Communism and Christianity. Compatible?

Communism and Christianity are not compatible. Let me give you my reasons why:

1. Communist countries have historically been antagonistic and oppressive to Christianity. Communist China, Russia, North Korea, Vietnam, and the list could go on. Sometimes it is simple restrictions that hinder a Christian's ability to be evangelistic and other times they imprison and arrest church leaders, restrict Bibles, or close churches. Marx critiqued the church as a hindrance to his communist revolutionary ideas and Lenin injected Marx's ideas with atheism. Communism ultimately demands the rejection of faith in Jesus.

2. Government is not God. Communism insists that the government become the center of life for every individual in every way. This requires the exclusion of any competing ideas, including following Jesus as The Way. While the Bible clearly gives a place for government (we are not anarchists) and its responsibilities (punishing the wrongdoer; Romans 13:3-4 and 1 Peter 2:13-14), it is limited and not without boundaries in all that is expected or even permitted to do. Communism is political idolatry.

3. Government is not a replacement for family. There seems to be a real spiritual war on the biological family defined biblically. The biological family (a man and a woman in a monogamous marriage covenant) is God's design for all of civilization. Its benefit is easily seen and measured by sociologists, government leaders, and religious leaders of all stripes. Government cannot replace a father in the home by supplying money or social workers. When men become little more than sperm donors, government has overstepped its biblical authority.

4. The Bible repeatedly assumes individual ownership of property and possessions. Biblical ownership ultimately has to do with stewardship. This is not about stewarding what the government owns, rather we are stewarding what God has created. This is why the United States of America does not tax church property: how can you tax an institution founded by the Creator? When the government claims ownership of everything it devalues the image of God in each individual who should be allowed the opportunity to own that which they will steward on behalf of the glory of God.

5. Communism denies basic biblical truth about the reality of our world. Critical theory (the basis for Marxist ideology) defines humanity by their socioeconomic status. Every individual is bound to an economic category (often broadened to race, culture, and gender). These categories are used to define the oppressed victims and unjust perpetrators based on their category rather than their actions or moral character. The "unjust" should be punished regardless of their actions and the "victims" should be rewarded. This is not Christian. The Bible, not Marx or Lenin, reveals the truth about human nature and the remedy of true salvation in Jesus the Messiah.

6. Government is not a means to salvation. Communism will never bring about an utopia that is often described by its proponents. The promise of socialism and ultimately communism is that the changing structures will inevitably create people who are morally good because the injustices have been removed (these injustices are typically described as economic disparity). Christianity described by the Bible says that the problem is actually the spiritually fallen state of all humanity. That everyone is in need of a Savior who can atone for their sins so that they can live in right relationship with their Creator. Salvation does not come through economics or government, but from the blood of Jesus. 

7. Government welfare is not Christian charity. In fact, it is worse than a cheap counterfeit. It is often detrimental to those who receive it and vindicating for the person who expects government to care for the poor rather than address the real, deep issues of heartache in their culture. Voluntarily giving to help others is about more than monetary amounts, it necessitates involvement and accountability on a level that government can never reproduce. Communist governments seek to eradicate the ability of the church or other individuals to minister to the whole person in favor of becoming dependency-creating entities.

8. The problem of humanity is not economic, occupational, or civic. The problem is sin. There is only one way to deal with that problem. If you were able to create the perfect civil system, it would be powerless to change the heart of a single man! If you were able to take all the money in the world and give it out in equal shares to every person, it would be powerless to change a single soul. The great need of our hour is not more government control and programming, but a Savior.

So what do you think?



Check out these other articles:

I am Against the Horseless Carriage

Pastors, Scandals, and Faithfulness

A Note to Pastors on Friday

A Note to Pastors on Monday

Once You're Saved, Are You Always Saved?

God is Doing a New Thing

The holiness movement has maybe never been better positioned than it is right now to be at the forefront of another great spiritual awakening in our culture. The time is now. The need is present. The message is available. And the power of God is promised!

I am encouraged as I observe some changes taking place and some I believe are coming!

