This series of posts is going to be a little on the cynical side.
Well, not cynical, really. Just honest and hopefully a little offensive.

I want to compile a list of phrases that church folk use that should never be used again.
They should never be used again because they have hidden meaning, and we should just come out and say what we really mean, instead of speaking in code.

I’m not talking about words like sanctification or atonement or covenant. These are important theological words that just need to be explained well. If you were watching CNBC for the first time, you’d have to learn some terminology. I have no problem with Christians using Biblical terms to discuss their faith.

I’m talking about things that people say to pastors and church leaders that serve as an excuse for laziness, selfishness, and backbiting.

Pastors, get ready to say amen.
Everybody else, don’t read too much into this, and don’t take yourself too seriously.

2 warnings, then I’ll get to it.

1. You may have said some of these before. If you have, take the hit.
2. I have said some of these before. I’m sorry.

Ready? I’ll continue this series over the next few days. Here’s the first phrase:

What people say
“I just really got burned at my last church”

What that usually means
“I got sick of my last church and I’ll get sick of you too. In the meantime, I want to use the vague concept of being burned to explain to you why I’m not going to lift a finger to help around here. But don’t worry, you can count on me to take up a seat every week. I’ll be the best spiritual parasite you’ve ever seen for the next 18 months. Then I’ll leave one Sunday because your understanding of the Trinity is slightly different than mine. And I’ll go tell the next pastor at the next church that I decide to grace with my presence how much I got burned by you!

Note: I know that terrible things happen to good people in churches, I’ve seen it first hand. Some of our best members at Elevation came from churches where some crazy junk went down and they were hurt deeply. Sometimes they even had to leave on a Biblical or moral basis.

However, these people eventually get over it and get to work.
They don’t blame their spiritual apathy on Pastor Bob, Deacon Fred, or Sister Suzie for the rest of their life.

In fact, one of our best leaders who I am currently mentoring started off on the wrong foot with me. He used the “I got burned at my last church” line to explain to me why he wasn’t ready to get plugged in to serve at Elevation.
I was just going to let it go because I didn’t feel like going down that road, but he actually rebuked himself:
“You know what Pastor Furtick, that’s actually just a cop out, isn’t it? I need to get over it and get with it, don’t I?”
AS A MATTER OF FACT, YES IT IS AND YES YOU DO!

We’ve all been hurt because we’re all human. Pastors are human, staff members are human, and congregations are made up of flawed, sin-scarred human beings.

But God is blessing Elevation because of a large team of committed soldiers who realize that the truly burned people we need to worry about are those who are on their way to an eternity in a Christ-less hell.

See, wasn’t that fun?
(Ok, maybe not fun, but true!)
Hey, if you have your own phrases, send ‘em in!
I might post your phrase, and your wisdom will be shared with thousands!