1. Emotionally well-adjusted with a healthy self-image.
2. Always positive. Self-reliant even in the face of adversity.
3. Outgoing, ambitious, and confident with a can-do attitude .
4. Practical, realistic, and driven by results and performance
5. Highly competitive with a killer instinct.
6. Sophisticated, experienced and street-wise.
7. A fighter that never backs down.
8. A team player. Does whatever it takes.

This would look great on a resume, wouldn’t it? I wrote these as polar opposites to what Jesus described as “Blessed” in Matthew 5.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“And that, Charlie Brown, is what Christmas is all about.” – Linus

Like most men, I’m a “fixer” and I just want to be able to fix my friend’s life, but I find that all I can really do at the moment is pray. I think people can provide help and support and therapy and appropriate medication, but only God can heal a heart and mind. One question I do have is how the psychological and the spiritual worlds relate to one another. When I think about verses in the Bible that talk about people that cut themselves, they were a man that Jesus healed of demon-possession and pagan priests in a frenzy attempting to get the attention of a demonic god. So would what the Bible describes as “demon possessed” also include conditions like personality disorders, bi-polar depression and physchotic breaks? Are they interelated and how? I don’t know. I think maybe, perhaps in spiritual battle that the wounded, or those that have decided to open themselves up to what they know to be evil, are the first prey of the enemy.

Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. Mark 5:5 (NIV)

So they took the bull given them and prepared it. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “O Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made. At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.” So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. 1 Kings 18:26-28 (NIV)

Steve McGill is a deacon at Good Hope Baptist Church in Iva, SC, where I have been doing some interim preaching over the past few months. The first time I walked into the auditorium at Good Hope, I knew it had a story that I needed to learn, and Steve (along with others) has assisted me in understanding the history, culture, sensitivities, and needs of the congregation. Indeed, without gaining the “view from the pew,” even my best intentions would be ill-informed, poorly honed, and possibly harmful to the church’s future.

Steve is one of several attentive observers and strategic thinkers at Good Hope. He maintains a blog (stevemcgill.wordpress.com) that I heartily recommend. Below you will find his answers to a few questions on leadership, church culture, change, and evangelism. I hope our conversation not only gives you insight into these matters, but prompts you to seek the view from your own pews.

Chuck: Good Hope is historic and rural, but it feels much more like a new church plant. Good Hope offers contemporary worship, home groups, and a remarkably simple church format (worship, connect, serve). How did the transition happen and what were the costs?
Steve: I wasn’t there in those days, but GH was essentially a dying church when former pastor, Robbie Garrett, came. He introduced a blended worship style and began to attract some younger families to the church. That’s when my family and I connected with GH. Robbie began small groups and we went through a couple of “Purpose Driven” seasons as a church using video from Saddleback. He also brought a Celebrate Recovery ministry to GH. Robbie moved on to other callings and the pastor that succeeded him, Jamie Duncan, continued and accelerated change. Under his leadership, we hired a great young worship leader named Jonathan Fowler and we went from blended worship to truly contemporary music. Jamie was responsible for incorporating many of the “simple church” philosophies at GH. Not everyone embraced change, so there were seasons that tested the staff, leadership, and membership of the church. Some church people moved on to other churches in the area. GH came out of the process bruised, but better. That might be considered a cost, but I believe it was absolutely essential for us to be the church we are now.

Chuck: It appears that Good Hope meticulously maintains a very healthy church culture. By in large, the church trusts its leadership, supports its staff, and complaining seems to be minimal (at least compared to many churches). What are the keys to maintaining a healthy church culture?
Steve: I think ultimately every organization reflects the heart of its leadership. Healthy leaders attract other healthy leaders and dysfunctional leaders attract dysfunctional leaders. I think it is hard to overestimate how much this influences organizational culture from top to bottom. I see this dynamic in church for sure, but the principle plays out in sports, business, politics, you name it. Perhaps the biggest difference is that I believe it is God’s role to move (or remove) point leaders and we should be very careful in that.

