The Church And Her Place In The World

This blog post is Part 1 of a series entitled "State of the Church" by Pastor Jeffrey Dean Smith of Donelson First in Nashville, TN. 

Message Date: September 24, 2023

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There are those messages that you can hear from time to time and be able to say, “That was a great message, but it wasn’t for me. Jeffrey was speaking to someone else.” Well... I do not know if today’s message is great. What I can tell you... this message is for you. As a matter of fact, turn to someone and say: In heaven... there will be no cheese! Seriously... turn to someone and say: Today’s message... is for you. Today’s message... is for me!

Floods in Nigeria kill at Least 612 in November 2022. South African Flooding kills over 500 in April. Pakistan floods kill at least 1,739 early this year. An earthquake in Afghanistan kills 1,100 in June. Another earthquake kills at least 334 in Indonesia. Tropical Storm Megi kills at least 214 in the Philippines. Floods kill 230 in Brazil. A drought has killed 200 in East Africa. Flooding in India kills 200 and another 300 in Afghanistan. At least 4,000 have died due to flooding in Libya just 2 weeks ago. The War in Ukraine has presently created the world’s largest displacement crisis. 6.5 million Ukrainians have been displaced inside the country. Another 7.8 million refugees have scattered outside of the country and throughout Europe. In the country of Haiti, political instability and gang violence are at an unprecedented level following the assassination of President Moise in 2021. Armed gangs control all of the main distribution routes, causing shortage of basic goods and fuel. And in Syria, over a decade of war has destroyed Syria’s health system and left the country on the brink of economic collapse. Currently, 75 percent of Syrians are unable to meet their most basic needs and millions rely daily on humanitarian aid.

For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. Matthew 24:5-9

It seems almost weekly we hear the news of tragic events such as floods and earthquakes and tornadoes and horrific storms. We too know that the sale and distribution of drugs has completely changed the trafficking landscape in our nation. Drug cartels now profit, profit, over $29 billion annually in the U.S. alone. It is estimated that there are presently more than 50 million young girls in sex slave trade globally. There too seems to be a weekly tragedy somewhere in America of a mass killing. More than 25,000 people have been killed in America this year in public mass killings. Some of America’s finest men and women, our police officers, are being targeted, as we know of several officers killed this week alone totaling 272 officers killed since the beginning of the year. The struggle for power continues to turn country against country. There are presently civil wars in the countries of Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Libya, Mali, Somalia, South Sudan, and Syria.

The love of money continues to turn people against people. The pursuit for happiness and sex and ecstasy and a so-called “fresh start” continues to turn husband against wife and wife against husband. Now 1 in 4 U.S. children live in a home with no father. So very many kids are addicted to porn and video games and Tik Tok. Teen pregnancies are at an all-time high. And, at the expense of a life, there are many fighting harder for a woman’s rights than for the sanctity of the unborn. More kids now smoke marijuana than do graduate from college. Our children are being taught at young ages that gender is a choice, and “you are who you feel you are.” We seem to now be in this place in society where there are no more guardrails clearly establishing right from wrong in the eyes of the world. What a world we’ve become!

There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God - having a form of godliness but denying its power. 2 Timothy 3:1-5

Scripture clearly outlines that chaos and blood, and wars and tragedies are all a part of God’s plan, and all have to happen before Jesus returns to take home His Church.

However, does this mean we are to passively wait and watch? I believe, “No!” We have discussed before the final words Jesus offers before ascending to heaven: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20

These words are for us, the Church, to receive and then to allow such words to enliven our hearts to both inspire us to reach this world for Christ and, too, to break our hearts for those who do not know our Savior as friend and Lord. Earlier in His ministry, followers of Jesus questioned Him: “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” Luke 13:23

Rather than answer directly, Jesus gave this warning: Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ Luke 13:24-25

The same devastating and frightening truth is revealed in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus states here that many, many will be lost for eternity, and the gate to eternal life in heaven is narrow and only a few find it. Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. Matthew 7:13

It is clear that many more humans who walk this planet will spend an eternity in hell than will spend an eternity in heaven. Yet today there seems to be a call among the Church to become more inclusive; to avoid those areas of Scripture that are, what some would label, controversial or divisive. There is too a widespread call among the Church to make the narrow gate more wide and to accept all under the banner of grace and compassion. At a time when church attendance continues to tick downward, many say that the only way to make Christianity more appealing is to move the markers – to be more inclusive; to become more affirming. In short, to redeem culture we are to become more as culture. 