1. Ministry to teenagers is beginning to move from entertainment and codling to evangelism and equipping for ministry. What was meant to be a bridge to adult hood had become a dead end street for spiritual maturity and selflessness. There was a time when it seemed that many ministry leaders were more interested in entertaining teenagers than they were challenging them to deny themselves and take up their cross. We do not need more self-centered people in the church; we need an army to rise up! I believe we are beginning to see that as we call our young people to full surrender.

2. For a long time we have adopted an institutional mindset. The church has been viewed as an institution to be protected rather than a Spirit filled means to fulfill the Great Commission. Institutional mindset leads to decisions that will neglect the mission if it risks institutional preservation. "Don't rock the boat." But a missions mindset recognizes that the body of Christ is cared for by the Christ Himself and that we have a purpose that we must be about fulfilling. When church boards and leaders are preoccupied with the existence of their church rather than accomplishing the Great Commission, even our institutional survival is at stake.

3. For a while there have been those who looked to the mainstream denominations (who had compromised truth) as our example. Some holiness churches looked to the United Methodist Church (UMC) as our older sibling. Some still foolishly covet the UMC through their denial of basic biblical truth and vindictiveness toward the Global Methodist Church (GMC), who sought to be faithful to Jesus. Biblical fidelity is surging right now. The promises of "progressive Christianity" are false and empty. People are hungry for the unedited truth. The want the unabridged Gospel. They do not want the sugar-coated falsehoods of the serpent any longer.

4. Faithful followers of Jesus who embrace the truth of the Gospel are starting to experience methodological freedom. Embracing a method that will help communicate the Gospel and reach the lost is a challenge for every generation. John Wesley struggled, at first, with preaching outside of a church building. Some have struggled with using television or social medias or the internet to help aid in the work of the Great Commission. I am thankful for a rising tide of individuals fully committed to the message of holiness who are creatively and faithfully seeking methods to fulfill the call of God.

5. Preaching and teaching on entire sanctification in the holiness movement has had a low point of vague generalities. Lack of clarity on the work and experience of entire sanctification has been a hindrance to many seekers. Often holiness has been preached as just going through life as a serious Christian or an ongoing growth/maturity. Entire Sanctification is not about maturity but purity. Many conflate the process (maturity) with definitive moment of the Holy Spirit's work (purity). A call for people to receive by faith the entirely sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in a moment need not diminish or be replaced by the ongoing dynamic in the life of every believer best described as maturity as we grow in the grace of God. Dying out to self and full surrender are calls required of those who are in need of a heart cleansing. 

6. Applicable holiness is beginning to be preached again. Due to the perceived error of previous generations who emphasized lifestyle issues (outward) over the inward cleansing and perfect love wrought by the baptism with the Holy Spirit, there has been a recent neglect to address issues of personal holiness in our pulpits. Fear of being labeled as a legalist has caused too many to abandon attempts to describe the holy life practically. I am hearing about and praying for more people to bless their brothers and sisters by preaching and teaching a practical holiness that will lead to restored relationships, biblical sexual ethics, Christian stewardship, holiness ministry, and people living with a sense of conviction about how the Spirit is leading them to live.

7. There is a move to be more spiritually minded. By that, I simply mean that many people are starting to think about things in terms of the will of God, the moral implications of actions, and being sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Being conscientious and discerning of the Holy Spirit's work is much needed in the church today! Praise God there is a transition by some to reject dry dead forms that do not necessitate the presence of God in favor of a vibrant and empowering move of God.

A year or so ago, I was at a Captain D's restaurant having lunch with a ministry intern in our church. AS we ate an employee of the restaurant sat nearby (in a virtually empty dining area) and yelled across the room to other employees still working the checkout, kitchen, and cash register. Giving up on my own conversation, I started to engage her in conversation.

She told me that she rejected marriage as she has had much frustration with previous relationships. "I want someone who will be with me for life. Who will commit to me for all their life and be faithful no matter what."

I quickly responded with: "I agree that this is what a relationship should be! And the Bible outlines this and calls it marriage. You're not against marriage that God defined in the Bible, you're against what the world has twisted and called marriage."

