Denominational Ice Cream
Denominational Ice Cream
Dr. Kluane Spake
htttp://www.kluane.org
People in churches and denominations like all different flavors of ice cream. My friend, would you linger here for a moment and let’s talk about what various kinds of ice cream tastes we have in common?
Every time we go up to the ice cream counter and ask for a scoop, we have to make a decision about what kind we want and how much we want - a single scoop or a double. And what kind? Are there too many choices? And sometimes we may even want to try a triple scoop - one scoop of each of our favorite flavors.
Here in the south its hot most of the time and we have to lick the sides of the cone fast to keep it from sliding down into our lap.
Sometimes, we just want a little scoop — just to save room to eat dinner later.
Some people are more fond of ice cream than others. Me… I eat ice cream only for the chocolate. Lots of people don’t like to eat things that are too cold. My grandkids want the kind with cookies and nuts - or jelly beans - and I don’t like those flavors at all.
This idea of being able to buy what we want seems so normal that we can’t imagine going to an ice cream store that would only sell one flavor or only allow us to buy a double scoop!
But… what do we offer as a church? As a ministry? As a believer? Do we have variety in what we enjoy?
Some people aren’t ready to eat a flavor that they have never tried before…
Maybe they just want a little taste - and try your ideas gradually.
There may be many VALID reasons why you need to appeal to multiple markets.
So what do we do with those who just aren’t as hungry as we are? Maybe they will get more hungry next week, or next year. But… if we don’t offer them a small samples of signs and wonders - perhaps they will never come back to try all of what we have to offer.
Should we take a survey and only serve the ONE flavor that everybody can agree on eating today? How boring that could get? Coach Tom Buford said that we can’t try to appease everyone by finding a middle ground of limited choices — it just won’t make anyone happy. If everything is mild - no miracles, no spectacular intersection with God Himself, then why bother eating at all?
And we already well know that consumer friendly won’t work.
However, we do need to continuously provide a variety of flavor choices.
What about those who want licorice ice cream or hot pepper? Is there a place for them?
One friend who read this said that it sounded like a strong incitement against lactose intolerance! Here are some obvious ideas for creating better church FLAVORS for serving more ice cream:
PREMISE: We cannot sell ice cream if we only offer our favorite flavors. Neither can we gather the promised harvest by using our own preferences and partialities. We must look and listen to the “harvest” and allow them to tell us the flavors that they like.
We must switch the “FOCUS” away from the “Church building” and onto providing the sweet and lingering savor of a SAFE environment with REAL fellowship, koinonia, edification, family, and community.
• We must transition from lofty idealism to genuineness. Believers want to attend a gathering where there are sincere people without facades who are learning and solving real problems.
II. We need to turn away from the sourness of opportunistic and impudent ministries and demand that leaders maintain solid integrity and values.
• How long will believers tolerate being used and discarded like the ol’ napkin around the cone?
III. We must take our previous taste tendencies toward judgmental accusation and convert them into the engaging experience of understanding and compassion. We must transform the condemning flavor of guilt and shame to a ravenous appetite for genuinely caring about others in love.
• Trying to “win souls” by causing them to feel “guilty” or ashamed just won’t work anymore. The frightful stories about the tormenting and vengeful consequences of sin won’t convert many people these days. But by the Goodness of God people are led to repentance.
• Jesus even dined with publicans and sinners.even dined with publicans and sinners. He actually sought out those who seemed more uncomely: the widow, the dishonest tax collector, the Gaderene, prostitutes, the woman caught in adultery, and the Samaritan woman at the well.
• We must change our ideas about effective evangelism to that of actually caring. Belonging and loving are still the answers to what all people need.
IV. We must eliminate the condemning leadership flavors of manipulation and coercion and allow others to be personally DRAWN and led by the Holy Spirit.
Everyone is totally sick of eating too much manipulation. Unbelievers and believers alike have had enough. Exploitation with obvious hidden agendas are no longer going to be tolerated. Believers aren’t stupid - it’s not that difficult to identify a manipulator.
The Spirit of God woos us to freely respond with a self initiated action of self esteem and dignity.