Additionally, we have become a society of people who use our own judgement and emotions and convictions as our point of reference for what is right and tolerable and respectable. And anyone who doesn’t align with similar opinions, are simply viewed as hateful, wrong, and intolerant. Now before you settle in your mind that this is merely the way of the world, let me point out that this too is precisely what so very many do within the Church. Of course, each of us carries with us views and opinions and traditions and strong, often very strong, expectations as to what Church should be - - how we should worship; the way in which a church should be managed; what the color of a wall should be; what style of songs should be acceptable... I am not so sure that this is necessarily wrong... as long as such views do not become idols to us. The problem arises when one allows these views and opinions and traditions to be a “deal breaker” when choosing a church, supporting a church, and becoming involved serving in a church.

Sadly, for many, the response is: When Church is something else than what it is I perceive and conceive and believe it should be, my “go to” is to complain and gossip and, sadly, as I have seen happen here since arriving as Pastor, there are those who leave in search of the Church that checks all the right boxes I have fashioned in my heart. This saddens me. I become truly saddened when I hear of anyone leaving our Church. We are not a perfect Church. And I am not a perfect Pastor. I am not a perfect husband. I am not a perfect father. I am not a perfect friend. But... I know GOD HAS ME HERE for this time as Senior Pastor of Donelson First. I know God has given me a vision and clarity of mind and passion of heart for this time here at Donelson First. I am fully confident that I have been called to this church for this season to be used by God for His glory. You guys know that I wear my passions on my sleeve! I am super passionate about this Church and reaching the lost and having a very noticeable and necessary impact on this community. I am excited about where we are as a Church. I too am broken and saddened over the state of the world and her actions and lifestyles and addictions and darkness.

The state of the world: The world is lost. It has been since the choice of Adam and Eve. And to follow the way of the world is to follow death.

The state of the Church: We have some work to do; a lot of work to do. We have to let the world know that the way to the kingdom of God is narrow. We have to let the world know that there is a cost to following Jesus.

I want to outline a plan for you of where we are going the next few weeks. This week, I want to offer an overview as I present the State of the Holy Church. Next week, I am going to talk specifically about the State of Donelson First. And then the following week I will discuss a vision for Donelson First as we look to 2024. This morning I want to offer 3 things the Church must understand as she remains steadfast and vigilant: 

1. The Church must move past the mantra that we are to be an alternative that is more appealing and engaging and alluring than the world.

This is a lie. This is false teaching. And such a mantra can be a slippery slope of leading a church in the direction of always wanting to appear as the world. Nowhere in Scripture do we read that Jesus came to offer an alternative that is to be more alluring to the world. Instead, we read over and again the opposite teachings from the Scripture:

Look at what Paul wrote to say to young Timothy: You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings...2 Timothy 3:1-11

And, as we have discussed before, Jesus said this: I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. John 16:33a

Jesus also said this: If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. John 15:18-21

Look, there is not much appealing and alluring about persecution, pain, blood and death. Think about it: Mostly every follower of Jesus in the New Testament died a horrific death. The way of Christ is atrociously and incessantly difficult. The narrow road is not more appealing. The gate leading to the heavenly kingdom is not engaging nor alluring. Such a journey is one marred with pain and rejection and condemnation and sacrifice, exceptionally tremendous sacrifice.

For the follower of Christ, there is not a cross to carry that is light.