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

There will certainly be those who reject the truth found in the Bible and the way of living that the Bible describes as holy. But there are many more people who are desperately hungry for someone to graciously and clearly share to them what God says about everyday life in fellowship with Him. May we not disappoint another person be neglecting these great truths.

God is doing a new thing in our hour! 





Also check out these other articles:

I Am Against the Horseless Carriage

How to Obtain the Blessing of Entire Sanctification

Why Counterfeit Christianity Will Fail

Why I Am a Holiness Preacher

Letter of Accusation Against a False Teacher 1

Oklahoma City First Church of the Nazarene was a flagship church in the denomination for a century. But the last few years under the "leadership" of Jon Middendorf have been not only tumultuous but marked by a rejection of historic and biblical Christianity.

In 2025, the people still attending voted to leave the denomination or what they called: "spiritually disaffiliate." One member of OKC1 shares in this article why he voted to disaffiliate from the Church of the Nazarene. You can read the article in the link above, but I'll save you the read by summarizing: He voted to disaffiliate primarily because the Church of the Nazarene was no longer willing to tolerate the local church’s acceptance of homosexual practices (although he spins it as being "unwilling to welcome" people). Here is the news article about Oklahoma City First Church (OKC1) attempting to leave the denomination and take the property with them.

The Oklahoma District Church of the Nazarene immediately responded by taking the new OKC1 to court over the property, buildings, and trust funds they held. OKC1's defense in court was simply that they never were actually a part of the denomination. This ridiculous claim would come as a significant surprise to Uncle Bud Robinson who was the evangelist that preached under a tent to a group of people who would organize themselves into Oklahoma City First Church of the Nazarene (it was not the first church in Oklahoma City, but it was the first Church of the Nazarene in Oklahoma City). Even the name of the church betrays their legal false witness. Dr Stan Toler served as Senior Pastor of OKC1 and later became a General Superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene. I doubt he realized that the church was not a Church of the Nazarene (pardon my verbal irony). 

All ordained elders in the Church of the Nazarene that were part of OKC1 surrendered or had their credentials taken (with at least one exception) before the church voted to leave the denomination.

June 18, 2026 the judge rendered a verdict which basically granted OKC1 rights to all the properties and funds. 

If you'd like to review the legal proceedings and read the official legal statements of both the district and the local church, you can do so at this link.

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Here was the official statement on 06-19-26 from OKC1 after the court verdict was given:
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We prayed the Lord’s Prayer in preparation for our day in court. Slowly, deliberately- we prayed and allowed each line to prompt more specific prayers about our church, our future, the neighborhood around our church. We also prayed about the case brought against us, their attorneys, our attorneys, about an uncertain future.

Facing an uncertain outcome, we asked, “can we trust God if we lose?” and “can God trust us if we win?”

Speaking only for myself, I was growing more comfortable with the “worst-case scenario”- believing as I do 1) that we’d made these difficult decisions following the lead of the God of Grace, and 2) that God was not yet finished with OKC First.

But on Thursday, the judge ruled in our favor. We are so grateful!

We are so grateful for skilled, hard-working attorneys who were good and faithful representatives of the people and the message of OKC First.

I am grateful for our ministry team; they never wavered. Each pastor trusted, worked, and served with an inspiring, abiding trust. I regularly looked to them for confidence and energy, and they delivered every time.

I am grateful for our church board(s), people who bathed every decision in prayer and soaked a few in tears. These men and women were (and are) steadfast visionaries who know and rely on the steadfast love and mercy of God. They have led, organized, and served, and we are where we are because of them.

And we are grateful for you OKC First. So many of you joined us for prayer and praise on Wednesday evening; so many packed the courtroom on Thursday morning, and so many more sent messages of love and support, pledging to pray for God’s will to be done.

“Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” We believe God’s will was done. We believe we caught a glimpse of the Kingdom coming (again) to OKC.

Our focus is now on God’s future- for our church, our community, and our city. With malice toward none and with deep wells of gratitude for all God continues to do in and through us, we are ready to get back to our best preoccupation and highest calling- to be the Church God calls us to be.

We’ve got work to do and stories to tell. And, as usual, all the work and every story begins like this, “God’s mind about you is made up, and the news is good.”

