Thursday, April 03, 2008
WHAT KIND OF CHURCH MEMBER ARE YOU?
It seems that there are 3 kinds of people in our churches today: Risk Takers, Care Takers and Undertakers.- Risk-Takers: These are the people who are willing to try something different to reach more people with the message of Jesus. Risk-takers aren't worried about being traditional, only being scriptural. Risk-takers are willing to go outside their comfort zone to reach others. God has actually created us to be risk-takers (Matthew 25:14-30), but sadly, there are many more who are comfortable with simply burying their talent. We need more risk-takers in the church today!
- Care-Takers are just satisfied doing what they've always done. They don't want anyone stirring the water or shaking things up. They are simply much more comfortable just leaving things the way they always have been. When proposed with new ideas of reaching the lost, Care-takers often use the phrase "But we haven't ever done it that way before!" Care-takers never want to be stretched spiritually, they just want to remain comfortable. To them, it is as if Jesus never said, "Take up your cross and follow me," but more like, "take up your easy chair and follow me..."
- Under-Takers: Sadly when the care-takers out number the risk-takers, that's when the under-takers show up! In the last 100 years, more churches have closed their doors than opened them. We definitely don't need more undertakers .
What kind of "taker" will you be? Hopefully someone who's not afraid to take a risk for the Kingdom. Hopefully you'll be a "risk-taker" for Jesus.
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22 Comments:
Great thoughts Trey
I'm a risk-taker wannabe. I'm not enough of a leader to walk out there and do it by myself but I want to. I need some good leaders to follow.
I'm still working on just getting more involved...
Great post Trey! I just wish more people would be givers than takers in church. I've seen too many risk takers become care takers because they get burned out from doing all the work. Good insight.
Hey Trey -
Great post bro. and great website! I appreciate what you do here. I’ve been lurking for a while – I’m glad to have a moment to say “hey,” and let you know that I appreciate you.
This post is convicting - I know who I think I am - and who I have a passion to be. Yet, being honest with myself I have to admit that I'm all too often prone to "take up my easy chair" and take a nap.
It was really great to see you again (it’s been a while) and meet your sons at the workshop on Thursday night. Sorry we didn’t get to have coffee – it would’ve been great to visit for a bit - but for the record…I don’t drink coffee – I heard it stunts your growth:) But I would have a Coke or Mt Dew while you drink coffee anytime.
BTW – I had the opportunity to visit with Taylor, Parker, and Ryan on Friday, and really enjoyed it. Tell them I said hello – and that I’m praying for them.
It’s clear that God has been good to you – I’m thankful to say the same for my life.
Trey, I have enjoyed reading your blogs. I grew up in Childress and now live in Abilene. Just wanted to let you know I enjoy reading.
God Bless,
Tiffany Parker
HEY BUB.. GOOD POST... THANKS FOR THE INVITE TODAY AND I ENJOYED IT.
ZACH
Excellent post, brother!
Who is more of a "Risk Taker" a. Church Goer b. Christian C. Athiest
:) Athiest, Taking a risk that God don't exsist is a great risk and one that should be avoided!
Trey,
That will preach!
I'm a taker because I got old and sick, I am so happy though that there are those who are willing to see to my needs and understand and not judge. Younger folk need to realize that. Preachers sometimes
don't preach enough about those of us who can't do anymore and make some people feel guilty. I used to feel guilty but not much anymore. I do what I can and when and where I can. You've made me see that many times. Good blogs, I enjoy them all. gmj
I'm definitely the risk-taker - which facilitated our recent move to another church. The hard part about the care-takers is that they usually are doing everything well and without fault. It's just so aggrevating that the things they do well are things they've been doing all of their lives - shake it up, people!
C'mon, Trey ... I left 30 years of ministry to become an undertaker!! Give me a break, would ya?
Trey, thanks for stopping by my blog and the comment- this quote was made by Tony Campolo at our Liberty Fellowship Summer Family Conference a few years back when he was our main speaker! He got his point across with that one! Grace, David
Sadly, our churches are filled with way too may care-takers. I'm probably more of a care-taker than I want to admit.
Thanks for the thoughts.
Great post! I never feel more within God's will than when I am most outside my own comfort zone. He wants to show himself to be huge by doing things through us that we absolutely know could never be done without Him.
I just saw this post today. I know I checked yesterday morning. Anyway, on the subject of risk and maintenance, it is not an either or. Risk takers are needed. But we need those who maintain. It is the whole discussion of change. Change can be good. But change for the sake of change is not. The key sentence you said was "risk takers aren't worried about being traditional, only being scriptural". Alot of risk takers are taking too much of a risk becasue they leave the Bible. imho
whether you be a risk taker or a care giver, what counts is that you do whatever you can with zeal and enthusiasm, without doing it grudgingly. God has given each of us our unique specail talents and He expects us to use them to the best of our ability; and if we do that, the church will maintain and grow both. Just don't be one of those whom was spoken of in Rev. 3:16: "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold not hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth."
Very good post!
Yes My Mom Is Smart!
Good post. More Risk. My folks used to keep a sticker on their fridge that said, "Faith involves Risk."
Many blessings...
Wonderfully said. More of us need to listen to what The Lord is telling us to do. If I hadn't I would not have stepped out to start a nursing home ministry. I am not a preacher, but The Lord used me to minister to them until He moved me on. May The Lord Bless you for this blog
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