For me to teach otherwise would simply be false teaching. Secondly, too the Church must understand:

2. The Church has become less appealing to the world because the Church has become in so very many ways as the world.

1 Corinthians 5:6-8

Paul is referencing the Passover that took place in Egypt when God’s people were under the harsh rule of the Pharoah. Paul is writing here to the Church and specifically addressing sinful behavior among the Church and how it can infect the entire Church if gone unchecked and properly disciplined.

Leaven = fermented dough that begins the fermentation process in a new batch of dough.

Tolerating a church member’s sinful behavior is like leaven that infects the entire dough. Initially, and maybe even for quite some time, such actions and behaviors can go unnoticed and appear innocent. If not addressed, the leaven eventually manifests itself as routine and acceptable. Such a spiritual infection eventually perverts the entire church body. The effects are obvious. Notice the reference Paul makes to the Passover Lamb. This is a really important visual for us that dates back to the Israelites exodus from Egypt.

Exodus 12:14-20

Why does God command that His people not eat the yeast? God chooses to make the correlation between yeast and the old way of life for His followers; between yeast and their years of captivity before He fulfills His promise and offers His people a new way and a new life. Thus He commands that they go without yeast, without the leaven, and remember their new life in Him. So Paul is reminding the Church of Corinth of the dangers of allowing the leaven to remain among the unleavened. We see from Paul’s words that God takes extremely seriously how the Church is to separate herself from the world!

If the leaven remains... It is only a matter of time before the unleavened becomes as the leaven... and the two cannot be differentiated. The end result – the two are so closely related there is nothing distinguishing the leaven from the unleavened. So too is the impact sin has upon the Church. Therefore, I am presenting this challenge for us today Donelson First.

Let me examine my life with a contrite heart to remove my personal leaven and to journey into the new with Jesus.

Donelson First is a church journeying to be a new church... We are in Operation: Let’s Get Ready. We are reorganizing. We are rethinking. We are refocusing. We are renovating. We are rebuilding. Let us too reposition our hearts and minds and attitudes and priorities and traditions and mission and focus and strategy as we strive to, rather than be as the world, to be a new Church best positioned to reach the world.

3. The Church must be steadfast in proclaiming how difficult, how very difficult it is to fully empty oneself to the ways of Christ.

There should be no smokescreen to the ways of full surrender when it comes to living the Christian faith. We do not serve well the body of Christ nor the authenticity of Christ’s words when we create the façade that the life of the Christian is one for the faint of heart. To live is Christ is the hardest thing I will ever do while I am on this planet.

Last week, I presented these extremely difficult words that Paul spoke: For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

I am not so sure that I have come to such a place in realizing the fullness of surrender. Have you? Maybe an even more critical question for us each this morning: Do I want to realize the fullness of surrender in my life?

Jesus, while speaking about full surrender, said this: Matthew 19:16-30

As it relates to the Church and her position in the world, this must be my greatest accolade at Donelson First: To empty oneself of the “what I want Church to be” mantra. Let me ask you to answer this question for yourself: Have I come to a place of dying to self for the sake of Christ in the Church?

As your Pastor, I do not take lightly what I am about to say. I say this knowing full well I might not make many friends with such statements. My comments are not necessarily about this church. Instead, they are spoken as a statement about the Holy Church of God so that we can recognize the leaven, if present, and then choose, as Moses commanded, “get rid of the yeast” among us. We know this about the Church today: Within the Church, there is prevalent dysfunction and pride and lust and jockey for power. Many within the Church talk more about the things they don’t like than the things they do like. Church has been put into a box where there is a battle over old songs and new songs and whether the lights should be off or on during worship. Church folk often pick and choose a church on the conditions of whether or not hymns are sung, choirs are in the loft, and whether a pastor wears a coat and tie or skinny jeans. Deacons often talk more about wanting control than wanting to evangelize the community. Many church attendees have the mindset: What can church do for me rather than, “How can I best use my skill sets and passions for the building up of the Body of Christ?”

I am reminded of the words of the disciples of Jesus after hearing His teachings in John 6:60. Why do they believe this is hard to hear? John 6:52-58. Heck yea this is hard! This is really hard. What is Jesus saying? Let me place His words in the English language:

Unless you empty yourself to My ways, you have no life in you.