Jon Middendorf, pastor

Please send all questions and requests for information to info@okcfirst.com. We are happy to continue the conversation.

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Obviously I cannot change the legal verdict or adequately gauge the validity of the verdict given. I just have to wonder whether this could have been prevented. It is division of the highest order. I have come to the conclusion that there were really only two inevitable outcomes to the situation barring no repentance from Jon Middendorf.

1. The Church of the Nazarene completely capitulate the issue of homosexual practice to the will of Jon Middendorf. Had the denomination bowed to his demands OKC1 could have remained part of the Church of the Nazarene and we could have continued to insist that we are a big tent. The problem is that we would cease to be the body of Christ in the world if we believed that we could contradict God's word on this issue and continue to maintain fellowship with a holy God. 

2. What if Church discipline had been administered when Jon Middendorf initially started espousing and promoting his false teaching? What if someone had followed Manual protocol and dealt with a pastor who was not only violating the Church of the Nazarene's stated beliefs about homosexual practice, but the Bible's clear teachings on the subject as well? The sad news is that this could have been the case almost a decade ago.

On September 15, 2018, twenty-four elders in the Church of the Nazarene signed a letter of accusation against Jon Middendorf. I was one of them. I called Jon Middendorf and spoke with him over the phone before signing any letter. He insisted that a man who had divorced his wife and was presently living in a homosexual relationship with another man was absolutely a Christian. His [Middendorf] conviction was that a faithful, monogamous, homosexual relationship was fully compatible with holy living. Jon and I did not agree. I could not believe that an ordained elder pastoring a flagship church like Oklahoma City First Church of the Nazarene could have a mind so twisted that he would choose outright rejection of Biblical truth on the issue of homosexual practice. The conversation demanded that I signed the letter. 

Here is the letter:

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RE: Formal Accusation

September 15, 2018

Dr. Terry Rowland,

This letter is to adhere to the Manual of the Church of the Nazarene (606-606.12) in bringing a formal accusation against an Elder on the Oklahoma District: Rev Jon Middendorf.

Jon Middendorf is the pastor of Oklahoma City First Church of the Nazarene and has created a pattern through his actions of rejecting the Church’s stance on Human Sexuality (Manual 31) as well as providing oversight of events that endorse monogamous homosexual relationships.

There are two specific events to be referenced:

1.) On March 03, 2018 Justin Lee, the founder of the Gay Christian Network, who believes that someone can live in a monogamous homosexual relationship and still be Christian, was invited to speak at the Young Clergy Network Conference held at OKC First. Brit Bolerjack, who is on staff at OKC First and under direct supervision of Jon Middendorf, oversees the Young Clergy Network.

The network is supposed to be representative of the younger generation of Nazarene clergy in the USA/Canada. Not only is this a promotion of a speaker who fundamentally disagrees about the act of homosexual sex being a sin (see 1 Corinthians 6:9-10), but also a rejection of our Articles of Faith in terms of Articles VIII (repentance) & IX (justification, regeneration, & adoption).

Jon Middendorf violates the doctrine of the Church of the Nazarene as it pertains to human sexuality by allowing such events and speakers to influence the church by giving them a platform at OKC First.

2.) On July 15, 2018 Brian Nollenberger, previously an ordained elder from the North Arkansas District who now is legally married to another man and thus an openly practicing homosexual, shared in song on the platform as part of the worship service. This is a violation of previous church discipline of Brian Nollenberger as well as another example of normalizing the ongoing, intentional, and conscious decision of Brian to live in a way that contradicts the Word of God.

Jon Middendorf has indicated that he doesn’t believe Brian Nollenberger is living in sin because he is dedicated to a monogamous relationship with his same-sex partner. He also views their relationship as covenantal and Christian. These views directly oppose the church’s stance on human sexuality.

These events, along with past events (where Jon Middendorf has baptized the child of a lesbian couple) are grounds for this formal accusation and a serious offense to the doctrine and polity of the Church of the Nazarene. These are not innocent mistakes, but calculated, intentional, recurring, and divisive actions taking place within the Church of the Nazarene.

