Teach Less for More

Over the last few years, I've come to believe that in our world of seemingly endless options, focus is more valuable than ever.  All in all, I think options are a good thing.  I think a world where people are driving a variety of different makes, models, and colors of cars is a better world than if everyone had to drive the same car.  I like to listen to a number of different styles of music although I do still believe that a world without country music would much more palatable.  (Incidentally: I'm currently forming a series called "Why God?" that will address the questions people have about belief and I'm seriously wrestling with the question of how a good God could allow country music and cats.)

On the other hand, when we live in a world of so many options, people expect options in every area of life.  For instance the question, "How can Jesus be the only way to God?" is a natural question in a world like ours.  Options give us control.  Everything's a buffet.

But I guess that brings up some very important questions:  Aren't there some things that all humans have in common--or at least all people in our city?  Don't we have to assume that in general, when a person breaks his arm or has an infection or gets cancer, that there are some tried and true ways to treat him that also works for other people.  While doctors can do some individualization of treatment, there has to be something people have in common that we can study and assume that if it worked in one person, it could work in another human as well.

Leading a church can be an overwhelming experience.  Even within a church of a hundred people, there will be a hundred different opinions and likes and dislikes and gifts and backgrounds and...and...and...  It's enough to make your head spin. 

A couple of weeks ago, I was reading a book by Andy Stanley, a pastor and author from the Atlanta area.  As he's giving advice for leading a church one of the principles he cites is to "teach less for more impact."  His reasoning is that we often try to please everyone and end up pleasing no one.  What's more important is to determine what's important for people to learn and teach that.  Rather than trying to address every minute detail we could possibly address, just teach the important stuff.

There's some Biblical precedent for this, too.  Jesus was very simple in His teachings.  He didn't address every single possible sin people could commit or write and exhaustive treatise on theology.  He knew He only had a short amount of time (three years) to teach people everything they should know from God incarnate.  So when He was asked to boil down all the Old Testament teachings, He said, "Love God with everything you've got and love your neighbor as you love yourself."  That's what God wants.  Simple, but not easy.

So as I thought about that concept, if I can only teach a few things to people in my church and in my community of Minneapolis at this particular time in history and this particular cultural environment, what would those things be.  To be honest, this was a pretty fun exercise for me.  I'm sure I'll have to do a lot more thinking on this, but I wanted to share a few things I came up with.  Over the next few days (or weeks) that's what I'll do.  As I said, the list isn't fully formed.  If I took more time to refine the list there might be some different things I would choose and maybe some of these things wouldn't make the list, but I'll share what I have so far.

I'll start with the list in my next post, but here are some things you probably won't find me spending much time on:

• End times prophecy.  I think we have a habit of misusing the book of Revelation and if anyone thinks they can understand the book of Revelation with any degree of certainty, I think they're half-crazy.  Once everything plays out, then I'll talk more about it.
• Peripheral theological debates like Calvinism vs. Arminianism, particular denominational disagreements, politics or the theology of the political parties.
• The latest Christian novel (or fictionalized history)
• Star Trek (I just thought I'd throw that one in there)

My goal in my teaching is for people to get to know Jesus because I believe Him when He says He sets us free.  I believe Jesus is truth and that truth is simple and focused and has the ability to cut through all the distractions of life and penetrate our hearts.  When we center our lives on Jesus, everything else begins to come into focus.  As always, I'm very interested in some interaction with you.