanding of the entirety of scripture. Later I remember hearing him discuss his habits in regards to Bible reading and he said that there is no substitute for the repeated reading of scripture (I believe he said that he reads the Old Testament twice every year and the NT four times).
- Read classic Christian theological works. If someone has long been dead and is still being published there is usually a good reason. Become informed about influential Christian thinkers of the past and read portions of their work. A few years back I set out to read one Puritan classic each month of the year. Although I did not quite accomplish my goal that year it has led to an ongoing habit of reading books from that era. Each generation has certain assumptions that they do not test and others that they constantly challenge. Sometimes the greatest problems are in the areas we assume we have right. Reading books from other eras aids us in examining those areas that our own assumes to true.
- Read authors that disagree with you. Evangelicalism has its people it loves to hate. We are often tempted to criticize a movement or another Pastor before giving them a fair hearing. You cannot read everything, but if you are going to criticize, it is important to know that you are not misrepresenting someone. Furthermore we develop discernment when we read the best arguments that others have to offer and take time to critique what they have to say.”
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July 23, 2010 by clintclifton
Another Excerpt…
“When it comes to churches the same is true, healthy churches grow. Good healthy churches and bad healthy churches. Mormonism for example is “healthy” and has grown very rapidly since Joseph Smith, Jr., founded the movement with only 6 members in 1830. In a little over 175 years Mormon membership has grown exponentially. As of December 31, 2009 there were over 13.8 million members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worldwide. So here’s a question… Are we supposed to view the growth of the Mormon church as a sign that God is blessing it? Absolutely not! Not any more than God is blessing the fungus that grows on your foot.
As you are planting a new church you will be tempted to organize your ministry like a successful business, to make the system healthy so that the ministry will grow. Others will try to convince you that since people matter to God, getting as many of them as possible to your church will please God. So in order to get the average Joe out of bed on Sunday morning you will hone your skills on Photoshop and update your church’s Facebook profile every day. You will place yard signs and radio ads while awaiting a deluge of secular people to walk in Sunday morning.
Please don’t do this, it’s just goofy. We are responsible for fidelity and God is responsible for growth. The truth is, churches can grow through advertisement and marketing but that’s not the type of growth that you should seek for your new church. The Apostle Paul, after seeing some of the most tremendous growth in church history, commented on the source of the growth, he said, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God made it grow.” Wouldn’t it be great to look back at five or ten years of ministry and say, “Wow, did God make it grow!” It seems that today’s pastors are seeking a quick growth strategy for their church. And are willing to trade quick growth for real Holy Spirit work. It’s a pastoral version of a get-rich-quick scheme. Pastors sit around conference tables with other staff members racking their brains trying to figure out how to “break the 200 barrier” (Since when are 200 souls a barrier?) or get more of God’s enemies (Rom 5:10) involved in the church. Every decision about music, service order, style of speech, attire, programs and ministries is aimed at making church attractive for non-Christians.
This is a form of idolatry. It would be like my wife walking into her closet and asking the question, “What could I wear today that will bring pleasure to the men in my community?” My wife does not belong to the men that live on my street or in my neighborhood, she belongs to me. Likewise, the church does not belong to the unregenerate, but to Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the means by witch God will draw lost men to himself. No my wardrobe, not my translation. We are far too concerned with “Saddleback Sam” and not concerned enough with the author and finisher of all things, Christ”
Posted in Church Planting, Rants and Raves | 2 Comments »
July 16, 2010 by clintclifton
Here are a few more excerpts from the Church Planter material I have been working on…
“If I had a dollar for ever time someone has advised me not to “sacrifice my family on the altar of ministry” I could travel to Home Depot and buy all the materials necessary to build my own brazen altar complete with a glistening bronze overlay and duel ash pans (See 1 Sam. 1). Perhaps I am given this advice so regularly because my family is often seen involved with me in the work of the ministry. I can imagine what must be going through the minds of my self-appointed advisers when they see my four year old son pushing cases full of equipment in an out of the school where we meet each weekend or when my six year old daughter is seen walking door to door with me as I visit homes in my community.
If you are a pastor who is also a husband and a father you will feel a constant tension between the work of the ministry and your duties as the leader of your home. Let me offer this simple suggestion; instead trying to avoid sacrificing your family on the alter of ministry, Sacrifice the dream of a quintessential American family on the altar of ministry. As a pastor you should do all that you can to involve your wife and children in the joys and pains of serving the body of Christ.
