What kind of picture is that? A true to life one by Russell Monk. When we first moved to Mexico, we noticed something that we still find hilarious. Roof dogs.
In the pueblos, the houses literally take up all of their lot lines. Many times it is just a slight step over to the next roof. Most houses are unfinished, they have a flat roof, with rebar sticking up several meters from the corners and small walls started. This is in hopes of one day building a second or even third floor. Some roofs have potted plants, some a palapa, most have nothing. Nothing but a few dogs.
These dogs provide security, an early warning system for thieves looking for a quick peso. Now, I am six feet tall, and sometimes as I walk by a low roof, all of a sudden, just a few inches above my head, comes ferocious barking, snotting, and snarling. I have to admit to jumping out of my skin a few times…in a manly, ninja-warrior way of course!
These dogs have been given this job. They have a little spot they control. In return, they get some tortillas and a bone thrown up there. Pretty tough from our way of thinking. They keep protecting though, it is their job and all they know.
Some of us might look up and feel a little sorry for them. Their whole world is this little house. They should be running on the beach, getting belly rubs, and creating new relationships with other people and dogs. But, the sum of their knowledge is the people that live there. Their tradition, handed from their mom to them, no one else is to come in, all outsiders are enemies unless vetted by the owners. That is the natural order of things. This is what dogs have done since the dawn of time. It is natural.
Well, that might be natural for a dog, but when a loving human enters in, a new owner as it were, and then as the owner, change the “nature” of things, that dog’s world can now be more than just the roof. It can be freedom, aloha, and Starbucks “pup cups”.
This in a sense is what Jesus has done for us. Our “nature” is to mistrust outsiders, close the gates to the world, and protect what is mine. Jesus came into our lives and Paul writes this:
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”.
So he is saying, “What is natural, you are to super it”, which comes from Latin, meaning, above, over, or beyond. Super is another way to say "the best" — you are above the rest, you are beyond the natural.
The natural is to focus on yourself and your feelings. As a Christian though, you are to super step off the roof and focus on the world.
My question today is, are you a roof dog in life or worse, at your church? Do you hold your little spot of power tightly, clique up or even have that special seat in a pew?
Are you more concerned with the people inside the building than those outside? Is your church inbred?
Do you rarely let new people in, and if so, very carefully, with trepidation? (They might want to change something, have new ideas even)
I read an article on this topic by Carey Nieuwhof a few weeks ago. It hit true to my heart because a few times in my ministries, either as a youth minister or as the lead pastor, complaints would revolve around me being too evangelistic, meaning I was reaching out to the community too much, (the outsiders) as opposed to shepherding the longtime church members. (The insiders) It is interesting, we always grew in vitality, depth, and numbers but that did not placate these types of roof dogs. Carey writes: “Declining churches focus on themselves. Growing churches focus on the people they’re trying to reach. If your leadership table conversations are all about the needs and wants of your members, it’s a sign that your church is insider-focused”.
The mission of the church is to reach the world. Growing churches not only know that; they live it.
The instability we are living in makes that difference even more pronounced. Some people and churches have moved into preservation mode. Others moved into mission.
In truth, the future belongs to those who moved into mission. A focus on the outside of your roof.
A question for you, who likes to hang out with selfish people? Sometimes selfish people end up in a very surprising place: leadership, though it is invariably toxic.
Ultimately, selfish people also end up with an audience of one.
Because a life devoted to self ultimately leaves you alone.
That’s also true for selfish churches.
There is a phrase, “preaching to the choir”. (Isn’t it funny that dying churches always seem to still have choirs?)
Sadly, more vibrant pastors have been killed off by choirs than personal sin.
Selfish people and churches also focus on their preferences. Kimo didn’t like the music. Allison thinks we’re not deep enough. Jon thinks our services are too short. Bill says he’ll never watch online.
And so the leaders respond, trying to please everybody.
Declining churches bend to the preferences of their members.
Growing people and churches don’t, they focus on the principles and strategies that will help them reach new people. It’s not that growing churches ignore the needs of their members, it’s that they realize the needs of their members are best fulfilled by making their lives about something bigger than their preferences (i.e. the mission).
Last point, growing people and churches are proactive. They choose their agenda and immediately take action on issues that can impact their future. If you never get around to charting a course for the future, you will have no future.
We should never settle as a roof dog. I also never want to be part of a church that is so focused on its “roof”, that it misses the rest of the world.
Nā Palena Kea was created for this purpose, to get our eyes off the little roof we claim in the world and connect, serve, and grow with others. When we look past our roof with Jesus’s eyes, only then do we live a purposeful and fulfilling life. We invite you to be part of this catalyst for change. This super change starts with you, let us assist.
Mahalo nui loa y Vaya con Dios.
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