Achuckallen

Instigating Better

America

What Went Wrong with American Christianity?

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Living Our Faith: How to Practice Christianity in a Secular Society

Living our faith in a secular society can be challenging. With so many distractions and conflicting beliefs, it’s easy to get lost in the noise of the world. But as Professing Followers of Jesus, we are called to live out our convictions every day, no matter what obstacles we may face. In this week’s article, I will explore practical ways that you can practice Christianity in a wildly secular society and stay true to your convictions while also spreading love and light wherever you go.

The Current State of Christianity in America

In America, Christianity is in a state of decline. According to the Pew Research Center, “If recent trends in religious switching continue, Christians could make up less than half of the U.S. population within a few decades.” In a recent Pew study, the share of Americans who identify as Christians has fallen from 78% in 2007, and estimates that in 2020, about 64% of Americans, including children, were Christian. People who are religiously unaffiliated, sometimes called religious “nones,” accounted for 30% of the U.S. population. . This decline is especially evident among young adults. Just over half (51%) of Americans ages 18-29 say they are Christians, down from 64% in 2007.

Plenty of factors contribute to this decline, including the rise of secularism and the increasing acceptance of alternative lifestyles. But whatever the reasons, it’s clear that Christianity is no longer the dominant force in American culture that it once was. I truly believe that the challenge doesn’t place blame on society, but rather on Christians and Christian churches. Yes, society has slowly but surely moved from the days of Christianity as an “accepted faith of America,” but that isn’t solely a result of post-Christian secularism. Much of the blame must be squarely owned by individual Followers of Jesus and the churches that they attend and lead.

This doesn’t mean that we Followers of Jesus are powerless, however. Millions of us still practice our faith every day, living out our values in spite of an increasingly secular universe. God isn’t limited by our society, and we are limiting ourselves from His goodness and power by choosing daily not to take up our cross and walk with Him.

Why is Christianity Struggling?

Maybe Gandhi was ahead of his time when he said, “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

The Christian message is not always popular, and Christians are often seen as judgmental and old-fashioned. As a result, many people are turned off by Christianity and are reluctant to accept it. I’ve been attending church since I was an infant. I love the church. I lead a church. And I struggle with Christians daily. I’ll bet you do too.

We can quickly condemn others for their lifestyles or choices, creating an unnecessary barrier between them and us. The central message of Jesus is summed up in His own words; “Love One Another.” It is virtually impossible to love someone while condemning them, especially without knowing them. Jesus got criticized unmercifully for loving normal average everyday people that were just as messed up, or more so, than you and me. Why would someone struggling in their own life want to take on the faith system of someone mean, angry, and judgmental? The answer? The don’t.

But there is hope! As Followers of Jesus, we can reach out to those skeptical of our faith and show them that we are gracious, kind, and accepting people. We can also share our own stories of how Jesus has transformed our lives and offer resources that can help others learn more about the Christian faith. But doesn’t that point back to the central theme of Jesus? Love One Another requires that we hear, respond in grace, care for, and lovingly assist folks that might very well hate our guts.

What Can We Do as Christians to Improve our Communities?

Be more active and involved in the community. This means getting to know your neighbors and being a good neighbor yourself. It also means being involved in local organizations and activities. Another way Christians can improve their communities is by being witnesses for Christ. This means living your life in such a way that others can see Jesus and the attitudes of Jesus in you. It also means sharing your faith with others and being an example of what it means to follow Christ. Finally, Christians can improve their communities by serving others. This means giving of your time, talents, and resources to help meet the needs of others. When we serve others, we are showing them the love of Christ. Jesus once said that “if you want to be great, you must serve others.”

I fear that we have made church attendance the measuring stick of our faith in America. And the Bible says that we “should not neglect gathering to worship together.” But filling a room doesn’t always relate to loving one another. It can often set the stage for meaningful and purposeful relationships, but it is just one step in conveying how we should love one another. Let’s face it, one of the primary reasons that people do not attend church is that they’ve already been there. OUCH!

