{"id":485,"date":"2008-12-17T17:12:50","date_gmt":"2008-12-17T22:12:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/redeeminggod.com\/?p=485"},"modified":"2014-06-07T08:18:14","modified_gmt":"2014-06-07T16:18:14","slug":"you-gotta-love-that-sht","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/redeeminggod.com\/you-gotta-love-that-sht\/","title":{"rendered":"You Gotta Love that Sh*t"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"churchI have been a long time reader of Chris Elrod’s blog<\/a>, and he recently announced his departure from the blogosphere. To say goodbye, I am posting one of his final posts below that all church planters (and all who are followers of Jesus), should read. I strongly encourage you to also go and browse his archives (which are still active).<\/p>\n

You will be missed Chris! (2014 Update… It looks like he’s back<\/a>)<\/p>\n

You Gotta Love that Sh*t<\/strong>
\n<\/a>by Chris Elrod<\/p>\n

Curse words are just words \u2026 but oh what a tapestry of division they can weave.  <\/p>\n

Recently I was meeting in a restaurant with some other church leaders.  Sitting near us were two truck drivers that were cussing up a storm in their conversation.  In between f-words and a-words one of the guys said REAL LOUD\u2026 \u201cYou gotta love that sh*t!\u201d  <\/p>\n

That was the final straw for one of the pastors at our table and he asked the waitress if we could move to a different location \u2026 because he was offended by the language of the men.  <\/p>\n

That\u2019s when it hit me \u2026 some people are offended by cussing \u2026 but it\u2019s music to my ears.  When I hear cussing \u2026 I hear people far from God.  When I hear people far from God \u2026 I hear an opportunity to make an impact for the Kingdom of God.<\/p>\n

I seriously don\u2019t understand \u201cleaders\u201d that plant churches that appeal to themselves.  I don\u2019t understand \u201cleaders\u201d that plant churches to reach other church people.  I really don\u2019t understand \u201cleaders\u201d that plant churches with no real heart to reach people far from God.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t get me wrong \u2026 reaching people far from God is messy.  <\/p>\n

They cuss \u2026 they have serious issues \u2026 they smell \u2026 they drink \u2026 they live lifestyles that are at times really repulsive.  Reaching people far God also means going to places that church folks have been taught not to go.  People FAR<\/strong> from God do not hang out in Starbucks or Junior League meetings \u2026 they hang out in bars, porn shops, downtown streets, bowling allies, courtrooms, emergency rooms, and R-rated movies.  <\/p>\n

It\u2019s not easy \u2026 it\u2019s not pleasant \u2026 it\u2019s not always rewarding.  <\/p>\n

However, reaching people far from God with the Gospel of Jesus Christ is what the Father called us to do.<\/p>\n

I know that quite a few potential church planters read my blog so let me say this to you:<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t want to do ministry that is messy \u2026 don\u2019t plant a church.  <\/p>\n

If you just want to \u201cfeed the saints\u201d \u2026 don\u2019t plant a church.  <\/p>\n

If you just want to stop having to take orders from your current pastor \u2026 don\u2019t plant a church.  <\/p>\n

If you just got fired, let go or laid off from a ministry position \u2026 don\u2019t plant a church.  <\/p>\n

If you are still trying to impress seminary professors with your preaching skills \u2026 don\u2019t plant a church.  <\/p>\n

In fact, if you think planting a church is cool \u2026 don\u2019t plant a church. <\/p>\n

If you think those things, it\u2019s probably going to be best for you to get a job in your state denominational office \u2026 where it\u2019s safe, there\u2019s a steady paycheck and you only have to interact with other Christians.<\/p>\n

On the other hand…<\/p>\n

… if you love the smell of vomit and beer <\/p>\n

\u2026 if you love to hear about people\u2019s addictions <\/p>\n

\u2026 if you love hearing the f-bomb dropped by every member of a family (including kids) <\/p>\n

\u2026 if you love people wearing halter tops and Budweiser t-shirts in the Sunday service <\/p>\n

\u2026 if you love people putting three dollars cash in the offering plate and crossing their arms during worship <\/p>\n

\u2026 if you love getting 3 a.m. marriage counseling calls <\/p>\n

\u2026 then by all means \u2026 plant a church.  <\/p>\n

I\u2019m not talking about you liking that stuff \u2026 I\u2019m talking about \u2026 you gotta love that sh*t!!!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Church planting done right is messy \u2026 and attracts messy people.  <\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t have a passion for the mess \u2026 if you don\u2019t hear someone cussing and think, \u201cThat person is a potential guest for my church\u201d \u2026 if you don\u2019t wake up every day with an unquenchable thirst to see people far from God come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior \u2026 church planting is going to be a miserable experience for you!!!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Do you want to plant a church? Then learn to love sh*t, for that is what church planters are surrounded with as they try to reach people far from God. In this excellent post from Chris Elrod, he reminds us what it takes to be a church planter. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":35728,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[1234,19,1249,1571],"class_list":{"0":"post-485","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"tag-church-planting","8":"tag-discipleship","9":"tag-evangelism","10":"tag-missional","11":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\nYou Gotta Love that Sh*t<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Do you want to plant a church? 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