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A few months later on November each of the twenty four elders who signed the letter of accusation received a certified letter in the mail. Here is what it said:

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Grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ!

Your letter of September 15, 2018, to Dr. Terry Rowland concerning Rev. Jon Middendorf was referred by Dr. Rowland to this board.

The letter alleges two specific incidents that, if substantiated, would place Rev. Middendorf out of harmony with, at minimum, Manual paragraphs 31, 515.9, 540.4, and 702.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Manual, these matters have all been appropriately investigated, and the district has properly addressed the findings of the investigation.

We wish to convey to everyone who has been involved in bringing these accusations to our attention that we view this as a very grave matter. Accusations against an elder must always be treated seriously, and that is exactly how we have dealt with this matter. We do wish to express some concern, however, about the manner in which this was brought to the district’s attention. When the letter arrived, it was signed, not by two members in good standing as is required by the Manual, but by twenty-four individuals. Once two people working in agreement that accusations should be brought, the letter should have been immediately sent to our district superintendent so as to trigger an investigation and allow for immediate action, if necessary, by the district advisory board.

Rev. Middendorf has not seen the names on the letter by his choosing. He shared his desire to speak personally with any of you who would like to call. I trust we can show grace in the midst of some differing ideas and thoughts.

Again, please be assured that your concerns have been received and addressed by the Oklahoma District.

Sincerely, 
[Signature]
Secretary, District Advisory Board
Oklahoma District 

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What happened to Jon Middendorf at that time? Nothing. He was not removed. He did not lose his credentials. He continued to teach and lead his church away from faithfulness to God's design for sexuality and their covenant participation in the Church of the Nazarene. 

Ultimately a false teacher led a whole church away, not only from the Church of the Nazarene, but gospel truth that promises transformation not accommodation. Be happy about church discipline.

Following the lawsuit, Jon Middendorf sat down with a local news channel for an interview in which he propagated the blatant lie that OKC1 always intended to be an independent church. You can watch/read the interview at this link. Part of the article quoted:

“The articles of incorporation from 1937 show that we intended to be our own church,” said Middendorf. “They said what they said, and the property deeds did too. It is OKC First Church land and property. 35 years in. These folks are either old family or new family to me. And I don’t think we have ever been more a family or more united than we are on June 19th, 2026.”

Jon represents broken ordination vows, legal deception in court, false teaching from his ministry, and somehow manages to spin it all that he is trying to love people better. Pray for his repentance. 


See these other articles:

Letter of Accusation Against a False Teacher 2

A Way Forward for the Church of the Nazarene (Part 1)

A Way Forward for the Church of the Nazarene (Part 2)

Resolution to Support Denominational Leadership

I Am Against the Horseless Carriage

I may be a bit behind on this declaration, but I want everyone to know where I stand. I am against the horseless carriage. Please do not dismiss my concerns before you hear me out. While this opinion may seem a bit isolated, it is not without its merits 125 years ago.

Alexander Winton, who sold one of the first gas powered cars in 1898 was told by his banker that he was crazy for thinking automobiles would displace horses. He did not reconsider his choice, but embraced the disruptive technology. There was widespread pushback to the automobile industry from lots of different places.

Let me give you a few reasons for my own opposition to the horseless carriage.

1. The "new" automobiles are loud, disruptive, and give off a foul odor. Living in a small community helps one appreciate the quiet and natural sounds around you. Invariably someone on a motorcycle or a vehicle with a bad muffler will disrupt the serene peacefulness of the community. It is noise pollution. This problem is magnified in urban areas where automobiles are even more plentiful. If I was alive at the time, I would have joined the Farmers’ Anti-Automobile Society of Pennsylvania (pre-1910).

2. They are a danger to the economy and jobs. Think of all those who will lose their job and means of supporting their families if the automobile industry takes off! Farriers (blacksmiths who specialize in horseshoes), horse breeders, feed suppliers, and carriage makers. This does not even address the danger to the horse population which will be neglected due the shift to horseless carriages.