Isn’t it ironic that we celebrate Hanna and Abraham for their willingness to lay their offspring down on the alter yet advise our ministers to do the opposite? Think about it… Hanna carried Samuel to the temple with the rest of her offerings as soon as he was weaned, “she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh.” We exalt her faith and figuratively join her in our commitment to give our children to the Lord. Yet in our own homes we strive for a balance between ministry and family. Then there is Abraham; what a great example right? This guy actually carried his boy up to a mountain to kill him with a knife because God told him to (Gen 22). How many times have we celebrated Abraham’s faith from the pulpit but neglected his example in our living room.
Just as a real shepherd might take his child out to tend sheep with him, when possible, I take mine to tend sheep with me. I want them to learn what I do and I want to spend time with them, because of this, it only makes since to bring them with me. Sure, it’s not very professional, but then again, professionalism is not the goal of a pastor or a dad. There have been times when my children have done more to minister in hospital rooms and on the front porches than I was able to. This doesn’t mean that everything we do as a family is centered on the work of ministry but it does mean that much of what we do is aimed at serving our local congregation. It also means that there are fewer hours in the day for the activities that do not benefit the church. Please, don’t feel sorry for my children or my wife. They are not slaves begging for more time on the baseball field or at the local park. Trust me, my children are well acquainted with the inside of a Chuck-E-Cheese. But they are also acquainted with the fact that even in Chuck-E-Cheese we are ministers of the gospel.”
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July 3, 2010 by clintclifton
This week I passed by a church near my house and noticed a subtle memo on the bottom of the church sign. As I think more about it, maybe it should be included on many more church signs around the nation. The sign read, “Mt. Hope Ministries, Dr. Raymond A Bell Jr, Senior Pastor/CEO”. I visited Mt. Hope’s website and was disappointed to see that Dr. Bell’s title there is simply, “Senior Pastor”. But the sign was probably accurate. Dr. Bell’s is likely the Chief Executive Officer of his flock. His job probably includes a combination of pasturing and CEOing. The problem is this… CEO’s and pastors have nothing in common… so to have one man serve both roles is impossibility. A good CEO makes a bad Pastor and a good Pastor makes a bad CEO. Consider the Jobs…
- The Pastor gives his life for his sheep (1 Peter 5:4) while the CEO views humans as “resources” and organizes them for mass profitability.
- The Pastor suffers hardship like a good soldier (2 Tim 2:3) while the CEO lives in comfort and luxury.
- The Pastor is not a lover of Money (1 Tim 3:3; 1 Peter 5:2) while the CEO exists to make as much money as possible for himself, his investors and his company.
- The Pastor is not “puffed up with conceit” (1 Tim 3:6) while the CEO receives notoriety.
- The Pastor is “not domineering over those in his charge, but an example to the flock” while the CEO exercises authority and terminates those that does not “produce”.
When I think of CEO’s I think of Donald trump types, appointment books lined with opportunities for jet-setting and hobnobbing. But this is not the Pastor’s life… The job of a pastor (if done well) is a life of sacrifice and service. A pastor is a shepherd… In fact, he’s an under-shepherd. I imagine a stiff in a 3 piece suit shading himself under a tree surrounded by loud smelly sheep… I’d expect him to whip out his cell phone and call for a chopper to deliver him from a nightmare.
Or maybe we put a Shepard at the head of a table in a board room… We give him an assistant and a six figure income… the company is headed for ruin!
The point is… these are different jobs…. they are not compatible. You may be the senior pastor of a particular congregation, you are not “the” senior pastor. The Bible says that Jesus is the senior pastor (1Peter5:4).
The majority of pastors who read this would never refer to themselves as CEO’s… but we do tend to act more like CEO’s than pastors.
God, forgive us. We took this job to serve you but we can’t stop serving ourselves. Change our minds and set our affections on you. Amen.
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June 24, 2010 by clintclifton
As I mentioned in the previous post, Colby and I have been working on some articles that we hope will eventually turn into a book on the subject of church planting. You can download the first article “The Church Planter Trifecta“. Also, here are a few tidbits from some of the others.
I encourage you to consider setting more realistic goals and measuring your progress by the achievement of those goals rather than arbitrary dates in the future. Put away your calendar and concentrate on your “to do” list. When you achieve the goal it’s time to move on to the next one. Don’t get in a hurry; concentrate and build a good foundation. Unless you are an expert (which your not), quick work is sloppy work. In the formation of a new church one of the greatest injustices you can impose on your tiny congregation is to build it on a jerry-rigged foundation. There are two primary reasons that church planters get hasty:
First, they are on a financial time line. Supporters have promised financial contributions for a limited amount of time. This ticking clock applies pressure to the church planter that often leads to gimmicky church growth tactics and hasty choices. My denomination (more generous than most) gives church planters a three-year window to become self-sufficient. Every year the salary amount they offer decreases by a third until it finally disappears before your fourth birthday. Churches often will give for only a year or two.
