The Beautiful Scandal

In the last few weeks, I've really struggled to keep a consistent tone on my blog... writing about the usual church planting strategies, outreach plans and leadership insights.

Satan has been rocking the worlds of people in our church. Oppressing their lives. Deflating their spirits. Bringing addictions to a head. Giving them close calls with death or financial ruin.

This has left me with sleepless nights and no answers. Matt and I committed to praying together every single morning starting last Tuesday... and we haven't stopped.

I'll be honest... in times like this, I have no use for church growth podcasts or leadership conferences. I don't care what the message graphics look like at Granger or Life Church. And I'm trying to remember what it felt like to worry only about volunteer schedules.

This war-torn condition is knocking-off our leaders, our attendance, and any polished image I've tried to project here.

More than ever, I'm feeling the agonizing pressure of Paul's daily concern for the church. But in a beautifully scandalous way, it's starting to feel like we're truly doing church... for the first time ever.

How do fast-growing churches not deal with this stuff? How do the extra-marital affairs get swept under the rug? How do the addictions get overlooked? How do the personal tragedies not crush their leaders?

How tragic if we're doing church, but never experiencing these things. But how even more scandalous if we're not acknowledging them in favor of glam church.

Comments

[Russell Knight]

Praying for you and your people Ben. As I read the post, I found myself nodding my head as I can relate to times of spiritual warfare in our own church.

[Gary]

Hey bro, welcome to reaching lost people. :)

Though I am very curious as to why you think "fast growing churches don't deal with this stuff?"

I know for us we have dealt with this stuff every day since the day we launched. I could toe to toe with anyone on stories like you have just shared.

Trust me, fast growing churches do deal with this stuff and they handle it.

Praying for you dude!

[Stuart]

Saddle up cowboy! (I have no idea what that means!) But I do believe that you're going to make it! Seriously...I'm believing the best for you and RCC.

Ok so here's an interesting discussion because fast growing church definately deal with this stuff. If you're reaching the unchurched and dechurched, you get this crap. Shoot, if you're dealing with the churched and you're honest, you get this! However, I think the question is how consuming is it in fast growing churches? AND...is that good or bad. We've got our fair share of stories, but it CAN'T consume me / us becuase of the other things that are consuming. Not sure if that's good or bad!?!

[Jason]

This may be one of the best entries I have read from you! Thank you for being so open and honest! Praying for you tonight!

[laura coxworth]

My heart goes out to your people. I have read your blog for about 6 months and I enjoy it. You are clearly passionate about every aspect of ministry. The fact that YOU are personally shepherding your people through these situations doesn't surprise me at all. It comes through in what you choose to write about-always people and their impact and your mission for them.

I am praying for your people now.

[Nolan Bobbitt]

Ben, God bless you for doing the real work of ministry. It is mentally and physically exhausting but the Lord has put you in your church to lead through a crisis like this. I will be praying for healing in you and Matt as you lead through this crisis time at RCC. Thank you for being open enough to share.

[Ben Arment]

thanks so much for the comments and e-mails. wow. there are too many points to address, but I'm encouraged by all of you, and I'm so glad to hear that spiritual warfare isn't unique to our church. although i guess i shouldn't be happy about that. =)

[Jessi]

Chiming in a bit late apparently, but just wanted to say how much I agree with the above comments...this is by far the BEST blog post I've read, not only on here, but on many of the blogs I read. We too are wading through crap, and as a small church plant, it SEEMS like the 'big' guys are totally removed from the struggles we are in (sometimes I can't fathom how people can focus on podcasts, making movie trailers for the next series and schedule a year's worth of messages when we are struggle to deliver a message that is going to impact people for where they are at THIS WEEK!). I take great encouragement from your post today. Thanks.