3. These new horseless carriages are dangerous. They are faster than a horse carriage and heavier. People can be run over by someone speeding through the streets. If our streets are flooded with them, they will begin running into each other and causing more problems and dangers. Pedestrians beware!

I could go on, but it is a venture into the ridiculous unless I plan on joining the Amish. 

There have been mixed responses by Christians to technology throughout history. Some have rightly been wary of the newest fad, but rejected the danger outright rather than explore a sanctified use for it. Others have embraced every new technological advancement, but have not embraced the discernment they need to navigate "newness" in holiness. 

Let me give you three principles for navigating technology and change:

1. Remember we live in a fallen and spiritually broken world, but that we are called to steward it well. That means that every new technology can be used as an agent of brokenness or it can be sanctified to glorify God. We must learn how to use discernment to figure this out. 

2. Pursue ethical and morally acceptable ways to utilize new technology and advancements. Ward off idolatry and reject technological application that harms individuals or takes advantage of them. Instead, allow the Spirit to guide you into proper usage that glorifies God and uses technology to better society. 

3. Be cautious in embracing advancements while you determine the dangers, but be bold in applying these advancements to advancing the work of the church of Jesus Christ. Too cautious and you miss opportunity thus compromising the mission. Too adopting, and you walk in error thus compromising your integrity. '

What about you? Are you against the horseless carriage?



Check out these other articles:

A Note to Pastors on Friday

A Note to Pastors on Monday

I Do Not Like Change

I am a Counting Pastor

How do you measure the spiritual health of a local church? If we could answer that question with an error proof litmus test it would be great! But that is likely not going to be the case.

It is not a bad thing to want to measure progress. Humanity has developed measurements for time, weights, distances, and even sports abilities. Measurements are helpful when they are used appropriately.

So helpful are they in some areas that we begin to apply them to measure the effectiveness of employees by their employers. Doctors implement certain measurements to assess health. Factories measure how many products are coming off of the assembly line. Your college professor gives you a test to measure what you have learned in class.

Without a way to measure our effectiveness in what we are doing, it becomes difficult to improve or even know if we are accomplishing what we have set out to do. What are the benchmarks of progress? What are the mile markers of the journey? 

There is also the issue that the metrics, when focused upon to the neglect of the "big picture", become unhelpful roadblocks or inaccurate mile markers. It can be much like educators who say that standardized testing is not a fair measurement or at least can skew an effective education for children because teachers will begin to "teach for the test" instead of investing in the students' intellectual development. The reality is that standardized testing cannot measure a person's worth or fully assess their intellectual giftedness. But testing is necessary to give some level of assessment of the general effectiveness of an educational institution. Every area of life uses metrics as tools to gauge success, measure progress, and introspectively contribute to the mission.  

While there are pitfalls with measurements and metrics, it does not negate the need and benefit for a measurement of progress. Too many churches have rejected all metrics and sailed away into fruitlessness because they had no way or no desire to assess effectiveness of the Great Commission. Some churches have used metrics that did not align with the mission or simply metrics of their choosing that were irrelevant to the mission. Such metrics are celebratory events with little lasting fruit or meaningful progress toward the end goal. 

In the Church of the Nazarene we measure a number of things: worship attendance, discipleship attendance, financial income of a local church, how many are born again, how many are entirely sanctified, how often the message of entire sanctification was preached, and more. 

Let me take a moment to highlight the benefit of measuring such (in nor particular order).

People born again and baptized. The most basic beginning point for fulfilment of the Great Commission is individuals making a decision to follow Jesus and being baptized. After Pentecost someone must have counted the three thousand people who were born again. It was an important and celebratory metric for the early church. The number is more than a statistic, it is souls of real people saved from bondage and sin! 

Worship Attendance. Obviously a local church is headed toward crisis and ultimately closure if the average worship attendance is on a steady decline year after year. Measuring the attendance of worship services can be helpful in potentially diagnosing a problem of spiritual health in the church if it continues over several years. Are new people not coming to Christ? While most pastors have experienced periods of decline in attendance, it is important to note that there are many factors that can impact a local church's growth. Is the community itself in decline? Is industry leaving the area? Have natural disaster or economic upheaval adversely impacted the community? Sometimes for the sake of the Great Commission, leadership must make difficult decisions that will impact attendance negatively short term. Like a nurse taking your temperature at the doctor's office, it does not tell everything, but it can tell us something.