Look again at His words in: John 6:53. Unless you empty yourself to selfishness, you have no life in you. Unless you empty yourself to tradition, you have no life in you. Unless you empty yourself to comforts, you have no life in you. Unless you empty yourself to what you want life to be, you have no life in you. Unless you empty yourself to what you want the Church to be, you have no life in you. Unless you empty yourself to all, you have no life in you.

We don’t have many verses documenting for us the ways of the early New Testament church in Scripture. So what we do have, we pause to fully grasp the fullness of its meaning in Scripture. Read with me: Acts 2:42-45

These church folk did whatever was necessary to reach people – whatever was necessary. Look at what Peter says earlier in: Acts 2:36-37

Cut / Greek/ katanyssomai = minds made up; a healthy furor to the point of conviction

Church, until we get here, cut to the heart, with minds made up with a healthy furor, we will never fully be the alternative the world needs.

I’ll never forget shortly after arriving here at Donelson First. I had not been here but a few weeks when a lady stopped in my office to bring me cookies. I was so very thankful, especially because they were chocolate chip. After some small talk, she said to me, “Why do you wear white tennis shoes when you preach?” I thought she was joking. She went on to say... “We are all still trying to figure out what we think about you... I’m not sure that we like those shoes.” (I was so taken back by her words... I really didn’t know what to say.) Then she told me she was leaving to go worship at another church down the street. It would be only a few weeks later when I would be questioned about why we moved some bushes out of the courtyard. (Which we did by the way so that you all can actually sit out there and meet and talk and pray and connect.) In the months to come I recall comments to me about paint colors, and preaching with my shirt untucked, and why I choose to have a mic on my ear rather than hold it in my hand and why I drive a nice expensive truck and why I have a TV hanging in my office and even why are we renovating the social hall and do we really need landscaping around the buildings and why we proudly celebrate the great state of Tennessee and paint a TN mural on a wall.... and, I could go on and on...

When you hear me say these things... it sounds sad, does it not? It sounds petty, does it not? It’s pretty embarrassing, is it not? I too recall several pastor friends telling me, “Get ready. People are gonna complain and people are going to hug your neck and then walk away and talk about you behind your back. It’s just the way church folk are.” I’ve heard this so very many times... “It’s just the way Church is!” Really? Why? Why do we settle for this? Why do we accept this? Why do we just excuse sin and pride and arrogance and selfishness and bitterness and jealousy and tradition? I tell you, as your Pastor, I will never settle for this! I will never accept that this is “it’s just the way Church is!” And I am asking that you do not either! And in order for you to not be satisfied with this way of doing Church too, it requires a very hard and intimate and personal act of self-reflection!

Let us never settle. Let us never compromise. Let us never excuse sin and pride and arrogance and selfishness and bitterness and jealousy and tradition. Let us expect more. Let us hold each other accountable. Let us have tough conversations with grace. Let us push one another to be better. Let us desire holiness. Let us anticipate goodness. Let us expect revival. Let us each work and strive and toil and fight to live is Christ.

The Church is best positioned to reach the world when the Church sees the world through selfless eyes and broken hearts for those desperate for salvation.

Time is not on the side of humanity. To live is Christ is to live with anticipation that today is my last day to share Jesus with another. Here is what is exciting about a message like this... You get to decide what to do with what you have heard! I choose to hear today’s message as a direct dagger to my selfishness and pride and sin and say...

God change me. God choose me. God use me.

But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. Therefore keep watch because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Matthew 24:36-44

The State of the Church is strong because: Donelson First is a church who understands she does not exist to maintain personal comforts. Instead she exists to fulfill her mission to “Go.”

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Jeffrey Dean Smith is a husband, father to Bailey & Brynnan, author, and the Senior Pastor at Donelson First in Nashville, TN. If you are in Music City, meet Jeffrey and enjoy iced tea on the front lawn each Sunday at 10:30a.