The Power of Prayer and Faith in Difficult Situations

Folks are hurting in every stratosphere in life. When we face difficult situations, it can be hard to know what to do. We may feel like we are all alone and that nobody understands us. This is where prayer and faith come in. Prayer is a way of communicating with God. It is a way of asking for help and guidance. Faith is believing in God even when things are tough. It is believing that He will help us through our difficulties. When we exercise our available option to speak with our Creator, He embraces us and gives us strength and courage. Pray for your neighbors, and especially for folks that don’t know Jesus from apple sauce. One of the single best ways to love one another is to pray for one another. It’s difficult to pray while watching Fox News or CNN non-stop.

Prayer and faith are powerful tools that help us endure tough times. They give us strength and hope. They remind us that we are not alone. When we pray, we are reminded that God is with us always. And when we have faith, we know He will never leave or forsake us. God is bigger than present days and secularization. He is bigger than politics and pundits. Trust Him to do the work of your faith. He can handle it!

How to Share the Message of Jesus with Others

When it comes to sharing the message of Jesus with others, it’s important to be gracious and understanding. Folks in our ever changing, secular society have unique immediately beliefs, and it’s important to remember that not everyone is going to be receptive to the message of Christianity. That being said, there are still ways to share the message of Jesus in ways that are respectful and likely to be well-received.

Here are Three Rules to Help You as You Attempt to Share Your Faith in Our Everyday World.

  1. Always start and stay with grace. Nobody needs us to tell them how bad they are. Let’s face it; we are just as messed up. Be gracious – Sharing Jesus is never an argument! And for goodness’ sake, allow people to disagree with you. It’s okay!
  2. Don’t make politics your faith system. Jesus is more significant than donkeys, elephants, and climate change. So keep Jesus the main thing. Let’s face it. If the world acted and reacted more like Jesus, even from a historical perspective, the world would be far better. While it’s hard to avoid political and social divisions, you can rise above that, can’t you?
  3. Don’t take the other person’s response personally. I know that this one is challenging. Jesus Himself had people not choose Him. What on earth would make you think that folks won’t accept you? Remember your role. You share, and God takes it from there. When you share Jesus, it’s critical to understand that you need thick skin and a soft heart.

Here are Three Ways you Can Share Jesus in a Secular, Post-Christian Society

  1. Invite people to sit with you in church. It may seem simple because it is. Invite people to join you. Invite people if your church regularly shares the message of Jesus in love and with grace. Often it’s not about how hip or slick the service flow is but whether anyone cares enough to invite another person to sit with them. Recent research proves this fact. Far beyond the music style, the pastor’s preaching ability, or location of the building, people know when they are wanted, welcomed, and received in love. You cannot fake that with technology or talent!
  2. Be honest and admit that you need some work on your prayer life. I say that because it is true of every human that I know. Then ask someone, “since I am working on myself, can I pray for you?” But please read this in bold letters. If you say you will pray for someone, you are on the hook before God that you will actually pray for them.
  3. Intentionally build a relationship simply because you like or admire someone. Do so, especially if you think they might have a different faith system than yours. Don’t build a relationship for any other reason than building a relationship. Let God do what God can do, and you love others, period. When the time is right, ask your friend what they believe. I’ve learned that a simple way to have that conversation is to ask what role faith or church played in their growing up. and let them chat. Compare stories and get to see why they may not share your Christian faith. Then have an ongoing dialogue about your and their faith. Here’s a huge rule: When you openly speak of the things of God, Good things happen. Let God do His part, you just love and share. Remember, it’s not on you. You cannot save anyone, you can share. Stay in your lane and let God do His thing. It’s hard to love someone without letting them talk.

One way to share the message of Jesus is by simply living out your faith. People are far more receptive to hearing about Jesus when they see it lived out in front of them. This could mean anything from being kind and compassionate to others, living a life of integrity, or sharing your testimony of how Jesus has changed your life. If you want others to share your faith, you must be conduits of grace and love, rather than megaphones of anger and division.

