Passionate about Presence

'What is your philosophy of ministry?' As a pastor, I get asked that question constantly.   Sometimes the question takes other forms such as 'What's your vision for the church?'   My personal favorite is 'What church are you modeling yours after?'   As far as I can tell, those who ask such questions are usually really wondering what I am doing to accomplish the call God has placed on my life.   I always tell them that I don't have a philosophy of ministry.   What I mean by that is that I don't have a formula I follow.   I don't have a strategic plan of action or a hot new ministry model from a new church that guides me or the church I pastor.  

My philosophy, if it could be called that, is a simple one.   My passion for anyone who walks into the doors of the Austin Stone Community Church would be simply that they encounter the living God.   My goal is for men and women in that hour of worship to truly experience Him.   I don't want them to experience great teaching.   I don't want them to experience great music, or great entertainment, but Him .   If the most powerful thing that they encounter at a worship service is a charismatic preacher, they have just wasted an hour of their lives.   If the most powerful thing they encounter on Sunday is a tight band with a good sound, again, they have just wasted their time.   But, if within that time of worship, they truly experience the presence of God, everything changes and nothing was wasted.   They will leave church not talking about how great the preaching was or how powerful the worship was.   Instead, they'll leave church proclaiming how great and powerful God was!   Pastors and worship leaders who are hungry to shake their flock out of the rut of complacency and apathy would do well to help fix the church's gaze off of themselves and onto the face of the Father.

There is a single ingredient necessary for all this to take place.   If that ingredient is not there, my 'philosophy' falls on its face.   The key ingredient is the very presence of God.   Of course, God is everywhere.   He is an omnipresent God that is in all places at all times.   Unfortunately, He does not manifest Himself in all places at all times.   I am convinced that the key to an amazing church is not a great preacher or a gifted musician, but the church becoming a place in which Almighty God shows up.   Because of this, I am passionate about God's presence!   The church can't grow, become healthy or even exist with purpose without it! God's life-giving presence transcends our philosophy, our plans, our models, and our talents.   God enthrones Himself in churches big and small, traditional and contemporary, new and old.   Whenever, wherever He shows up, good things happen!

King David understood this.   It was his philosophy, too.   He knew that without the presence of God he was lost.   He would have been just another kid who got eaten by a lion while tending some sheep.   He would have been just another soldier who bit off more than he could chew on the battle field.    Without the presence of God, he'd simply be another king with another kingdom whose life would wither away like grass.   His passion for God's presence was exemplified when the Ark of the Covenant finally made it back to Israel.   After its long and turbulent return, David didn't wipe the sweat off his brow, thank God and go about his business.   When the presence of the Lord returned to Israel, David took off his robe and began to dance!   It wasn't just any dance, though.   Scripture tells us that David danced with all his might.   David knew he was once again in the presence of God.   And David knew that was all that mattered.

What are you passionate about?   What would cause you to take off your flip flops and Passion t-shirt (or your tie and coat) and dance in public? I'll tell you what makes me dance.   I love sensing the presence of God in the church God has called me to shepherd.   I love watching my church grow.   I love watching it flourish and become healthy.   And I love knowing it has very little to do with me!