Courage: being who God has called us to be

Willow Creek. Saddleback. Mars Hill (Seattle). Mars Hill (Michigan). Thomas Road Baptist Church. The Crystal Cathedral. Coral Ridge Ministries.

What do all these ministries have in common? Not much, in some cases. They've all taken a lot of flack for various reasons. If you like one of them, you don't like all of them. They're all huge. They've all been effective in different ways, reaching different people.

This may sound overly simple, but before Willow Creek, there was no Willow Creek/seeker sensitive movement (at least not on that scale.) Before Saddleback, there was no articulation of the Purpose Driven principles and pastors did not preach in obscenely ugly Hawaiian shirts. Before Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill Seattle, fundamentalists didn't cuss while talking from the pulpit about drinking beer. Before Jerry Falwell and Thomas Road ... well, I'm going to leave that one alone.

The point is, all these ministries and their leaders have had the courage to figure out where God was leading them, and go there. There's a part in the movie About a Boy where the boy tells Hugh Grant's character that he might have a shot with the woman he loves, if he doesn't bugger it up (or something like that). Then he comments in narration that he wasn't trying to be excessively negative -- he just doesn't think that couples are the wave of the future. You need more people in your life; you need back-up.

Well, being like Saddleback is not the wave of the future. Being like Mars Hill (either one) is not the wave of the future. Ad infinitum, ad nauseum. What men like Jerry Falwell and Bill Hybels and Rick Warren have been showing us for years, men like Rob Bell and Mark Driscoll and Brian Mclaren (love them or hate them) are showing us now. God blesses us, and we are most effective, when we have the cojones to listen to God and find out his unique vision for us and our communities and then go for it. Our world doesn't need a "next Billy Graham," or a next anyone. Our world needs people of God who are courageous, who are willing to risk it all by learning from others yet not following anyone's blueprint but God's for their lives and ministries. True ministry effectiveness cannot be prefabricated and sold in a pretty package. It can only come as we humble ourselves and step out in faith towards what God has for us.

I am encouraged that I see this being worked out in the lives of churches and men of God whom I know and respect and, in some cases, love as close brothers. I see it in new churches like River Ridge and plants like The Dialogue Church. We are seeking to put it into practice at Living Hope. And I see this process taking place in the lives of friends like Scott, Matt Bruns, Tim and beaNie, and others whom I know but not as well, like Jared Byas and Steve Jesmer. (Actually, the genesis of this post lies in some wise words from Steve.)

Carry on, brothers. Go full out. Don't be scared into taking the "safe" route. Cause in 20 years, I want to look around and see the amazing things God has done in our lives and ministries as we're sown across the country and maybe the world. God has a plan, he is moving, and he will be glorified as we seek his will.