The Spirit of Obligation
I just met with an NCCer today who told me they thought they were done with church before coming to NCC. In other words, he was dechurched. He said something so simple, but I realized it was a dream coming true. He said, "People come to NCC because they want to come." I don't take that for granted.
When he said that it brought back thoughts from Seminary when I really dreamed about pastoring a church that people loved coming to. In fact, I remember the exact thought. I wanted to pastor a church that people hated to miss. When they were away for a weekend they felt like they couldn't wait to get back. I can't imagine anything more dreadful than pastoring a church where people come out of obligation. One of the things this NCCer said was that he appreciated two things about NCC. What was interesting is that he couched them in terms of "who we're not." He said there is no spirit of manipulation. And there is no spirit of obligation. Praise God. I love pastoring a church full of people who want to be there. My conversation today reminded me not to take that for granted.
Like I often remind our leaders: life is too short to be part of a church you're not excited about. I rebuke the spirit of obligation. What a terrible way to live. We don't have to go to church. We get to. We don't have to serve. We get to. We don't have to share our faith. We get to. We don't have to pray. We get to. We don't have to tithe. We get to. I could go all day :) The spirit of obligation has got to go!
When he said that it brought back thoughts from Seminary when I really dreamed about pastoring a church that people loved coming to. In fact, I remember the exact thought. I wanted to pastor a church that people hated to miss. When they were away for a weekend they felt like they couldn't wait to get back. I can't imagine anything more dreadful than pastoring a church where people come out of obligation. One of the things this NCCer said was that he appreciated two things about NCC. What was interesting is that he couched them in terms of "who we're not." He said there is no spirit of manipulation. And there is no spirit of obligation. Praise God. I love pastoring a church full of people who want to be there. My conversation today reminded me not to take that for granted.
Like I often remind our leaders: life is too short to be part of a church you're not excited about. I rebuke the spirit of obligation. What a terrible way to live. We don't have to go to church. We get to. We don't have to serve. We get to. We don't have to share our faith. We get to. We don't have to pray. We get to. We don't have to tithe. We get to. I could go all day :) The spirit of obligation has got to go!
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