{"id":32445,"date":"2022-09-10T16:09:51","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:09:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/4-sacred-cows-haunting-churches-and-how-to-corral-them\/"},"modified":"2022-09-10T16:09:51","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:09:51","slug":"4-sacred-cows-haunting-churches-and-how-to-corral-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/4-sacred-cows-haunting-churches-and-how-to-corral-them\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Sacred Cows Haunting Churches\u2014And How to Corral Them"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Brian Boyles<\/em><\/p>\n

As a young pastor, I was eager to take on my new ministry assignment and blaze trails for God\u2019s kingdom. I\u2019ve been in churches where I\u2019ve had autonomy to do that. And there have been others where I\u2019ve felt hindered because it meant opposing beloved traditions.<\/p>\n

Now in my 40s, I realize I have (Lord willing) many years of ministry ahead. But that also means I\u2019ve become acquainted with commonplace \u201csacred cows\u201d\u2014idols that have become so ingrained in the culture of a congregation, many can\u2019t remember why they exist or make the case to continue them.<\/p>\n

I can identify and describe a few of these sacred cows. But I can also offer some ways to wisely relocate these \u201ccows\u201d\u2014 by either moving them to their proper place or moving them out altogether.<\/p>\n

1. Relics and buildings<\/strong><\/h3>\n

For some churches, it\u2019s a preferred translation of the Bible. For others, it\u2019s a landmark steeple that has been a mainstay in the town\u2019s skyline for decades. Some might have a long-standing painting in the baptistery\u2014hand-painted by one of the charter members.<\/p>\n

For a church where I formerly served, one of them was a chapel space that had barely been used. When some of us realized our campus lacked space for children\u2019s activities, there was a recommendation we convert the unused chapel into a kids\u2019 ministry area.<\/p>\n

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Many embraced the idea. Others reacted as though we compromised the gospel itself by even suggesting such.<\/p>\n

In cases like this, these physical sacred cows have become stumbling blocks instead of the service tools they were intended to be.<\/p>\n

2. Traditions<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In many cases church members will cling to a time they served, learned, worshipped, and ministered under a former pastor\u2014especially if he was the founder of the church.<\/p>\n

Other times, there are programs that have long since run their course and something new needs to replace them. Yet they stay, because that\u2019s the way we\u2019ve always done it.<\/p>\n

Or perhaps an annual event is no longer relevant, but no one is willing\u2014or able\u2014to acknowledge it.<\/p>\n

Instead of having a constantly renewed vision to engage the community with the gospel and make disciples, some congregations feed the sacred cow of tradition.<\/p>\n

3. Elitism<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Especially when we\u2019ve poured ourselves into building ministries and legacies, it\u2019s easy to think our way is the best way. Or that our program is the best one. Or that no other church in town can top our worship music.<\/p>\n

The sacred cow of elitism makes other churches the competition. This is particularly damaging, because the church\u2014a body made up of everyone who has believed in Jesus for salvation\u2014is the bride of Christ. And when we see our particular congregation as superior to another, it\u2019s an affront to God Himself.<\/p>\n

4. The family (or families) who call the shots<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Lots of churches have these. Chances are, your church does. A group of people\u2014or even a family of long-time attenders\u2014seems to constantly wrestle for control and authority.<\/p>\n

In these situations, pastors and church leaders feel bullied into making decisions that aren\u2019t in line with how they feel God is directing them to lead. They can\u2019t seem to make any decisions until they have the approval of that particular family or group of people.<\/p>\n

This is damaging, because it causes division in the church and prevents the pastor and other leaders from listening to God.<\/p>\n

How to (wisely) corral the cows<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When these sacred cows have been in place at your church longer than you have, it\u2019s tempting to enter a season of ministry with guns blazing, eager to make changes. Some changes need to be made definitively and swiftly. Others require more care.<\/p>\n

Here are some ways to wisely corral these sacred cows without ruffling the feathers of those who have come before you. You may even find you don\u2019t need to make a change\u2014you might just need to adjust your mindset after considering these.<\/p>\n

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See also  8 Ways to Persevere in Ministry<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Be respectful.<\/strong> I\u2019m quite passionate about this point, because I have gotten this wrong. Some church members have invested decades of their lives into a church. They\u2019ve been around to see different phases of church life many pastors haven\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Respect is important\u2014not only because these people might be decades older than the leader but also because they sometimes have reasons for the things they do. Seek to understand those reasons before you make changes.<\/p>\n

Understand the history.<\/strong> I recommend focusing on the initial vision and purpose of a church.<\/p>\n

Several families in my church, just outside Atlanta, Georgia, are on a historical committee. Some of these families have been here 50 years or more. They chronicle major decisions and keep photos from the past.<\/p>\n

But they aren\u2019t looking in the rearview mirror; they\u2019re looking through the windshield, with our church history as a map to where we\u2019re headed. As one member said to me, \u201cIf we don\u2019t remember the past and what we went through, we may lose sight of where God is leading us.\u201d<\/p>\n

I recently learned about a newspaper article from the late 1800s that described the reason my church was planted more than 130 years ago. It was placed where it is because at the time, the street was peppered with bars and saloons. Many of the local men were going from bar to bar, getting drunk, and bankrupting their families.<\/p>\n

There was a vision to plant the church right in the middle of that activity to reach these men for Christ.<\/p>\n

As I lead my church, and even make some changes, I want to stay consistent with the original purpose of our church\u2014meeting people where they are, literally and figuratively.<\/p>\n

Be patient.<\/strong> In my experience and observation, young pastors make rapid changes, upset the congregation\u2014and sometimes get fired.<\/p>\n

Often, they see a pastor with decades of experience under his belt who has made major, positive changes in a church.<\/p>\n

And then they try to replicate in 20 weeks what the veteran pastor did over 20 years.<\/p>\n

Their heroes of the faith\u2014who have done incredible things, by the way\u2014have been in ministry for decades. They\u2019ve built the relationships with long-time members. They\u2019ve earned the trust of those they lead.<\/p>\n

And they gradually<\/em> effected change.<\/p>\n

The younger or newer pastor doesn\u2019t have the history to have built the trust and respect. He hasn\u2019t done dozens of funerals or paid hundreds of hospital visits.<\/p>\n

If you are not a seasoned pastor (meaning, you have been with your congregation for fewer than five years), don\u2019t try to push change with guns blazing. I did, and it backfired.<\/p>\n

Make small changes, slowly.<\/p>\n

Pray for other churches.<\/strong> When we individually and corporately pray for other congregations, we\u2019re not only asking God to move on their behalf\u2014we\u2019re reminding ourselves of the bigger picture, change or no change.<\/p>\n

When I started my ministry at my current church, I began praying most Sundays for other churches in the area\u2014from the pulpit. That often means churches of other denominations, theological leanings, or worship styles. And before I preach I\u2019ll pray for their pastor by name.<\/p>\n

This has had a tremendous impact on our congregation (and hopefully, those churches and our city). It gives them a more outward view\u2014we\u2019re not the<\/em> church in the area, but a<\/em> church.<\/p>\n

This practice particularly helps to kill the sacred cow of elitism. It helps our congregation march forward with the bigger picture in mind\u2014seeing other local churches as partners in the Great Commission.<\/p>\n

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Brian Boyles<\/h2>\n

@brian_boyles<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Brian is senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Snellville, Ga.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n