Let me preface the next few paragraphs by saying; I don’t know what I am talking about…I am just thinking out loud (actually just typing randomly). But…maybe, perhaps, possibly there is some potential truth in these thoughts.
These days I find myself in a weird place. I am the lead pastor of a church; I am supposed to be a leader, visionary, teacher, evangelist, project manager, and servant to all. I often say my job is to lead the comfortable to a place of un-comfort and the uncomfortable to a place of comfort…yea, it’s often weird.
One of the weird principles that I am quickly learning in this new role is to think leaps, not tweaks (I stole this from someone, I just don’t know who). There is a terrible “rule” and unfortunate expectation for new pastors to lay low for the first few years. An equally disturbing trend is the thought by experienced pastors that they can tweak their churches into a better place (warning…remember, I have no idea what I am saying). Tweaking (slow, gradual, and non-noticeable change) is the same as not doing anything at all. If the change is so gradual and subtle that people don’t notice…then what was it for in the first place? Why change if the outcome isn’t more people, more passionately joining in the vision of building the Kingdom? Why change if it doesn’t disturb the comfortable or comfort the disturbed?
Today I am part of a team of people that loves to think in leaps, not tweaks. If we need to shift our philosophy of ministry to accomplish a greater good for the Kingdom, then we don’t wait to work out every detail, we move quickly and if necessary, dramatically. Sometimes we need to do more than “think outside the box”…sometimes we need to recycle the box…grind it up, mold it, and turn it into something much more useful.
What do you think…leaps or tweaks?
I don’t think the scope of the change is as important as the direction of the change. I’ll concede that most of the transitions we see in the Bible are huge ones, but that might be because the small ones just didn’t make the cut. As long as you are moving in a God-ward direction, moves of any size are welcome.
I agree, “leaps” are what really make the difference between existence-as-usual and bringing fresh new life to a dying world.
If your goal was to keep things pretty much humming along without making waves, pastoring a church would not have probably entered your mind, would it?
Keep the “leaps” leaping along. We all need the exercise, don’t we?
The tweaks are what we can all do to the flowers in our landscape or in our investment portfolios — things that really don’t make an eternal difference.
I, for one, would rather be leaping into new things. Keep rocking the boat, Shane. We need to stay awake.
–Buck
I’m thanking God that you are not going to lay low for a few years, and trying to decide if I’m comfortable or disturbed. Either way I’m in need.
leaps, leaps, leaps! I am glad you didn’t “lay low” for a few years.
LEAPS-I totally agree!!!!!
We are with ya…
Leap, Brother, Leap!!!!!!
)
Shane – Isn’t that oversimplifying the entire discussion to just say “what do you want Leaps or tweaks?”.
Clearly the term ‘tweaks’ sounds wimpy in this context but there are plenty of times in the scripture and church history where believers leapt into things and ended up paying for it negatively. I just think you may be painting with a broad brush on this.
Chris Sumpter’s first statement sums it up perfectly – ‘I don’t think the change is as important as the direction of the change.’
I guess I’ll be the first to not be 100% on the whole Leap idea. I think leaps are good sometimes, but sometimes tweaks are just as important and just as effective. When you’re trying to tune into something, to see something more clearly, sometimes it’s the slightest adjustment that makes it come into focus. I’m not saying that I disagree with making a leap, and sometimes even a blind leap of faith, but I don’t believe that’s the only effective way to make change. I am glad that we are moving in the direction that God is calling us, I think it just takes all kinds of change and all kinds of people to bring God’s plan into focus.
I dont think that it is a terrible “rule” for a new pastor to lay low for some time. It is human nature to resist change, no matter how small or even if it is for the better. When a new boss walks in and the first thing they do is start changing, he/she is automatically hated which is not what you want. I think that you can think in “leaps” but tweaking may be the best way to facilitate the changes. Jesus’s changes to life and the outlook of the Faith was gradual over a period of time, yes it was radical and there were times that required leaps (i.e. turning over the money tables) but in every situation, He took into consideration the people He was dealing with.
When I go to the eye doctor it’s not the big changes in my lens that help me the best They already know where is should be but to see MORE CLEARLY you come to the point of when they go”Can you see better with this one or this one….now this one or this one” this goes on and on and I think ok yeah that’s fine now can we stop! hahaha
I personally am usually not one to just “leap” first. I guess in the terms of this discussion, I kind of see myself as a tweaks first person THEN leap. Tweaks being prayer, discussion, choices, options… and then when it feels right or you’ve been given the direction – LEAP into it and go full force. For me it’s a process rather than one or the other.
Really though, isn’t a tweak or leap pretty relative to the person it is directly affecting? Something that may be small on your scale could be completely drastic in my world or vise versa. So I don’t totally agree that a tweak is necessarily “unnoticed” or “the same as not doing anything at all.”
I too agree with Chris S, that what’s really important is how we get to the direction God’s wanting us to head. But in the sense of community, I feel sometimes when leaders automatically “LEAP” every time, that maybe it’s not the best interest of the church. Are we leaping for leap’s sake, just to say we’ve made a “visible” change? Is there something amazing we could be missing along in the journey when we skip over the tweaks? There’s a lot to learn in a journey as I’m sure we’ve all experienced and just hope that our leadership seeks the wisdom of God to do what is best for our community.
I hope I get this part right. I remember once hearing about a “Jesus Bolt” on helicopters. If this bolt isn’t tweaked by being tightened or loosened just right no matter how miniscule the measurement, it can be catastrophic. Thus it’s name, being that the propeller will fly off and you’ll be seeing Jesus after that… so in some cases, it is very important to carefully tweak than to rush the job just to get it done.
I also just hope with any of the leaps or tweaks, that we seek out the response from our community. Don’t just assume that everything’s great or that it sucks – get honest one on one feedback from several demographics in the community. Take their concerns and/or praises into account. Things will only be better in the end when the community feels heard.
leaps or tweaks. I often see these things from both sides, but I’m going with leaps. I will start by saying I am crazy scared of being luke warm. It’s probably the hardest thing for me hands down. (I’m new to the church, only six months or so, so if I step, stomp, or completely cut a toe off… my sincere apologies)
My wife and I have been to about a dozen churches all over the KC metro area including Topeka in the past two years looking for a home. We have witnessed everything from traditional services to the entire church speaking in tongues. Yup I ran too. I’m tired of going, participating, or just sometimes showing up because of guilt. I think the lord puts in us discernment to find the fit, thru the bumps and bruises, we keep searching. We showed up to this church out of respect and love for our friends, with the attitude that we had seen it all before, same old message, no real feeling. What We witnessed thou, was a profound and hearty, desire for the lord. As I said earlier, I’m new, I don’t know how it was seven months ago. I know how it is now thou. And in my opinion it looks like how Jesus would want it. I’m excited in the direction the church is moving. It’s how we are supposed to do it. Educate yourself well, educate others well, live for eternity in the kingdom of heaven with all your friends. Gosh God! That’s a great idea. So what I’m trying to say but miserably failing at is this. Jesus was a mover shaker so I’m going to be one too.
Just remember the devil’s best tool in his pouch is the wedge, it is a tool that is used before any other.
We are not flying the plane, He is.
Leaps or tweaks, I think it is important to do what God is leading you to do. I don’t think that God is ever asking us to please people rather than Him. Whatever it is that God is calling me to do, I better do it. Even if it makes people uncomfortable.
Leaps or tweaks? Both are taking a risk into the unknown. Knowing that whatever is being done is done with true discernment, and listening to what the Holy Spirit is saying and doing as guided by what the Holy Spirit, that is what is important. Personally, taking a leap than tweaking that leap is most important.