Making a Positive Change Together

In conclusion, we must work together to change our increasingly secular society positively. We can do this by genuinely living our faith in action, reaction, and attitude and being an example to those around us. We can also support churches that are making a difference in the world. Finally, we can pray for our country and its leaders that they would seek God’s wisdom and guidance.

I urge you to lay down some of your rhetoric, orthodoxy, and preferences and grab hold of your cross daily. Love one another in the way of Jesus, and watch how your world and the world change for the better.

Go in Peace, Chuck

Returning to American Values

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Repairing and Returning to American Values

America is built on certain values that have been lost in recent years. We have been so caught up in the busyness of our lives that we have overlooked the importance of living with compassion, empathy, and kindness towards ourselves and others. This article will focus on how we can repair our broken culture and rebuild it on a firm foundation of traditional American values. Let this be a tool to foster a greater sense of understanding for one another and embrace our uniquely American differences. We’ll also explore practical steps we can take to bring back the spirit of America that has been so severely damaged over time. We are still a great land. This isn’t about returning to yesteryear but rather to dignity, respect, honor, and the pursuit of happiness.

What are American Values?

There are a number of values that Americans hold dear and which have shaped the country into what it is today. These values include individualism, equality, democracy, freedom, and opportunity. They include religious freedom, the right to bear arms, and the freedom of speech. None of these survive apart from the appreciation for the unique costs Americans have paid to ensure our rights to enjoy them.

Individualism is the belief that each person is unique and should be free to pursue their own goals and dreams. This value has led to a strong sense of independence in America and a willingness to take risks. Individualism allows our God-given personalities and temperaments to be experienced, welcomed, and accepted. 

Equality is the belief that everyone should be treated fairly and equally, regardless of race, gender, or background. This value has led to progress in civil rights and social justice. Yes, we have so far to go, but we’ve come far from where we once were. Let us not stop the progress, but let us not advance it beyond our human dignity.

Democracy is the belief that government should be elected by the people and for the people. This value has led to a system of government that is responsive to the needs of its citizens. But our system is broken, and our new world requires a better way.

Freedom is the belief that people should be free to live their lives as they see fit, without interference from others. This value has led to an open and tolerant society of different beliefs and lifestyles. But should we not have some defined understanding of what is decent, honorable, and worthy of striving for?

What Has Caused the Decline of American values?

Many factors have contributed to the decline of American values. Among them are:

The rise of materialism and consumerism: In recent decades, there has been a growing emphasis on material possessions and acquiring wealth. This has led to a decline in concern for others and a focus on “me” instead of “we.” What used to be shared value has become without value as we want more for me without you achieving more. Our competition has far exceeded our cooperation to the degree that we have lost our collaborative genius.

The family breakdown: The traditional family unit has been weakened by non-existent fathers and social media babysitters. What once was a place of refuge and peace is now a battleground of excess. This has contributed to lessened personal responsibility, self-discipline, and moral character.

The loss of faith in God: America was founded on Judeo-Christian principles, but there has been a dramatic decrease in Christian faith in recent years. This has led to an increase in secularism and a decline in morality. This isn’t to scold anyone about going to church, but it is a reminder that we all need a reminder of the principles that God founded for us in the 10 Commandments. It should be a wake-up call to be taken back to Jesus’ words in the Beatitudes. At a bare minimum, it should remind us of our statement, “In God We Trust.”

The rise of government: As government grows larger and more powerful, individual freedom and responsibility has declined. This has contributed to the decline of American values such as self-reliance, hard work, imagination, and personal responsibility. Friends, the government cannot repair America. We have proven that the government might actually destroy America. With the political division and excessive spending, we are now in a debt position of more than $34.4 trillion, which is almost $94,000 per American.

Discovering the America We Were Designed to Be

America was founded on the idea of freedom and liberty for all. However, over time, we have strayed from these values. We have become a wildly divided nation, with some groups fighting for their own interests instead of working together for the common good. It’s time to start repairing and returning to the American values we were designed to be. We must Start today, first in our own lives and then beyond.

