June 26, 2009

Dear Saddleback Family,

            There is always so much to share with you! Let me start with the “Views” before I share the “News”!

 VIEWPOINT:  BUILDING A CHRIST-LIKE MINISTRY

            We often receive letters asking, “Why is Pastor Rick speaking to this or that group?”  It’s a great question that I want you to know the answer to.  You may have noticed that outside of Saddleback Church, and our 30 year Purpose Driven Ministry to pastors, I do very little speaking to Christian groups of believers.  Instead, I invest my time speaking to groups of unbelievers that most pastors never get the opportunity to share with.  These are folks that Jesus died for, but would never enter a church to hear the Good News.  Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."  Luke 5:31 (NIV) If you want to have a Christ-like ministry, you have to associate with the people Jesus did – unbelievers!

Of course, this strategy upset the religious legalists and self-righteous pundits in Jesus’ day, and it does today too.  Every time I speak to any non-Christian group, I get criticized by well-meaning believers who don’t really understand how much Jesus loves lost people. They are more concerned with their own perceived purity than the salvation of those Jesus died for.  

Both Jesus and Paul were very strategic in who they spoke to, what they said, and how they said it.  Jesus used a style of speaking unlike any of the religious professionals.  “The common people heard him gladly. (Mark 12:37 KJV)  The NIV translation of this verse says, “The large crowd listened to him with DELIGHT.”  If Jesus preached today, a lot professors and preachers would criticize his communication style, but he said, “The Father who sent me commanded me what to say AND HOW TO SAY IT.”  John 12:49 (NIV) I’ve been studying Jesus’ sermon style for 35 years and the more I learn HOW he said things amazes me at his insight into human behavior and receptivity. 

No one is ever converted by labeling, condemnation, or anger.  James 1:20 (KJV) says, “For the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”   We must LOVE people into God’s family and overcome evil with good.  Again, Jesus is our model. He said, “If anyone hears me and doesn't obey me, I am not his judge—for I have come to save the world and not to judge it.”  John 12:47 (NLT) Judgment will come later. If we want to have a Christ-like ministry, we must not waste any time judging unbelievers (Jesus didn’t), but instead, do everything we can to build relationships of love and respect and trust with unbelievers.   For many unbelievers, the barrier to salvation is not the credibility of Jesus but our own lack of credibility and love for them.

Paul’s strategy was the same as Jesus’ approach: “I happily become a servant of any and all so that I can win them to Christ. When I am with Jews I become like one of them so that they will listen to the Gospel and I can win them to Christ. When I am with Gentiles I don't argue, even though I don't agree, because I want to help them. When with the heathen, I agree with them as much as I can, except of course, that I must always do what is right as a Christian. When I am with those whose consciences bother them easily, I don't act as though I know it all and don't say they are foolish; the result is that they are willing to let me help them. Yes, whatever a person is like, I try to find common ground with him so that he will let me tell him about Christ and let Christ save him. I do this to get the Gospel to them and also for the blessing I myself receive when I see them come to Christ.” 1 Cor. 9:19-23 (LiB) Of course, this is the foundation text of our purpose-driven evangelism, and as a result, we have baptized over 20,000 adult believers in the past ten years.

After telling a parable that praised a shrewd manager, Jesus said, “Yes, worldly people are smarter with their own kind than spiritual people are!”  Luke 16:8 (NCV) Jesus was pointing out that believers need to be more strategic in their thinking and approaches.  One reason so many churches are stagnant is that their evangelism strategy is either unbiblical, unworkable or both.  They believe Jesus’ message but they ignore the Jesus model of ministry and mission!  Jesus told his disciples, “I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.”  John 13:15 (NLT)  Saddleback’s unprecedented growth is due to the fact that we’ve chosen for 30 years to use the Jesus Model of evangelism, and discipleship.  (From “Come and see”, to “Come and die”, to “Go and tell”- and all the steps in-between.)

            In our secular culture, there are about a dozen different groups of influencers that we seek to serve and reach out to with the Good News including academics, business, military, sports, health care, media, prisoners, entertainment, other faiths, and government.  If we are to experience a spiritual revival in our culture and if we want to fulfill Jesus’ Great Commission in the world, we must build bridges to all of these, and more. Just know the goal of every speaking engagement is always the same: The global glory of God.  We build bridges of love – from our hearts to hearts of even those who hate us – so that Jesus can walk across!   You cannot win your enemies to Christ. You can only win your friends.

“God has given us the task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others. We are Christ's ambassadors, and God is using us to speak to you. We urge you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, "Be reconciled to God!" 2 Cor. 5:18-20 (NLT)

NEWS: WHAT’S HAPPENING?

National HIV Testing SATURDAY - YOU can help end AIDS!   By simply getting yourself tested, you help REMOVE THE STIGMA FOR OTHERS and make our church a welcoming place for people living with HIV and AIDS.  That’s why I’ve been publicly tested twice – in front of all the national network TV channels. The test is free, fast, and painless! They just swab your mouth with a Q tip!  No blood!  The results are confidential to you only, so bring a friend and join us this Saturday, 10 AM – 3 PM. at Ministry Center 2.
 

“FAMILIES MAKE A DIFFERENCE!”  We’ll cover Part 4 this weekend.  Kay and I were amazed and moved by the overwhelming response to last week’s Father’s Day Message called: ”Everyone Needs A Family.”  Once again, Saddleback showed its heart of love.  If you missed that message, or the small group video on “God’s Heart for Orphans”, you can hear both on our website. God wants to work in your family and through your family.

            ADOPTION & FOSTER CARE INFORMATION SEMINAR

If you’ve wanted to find out how adoption or foster care works, I’m providing this seminar for you!  Learn the facts and get your questions answered:   Tomorrow (Saturday), from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in Tent 1 OR Sunday, June 28, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. in Tent 2.

Thanks again to all of you who prayed for me when I spoke at the inauguration of the new Anglican Church of North America last Tuesday or showed up on Wednesday afternoon to be a part of the National Simulcast of “How Jesus Changes Us.”  Two upcoming speaking engagements you can pray for:  1) National Convention of the Islamic Society of North America in Washington, DC. (This is the largest gathering of Muslim leaders each year in America.)   2) International Triennial Convention of the Assemblies of God in Orlando, Florida.

            Today is Chaundel Holladay’s birthday! (Pastor Tom’s wife and my precious sister!)  I think she turned 29.