{"id":4055,"date":"2009-10-30T13:30:20","date_gmt":"2009-10-30T17:30:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nakedpastor.com\/?p=4055"},"modified":"2009-10-30T13:30:20","modified_gmt":"2009-10-30T17:30:20","slug":"how-to-deconstruct-your-church","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/nakedpastor\/2009\/10\/how-to-deconstruct-your-church\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Deconstruct Your Church"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

I frequently get emails from pastors wondering how they can get their church from running like a machine to looking like a functional family. They wonder how to get from where they are to where they think my church is (I plan on writing more about that tomorrow, which is a whole other issue). I would call this process the deconstruction of the church<\/em>. Be mindful that we\u2019ve gotten to where we are today after 12 years and tons of continued disdain, ridicule, opposition and rejection. Anyway, here\u2019s 10 suggestions I\u2019ve quickly strung together for a start:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Determine in your heart that you will do all things out of love<\/strong>, compassion and patience.<\/li>\n
  2. Make sure this is what you want no matter what the cost<\/strong> (because often the cost is high).<\/li>\n
  3. Are there any leaders or elders who are in agreement<\/strong> with you and will endure with you for the long haul?<\/li>\n
  4. Start speaking honestly<\/strong> about what you are feeling and thinking. Begin with your closest group and move out to the whole community.<\/li>\n
  5. Allow people to see you at your weakest<\/strong>. Then allow them to reveal themselves at their weakest.<\/li>\n
  6. Let things die<\/strong> that require coercion, manipulation, begging or controlling others in order to live and continue on.<\/li>\n
  7. Welcome diversity<\/strong> in belief, thought and lifestyle (they are already diverse, you are just welcoming its open expression).<\/li>\n
  8. Change the teaching\/ preaching time to a shorter teaching time with discussion<\/strong> following. This is scary at first, but you\u2019ll get used to it and eventually prefer it. This levels the playing field really fast.<\/li>\n
  9. Challenge<\/strong> only those who are judging, abusing, and controlling others.<\/li>\n
  10. If people decide this is not for them, bless them as they go<\/strong> (because they will eventually go).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Maybe tomorrow I\u2019ll post about why I find such requests on how to do this rather bizarre. It\u2019s been a difficult road that I wouldn\u2019t wish on anyone. Unless, of course, this is what they really, really want.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    I frequently get emails from pastors wondering how they can get their church from running like a machine to looking like a functional family. They wonder how to get from where they are to where they think my church is (I plan on writing more about that tomorrow, which is a whole other issue). I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":349,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4055","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-thought"],"yoast_head":"\nHow To Deconstruct Your Church<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"I frequently get emails from pastors wondering how they can get their church from running like a machine to looking like a functional family. 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