honor me

Who do you honor today? Your boss, your company that bears your name, the government, your self? God is all about honoring Himself yesterday, today and forever. He desires to be honored above all and looking at Numbers 20 we get an understanding of how He honors himself though us.

I have heard this preached as a message against anger. I have heard it preached as a message of God's response to disobedience. I have heard it preached as a passage of punishment but in this reading it is more about honor.

God said speak to the rock and Moses struck it with his staff. The issue is whom this honors. Moses had brought forth water from a rock by striking it with his staff before (Exodus 17). Instead of relying on God, Moses relied on the past. If it aint broke, don't fix it. Why speak when hitting works (not a good parenting technique).

Moses was frustrated, angry, and disobedient so he in his frustration ignored God and went with the tried and true. Only for God's people the tried and true is the Lord himself- not a program, a method nor a marketing campaign.

Why did God mix it up? For His honor. God does not do miracles so a man can become famous, He does not do miracles so people will pilgrimage to see a staff, He does them for His honor. He mixes it up because He can, because He knows our propensity to take our eyes off Him and elevate something else. He mixes it up because His honor demands mercy and keeping the eyes of His chosen fixed upon Him.

Moses struck the rock once and nothing happened. It worked in Exodus but now no results. I wonder if the second strike was panicked. If it was frenzied. If I swing harder (effort), make a bigger effort (sincerity) it will work. I wonder if he muttered a little prayer in his heart, "Please let this work so I do not look foolish in front of all these people". And it did work.

A miracle still happened. God in His sovernty still provided. God showed up for His servant and His people. His goodness, mercy and love were once again demonstrated. Yet Moses did not trust the Lord.

Lack of trust dishonors God. Without faith it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6) God was not honored and so Moses was not allowed to lead the people into the land.

This has always seemed unfair to me. Arbitrarily mean. One mistake and you cannot go into the Promised Land. I was immature to take this view. Here is the spiritual principle. Moses displayed the same lack of faith in God, as did 10 of the 12 spies and the wondering generation. God is not arbitrary but unchanging. A lack of faith keeps us from the great things God has planned for those who love Him.

A lack of faith does not honor the One who is Faithful and True. If we honor Him we will receive honor. Again that is a promise of the Holy One. We do not deserve honor only Jesus does but He will honor those who honor Him as Holy.

Who do you honor today?
Lord of all, may my thoughts, deeds and faith bring honor to you and prove you Holy in the sight of all. In Jesus Name, Amen.

honor me

Franchise church

As I have looked at the church lately I have been guilty of making statements like, "denominations no longer matter". I believe this statement to be misleading. Here is why. Denominations really represent a system for doing church.

Catholic- the universal system at least until the reformation
Lutheran- the reformed system
Anglican - the English system
Methodist- the method system
Baptist- the only right system and any thing different is wrong and evil (tongue in cheek from a baptist)

People like systems just as they like McDonald's. No one eats at McDonald's because it is the best food, they eat there because they always get what they expect at a price that seems reasonable. And they brand kids at a young age by being fun (listen up church).

Church is the same thing. People want a system where they get an expected result. Denominations matter because as consumers (21st century church goers) we want a system that gives us the results we want. A place that sings the songs we like, preaches from the political ideology we enjoy. caries a coolness factor that we try to co-opt.

I am a pastor and my product is not Jesus but the church. We sell the church not because a building changes lives but because it allows people to come into contact with Jesus who has the power to change lives. Church should be a marketing campaign to bring people to the cross. A place where broken and hurt individuals can meet other broken and hurt individuals who are looking to the Great Physician for healing.

What does a successful franchise church look like? Andy Stanly, Craig Groeschel, Matt Chandler and many others have found ways of doing this that work with thier personality and draw people to Jesus.

What would my church franchise look like?