Why RE.THINK Church? Part 3

Why RE.THINK Church part 3:  
Innovativeˈinəˌvādiv:
featuring new methods; advanced and original; introducing new ideas; original and creative in thinking.

I’ve been a pastor since 2001, though I’ve been involved in church to some capacity my entire life.  I’ve noticed something about churches….they seem to be the same thing.  Every weekend there is a service, songs are sung, someone stands up and gives a message, there’s prayer, and that’s about it.  Some churches have kids ministries, some churches don’t.  Some churches have youth group and some don’t.  

RE.THINK Church has a goal, a mission, to be an innovative church.  We don’t want to just start up a church that acts, feels, functions the same as churches we can find anywhere else.  Innovation goes beyond cosmetics. I believe innovation goes down into our DNA.  

RE.THINK Church resides in Lake County, Indiana.  There are 220,000+ people who have no religious affiliation at all. We want to see that number eliminated.  Why? Because we believe the message of Jesus is one that will change people’s lives forever.  These 220,000+ individuals have stories, reasons, and beliefs that have led them to consciously checked “No Affiliation” in the census.  I don’t know their story, but I want to.  

I want them to know the grace and mercy I’ve found in Jesus.  I want them to know the purpose, guidance, and yeah even the discipline I’ve found in Jesus.  Why?  Because without all the above and so many other things, my life would be lacking.  More importantly, though my life would be void of grace, mercy, purpose, guidance, any form of discipline, and it would be without the assurance that for eternity, Heaven is where I’ll reside with Jesus.  

Peter wrote in 2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." I think it’s time that we recognize this and live it out as a church.  In my 16 years as a pastor, I’ve found a lot of churches become consumed with what church people want, prefer, and like, not what would actually make a difference to people in their own communities that have no religious affiliations.  

We believe the Bible is our standard, not only does it give us the initiative to find people who don’t know Jesus and allow them to encounter Jesus in a life changing, relevant manner, but it also gives us some clear instructions on what and how to do this.  Matthew records Jesus’ last instructions to His disciples as this, “ "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Teaching them to obey everything that I (Jesus) have commanded you… that’s  a lot.  It’s also our standard, we do our best to stay true to what Jesus instructs, when we find ourselves drifting away from that standard we stop and return to it.  I’ll explain that process in our next blog.  

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