Detox . . . for the Overly Religious Over time, Christian people can run the risk of becoming “too religious”—too wrapped up in programmatic church activities and less focused on Christ alone. In response, David Putman (Breaking the Missional Code) has written a new book detailing twenty-one ways to reinstate the centrality of Jesus into our daily lives. Divided into three action-ready topical areas (Live like Jesus, Love like Jesus, Leave What Jesus Left Behind), Putman offers what he calls “detox for the overly religious.” Here is a chance for you, your small group, or your entire church to lose religion and rediscover Jesus—simple and yet profound, and all we really need. | |
Breaking the Discipleship Code Ed Stetzer and David Putman’s popular church leadership book Breaking the Missional Code is helping pastors and ministry staff to guide their collective congregations toward becoming missionaries in their communities. But the need remains for this concept to be further defined at an individual level. Breaking the Discipleship Code, written this time by Putman with a foreword from Stetzer, opens the door to a greater understanding of what it means to personally be a missional follower of Jesus in relation to every aspect of our changing world. Balancing cultural relevance with biblical faithfulness, the book invites ordinary believers, whether on Wall Street or in a Waffle House, next door or across the ocean, to begin having an extraordinary spiritual impact in their unique context. Endorsements: “A timely reminder of our most important task: making disciples.”
—Mark Batterson, author of In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day
“If you lead the disciple-making process of a local church or simply long to be a disciple of Jesus, read Breaking the Discipleship Code to discover how to live like Jesus, love like Jesus, and leave behind what Jesus left behind.”
—Dave Ferguson, coauthor of The Big Idea
| |
Breaking the Missional Code Across North America, many pastors are excited to see churches growing as they achieve their mission to connect the message of the gospel with the community at large. Still others are equally frustrated, following the exact same model for outreach but with lesser results. Indeed, just because a "missional breakthrough" occurs in one place doesn’t mean it will happen the same way elsewhere. One size does not fit all, but there are cultural codes that must be broken for all churches to grow and remain effective in their specific mission context. Breaking the Missional Code provides expert insight on church culture and church vision casting, plus case studies of successful missional churches impacting their communities. "We have to recognize there are cultural barriers (in addition to spiritual ones) that blind people from understanding the gospel," the authors write. "Our task is to find the right way to break through those cultural barriers without removing the spiritual and theological ones." |
Life Giving Leader
As leaders we are either givers or takers. We give life or we take like. I know this sounds hard, but it’s the truth. Those who take from others are always trying to get others to do their stuff their way. Those who give life believe in people and want to lead them to success and significance. Here is a simple acrostic from life giving leader Billy Hornsby. You can find it in his book Success for the Second in Command.
L – Love people
E – Encourage people
A- Affirm people and add value
D- Delegate In order to develop
E- Exemplify the type of people you want others to be.
R- Respect everybody
S- Be wiling to serve people
H-Humble yourself
I – I may not have the best idea
P – Practice what you say you value
Be A LIfe Giver!
What gives you life?
Jesus said, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10). One way the thief robs us of the life God intends for us to have is religion. Religion is our attempt to earn God’s approval or attempt to live up to the expectations of others. The Gospel or Good News is we already have God’s approval. We are accepted. We no longer have to do anything to earn his approval. There is now no condemnation (see Romans 8).
Excuse me while I dance!
This one reality changes everything. You may wonder if we don’t have to do anything to get’s God’s approval or acceptance then what is going to keep us on the narrow road. Love! When you have been loved by God well and begin to understand that love you can’t help but love him back. Your motivation for everything changes.
When your motivation is right, everything is right! When you motivation is wrong, everything is wrong. Grace is the ultimate expression of God’s love. It encapsulates everything good. It changes our lives and the more we experience it the more it changes our lives.
Unfortunately religion and religious people seek to assert control over their environment and the people around them. How do I know? I did it for years. It wasn’t until I went through the journey that led to the writing of Detox that I realized this. I got born again. The first time I got born again it was from sin. This time I got born again from religion.
With this new birth my life is changing. I’m like a baby learning to walk once again without the props of religion. God is changing everything about me, expecially my motivation. He is changing the way I view him. He is changing the way I view my relationships. He is changing the reason I do what I do. He is even changing my relationships. He is closing old chapters and opening new ones.
Yesterday I spent my day with one of the most life giving groups of followers I know. I am so thankful for my new friends at ARC (Association of Related Churches). They are lead by Billy Hornsby and they plant life giving churches. It’s easy to plant life giving churches when you are life giving. I am so grateful for these new friends.
We all can experience the life giving presence of Jesus. That’s what he does. He gives us life. Jesus invites us to “come follow him”. This is our invitation to life. Following Jesus is something that is possible because he has given us himself 24/7 through his Spirit. God dwells in us and all around us. The Kingdom is full of life. We are invited into his Kingdom.