We must come together as a nation and start working towards solutions that benefit everyone, not just a select few. We must value hard work and determination and treat each other with respect and compassion. We must turn to the God of all creation and ask for His forgiveness, strength, character, and wisdom. These are the values that made America great in the first place, and they’re the values that will help us move forward into a better future.

Finding Our Way Back to American Values

It is no secret that the American people are angry. We are angry at the government, Wall Street, and each other. We feel we have been betrayed by the institutions supposed to protect us and improve our lives. We are lost, and we don’t know how to find our way back to the America we used to believe in.

But there is hope. There are still people out there who believe in the American values of hard work, personal responsibility, God-honoring lives, and opportunity for all. These are the values that have made America great, and they are worth struggling for.

We need to start by repairing the damage that has been done. We need to rebuild trust in our government, churches, schools, and financial institutions. We need to create jobs and provide opportunities for all Americans.

And then we need to return to those American values that have always made us strong. We need to be a nation that works together instead of against each other. We need to be a nation that looks out for its citizens instead of exploiting them. We need to be a nation that believes in opportunity for all, not just for a privileged few. This is possible, but not if we continue at our present course.

These are the values that built America, and they can help us build a better future. There is much discussion these days about American values. So how can we repair and return to American values?

It starts with each of us as individuals. We must start treating others respectfully, decently, and even graciously, regardless of their political beliefs or background. We must also stand up for what we believe in, even when it is unpopular or inconvenient.

In addition, we must come together as a country and work towards common goals. We must put aside our differences and work towards the common good. Only then can we hope to repair the damage that has been done and return to the American values that have made us great.

Repairing and returning to American values does not have to be a complex process, but it will take dedication and effort. We should all strive to remember the principles that our nation was founded upon and work together in order to create an America that is strong, prosperous, and just. We can restore these values throughout the country through education, civic engagement, church engagement, grassroots initiatives, and other efforts. It is up to each of us, as citizens of this great nation, to ensure that our American values are upheld for generations to come.

This isn’t about political change (although needed) but rather systemic, individual, and cooperative change. Come on, America. We are better than this, aren’t we?

Go in Peace, Chuck

America Is Dying: Why We Need To Change Our Political System Now

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Our nation is in a crisis. Political polarization has reached an all-time high, and Americans are increasingly divided, creating a dangerous dynamic for our society. But there is hope – in today’s article, we’ll explore why we need to change our political system before it’s too late.

Why is America Dying?

It’s no secret that America is in trouble. Our economy is struggling, our infrastructure is crumbling, and our political system is gridlocked. We’re facing a host of challenges, and we’re not doing a very good job of addressing them. Pride is at the heart of this, and fundamental and sweeping change is needed.

There are many reasons why America is dying, but one of the most important is our broken political system. Our government is designed to protect the interests of the powerful, not the majority of Americans. The result is a country that works better for those at the top than it does for everyone else. Don’t get me wrong, without the top 3%; many Americans wouldn’t be employed. This isn’t an article to attempt one more foolish effort toward socialism. If anything, I’m suggesting the opposite, with a heart change toward compassion, not simple-minded equity.

We need to change our political system if we want to save America. We must eliminate the influence of long-term, generational power in politics and ensure everyone has an equal say in our democracy. We need to start working together to solve our problems instead of constantly fighting each other. This continued bickering of my way or the highway has reached the end of the line.

If we don’t make these changes, America will continue to decline. We’ll become more unequal, divided, and unable to meet the challenges of the 21st century. It’s time for us to come together and fix our broken political system before it’s too late. Folks, full-time political careers are slowly destroying our republic.

The Problem with Our Political System

It is too easy for career politicians to get elected and stay in office. The average American doesn’t have the time or money to run for office, so we end up with a bunch of professional politicians who are more interested in keeping their jobs than in actually governing. This results in stagnation and gridlock, and very little gets done. Want proof? Look at our national debt.

