the queen city epistle

Several weeks ago, I began praying for the city of Charlotte. Yes, in my ten years of living in the Queen City, this is actually the first time I’ve specifically prayed for the city of Charlotte. It started one morning when I read these words:

“Jesus pursued truth regardless of the implications or the consequences. He calls us to nothing less. He would have it no other way. It means to be true to the way of Jesus, you cannot follow with blind allegiance. You can never justify any belief or action where you consciously deny what is true, even if called to do so in the name of God.”

I’m embarrassed to write this - considering that I had been on staff part-time for 3 years with St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church, 3 years on staff full-time with Charlotte North Fellowship and now 1 year on staff with Key of David Ministries. It still astonishes me that this is the first time I have ever interceded in prayer specifically for the city of Charlotte. Through these times of prayer, I have come to realize I love this city – all of it. So, some thoughts…

In a city full of new church plants, established churches and much religious activity, my wife, Naida, and I still aren’t convinced that more churches will bring about the character transformation that must happen in Charlotte. The language utilized to communicate and convey the aspirations of the majority of churches in Charlotte seems to me to speak of quantitative growth and not qualitative growth. Whether they are meeting in a sanctuary, worship center, community center, school, movie theatrer or coffee house, etc. it really doesn’t matter if people aren’t following Jesus. In Charlotte, there are plenty of attractive churches that fill the seats of established sanctuaries, schools and movies theaters with relevant talks, up-beat music and a casual atmosphere but what I’m finding less-and-less is followers of Jesus. The term “followers of Jesus” in and of itself creates tension more so with Christians than with non-Christians. Why is that?

Today, many of our so-called leaders and pastors lead our churches not like fathers and/or mothers, but like C.E.O’s. We’ve exchanged wisdom for charisma. We’ve exchanged truth for relevancy. We’ve exchanged character for talent.

Has style blinded the men and women of vocational ministry from the substance of truly following Jesus?

My heart yearns for a community that is satisfied in the simple, daily choice of learning how to be comfortable in their own skin; truly knowing who they are and who they are becoming; truly knowing who God intended for them to be. It reminds me of a magazine ad I recently saw for Hennessy Cognac. They quoted actor John Leguizamo when he said: “Great character is being able to be yourself.”

How many more churches will start that use the byline of being a ‘different kind of church’ when in reality they are simply more of the same. Real difference isn’t in style or structure, it’s in the small, substantive transformation of people who come in contact with Jesus. We are called to demonstrate and announce the changing power of Jesus in our lives. So easily can our attention get pulled away to other important things when we lose our focus on the only thing that is worth focusing on – Jesus.

Naida and I learned the change that is created when a group of people center their lives on Jesus. That’s the irony of this letter to you all. We love the communities we have been a part of but not as much as we love Jesus. We’ve realized that we have a calling and yearning for community, but not in the forms and formula’s that we are currently witnessing all around us in Charlotte.

Neither Naida nor I really grew up in church, so we only know what we know. I wish I could write you and tell you specifically what we feel called to other than following Jesus, spending time with friends and inviting others into that, but I can’t.

It’s time for real transformation. Not only in our own lives, but in our thoughts and prayers for our city, Charlotte. As God creates our new life, we begin to get fresh visions for not only our own lives, but fresh visions for meeting the subjective needs of our city. That’s true creativity. Creating new opportunities for creating new lives. In my mind, that’s the creativity on earth as it is in heaven. New life begets new life.

I love my city. Father show us your heart for Charlotte. Make us a new people to meet the new and ever changing needs of this city.

Amen.