Closing The Gap

Among the many words used to criticise the "church" is hypocrisy, which would probably appear more often than not at the top of the list.  While this may be an overstated generalisation of the church in many cases, it does highlight an unavoidable characteristic of human behaviour that inevitably presents itself by people who profess a certain set of values (religious or otherwise) and behave in a different manner.  

This gap between stated values and actual behaviour is costly for personal integrity and professional credibility, a point well captured by Dr. Brene Brown during her presentation at the Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit:

"The space between how we behave and our aspirational values is where we lose people."

Regardless of the context, people tend to be attracted to people who spend the least amount of time in this gap, and tend to abandon people who loiter there too long.  The same is true for organisations...including churches!

To be people or organisations with integrity and credibility we must close the gap between stated values and actual behaviour so that who we say we are is consistent with what others see.  Closing this gap between values and behaviour builds trust and establishes the foundation for sustaining strong and lasting personal and professional relationships.

Vision Beyond Your Resources

"We refuse to let our budget determine our vision.  That left-brained approach is a wrong-brained approach because it is based on our limited resources rather than on God's unlimited provision.  Faith is allowing your God-given vision to determine your budget."  (Mark Batterson, The Circle Maker)

How long does it take for a faith-based, risk-taking movement of God to morph into a financially-controlled and risk-managed organisation?  Just as long as it takes for compliance to systems to become more important than obedience to the Spirit!

Mark Batterson's quote resonates with the heart of this leader who constantly wrestles with the tension between organisational compliance and a Holy Spirit driven vision.  I increasingly find myself financially inhibited by an organisational culture that makes missional decisions based upon "our limited resources rather than on God's unlimited provision."  I am not advocating for irresponsible stewardship but the courage to support a clear vision from God and the faith to trust Him to supply what is needed to turn that vision into reality.

I have personally experienced too many moments in my leadership and ministry where God's promise of provision was not enough to secure organisational approval.  This has been frustrating when I have had to spend a disproportionate amount of time and energy defending God's vision and justifying my faith position.  Nevertheless, it has also been affirming when I have stepped out in faith anyway in obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit, trusting God at His word, and seeing Him provide what He has promised.

When God gives you a "vision beyond your resources" He is inviting you into His economy which transcends what is into the realm of what could be when we trust Him to resource what He has revealed.  I am tired of a risk and faith averse culture that limits the potential of our mission because of what we don't have instead of trusting God for what we could have.  I am concerned by a culture that is more dependent upon the generosity of our community than the generosity of our Creator!  I am discontent with a culture of leadership that manages away miracles.

Having a "vision beyond your resources" is not a form of prosperity theology, nor is it a licence for financial mismanagement, but an invitation to dream big dreams because you believe in a big God!  In fact, if a vision really is from God, it will always be beyond your means.  Let us embrace a God-sized vision that demands complete dependence upon God's generous provision!

Necessary Endings

It seems timely that I have picked up Henry Cloud's book "Necessary Endings" again, as I approach a major transition in my leadership, preparing to leave my current appointment after 8 years of ministry.  Cloud speaks about the seasons of life and leadership and the importance of recognising when necessary endings come and how to embrace them as doorways to new beginnings.

Like with any ending of significance it is met with mixed emotions and responses.  When you invest yourself into people and programs to fulfil the vision that drives your leadership it can be difficult to release them to an unknown future.  I can only guess (as my children are still at home) that it is not that dissimilar to parents releasing their children into the unknown, after investing themselves into raising them with a vision for their future.  One has to trust that the values and vision that have been imparted are strong enough to guide future life directions and decisions.

As I face this reality of change and the uncertainty that it brings, I find myself reflecting on two verses of Scripture:

"God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them." (Hebrews 6:10)

"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 1:6)

There are many truths in these verses, but I am particularly drawn to God's faithfulness and the confidence it gives me to trust Him with what has been begun in His name.  I am just a steward of all that God has given me, including the people He entrusted to my leadership, therefore, this 'necessary ending' is not releasing God's people into the unknown, but passing the baton of stewardship onto another anointed leader.

"God is not unjust; he will not forget" the values and vision that have been imparted, so I can be "confident of this, that he who began a good work...will carry it on to completion."

Set Up A Plan To Faithfully Give 10%

40 Day Spiritual Journey to a More Generous Life
Day 7 - Set Up a Plan to Faithfully Give 10% or More of Your Financial Resources to the Lord's Work.

"Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce...The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives"  (Deuteronomy 14:22-23)     

Far from being an outdated Old Testemanet principle, tithing still serves as a standard to teach Christians to trust God entirely with their lives.  When I put God first with my finances I am saying to Him I trust Him enough to provide for all my needs.  Tithing is a demonstration of Lordship.

God Is The Provider Of Every Good Thing

40 Day Spiritual Journey to a More Generous Life
Day 2 - God is the Provider of Every Good Thing in Your Life

"If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"  (Matthew 7:11) 

As a dad there is very little I wouldn't give to my kids, within my means, as an expression of my love and care for them.  There is something intuitive about parenting that enables us to discern what is good and bad and to provide for our children accordingly.  Yet, my love and goodness is like a drop in the ocean of God's love and goodness!  Just as my children can trust me, even with all my flaws, I can trust God in His perfection to provide for me everything I need, according to His purposes for my life.

“The first job of a leader—at work or at home—is to inspire trust. It’s to bring out the best in people by entrusting them with meaningful stewardships, and to create an environment in which high-trust interaction inspires creativity and possibility.”  

Stephen M.R. Covey, “The Speed of Trust”