Rather than fixing problems, we spend our energy fixing blame.

It’s also a problem that our political system is so polarized. There’s no middle ground anymore, and both sides dig in their heels and refuse to budge. Maybe that is because we only have two sides. This makes it even harder to get anything done because there’s always some issue that one side or the other is willing to shut down the government over. This isn’t a donkey thing or an elephant thing. This is a political death spiral!

We need to fix how we fix these problems, or else our country will continue to fall apart. We can’t keep doing things the way we’ve been doing them; we need fundamental change. And it starts with career politics ending, campaign finance overhaul, and finger-pointing to lessen.

The effects of partisan politics on Americans are far-reaching and profound. Partisan politics are dividing the country in tangible and intangible ways, and the consequences of this division are evident in every aspect of American life. You name it, and we have two desperate positions with few reasonable voices to address the real problem.

On a tangible level, partisan politics has led to an increase in political polarization. This polarization is evident in everything from the way people vote to the way they communicate with each other. It has also led to an increase in negative campaigning and name-calling. Should you be so bold as to offer a reasonable solution to a social issue, you will be slandered on social media.

On an intangible level, partisan politics has created a sense of mistrust and suspicion among Americans. It has also made it difficult for people to dialogue respectfully with those with different political views. I’ve had long-term friends walk out of my life from simple conversations about America’s many challenges. Come on, folks, are we not better than that?

The effects of partisan politics on Americans are damaging and destructive. We must find a way to come together as a country and start working towards solutions that will benefit everyone, not just one side or the other. That cannot occur when career politicians are making big money from the lobbyists making even more money to keep them all employed.

How Can We Fix Our Political System?

Some specific reforms could help fix it. For example, we need to eliminate gerrymandering and have independent commissions draw fair district lines. We also need to institute ranked-choice voting so people can vote for their preferred candidates without worrying about wasting their votes or splitting the vote.

Campaign finance reform is a crucial piece of the puzzle. We need to implement public financing of elections. This would level the playing field and allow more voices to be heard in our process. I am in the minority on this issue. Still, I firmly believe that some of the finest leaders in the country will never attempt to enter the political process, knowing it would ruin them financially and socially.

These are just a few ways we can fix our political system. It’s time for us to create significant change. Creating a viable third party might help, but we require radical change instead of adjustments or additions to an already broken system. The two-party system has created an environment of gridlock and inaction, while special interests have too much influence over our elected officials. The result is a government that is not working for the American people.

It’s time for some bold solutions to fix our broken system. Here are a few ideas:

  1. Implement term limits for members of Congress. This would help ensure fresh ideas and new blood are continuously injected into the system. It would also help to reduce the influence of special interests, who often bankroll long-serving incumbents.
  2. Get rid of gerrymandering. This process, whereby districts are drawn in a way that benefits one party or the other, results in a lack of competition and encourages partisanship. We would see more capable candidates and less extremism if we had more competitive districts.
  3. Reform campaign finance laws that are so sweeping that big money doesn’t have such an outsized role in our elections. We must get back to the days when candidates could not accept massive special-interest, super-pac monies that keep partisan, life-long politicians from a far too influential opportunity to keep America at each other’s throats.

America is in a crisis and needs to change its political system. We must reduce money’s power in politics and ensure every citizen has fair representation. Only then can we ensure that our government works for all Americans and that our nation continues to thrive in the 21st century. It’s time for us to take action now if we want America to continue being the world’s greatest country.

Go in Peace, Chuck

How Should We Respond to Crisis?

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AChuckAllen | Monday, August 1, 2022

Every week we are bombarded with another crisis. A school shooting, mass shooting, flood, fire, riot, shortage, war, and the hits keep coming.

How can we respond to these crises without remaining angry, bitter, or hardened? How do we hear about more crises without growing jaded or curled up in anxiety? Fair questions for a country that regularly finds its way into trouble.

