[Written during the Coronavirus quarantine – April, 2020]
Don’t go back. We are different than we were two months ago. We’ve changed – hopefully for the better. Don’t go back. I saw highly destructive patterns rampant in churches in both younger and older leaders before this started – younger leaders weaponizing victimhood/entitlement, older leaders weaponizing excellence. For some it was the other way around. I know because I have some of each in myself…so do you.
But don’t go back – both of those pathways are ultimately dead ends. Here are some thoughts on it from a couple of guys who are smarter than me:
“Entitlement does not prompt you to accept the negatives in your life. It drives you away from admitting your flaws…and away from learning how to deal with them. Instead…three directions, all of which destroy your health: Denial…Perfectionism…Narcissism… Think about the pressure, stress and emptiness that accompany [them]….” – John Townsend
“I think it would be unspeakably sad if you built this great movement – if you built booming churches and run fabulous services, and put up astonishing buildings, and formed brilliantly able teams – and did it with people who are tired and dry and empty and lonely and frightened and sad.” – John Ortburg
Hmmm - well, let's see...
I'm a Christian, a husband, a dad, a son, a pastor, a consultant, a musician, a writer, and bits and pieces of a bunch of other things. My work life has followed three main phases - business to teaching to church. I was the Weekend Services Pastor for nine years at Northview Church, an awesome church in the Indianapolis suburbs. I used to work for Willow Creek, another awesome church in the Chicago area. Plus I've written for various magazines and websites, and other freelancy sorts of things... My life mission is to help the church be as excellent as it can be.
Oh yeah - the name's Greg. Greg Wallace. But not the race car driver or the major league pitcher or the British celebrity chef. Just the creative worship guy. Hi.
It's my hope that these ideas, musings, rants, raves, etc... will inspire you. They're just my opinions - but again, I hope that they'll help to inspire you. Because the church really, really needs inspired creative types. If you're a creative type (and most people are, deep-down), ask God for help. Then take any ideas that are useful to you - borrow them, nab them, use them, adapt them - and make them into something greater...
You can head over to my Instagram site for an abundance of shorter posts: creativeworshipideas. If you're looking for consulting - especially on weekend services, team leadership or multi-site strategies - I'd love to help. Just message me here, and I'll be in touch - Greg
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