Discipleship Attendance. Making disciples certainly involves making converts, but includes much more than that. Attempting to measure the amount of people who are taking advantage of opportunities provided by a local church for them to learn, grow, and work out their salvation is a helpful metric to understand the depth of a congregation. What percentage of attenders are engaged in discipleship opportunities to be formed into the image of Christ and learn how to be workers in the harvest. If the church is called to do more than fill a building, a metric of those believers who are investing in discipleship is important to track. 

Those who have been entirely sanctified. Before Jesus ascended back into Heaven, He told the disciples to go to Jerusalem and wait for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They counted 120 people who gathered in an upper room to pray and seek God for this promise. It was something asked about often in the early church and Paul writes about in his letters to early churches. This was God's will for believers so it seems like something that would be helpful to know is actually being done among us.

Finances. If there are people who are committing their lives to Christ and spiritual growth is taking place in the church, then there is likely going to be financial growth. Finances can be impacted by a factory closing in the community, a decline in tourism in the community, a poor harvest for farmers, or an overall economic downturn, but healthy churches will generally have financial growth each year. While some may ridicule counting of "nickels and noses" we need to start looking at these numbers as souls & salvation since they represent real people.

Other ministries. Do you have a children's outreach? Do you have a teen group? Do you have vans that go out and pick people up? Do you give food to those in need? Do you operate a clothing bank? Do you provide counseling services? Do you run a Christian school? While we might be tempted to count things that are beneficial, but secondary to the Great Commission, they can be a helpful metric if not used as a decoy for fruitlessness in other areas. In other words, if we change the goal line by measuring something different, we can convince ourselves everything is fine when we are really failing. Metrics are only as good as long as they help us remain faithful and fruitful to the call of God. 

No metric can perfectly measure the spiritual vitality of a church. But having no metric will lead to death.

My doctor always takes my temperature and makes me stand on the scales. Why? Because those numbers can tell something. They may not guarantee my health, but they can help identify illness. 

Too many leaders want to stop counting or change the goal line because of decline and failure. This defeats the very purpose for which we need those metrics. If we identify failure or fruitlessness, it is discouraging, but it may very well help us face the realities that we desperately need the Holy Spirit to refresh and empower us for kingdom work. 

I am convinced that the problems we might face are not a result of a faulty Gospel, but my own failure to be led by the Spirit and live surrendered completely to Christ! I am going to count, because there are times when I may subtly be losing spiritual altitude and need to be reminded what fulfillment of the Great Commission looks like. 

Start counting. But be reminded that numbers are more than just numbers... they are souls that will spend eternity somewhere.

So what are some metrics you think the church should use to help gauge effectiveness in the Great Commission?

Check out these other articles:

Pastors, Scandals, and Faithfulness

A Note to Pastors on Monday

Cursing, Profanity, and the Tongue

How to Backslide

Ten Things to Say to Your Teenage Daughter/Niece/Girl

This is not my own, it comes from the Internet and I was unable to locate an actual author. I did make a couple of edits. If you know who the actual author is, please let me know.

Ten Things to Say to Your Teenage Daughter/Niece/Girl...

1. If you choose to wear shirts that show off your breasts, you will attract boys. To be more specific, you will attract the kind of boys that like to look down girls’ shirts. If you want to date a guy who likes to look at other girls’ breasts and chase skirts, then great job; keep it up. If you don’t want to date a guy who ogles at the breasts of other women, then maybe you should stop offering your own breasts up for the ogling. All attention is not equal. You think you want attention, but you don’t. You want respect. All attention is not equal.

2. Don’t go to the tanning bed. You’ll thank me when you go to your high school reunion and you look like you’ve been airbrushed and then photoshopped compared to the tanning bed train wrecks formerly known as classmates – well, at least next to the ones that haven’t died from skin cancer.