As a pastor, coach, and counselor, I’ve learned four things that we can all do to respond appropriately to the next crisis.

  1. DON’T CATASTROPHIZE THE CRISIS
    Fight hard not to let your mind convince you that things are far worse than they are. If we aren’t careful, our brain will convince us that we are like our preferred news outlet. We can be so active in telling ourselves that the sky is falling everywhere. We can make every crisis our crisis. Yes, we should be concerned, moved, and burdened, but you cannot own and exasperate every situation. My friend Julie Homrich would say, “don’t believe everything you think.”
  2. ACTIVELY LISTEN
    In most crises, loud voices point fingers, find fault and politicize the situation. Friends, this is not how to help or how to respond. There is a reason our Creator gave us two ears and one mouth. The single best way to respond to a crisis is to exercise your capacity to listen actively. Yes, affirm your connection to those affected. Affirm their heartache or pain, but at all costs, hush and let them speak. Let them find solace in your presence without your words. Keep this in mind. If you don’t know what to say, please don’t throw a catchphrase or random Bible. Verse their way. Just be there and listen. It’s okay to have a ministry of presence. While meeting the wonderful people of Uvalde, Texas, I heard, over and over again, “you are the only people asking us what we need.” In most points of crisis, words are cheap. Listening is golden.
  3. PRAY AND THEN PRAY SOME MORE
    We Americans are such activity-based people. When a hurricane happens, we get out the chain saws and wet vacs. When a shooting happens, we tend to do the same thing. What in the world? Prayer should never be seen as the last resort. Prayer is the single most extraordinary power on earth and requires zero travel! The minute you see or hear of a crisis, start praying. I’ll never forget seeing a horrific auto crash and hopping out of my truck to see if I could help. I got to the driver and realized they were already in the process of bleeding out. An incredible EMT jumped in, and I started praying for this mom out loud in the middle of highway 78. At that moment, the single greatest thing I knew to do was to PRAY! Before I finished, there were more than 20 people that had gathered around and, in their way, joined me in praying. Five days later, I got word that this dear lady had lost her leg, but she had her life and her toddler in the backseat. Prayer works! Pray, and then pray some more!
  4. ACT WITH GRACE AND SERVE WITH HUMILITY Determine not to join the fray and jump on the whiner train. Here is an equation from my friend Brad Rhoads, “Grace + Intentionality = Transformation” grace extends forgiveness and continuously extends a benefit of the doubt. Grace doesn’t blame. It smooths. And here is an authentic truth – WHEN WE EXTEND GRACE, WE SERVE OTHERS WITH HUMILITY!” According to the poster child of humility, Mother Teresa, this is what humility looks like: These are the few ways we can practice humility:
  • To speak as little as possible of one’s self.
  • To mind one’s own business.
  • Not to want to manage other people’s affairs.
  • To avoid busy-body curiosity.
  • To accept contradictions and correction cheerfully.
  • To pass over the mistakes of others.
  • To accept insults and injuries.
  • To accept being slighted, forgotten, and disliked.
  • To be kind and gentle even under provocation.
  • Never stand on one’s dignity.
  • To choose is always the hardest. And best.

The evil in this world will continue to be a struggle from now until we reach Heaven’s gates. We will have minimal power over what they might be or where they will happen, but how we act and react to crises is entirely within our power.

Let us be a people that act and react in and through crises with grace, decency, and kindness. The world has a widening depletion of women and men that will respond in love. If we want to improve this world, let us act in these four areas.

Go in Peace, Chuck

I Might Be Wrong, But I Doubt It WHY AMERICA IS IN TROUBLE

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AChuckAllen.com July 28, 2022

Nope! This is not a bash America, pro any political party, point fingers, and play the blame game article. This is a hard look at where we are as a nation and what we can each do to make this place better than the way we found it. But to be clear, I love America. I am proud to be an American. But we can be and are better than the America we are living and portraying today.

