I don't live in America but I do love America and Americans. When I visited there for six weeks, I found that the American people were most generous and hospitable people I had ever met.
Whilst I was standing in line with my wife and children to see the Disney Parade in Disneyland in Annehiem we were talking to each other and an American lady turned around and said: "Oh, I do love that accent" (English). For the next 15 minutes, she conversed as though she had found a long-lost cousin.
Whilst I was there an American said everything is big in Texas. I made a correction. Everything is big in America, especially the hearts of the people.
That is why I am sad that America seems to have lost its way spiritually. As I read reports coming out of America of what is happening today, I have to think, is that the America I know?
One thing that seems to keep popping up is megachurch leaders falling off their perch. Either for spiritual abuse, mismanagement of funds, wayward theology or sexual misconduct. I know that such stories are fair game for the media, even the Christian media, but a trend seems to be emerging.
Once you become the darling of the Christian world, you are in danger as man has an inbuilt desire to be famous or worshipped (and have lots of money).
Paul was the greatest of all the apostles but he kept himself in check by claiming he was a servant to all. How many mega-church leaders claim to be the servant of all. Come to think of it, how many church leaders per se claim to be the servant of all.
On one occasion I checked out a website that advertised leadership positions in the church in America. There were 263 adverts and everyone except three had the same requirements. They were a college degree, experience and the ability to make things happen.
Only three mentioned the prayer life of the applicant. Any church appointing anyone on the basis set out in the adverts were on a road to nowhere because it was clear that the church was dependent on the man at the top and that wasn't Jesus.
It did not surprise me to read a book written by an American author which said on average 1,600 pastors resign or are sacked each month. In my country, there are over 10,000 pastors no longer in the ministry for two reasons. One is burn out and the other is unreasonable expectations and I will add a third, they were never called into ministry in the first place. They went into ministry to satisfy their desire for acceptance.
Because of the fallibility of man, God gave us very clear guidelines for the management of his church.
One was no megachurches. His plan was where two or three were gathered together in his name. Or no more than thirty as exemplified by upper room meetings which did not hold more than thirty.
Only one church in each town, managed and guided by a plurality of unpaid Elders chosen from amongst the people, not brought in from outside.
The priesthood of all believers, not just a chosen few. That means everyone is a minister.
Put these three into operation and you would have an immediate revolution in the church. One that would change the world.
Whilst I was standing in line with my wife and children to see the Disney Parade in Disneyland in Annehiem we were talking to each other and an American lady turned around and said: "Oh, I do love that accent" (English). For the next 15 minutes, she conversed as though she had found a long-lost cousin.
Whilst I was there an American said everything is big in Texas. I made a correction. Everything is big in America, especially the hearts of the people.
That is why I am sad that America seems to have lost its way spiritually. As I read reports coming out of America of what is happening today, I have to think, is that the America I know?
One thing that seems to keep popping up is megachurch leaders falling off their perch. Either for spiritual abuse, mismanagement of funds, wayward theology or sexual misconduct. I know that such stories are fair game for the media, even the Christian media, but a trend seems to be emerging.
Once you become the darling of the Christian world, you are in danger as man has an inbuilt desire to be famous or worshipped (and have lots of money).
Paul was the greatest of all the apostles but he kept himself in check by claiming he was a servant to all. How many mega-church leaders claim to be the servant of all. Come to think of it, how many church leaders per se claim to be the servant of all.
On one occasion I checked out a website that advertised leadership positions in the church in America. There were 263 adverts and everyone except three had the same requirements. They were a college degree, experience and the ability to make things happen.
Only three mentioned the prayer life of the applicant. Any church appointing anyone on the basis set out in the adverts were on a road to nowhere because it was clear that the church was dependent on the man at the top and that wasn't Jesus.
It did not surprise me to read a book written by an American author which said on average 1,600 pastors resign or are sacked each month. In my country, there are over 10,000 pastors no longer in the ministry for two reasons. One is burn out and the other is unreasonable expectations and I will add a third, they were never called into ministry in the first place. They went into ministry to satisfy their desire for acceptance.
Because of the fallibility of man, God gave us very clear guidelines for the management of his church.
One was no megachurches. His plan was where two or three were gathered together in his name. Or no more than thirty as exemplified by upper room meetings which did not hold more than thirty.
Only one church in each town, managed and guided by a plurality of unpaid Elders chosen from amongst the people, not brought in from outside.
The priesthood of all believers, not just a chosen few. That means everyone is a minister.
Put these three into operation and you would have an immediate revolution in the church. One that would change the world.
