God's Glory Part 1

At the time of this posting, Reading City Church has officially existed for eight weeks. Overall, things have been developing nicely and have been surprisingly smooth. I am loving every day of this new journey.

Perceptive friends & family have asked me similar questions to these:
1. What has been your greatest joys?
2. What has been your greatest challenge? 

These two questions will make up the following three entries. After the second part of this post, I will answer number 1. The response to the second question though lays an important foundation so I would like to start there.

As I mentioned, things are, for the most part, progressing with ease at this stage. There are things that need improvement and other aspects that need to be further developed, but this is expected with any new venture.

The greatest challenge facing RCC is not immediately apparent. Yet, it is the same challenge that faces every church. It is the challenge of truly existing for the glory of God alone. Out of the many church planting books and conferences that I have consumed, one has yet to give serious consideration of this idea. Sure, it is given verbal homage but the idea that the church exists for God's glory is treated largely as if it is a foregone conclusion, an obvious truth that does not require serious thought.

Yet, I see this truth as effecting absolutely everything we do. When we truly understand that we exist for His glory, the motivation behind every system, every event, every service project, every message and worship time is evaluated and adjusted to point to Him alone.

Without God's glory as our goal, we are left with agendas that have far more to do with man's ambitions then the kingdom of God. I am often sickened by how much ego exists in professional ministry. I am even more sickened though by how easily my own ego can inflate. And I am finding this uncomfortable feeling with pridefulness to be key. My role in leading a church is one of laying my face to the ground in humility and worship of my God while holding on loosely to any plans and ambitions that I may have for His church. To truly be a vessel that is filled with God, one must do a lot of emptying.

Don't misunderstand me. I have a vision and dreams that burn within me. I am confident that these things are from God because I find their basis in scripture. But He is God and I am not. I cannot pretend to ever fully know and grasp the largeness of His plan and our small role in it. We are moving in a solid direction, but ultimately it is a direction that is continually surrendered to God with an honest willingness to change it or give things up if needed.

This is a challenge because it not something that is often modeled. It's a direction that relies far more on the Spirit's leading then ideas in a popular book. Yet, I serve with some great men as well as my wife, who all have these same desires. Many who are coming to RCC also feel similarly.

There is a growing restlessness among many followers of Jesus. A weariness of pursuing programs and systems and the work to  fulfill ego and agendas. There is a desire to be simple, to be relational, to be Biblical and to exist for His glory alone. I find myself fighting for this simplicity. All the more as we begin to grow. But there is no place I would rather be then in the midst of such a challenge.

More in part 2...