I’d also say that we have older lay leaders at GH that are willing to give up control and decision making to new and young leaders, instead on holding tightly to control everything.

Chuck: Over the past few years, Good Hope has recorded a remarkably high number of baptisms. What has fostered such evangelistic fruit?
Steve: Jamie was passionate about introducing people far from God to the good news of Jesus and getting them to go public in baptism. Josiah and Kelly Jones have led a very fruitful youth ministry at Good Hope for years, as well. We have been allowed to reach out and connect with people that just don’t feel welcome or comfortable coming to a more traditional, formal church. Many of them were hurting people with lots of problems, and God just brought them to Himself. All of their issues didn’t go away, however, and certainly not everyone baptized at Good Hope is a faithful, serving member. I think we’re learning that our job is to share the Gospel, love people the best we can, offer them a place to be learn and grow in their relationship with God, and trust the outcomes to the Holy Spirit.

Chuck: Good Hope is currently searching for its next pastor. From your perspective (understanding that you’re not speaking for the entire congregation, or even the search committee), what are the essential qualities Good Hope needs in its pastor?
Steve: Well, the first requirement is someone that loves and follows Christ and that has God’s heart for other people. I think our “sweet spot” would be someone theologically conservative but pretty progressive in their methodology. We aimed younger than I think most churches would when looking for a senior pastor. We agreed that our new pastor should either have a seminary education or have a bachelor’s degree and be willing to pursue more training. This really isn’t a big deal for me, but I’m fine with it and it is a conservative approach. I am a firm believer in point leadership and, in a small church with one full-time staff member, you better be a good leader. I wanted someone that has actually led something somewhere. And finally, we’d been spoiled by listening regularly to a very gifted communicator in Jamie Duncan. Our committee reviewed a lot of audio and video clips (in fact, having those available was a requirement) and we were very unified in the kind of teaching/preaching that we wanted at GH. I would describe it as Biblical, practical, informal, relational, and challenging to both Christians and non-Christians.

Chuck: Excellent, Steve. Thanks for your view—from the pew!

The book of Proverbs is FULL of statements where a father is pleading with his son to LISTEN and act wisely…to pursue wisdom. I think our Heavenly Father wants the same for us all as His sons and daughters.

Proverbs 8

Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?
On the heights along the way,where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
beside the gates leading into the city, at the entrances, she cries aloud:
“To you, O men, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind.
You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding.
Listen, for I have worthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right.
My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.
All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse.
To the discerning all of them are right; they are faultless to those who have knowledge.
Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold,
for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
“I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.
To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have understanding and power.
By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just;
by me princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth.
I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.
With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.
My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.
I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.

“Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.
Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.
Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.
For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD.
But whoever fails to find me harms himself;
all who hate me love death.”

“Only at the end of time, after we have attained God’s level of viewing, after every evil has been punished or forgiven, every illness healed, and the entire universe restored – only then will fairness reign. Then we will understand what role is played by evil, and by the Fall, and by natural law, in an “unfair” event like the death of a child. Until then, we will not know, and can only trust in a God who does know.” – Philip Yancey, DISAPPOINTMENT WITH GOD

I would define the “kingdom of heaven” as the touch or intervention of God, or the right relationship with Him that He calls us into. This verse is a parable Jesus told describing what it is like when we encounter or discover that touch, that undeserved and life-altering relationship. Yet in my life, and from observing others, I don’t find it all that commonly. Interaction with the kingdom seems a more casual thing that I can take or leave sometimes. Or if I’m feeling especially self-righteous, I can do the church thing out of duty or obediance. But Jesus says this guys sells everything to buy the field and obtain the treasure “out of joy.” If I discover and recognize a real treasure, my motivation is strong and it is spurred on by joy. I suspect that when I’m half-hearted or uncommitted or even when I am just dutiful, I’m not really recognizing the authenic treasure. I’m accepting a construct of my own. And that doesn’t satisfy like the real thing.

I am on a pastor search committee for my church right now and I hear this idea repeated over and over again by candidates….and it really bothers me. “I want to know where money is spent and that we’re making ends meet, but I don’t want to have anything to do with finances, money, or budgets, and above all, I would never want to know what anyone gives.”