Second, new churches experiencing explosive growth are featured in books, blogs and at popular conferences leaving the average church planter feeling inadequate. I have attended more church planting events than I can count. Nearly every time I go to one I leave feeling like I’m the worst church planter in the room. Everyone else seems to be smiling and happy as they talk about the amazing things God is doing in their ministries. Billy led the mayor of his town to Jesus, Frank’s attendance has tripled in the last year, Chris baptized 25 last Sunday, so to appear that I’m not the only loser in the room I smile and act as if I don’t want to stab my eyes out with my lanyard.
Reasons pastors often site for not planting churches:
- “We just don’t have the people to send” – What they really mean is, “We have a bunch of ministries now that are understaffed.” Instead of killing those ministries and doing what we were originally tasked to do we will have to wait until all the ministries are staffed then once that impossible task happens we will consider starting a new church. We are teaching people that serving Jesus is equal to staffing the ministries of our church.
- “We don’t have the money” – How much does it cost to share the gospel with your neighbor? How much does it cost to meet in your living room? It is only expensive because American Christians think that in order to have a legitimate church it has to be complete with a five piece worship band, an modern facility, a tricked out sound system, and theater lighting to set the mood. Church planting is about making, baptizing, and teaching disciples all of which are free.
- “Our people aren’t ready for that yet” This one is slightly legitimate. Some congregations are not ready. But it becomes priority number one to get them ready. Mission is at the center of God’s design for the church. If you have been the pastor of this congregation for very long and you are still making this excuse I have to ask what you are teaching your people? Lead the people to readiness and away from selfishness.
- “I don’t feel God leading us in that direction” – You would find more Biblical support for having a concubine than you would for supporting that statement. You don’t “feel God leading you” to obey the great commission? What do you feel him leading you to? A capital building campaign? A clothes closet? Our feeling should never trump our mandate.
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June 22, 2010 by clintclifton
Trying to catch up here a bit on the happenings of my life. Pillar Church is going through some really exciting times right now.
- A few weeks ago a Marine in our congregation (Roy Garza) shared with our congregation his desire to plant a new church near the south gate of Quantico about ten miles from our current location.
- We started a new topical series on “The Doctrines of Hell” this past week. Ironically it was extremely hot in the school where we meet. You can catch the first audio lesson HERE.
- Our missionaries to Iceland, the Garmans returned home to address a heart problem with their unborn child. It has been bitter sweet to have them back with us.
- I have finished the first five chapters in a book designed to help “regular” guys (Without formal education or experience) wrestle with major issues related to starting new churches. In the next post I will put a few excerpts from the chapters. Colby (mentioned in the previous bullet point) has been helping me with the project.
- I just celebrated 10 years of marriage to my wife Jennifer. I sold my beloved motorcycle and bought us two tickets to Cancun, Mexico. It is the first time (Since our 1 year anniversary) that we have gone on a vacation without kids. It was a blast and well worth the motorcycle. You can see the pictures HERE
- Pillar Church has two upcoming international trips 1) Toronto – taking a team of 8 to Toronto City Mission 2) Bali – A team of four is headed to the Pillar House in Bali Indonesia.
Posted in Church Planting, Family, International Missions, Pillar Church | 1 Comment »
April 24, 2010 by clintclifton
A few quotes from CJ Mahaney
” I regret I have no degrees. I have only graduated from high school and even that should be investigated. I am however an exceptional athlete.”
“Reminding ourselves of the gospel is the most important daily habit we can establish.”
“When it comes to preaching the gospel, we must resolve to be unoriginal”
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April 21, 2010 by clintclifton
Many people have asked me about what is going on in Iceland with the Volcano and how it is affecting the Garman family. I spoke with Colby for some time earlier this week and they said that unlike the rest of Europe Reykjavik has only been mildly effected by the Eyjafjallajokull volcano. Colby said that up to this point they have seen no sign of ash or volcano even though they are less than 80 miles from the eruption. The Garmans posted THIS UPDATE yesterday.
If you would like to see some very impressive photography from the eruption you can see it HERE.
The greater concern for the Garmans at this point is that they have recently learned that there unborn child has a heart condition that will require them to return to the US for a few months. Please pray for them as they go through yet another very difficult situation. I encourage you to send them a note of encouragement or a prayer to there email at garmancj@comcast.net
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