This is straight from Perry Noble's blog. Fascinating stuff and I found that many of them apply. Check it out.
Here we go…
#1 – The team spends more time seeking to imitate what is happening in other churches rather than begging God for HIS plan for their church. (Laziness!)
#2 – The leaders spend more time on the web to see what’s working instead of in the Word to see what God is saying.
#3 – Staff meetings become more focused on all of the “wrong” things other churches/leaders are doing (insecurity) instead of focusing on the problems that exist right under their nose.
#4 – The focus of the leadership meeting is not to lead and inspire and problem solve…but rather to just “make it” through the meeting.
#5 – The term “loyalty” is defined as, “we agree with the leader, no matter what.” Therefore dysfunction sets in as people are manipulated by fear and uncertainty…and they allow the “emperor to have no clothes” and pretend that everything is ok.(An environment of honesty MUST exist for a team to thrive!)
#6 – The focus of the agenda is to be reactive to what a few people may be upset with (usually big givers) rather than proactive about what Jesus said we should be obsessed with…advancing HIS Gospel.
#7 – The team is not willing to embrace taking risks because doing so could mean person loss for each member on the team.
#8 – Discussion seldom happens…lecture often does.
#9 – Decisions are made out of convenience rather than conviction.
#10 – The agenda of “Our Church Is Great” replaces the Biblical agenda of, “Our GOD IS GREAT!”
#11 – The people at the leadership table assume they are the smartest people in the organization; therefore, all other people should be ignored. (You REALLY need to listen to Andy Stanley’s leadership podcast from last month about this…AMAZING!)
#12 – The team is more focused on what random critics are saying than on what God is saying. (God does speak…but if He needs to direct your church it probably will not be through some bitter blogger or twitter person who has never been to your church, hates everyone and spends more time on the web bashing than in the Word learning!)
#13 – People are more concerned about protecting feelings than guarding the vision.
#14 – A leader will quickly sacrifice a team member instead of taking responsibility for a decision.
#15 – The people at the table actually believe the church would be in worse shape if they were not there.
#16 – A person disengages from the conversation if it’s not about their specific area.
#17 – When the people at the table get more satisfaction from being a leader than they do in simply following Jesus.
#18 – When the leaders never have a sleepless night over big decisions.
#19 – When the focus of the meeting is to impress other churches rather than minister to the people God gives them each and every week.
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I found #12 to be particularly interesting as it pertains to the goals of this blog. I would not say that I am a "random" critic that has never been to the church. Also, while God may not usually use these outlets to encourage growth or accountability in the church, saying God usually does this or that can be very tricky.
ReplyDeleteWhile it is in His character to be constant and steadfast, His behavior can never be predicted as He is the most wild lover we have ever known. This blog was the desire of this wild lover, so I have full confidence that this blog does not fall in this category.
-Theophilus-
But that said, Theo, it is a good reminder that we need to make sure that our hearts are clean, that we are rooted in scripture, and that the goals of this blog remain constructive rather than destructive. So far, I believe that these goals have been met.
ReplyDeleteNumber 5 really stood out to me. One of my primary concerns about Quest is that it seems that people are really looking to impress the pastor. In meetings that I have been in, disagreement with the pastor is almost unheard of on anything more than a superficial level. This kind of "followership" can be dangerous to everyone involved...the "follower," the pastor, and the church at large. We all need people speaking the truth in love to us (including those who are in places of power.)
I couldn't agree more with you on the purpose of this blog. The moment it becomes destructive is the same moment that it has failed. As you said, we must stay rooted in Scripture to keep our hearts pure.
ReplyDeleteI remember experiencing that same overwhelming desire to impress the pastor and even gain his attention. Its quite sad when I look back on it, as part of it was my own heart, but the other half was the environment that almost encouraged it. I look forward to the day when God redeems this in Quest.
-Theophilus-
This has been quite interesting in reading others thought on Quest....
ReplyDeleteI have been going to Quest for about a year. Prior to going to Quest, I went to Grace Fellowship for about 17 years. People have to tell you..Quest is quite calm compared to what goes on at Grace...at Grace...its all contained in GRACE..no other churches..no other outsiders....At least at Quest..outsiders are included and thought of......One has to know..if a church is successful..there are going to be quirks...that sets the diffrent from others...Dont you think that Southland Christain Church has its issues...what about the Catholic church.....I feel...one makes his "own church" and relationship with Christ within a concrete church.....
I would encourage you to ask Perry Noble himself - who was one of our joint keynote speakers here at Quest in April 2010's Uprising, and who has had nothing but praise for Quest and its approach to Acts 2 community and its primary mission of reaching the lost - whether he would agree with your blanket statement (devoid of any examples or support) that his list applies to Quest in even the slightest way....
ReplyDeleteThat's so funny. Of course he might not know to agree or not. Quest is actually a closed community. If you're not actually a part of it (ie. Pery Noble) then you don't know the half out the crap going on. That's why so many people come at first, find out what Quest really is and isn't all about and then leave!! It's amazIng that you profess Matthew 18's as needing to be private and between individuals and then get mad when we don't publicly air all of Quests dirty laundry with SPECIFIC examples. You want specific examples? Call me up, email me, talk to someone who left. We'll give you more than you could possibly stomach.
ReplyDelete