Now I understand that two of the most common places pastors blow it is with money and with women. They end up either stealing or using money improperly, or they have an affair. I would argue that these temptations come their way not because they are pastors, but simply because they are men. In an attempt to protect themselves and their flocks from the temptation and the fallout of failure in these areas, it seems they have opted to do establish some guardrails. I heartily agree that the intention and commitment to deal very careful with both women and money is a good thing. But to be careful need not be the same thing as avoidance. Just as pastors can minister to women with appropriate safeguards in place, I believe pastors can participate in and provide financial leadership to the churches they lead with some accountability as part of a system. In fact, I think it is essential for a couple of reasons:

1) When Jesus returns and the Kingdom of God is completely established, I would assume dealing with money will cease to be a necessity. Until then, however, managing financial resources is a responsibility God has granted those in positions of leadership and authority. In my household and in the workplace, I and millions of other secular Christians are responsible before God to be good, honest stewards and to manage money and our business with integrity. I don’t see anything in the Bible that absolves those in fill-time Christian service from this responsibility. If I, as a layman, am expected to learn to live with integrity and still deal with money, shouldn’t my pastor be expected to have the same character?

2) If any leader is to lead effectively over the long-term, he or she must participate in a real and meaningful way in the finances of the organization they lead. Churches handle LOTS of money and are accountable before God in how wisely or poorly they use it. In congregationally-governed churches, this usually means that some deacons or a budget committee are involved and, in many cases, control the purse-strings. It is just common sense that ministry will be more effective if funding is aligned with the priorities of ministry. As an example, if the pastor wants to lead towards community missions outside the church walls, yet those in control of finances are laser focused on raising money for a new building, things are not going to go well. So again, practically, having a seat at the financial decision-making table and substantial influence on how the church’s money is spent is just good leadership.

And finally, the universal statement, “I would never want to know what someone is giving.” I believe this is, again, based on removing a source of temptation. My interpretation is that Pastor Jones does not want to be unduly influenced by the fact that the wealthy Smith family provides 20% of his annual budget, so to remove this temptation, he chooses to not know what anyone gives. Someone at the church knows. Often lots of people know. But the leader chooses not to know? He has no idea?

Again, as a layman, I think I am accountable to God to treat people the way I want to be treated, regardless of how much business they do or don’t do with me. And I am also responsible to do what is good for my business. In order to do this, I need financial information. Sometimes I have to make a choice between doing what is most profitable and doing what is right. I would state quite emphatically that this is a question of character, plain and simple. Not knowing the facts does not make me a person of character, it just makes me a less effective as a leader and in business. Now I know someone will shout, “We should never run a church like a business.” I agree, we should run it better! But practically, the biggest practical concern I have with pastors not knowing what people give is that men can become leaders, and deacons, and teachers in the church…..all the while being disobedient to God with their giving. Should that happen? If the pastor isn’t watching over this, who is?

So I’m looking for a candidate that, when addressing the money issue would say, “I want the church I lead to be excellent in all it does, including finances. Systems should be in place to make sure we have security, redundancy, and accountability in all our financial dealings. I want to provide leadership, along with other church leaders, in assuring that our spending aligns with our goals and is honoring to God. I am responsible before God for how I lead this church, and that includes how we collect, manage, and re-direct the money God brings through our hands. And there should be no financial secrets kept from me or by me that are not shared with the other leaders in this church.”

Want to screw up your emotional and physical health, complicate your financial future forever, damage your children, and permanently scar the people you love? You can accomplish all this through a word we don’t use too much any more: “adultery.” Call it cheating, being unfaithful, whatever you want. I can’t think of anything you could do that more effectively causes more long-term damage and pain.

Think it will go differently for you? That you will be spared? Think the way you handle your sexuality as a single won’t matter when you’re married? That pattens of behavior are easy to break? Think sexual content in entertainment, flirting with someone cute, being a “good friend” and spending lots of time with someone of the opposite sex doesn’t lead anywhere? Duh.