V. We must shift our taste for endless word searches, religious routine, and superstition into reality, truth, relevance, and common sense. We must transition from useless denominational debates to authenticity and living Truth. Most of us don’t want to quarrel anymore about our biases and differences. And most people don’t care about the subtleties of remote inapplicable Scriptures — at least not all the time.
We are all facing problems and need genuine “right now” solutions to what is happening in our lives. We need relationships that work. We need true koinonia - fellowship, communion with God and His Body.
Offer the best teaching available that is pertinent and applicable to today. Package your sermons in levels of understanding (2 or 3 different flavors) that will appeal to both the new and seasoned believer.
• Have non threatening sessions and small groups so that people can ask questions, sample various ideas, and get acquainted.
• Offer lots of opportunities for those who have an appetites for deeper learning.
VI. We must convert our partialities from continuous gravity and seriousness to mutual participation and yes… even play. People everywhere are bored and HUNGRY for some occasional FUN kinds of flavors. If we don’t offer it, they will go to the ice cream store that pleases their palate. The world needs and wants to be happy.
• Let’s have lots more really fun times that aren’t so somber. Play games, go on picnics, laugh, giggle, and enjoy LIFE together. Let’s just BE the flavor for the world.
• Preach about craving LIFE and living and not always about the endless dying to self and the despicable and uncontrollable carnal nature!
• Show people how to be supernaturally natural - not weird, religious, and superstitious.
VII. We must change our ideas about hierarchical leadership. People want to be involved.
• Allow participation, questions, and involvement. Cause each member to participate in tasting the incredible taste of camaraderie and belonging.
• Teach, train, and optimize the gifts and talents in the church.
• RELEASE believers to use their gifts and talents. Trust the Holy Spirit to guard and protect.
• Have ways for people to have social interaction to make friends
.
• The NEW DAY is much about the freedom of corporate Body expression!
• Be involved with compassionate service opportunities to help the needy and feed the hungry. Embrace the unlovely.
VIII. Get rid of the poverty mentality.
• Realize the errors in previous Bible translations and also the inaccuracies taught in recent teachings - and then re-teach about the TRUE Godly kind of prosperity!
• Provide opportunities for business minded people to participate and teach others how to improve.
• Allow marketplace people to train others in business.
IX. We must vary our flavor of music!
• Enjoy a variety of music styles… and instruments. The churchy music that always sounds the same really gets old fast. Now, please don’t throw me away when I say that I for one am totally tired of a lot of it!
• You know… we don’t have to sing the same songs in the same styles over and over. God is endlessly creative in His expressions to us.
• We MUST corporately spend quality time in the presence of the Lord - however that happens best.
Sometimes schedules don’t allow a three hour praise and worship service - does that make those who don’t stay unspiritual?
X. Also, you and I need to remember that some people aren’t accustomed to eating ice cream all day. Some don’t like to eat cold things, or endlessly wave banners, or march around shouting all the time, or hear loud music. Others prefer only loud rock music. Can we value their tastebud inclinations too?
Can you allow those who differ in taste fondness with you to express their opinion? Should you start licking that cone from the top or the side - is there always just one way to do things? Or does it really matter?
Can you learn about their newly discovered taste sensations? Or have you become stuck in your own vanilla rut and remain unteachable?
Can you at least give others time before expecting them to totally embrace your new cinnamon waffle cone right away? Or do you get hurt feelings if someone doesn’t like your ice cream choices right away? Some have never tried the New SON-DAY. The Third Day, or Present Truth, or The Finished Work. Some have never considered sampling some restoration, revival, or renewal. Sometimes we have to learn to cultivate a taste for certain new experiences.
Both you and I can still learn many things from them… yes we can. Every person in the world can teach us something that we don’t know.
The power of life and death is in the tongue. How are your taste buds?
What are your ideas? What flavors do you like?
Frankly, we may find that most customers will start trying out more and more varieties of our flavors if we let them have a little sample first - so that they feel in control of their choices and can enjoy their experience. Then, they will ask for more.
Remember, not everyone who walks into your ice cream parlor is looking for a triple strawberry ripple and maple-nut scoop… at least not yet.
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