Here's a few "revolting" ideas for a church to become absolutely revolting:
One. Become a place of grace for individuals battling substance abuse. Be a sold-out sponsor for a recovery program such as Celebrate Recovery or Remedy. In addition to the recovery program, offer classes to the addicts and their families that focus on "learning to live life differently" - anger management, forgiveness, handling stress, keeping promises, etc. Offer marriage, parenting, and money management classes. Purchase and manage a ranch or farm for addicts to learn responsibility, gain self-confidence and self-respect.
A church sold-out to addicts and their families! Talk about revolting!
Two. Become a church committed to social justice in your community by radically living out the requirements set forth in Micah 6.8 - "to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God." "To do justly" for the poor and disadvantaged would include implementing elements of RELIEF - monetary provisions for immediate needs; food drives; adopt a family outside of your church for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas, etc., DEVELOPMENT - parenting, marriage, and money management; assistance to obtain education - a GED or financial assistance for undergraduate studies or technical school. And, REFORM - work with local leaders to help refine or reform existing programs that assist the disadvantaged. Work with your community's existing relief organizations to further their mission instead of creating a duplicate service. Too many times the church appears to be trying to duplicate already existing community programs!
How revolting would that be to witness a church working in cooperation with a secular organization!
Three. Become a church that not only has a youth group but one that provides one-on-one mentoring. The object of mentoring must be to help develop a teen's character - not to get them to attend your church or to "save" them. Either of those may happen but it should not be the primary reason for mentoring!
How revolting would that be??!!!
Four. Become a church that intentionally and intently reaches out to the elderly in your community. Work with your local assisted living facilities to discover how your church could help provide moments of joy and companionship for their residents. Even a ministry to senior saints can be done in a revolutionary, revolting way!
Five. Become a church that is a shelter in the storms for the homeless. Use your church building as a shelter for the homeless during those wintery nights when the potential for loss of life is high. Develop a criteria that would dictate when your "storm shelter" would be opened. Work with local shelter employees and police department to develop safety and behavioral parameters for your "storm shelter." (As many of you know, a friend of mine who was homeless froze to death because there was no place for him to go. A loss of life that could have easily been prevented!)
How revolting would it be to have "those people" in your church for one, two, or three nights where your church body would provide food, a bed, and shelter for the "least of these" ???
Another quote to close this out: "I'm looking for a second reformation. The first reformation of the church 500 years ago was about beliefs. This one is going to be about deeds. It is not going to be about what the church believes, but about what the church is doing." Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life.
Will your church be part of the "absolutely revolting" second reformation or will it remain "bland, pleasant and nice"?
If you, your pastor, or your leadership team would like to discuss these "revolting ideas" with me or if they need assistance in creating an "absolutely revolting" church, contact me and I will offer any wisdom, resources, or leadership I have to launch a "revolution."
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