Creating Culture

Today was a remarkably memorable day in the life of a Church Planter. It wasn't that anything spectacular happened, it was just...productive. Now, everyday is productive but I mean productive in helping build and define the Culture that is and will be The Wake Church.

Far too often churches today are constantly seeking what culture is going to do next to see how we can find new ways to reject it. I for one, am excited by culture and want to help define it here in Chico.

A few realities hit me this week...

1. Statistics show that from the ages of 21 through 25 (primary years of college) is typically the time when a person will define who they are and what they serve. Meaning, by age 25; a person has in most cases made up their mind about God, Theology and spiritual things. Majority of students in that age bracket are more likely to either find new faith or walk away from one. WOW!!!!

And who said that reaching college students for Christ was too hard because all they want to do is party! NOO!!! Studies show that they are "prime" and seeking meaning to answers and questions about life, death and God. They are what farmers and even Jesus refers to as "Good Ground."

2. While a large portion of college students are opposed to church they are NOT opposed to discovering God.

As the church we should not be accepting these numbers and statistics and rolling over on them, but rather they should fuel our passion to ask questions like...Oh, I don't know WHY?? Why are college students unreceptive to church culture but open to an experience with God?

3. Christians and the practice of Christianity has taken a huge leap into the "Spiritually Arrogant" realm.

Have you heard someone say, "I'm not perfect, I'm just forgiven." Do you want to know what I think that is? A couple things, its a lazy excuse to justify actions that you know are contradictory to your core belief. And Secondly, what that phrase actually communicates to someone outside of the church is this...."I'm not perfect, I'm just better than you." When somebody doesn't match up to our spiritual bench marks we snidely say things like, "I'll pray for you." While I believe we should always be praying for our brothers and sisters, to say it as a last-word comeback communicates that you have a God-given authority to convict people and set them straight. It does not, in most cases; display our loving concern. How do you know they want you to pray for them? What would happen if we showed some common courtesy and said, "You know, it sounds like you and I have differences of opinions. Would it be okay if I prayed for you as you pray for me that God would reveal to each of us His eternal truths.

Lastly, I just want to say that I'm excited about creating a culture where people can come to experience God in a loving non-judgemental way. The church has a famous saying..."Come as you are!" But do we really believe that? Do we really accept people in their current state? It's more like....Come as you are but be prepared to make some serious changes otherwise you won't last around here.

Do feel like God is calling you to be part of a revolution? A LOVE Revolution that would over-take the City of Chico. I believe with all my heart that if we got back to the ONE and ONLY command Jesus left us, "Love One Another" then we wouldn't need to worry about convicting our friends, neighbors and co-workers. Because love leads to discovery, discovery leads to accessing God's goodness, and Access leads to faith!

Let me know what you think..