We believe, but are we following Jesus life giving way? If your life is complicated and weighted down by the yoke of religion why not Detox. That’s what I did. Read through the Gospels focusing on Jesus’ life giving ways. Maybe reading about my journey will help you alone the way. Pick up a copy of Detox for the Overly Religious. Most importantly get around life giving people. Connect with a life giving church. Don’t worry when you find life giving people and life giving churches you will know it. They will give you life. Last, but not least be a life giver.
Peace!
Recap….so much for twitter!
The last few days have been really busy doing things and spending time with people I really love.
Monday I drove to SC where I spent the evening with my parents. Whenever I go home my dad always cooks me a steak and treats me like a king. He’s been doing this since he welcomed me home as a prodigal over 30 years ago.
On Tuesday I made my way to Conway, SC where I spent a day working with Kevin Child’s Pastor of The Rock, a church he planted five years ago and has over 500 people attending every weekend in a high school. They love people who need a new story and are seeing tons of people have the gospel rewrite their lives.
Left Conway and made my way to Fayetteville, NC where I meet up with my son where he’s stationed as part of the 82nd Airborne. Dave is getting out in the next couple of months and just returned in the last 30 or so days from 10 months in Afghanistan. We had an awesome meal at Carrabba and he paid. It was awesome and I returned the favor the next morning at the Waffle House (well sort of). You tell me who got the best end of that deal.
I was back home today (Wednesday). Had an awesome hike up a Mountain just a few miles from our house with my best friend and wife Tami.
Tomorrow I have a live interview on my book, Detox for the Overly Religious with Char Binkley of WBCL Radio. Join us at tomorrow July 15, 2010 at 9:05AM to catch us live (http://www.wbcl.org/MidMorningCurrentWeek.asp).
On Friday I get to hang out with the guys at ARC talking about how to help young fast growing churches maximize their spiritual impact. I can’t wait to hang out with Billy Hornsby and his awesome team. Then back home to hang out with friends and family.
Thanks Lord!
You Might be too religious if…
Let’s have some fun. After all, us religious types are way to serious. You might be too religious if…
- You keep a small New Testament in your toolbox. Years ago I really had one in my toolbox.
- You think I should still have it in my toolbox.
- You take your suit and tie on your beach vacation so you can attend a local church.
- You think those who didn’t go back to church on your beach vacation for the evening service are going to hell or at least backslidden. This actually happened.
- You wear a suit and tie to church period.
- You think I am going to hell because I don’t wear a suit and tie.
- You have a bumper stick on your 69 VW that reads, “Hallelujah, What A Savior! He’s coming! Are you ready?” I loved that car.
What about your overly religious moments? Take a moment to laugh at yourself others…already have!
Discipleship and Door Greeters
Our ecclesiology or understanding of the church has a huge implication for discipleship. If we see church as an attractional place to observe, then our disciples are going to resemble after school help in movie-theater consisting of a few greeters and concession stand workers.
On the other hand if you see the church as an extension of the living and breathing body of Jesus it makes all the difference in the world. Disciples in this context are transformed from ordinary fishermen to fishers of men. Infused with new life, hope, dreams, passions, and commitment they are compelled to live like Jesus, love like Jesus, and leave what Jesus left behind. When confronted with hunger they respond because Jesus responds. When they encounter an enemy they turn the other cheek, go the extra mile, and give away their coat. When reports of an earthquake come across the air they mount an all out relief effort. When children are abandoned they become their adopted parents. When their neighbor is alone they sit with them. When blessed they become the one who blesses in return. When given power they use this power to help those who can’t help themselves. They are in process. They are discovering a new kind of righteousness. They are alive. Boredom is far removed from their life. They are filled with His Spirit and infused with power. They are alive. They are on fire.
Jesus declares them blessed and invites them into their reward.
There’s nothings wrong with greeters and doorkeepers, especially when they are holding the door open for people as they leave the church fully alive and fully engaged as the body of Christ.
Email:
Tim Jordan, B&H Publishing Group
David Putman
Follow David Putman on twitter...
Schedule David to speak at your event...
Detox for the Overly Religious: $14.99
  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
About the Author
David Putman is a pastor at Mountain Lake Church in Atlanta, Georgia, where he focuses on growing the church’s impact in its community... |
More Books
Breaking the Discipleship Code Balancing cultural relevance with biblical faithfulness, the book invites ordinary believers to begin having an extraordinary spiritual impact in their unique context.
|
DavidPutmanLive.comRead the latest post: Read more of David's blog at DavidPutmanLive.com |
|
Copyright ©2009 B&H Publishing Group