the blog of josiahmartin

You Left Me At The Altar by Carl Lentz

This is a reblog of a great article by Carl Lentz, pastor of HillsongNYC… the original article can be found here

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A safe bet in Hollywood is to make a movie that revolves around a wedding. The lead up to the wedding, the people involved in the wedding, most definitely the wedding itself. People love the romance, the intrigue, and the emotion… Funny thing about Hollywood though, is rarely has there been a blockbuster about MARRIAGE…also commonly known as “real life.” The marriage building, the ins and outs of actually making it work, for life, with two very different human beings. The way Hollywood sets things up, it looks like the wedding is the destination…Normally the movie will end after the vows, the drama, the near breakup… so you leave the theatre thinking “Wow. They made it!” Happily ever after…as if marriage is a giant emotional EVENT…But, most couples will tell you that only after the fact and normally after you’ve wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars on stuff you DEFINITELY did not need (was the ice sculpture of the swan at the reception REALLY needed?!) The wedding was the easy part and only the beginning…

A common church-rallying cry is “We are a SOUL-WINNING church!” Or “We had 1,234 decisions for Jesus this week!!” And although it’s great to hear that, see that, say that and spread the word about that (we do and will continue to do so…) I think the culture we create about people meeting Jesus is similar to the culture Hollywood is creating about marriage. The actual “decision event” can be exciting, captivating, memorable and EMOTIONAL. It’s our “wedding.” What we end up getting is tears at the altar, a truly repentant individual beginning an explosive new life, the Christian friend who has been praying for years can now cross off that name on their “friends I’m praying for” list, the pastor can publicize the victory and over the loud speakers we play Jay-Z’s song “On to the next one.” (All churches play Jay-Z in their services, right? Right??) But the issue is that the event itself can be so good, we can be tempted to buy the illusion that the job is done.

It’s like the picture of the bride and groom AFTER the wedding: The crowd is gone, the people standing with you at the altar are gone, the DJ has packed up his equipment and you have two relatively under-equipped newlyweds riding off into the sunset…sure, there are things you are more than ready to do (HELLO!!)… But for the most part, as newlyweds, you realize quickly that what you just got involved with was MUCH more than you ever imagined…for better or for worse…

What if churches could not be accused of “leaving people at the altar”? At Hillsong NYC, it’s a major focal point and passion. We have had a hurricane of activity here in NYC - our first few months of regular services. Miracles everywhere you look. One in particular: We have seen over 800 decisions by people to follow Jesus Christ since we began. 800!! That is supernatural grace; we thank God for it and we do not for one second, downplay its significance. However, we are not here to make decisions. We are here to make disciples.

And it could be said that as our generation ushers in a soul-winning revival like history has never seen, we need to “re-vamp the system.” Standard church reaction to a new decision is to offer classes, give away a bible and encourage people to get connected into some good relationships. All are great in and of themselves and ABSOLUTELY essential. But, much like newlyweds need more than a class (which too often is a meeting that is the EXACT opposite of the meeting they made a decision at…) and a “marriage for dummies” book, new followers of Jesus need everything we have to offer at all times. And the wake-up call for the ages? The problem is also the answer. The answer is that the best ‘new Christian follow-up plan’ of all time is another human being. The problem, is that these human beings, you, me…Christians who have been on the journey for awhile, have lives that are just a little bit too busy, far too often, to fit these new believers into our lives. With our words we say ‘it’s the most important thing’. With our priority, we prove it’s ‘just another thing’.

It’s so much easier to tell ourselves that the New Christian class will work, Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life book will answer some of the confusing stuff and at the end of the day, the Holy Spirit is the only one who can REALLY change somebody, right? I think Jesus would probably say “Wrong.” He was pretty clear when He said, “Go and MAKE disciples.” The Holy Spirit equips us to do the job, but the job is still OUR JOB. That word “make” is loaded. Feel free to go trace back the original word used and study the full meaning. The power of another follower of Jesus walking out the decision ‘event’ into the sanctification aftermath with this brave individual is indescribable… and there is no substitute. The conversations, the shoulder to cry on, the sounding board to bounce off doubt and confusion, the refuge of a relationship that is completely agenda-free and void of judgement…That’s what gets people through the twists and turns of this journey.

Have you ever heard a mom who lost her teenage son in a tragic accident say, “My new Christian class was my saving grace.” I haven’t either…The ones I do know talk about the PERSON WHO WAS THERE…

Have you ever heard of a new believer calling a book to come pick them up from a place they know they should not be at a 3am? I haven’t either. Most of the time, it’s my phone ringing. Or yours…Unless they happen to catch us ‘after office hours.’ You know, during family time or ‘me time’ or ‘getting away with God for personal refreshment’ time - in which case our phones are on silent - and that newlywed on the other end is left to figure this thing out SOLO…Is there balance to all this? Perhaps…But I think it’s safe to say I’d rather err on the side of being just a little bit too available than the opposite. Those of us who have been rescued, literally, at some point by an available friend would probably agree with me on that one…but it brings to light that persistent, inconvenient truth: a soul-winning revival can get really uncomfortable…

We will continually challenge our church here in NYC to not leave people at the altar. To stop asking the church to do the job of the Christian. Our church will provide the classes (they will be innovative and different!! That’s for sure…) we will give away the bibles, we will celebrate the event because IT IS important and those things offered around that moment are needed. But much like the white dress, the guests, the ice sculpture of the swan, the cheesy wedding DJ and the CAKE are important; the only thing that REALLY matters at a wedding is the vows. I think it could be said that the only thing that REALLY matters in this follow-up theology of a new believer, is personal ownership by fellow believers. I’m glad nobody left me at the altar… I’m glad somebody had the time to explain perplexing complexities of the Gospel to me. Don’t think I would have made it without those conversations. And our vision is to physically BE THERE for people who chose to pick up their cross and follow Jesus on the most unpredictable, spectacular journey this life has to offer…The rate of people walking away from their marriage is only rivalled by people walking away from their decision to follow Jesus. Something has to change. And that something, is most likely a “somebody”.

“Spread love, its the Brooklyn way.” -Notorious B.I.G
Carl Lentz and the Hillsong NYC team….