America is changing. It’s pretty obvious to see that. And what’s just as obvious is the landscape of Christianity is changing as well. We are seeing churches close their doors at rapid rates. Organized denominations are noticing downward trends, some faster than others. There are church leaders from various denominations and church traditions asking – how can we make our ministry last longer? 

Now don’t take this the wrong way but lasting longer isn’t really what it’s all about. Perhaps it’s just a pet-peeve but longevity is a very self-centered and institutionally focused idea. When we focus on our tribe or even our local church, we’re putting a focus on the institution and not the mission.

It’s no secret that I pastor a church that identifies as Lutheran. And more specifically, the tribe to which we ascribe our identity as a followers of Christ is called the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. I’m not going to go into a ton of detail on why this tribe and what we believe. Perhaps another post. But in this tribe, and in most tribes for that matter, something terrifying is happening. The focus is being placed on the longevity of the tribe and not the legacy of the mission. It’s becoming so much about protecting what’s on the inside. It seems as if our questions are more how do we keep this ship afloat than how do we reach the ends of the world for Christ? 

Now before someone has me drawn and quartered or has some kind of ridiculous formal complaint waged against me – I do believe that our tribe has something to offer the world. And I do believe we have a really good handle on the Bible. And I believe that our doctrines are correct. So, yes I do want to keep the LC-MS ship afloat but what if God has something different in mind? What if in an effort to reach more people with the saving truth of Jesus we need to stop circling the wagons and building walls? What if instead of telling people what they are doing wrong and pointing out the flaws of other denominational traditions, we started telling what we do believe?

I remember several years ago being at a wedding where the pastor shared some marriage insights, insights that I try to use today. He said something along the lines of everyday you will pick up stones, bricks if you will. These bricks are the things your spouse says and does. Now you have two choices with these bricks. You can either build walls or build bridges with them.

It seems that when we talk longevity, we’re picking up the bricks of our beliefs and the differences that exist between our tribe and those not of our tribe and we start using them to build walls. Walls are meant to keep what’s inside…in. But they are also meant to keep what’s outside, well out!

So instead of talking longevity perhaps we should start talking legacy. Now legacy is less about us and the institution that we have built and more about the mission and the command that God has given. You see, we’re not here to build a bigger church. That’s insane! Building the church isn’t our job. Our job is to seek those far from Christ that they might be baptized and taught the truths of the Bible. We are to faithfully teach what Jesus taught and administer the sacraments according to the way the Bible teaches them. We’re about the business of bringing Jesus to the people and in turn bringing the people to a better understanding of who Jesus is and what he did.

It’s all about leaving a legacy of faith not a history of buildings, traditions and programs.

I know that some of you just won’t agree with me on this and that’s ok. But here and now I want to make sure it is abundantly clear that the church I am privileged to serve as pastor will never be about longevity. Our focus is solely on staying faithful to God and his word. We seek to grow not numerically but spiritually. Nothing we do will ever be about backsides in the seats. It’s about a legacy. Not my legacy or the church’s legacy but God’s legacy.

I’ll close with a reminder from Jesus. There’s a story in the Bible about a man who was going away and put his servants in charge of various portions of his wealth. The first man was given a substantial amount. He immediately went out and traded it and invested it and believed in it. And doubled it. The second man was given about half as much, but he too was adventurous and entrepreneurial. He took the money and used it so that eventually he ended up doubling his initial investment. But the third man received a little. And the little he did receive, he buried in the ground afraid of losing it.

The last man was focused on longevity. He wanted to make the one coin last. But the others were focused on legacy. They took risks and could have lost it all but in the end were rewarded for their efforts. I believe we have been given a gift to use. I pray we don’t bury it in hopes we never lose it. That just isn’t the Jesus way. Let’s leave a legacy of faith in Christ.