The Simple Message of Jesus

It's been a while since my last post.  Mostly due to the tyranny of the urgent with the new church plant and national church ministry.  But also because I haven't really had anything come to my mind that I could put to paper.  The icy stare of a blank page; the deafening sound of silence.

But, that actually has not been a bad thing.  Let me explain...

For most of my life I have been a consummate planner.  Chalk it up to my life design as the oldest child in my family (first grandchild on both sides and oldest sibling), as well as administrative gifting, professional education, and many other life experiences.  It's defintely proven to be a benefit through chaotic times in my life as it has somehow enabled me to find the balance in the craziest of times.

This church planting experience has however proved to be a challenge for me.  There's so many voices out there that have the sure-fire plan of how to successfully plant and lead a church.  I'm not saying at all that any of these methods are wrong because it has obviously worked.  And I celebrate them and the successes!

For the last 5 years or so I have had the amazing privilege of travelling and working with Foursquare churches in other nations (Turkey and now Haiti).  If you have ever had the awesome experience of ministering in a country that is not Western you will quickly come to realize that planning and structure are not high priority.  In most cases, non-existant.

This can (and does) blow the circuits for most Western-thinking people.  Westerners (that's me) are linear in approach:  the shortest space between point A and B is a straight line so "this is how it is done".  Most other cultures are more circular: there may not be a clear point A and B, and the line is definitely not straight.  When everyone shows up we'll begin and when it's the right time to stop we will...

My observation in all of this, and the challenge, has been that God's work moves forward in spite of the seeming chaos.  People are being miraculously saved, healed, trained and released to be disciples of their people and nation.  There is God-given vision, but not necessarily a plan or strategy per se.  No 5, 10 or 20 steps to building a successful church.  It appears to just happen and it's wonderful!!

Interestingly, this is how our Foursquare movement began as well.  The last few weeks we as a church have been looking back in time to our Foursquare roots and the ministry of our founder, Aimee Semple McPerson.  One thing has become very clear to me.  Aimee never had a plan to be successful, she simply listened and responded to the voice of the Holy Spirit.

In her own words she said "when God saved me and called me to preach the gospel, He gave me a vision of the spiritual needs of humanity.  A vision, worldwide, with a commission to 'go and tell', and a consuming burden for lost souls".  Her message was plain and simple; "we preach Jesus, the Saviour; Jesus, the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit; Jesus, the Healer; and (you guessed it) Jesus, our Soon-Coming King".

The name "Foursquare" didn't come about in order to name (or brand) a denomination, but rather was a vision that God gave Aimee from Ezekiel 1:10, of the gospel to be preached.  The Foursquare Gospel is Jesus and not the other way around.  And though many things may have cluttered the original vision, this is still the truth of who we are as a Foursquare church.  Jesus Christ is the same; yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

So why was the denomination formed?  As Aimee's ministry began to grow it required the acquisition and accumulation of property and assets.  In the culture of her day (Los Angeles, CA in 1923) in order to own property it was required that a legal entity be established that could hold title and conduct the daily operations of the ministry.

That has not changed much in the U.S. or in Canada.  As the Western Church (all denominations), fulfilling the great commission in our culture requires us to operate within the legal and government structures of our country.  I can already hear grumbling from those who dislike administration....  But in comparison to many nations, we enjoy much recognition and great privileges as the Church.  It requires much more in adminstration and structure, but it is the way that has been afforded us to freely preach the gospel and exemplify Christ in our own country.  To whom much is given, much is required.

So back to the silence I started talking about.  As a new church plant in the city of New Westminster, there has been the challenge to make a plan, have a strategy, know where you're going before you get there.  For some the silence has been excrutiatingly painful because we (Westerners) have a need to know before we know!  The automatic response is to fill the silence with something! anything! to fill up the void.  Even if that means we drown out the voice of the Holy Spirit.

For me, rather than being an unbearable time to endure, I have chosen to experience some of the pain (thanks to some of my leadership who are not Westerners).  Well worth the effort because it has brought clarity, direction, and purpose.  And it's very simply this....Jesus.  His name lifted up and in whom we place all our hope and trust for the future.  For He will build His church and draw all men unto Himself. 

I think I need to say that in NO WAY do I aspire to emulate our founder, Aimee Semple McPherson.  5 lifetimes could never form me into a person or minister like her.  She was raised up by God for a very specific purpose in a specific time and I'm thankful for her and her life. 

I do however pray that through the life that God has given me and the leadership of Life Design Foursquare Church, we will continue to take the time needed to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit.  And despite the painful times of pressure "to do" we remain faithful to the simple message of Jesus; our Saviour, Baptizer in the Holy Spirit, Healer, and Soon-Coming King...