Here are my I MIGHT BE WRONG, BUT I DOUBT IT thoughts for this week

I really do not think that the problems reside in Washington DC. I do not think that the primary issues at hand are about party platforms, progressives or conservatives, or right and lefts. I do however believe that we have a very real problem within our two-party system. I’ve written plenty about my beef with both donkeys and elephants. But they are simple-minded, easy targets. The problems run much deeper than those issues. You pick the party and you will find plenty to gripe about and find fault in – either way, every day. So where then is the problem? Because if we can address the problem, we can discover solutions. We solved talking to people around the globe with a piece of plastic the size of our palm. We have sent people to the moon, split atoms, and cooked in air fryers. Come on. How hard can it be to determine the problem and create solutions?

As it turns out, pretty dang hard! Because the problems with America are people problems, not platform and party problems. Here are two problematic areas of American life, and a few potential solutions.

SELFISH LEADERSHIP

Every study, poll, and experiment points to one fact that is true in every organization, team, or industry. The fact is that servant leaders are the leaders that change the world. Servant leaders are the people that others want to follow. Servant leaders are people that change the temperature of the world. These are people that put others in front of themselves, help others succeed, and revel in seeing someone other than themselves achieve great things. Servant leaders aren’t about pumping up their private brand, they are about making a difference in this world.

Sadly, we elevate those that talk loudest and longest and those that seek the spotlight, not the Light of the World. The real problem is that we continue to elect, hire, and celebrate these folks. The solutions may seem simple, right? But they aren’t. Like all sincere issues in this life, the closer we get to the problem, the more complex the solution. But in this case, I’d like to offer three difficult, but attainable solutions.

  1. Take a hard look in the mirror and search deep within your soul. Are you that person? I hate to admit it, but I have been and at times, still am that person. The solution is to stop comparing ourselves to others and compare ourselves to our Creator and the design He has within each of us. Simply talk to the Divine and ask for Him to search your heart, point out every selfish attitude or habit. Ask Him to replace them with His wisdom and His will/way, and watch the changes that start in your life. My experience is that when I get less selfish, I get more peaceful and more productive. Funny how that works, huh?
  2. Choose every day to give a part of you away. Your kindness, your money, your time, your attitude. Whatever you do, become a leader that lives with open hands. The stress will melt away, and the view of the rest of the world will radically change in just 2 weeks of daily servant leadership. I promise!
  3. Stop complaining about everybody else and their leadership. Get your attitudes in check and your heart in line first and foremost. It’s not fun. It’s not easy. It is necessary. Make servant leadership personal, because it is radically contagious.

When Jesus and His disciples came to the town of Capernaum, He asked them about a dispute they had on the way. They were arguing about who would be the greatest, and Jesus took the opportunity to speak about true leadership — the concept of servant leadership.

And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”

Mark 9:35

But what is servant leadership? The concept isn’t fully defined in Jesus’ words or any other simple phrase. It is, however, illustrated and illuminated in Jesus’ life and ministry, and that’s where we should start if we want to become a more impactful leader. By studying other godly men and women who demonstrated the core qualities of a servant leader, you can better appreciate their triumphs and struggles, as well as your own.

I might be wrong, but I doubt it.

THE ALMIGHTY BRAND

In Ulvalde, Texas this past week I experienced something odd. I stood at the memorial in the city park and at the site of Robb Elementary School and saw the outpouring of thousands of individuals. I saw banners and stuffed animals. I saw crosses and flowers. When I spoke with leaders and city workers I heard story after story of companies and non-profits trying to show up and “do something.” I heard of organizations wanting to burn sgae around the city, bikers wanting to “just be there,” and people with chain saws wanting to cut things down. My goodness, such an outpouring of folks wanting to do what they wanted to do.

The one thing I heard a lot of is, “nobody has really asked us what we need.”

It isn’t just Uvalde, or the places of crisis around the world, it is everywhere. Doing good is good for business is a new marketing ploy. Just pay attention to the organizations whose commercials are focused on the “good that they do” while watching any media outlet. It is reportedly 50% of ad space these days.