3. When you talk about your friends “anonymously” on social media, we know exactly who you’re talking about. People are smarter than you think they are. Stop posting passive-aggressive statuses about the myriad of ways your friends disappoint you. Social media is not a place to air your dirty laundry.

4. Newsflash: the number of times you say “I hate drama” is a pretty good indicator of how much you love drama. Non-dramatic people don’t feel the need to discuss all the drama they didn’t start and aren’t involved in. Life should not be an ongoing soap opera. Learn to let things go and move on without reprise.

5. “Follow your heart” is probably the worst advice ever.

6. Never let a man make you feel weak or inferior because you are an emotional being. Emotion is good; it is nothing to be ashamed of. Emotion makes us better – so long as it remains in it’s proper place: subject to truth and reason.

7. Smoking/vaping/weed is not cool. 

8. Stop saying things like, “I don’t care what anyone thinks about me.” First of all, that’s not true. And second of all, if it is true, you need a perspective shift. Your reputation matters – greatly. You should care what people think of you just not be in bondage to everyone's opinion. 

9. Don’t play coy or stupid or helpless to get attention. Don’t pretend something is too heavy so that a boy will carry it for you. Don’t play dumb to stroke someone’s ego. Don’t bat your eyelashes in exchange for attention and expect to be taken seriously, ever. You can’t have it both ways. Either you show the world that you have a brain and passions and skills, or you don’t. There are no damsels in distress managing corporations, running countries, or managing households. The minute you start batting eyelashes, eyelashes is all you’ve got. 

10. You are beautiful. You are enough. The world we live in is twisted and broken and for your entire life you will be subjected to all kinds of lies that tell you that you are not enough. You are not thin enough. You are not tan enough. You are not smooth, soft, shiny, firm, tight, fit, silky, blonde, hairless enough. Your teeth are not white enough. Your legs are not long enough. Your clothes are not stylish enough. You are not educated enough. You don’t have enough experience. You are not creative enough.

There is a beauty industry, a fashion industry, a television industry, (and most unfortunately) a pornography industry: and all of these have unique ways of communicating to bright young women: you are not beautiful, sexy, smart or valuable enough. You must have the clarity and common sense to know that none of that is true. None of it. 

You were created for a purpose, exactly so. You have innate value. You are loved more than you could ever comprehend; it is mind-boggling how much you are adored. There has never been, and there will never be another you. Therefore, you have unique thoughts to offer the world. They are only yours, and we all lose out if you are too fearful to share them. 

You are beautiful. You are valuable.

What might you add that every young lady needs to know?

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To Know, To Experience, To Live Out

This blessed and challenged me. In a postmodern, relativisitic religious universal mentality the Truth is powerful and real.

Excerpt from the sermon: "Secondhand Religion" by  C. William Fisher...

[start quote]

In a day of competing faiths, however, it is not enough to know that we are right; we must know why we're right. It is not enought to give lip service to an important idea; we must know why the idea is important. It is not enough to believe that a theory is valid; we must know why that theory is valid. Iti s not enought ot know the mechanics of getting the experience; we must 'experience' the experience. It is not enough to know the techniques of holiness; we must be holy.

We must know that conversion brings pardon and peace, but that entire sanctification brings purity and power- and we must experience it. We must know that in conversion God forgives our sins, but that in entire sanctification God cleanses and fills our hearts with perfect love- and we must experience it. We must know that in conversion God lifts the load of our own guilt, thus releasing the power of our own personality, but that in entire sanctification God endues us with power from on high- and we must experience it. We must know that in conversion God makes us a new creature, but that in entire sanctification God fills the creature with His own presence and power- and we must experience it!

We must believe either that God can and will remove all sin from the human heart or that He cannot. And if we believe that He cannot then we have no business saying that we believe in holiness. For, as Dr. R. T. Williams said, 'It is either holiness and eradication, or holiness not at all.'

We must believe either that God can and will affect redemptively every area and level of the personality or that He cannot. And if He cannot, then redemption in Christ is not big enough for humanity's needs.

We must believe that God is big enough and good enough and faithful enough actually to cleanse the human heart of all defilement and to fill that heart with the power and peace of His redeeming love- and we must experience it!

[end quote]

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