My point isn’t that they aren’t doing good. It is that they are doing good, BUT, does the good have to come with the obligatory photo opp? I’m not immune from this. Heck, I’m actually writing an article, under my name about this. But, can we not treat needy people and crisis as opportunities to grab a pic for the sake of telling the world what we did? Again, guilty as charged right here, but I felt guilty and sick about even snapping pics at the hallowed ground of Robb Elementary. As for me and our team, we will not be on a promotion tour. We will be the peeps in the dust and sweat, and hopefully nobody there sees us as a people seeking another photo opp on the backs of their burdens and grief.

I realize we have to raise awareness, and money to do some good, but folks the pushing of our brands is in the way of making people our priority. The brand shouldn’t be the key figure here. It should be the motivation to serve, to help, to give and to go. Without fanfare, credit, or photo opp.

A few years ago, I was with a group of folks helping serve a local ministry cooperative. These folks had been toiling for about four hours. They were tired, having worked a full day and then giving there time to serve. No t-shirts, no photo opps, just good people doing good work. Another organization came in about the time these servant leaders were taking a ten minute coffee break with bright yellow t-shirts with there brand emblazoned upon them and said, “let’s get this done.” They burst on the scene, made a mess of what was being done. Stayed 45 minutes, huddled for a photo opp, pushed the others out of the way (quite literally) and left in a blaze of glory.

It’s typically more subtle than that, but the almighty brand has replaced the intention of doing the right thing, at the right time, for the right reason. And it sickens me.

And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.

James 4:3

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.

Philippians 2:3

I might be wrong, but I doubt it.

I’d love to hear from you. Email me HERE.

Go in Peace, Chuck

Politics and Theology

by

October 21, 2021

We live in a strangely spiritual world here in America. On the one hand, we are more spiritual than ever and yet less religious than ever before. We are a country founded on Christian principles, yet we have and still fight over race, gender, and faith systems.

I doubt that a backwoods pastor|author|speaker like me can help that dysfunction, but I’d like to take a shot at what is a gross misrepresentation (maybe) of how our theology can get our faith in trouble when we replace it with politics.

I’m a political junkie. There, I said it. Whew! But I’m so disgusted by the way we have replaced our convictions with policy and politics. Please don’t hear me say that they do not intersect, but listen to me when I say that we have gone way past the point of reason.

I grew up in the home of a politician and pastor. I watched my dad serve as a voice of reason and delineate the difference between the two. Dad never seemed to replace his convictions grounded in his faith with the party politics, even though he was a state chairman of one of the two major parties. He somehow found a way to be a Republican without blindly going along to get along.

Here are the “things” that I fear we “evangelicals” are dangerously close to or have already crossed the line in.

  1. All policy matters. All policy affects all other policies. To choose a party, person, or policy, we must see the person’s whole and the entirety of the platform.
  2. The idea that any single person is qualified to run the country is truly a silly concept. The people the person surrounds themselves with are of equal or greater significance than just the person.
  3. To assume that as a Follower of Jesus, you must support one party and park your brain regarding the immediate contextual concerns is ridiculous. There are extraordinary people of faith on both sides of the aisle.
  4. We must be confident that we do not worship any person, plan, party, or policy. Let our worship be connected to God alone.
  5. The voice of American Christians is far more vocal when it comes to our political preferences – or favorite news channel – than we are about the wonderful Christ we claim as Savior. No explanation needed, I fear.
  6. We must be willing to question our motives when it comes to our politics. The Christian life doesn’t change leaders every four years. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He is not subject to voters and their whims.
  7. Character and decency matter as much as toughness and savvy. It’s an age-old challenge. But I am confident that the ends rarely justify the means. How we lead is as important as what we accomplish.

Let us not confuse our politics with our faith-filled convictions. We are a great country. Let’s not slip into another political has been and depart from the framework of integrity, decency, and honesty.

Peace, Chuck