Church and Government - The Two-Keyed Lockbox

Why does God raise up a NATIONStrategy? It’s because HE wants the church, the ‘governmental spheres’ (government, business, education, media, etc.) to be in a working relationship for the sake of the community. It was not long ago when there was cooperation among and working relationships with these governmental spheres for the sake of their communities. In the 1960’s, North American politics, education, business, etc. began to disconnect from the church. Some of this was due to the fact that the church became institutionalized, non-relevant and had lost its ability to contextualize in a changing world. As these ‘governmental spheres’ began to marginalize the church, the church or ‘priestly sphere’ began to marginalize them. The church would preach against business, politics, media . . . “its of the devil, etc.” As a result of this disconnect, the church has very limited ‘passport’ or influence in the community. In effect, the ‘kings’ (‘government spheres’) have taken over the determination of cultural values and the ‘priests’ (churches) are angry, hurt, and marginalized. The church has individualized and separated from itself and the community. As a result, we have very little influence in our community, and with these very important ‘governmental spheres’!

Noted researchist George Barna recently conducted a poll on the seven top influencers of United States culture. The shocking (to church people) result was the church was not even listed in these top seven. So you see the need for NATIONStrategy? The partnership of church and ‘governmental spheres’ again is necessary for community transformation and enhancement.

Looking For A Way In, Not A Way Out!

I recently wrote this ‘poem’ on the role of the church in society . . .

If we do not shine, then who will be the light?
If we do not have influence, then who will mould the shape?
If we do not speak, then who will be the voice?
If we do not lead, then who will show the way?
If we do not stay united, then where will unity be found?
If we do not go to the community, to whom will the community go?
If we do not impart life, then who will be their life?
If we do not show the way, then which way will they take?
If we do not lead against injustice, then where will the downtrodden turn?
If we are not the salt, then who will flavor our community?
If we do not offer salvation, then where will they go to be saved?
If we don’t forgive, then where will they ever find forgiveness?
If we do not act wisely, then where will they gain wisdom?
If we do not hear the community, then who will ever hear their cry?
If we do not incarnate good citizenship, then who will be the citizens?
If we do not make Jesus known, then who will be their hero?

Because of the disconnect, a translocal ministry like NATIONStrategy can help put the pieces of the puzzle together, give a broader perspective, and help identify new core values that give all the spheres of influence, whether church, politics, education, business, etc. a ‘vehicle’ for cooperation for the sake of the community. That’s why I’m taking June and July to write my book called . . . “Intelligent Fire - The Next Step In Real, Tangible and Lasting Community Transformation.” In this book, I identify 15 Biblical core values that need to be reestablished in the church that could reconnect the church to other churches and organizations (government, business, education, etc.) for the sake of the community. These specific core values, if re-established, have the potential to give the church real influence in our communities again.

Getting A ‘Passport’

I believe the church getting its ‘passport’ back for influence in our culture is absolutely essential to every people, every community and every nation. The church does represent the spiritual side of life, and without Christ and the hope of salvation, life is bleak indeed. Each ‘governmental sphere’ has its own contribution to make to a great community, but each must respect the other’s contribution. Without the visionary or ‘priestly’ role of the church, all of society suffers. In my book, I write on Why Business Needs the Church, Why Politics Needs the Church, and Why Education Needs the Church. However, I also write on Why the Church Needs Business, Education, etc. It should be good, and contributes to God’s vision of community transformation.

What can passport do? A few years ago I was contacted by a high official of the United Nations. He shared with me that he needed five pastors to teach seminars on ‘ethics’ in cities throughout Russia. He said many western businesses were trying to invest and do business in Russia, but because of the lack of basic business ethics, most were leaving Russia. The UN solution was to find people with core values in good ethics and introduce the Russian business community to these core values. That’s why they came to the church community. The interesting thing is, the UN would pay all the expenses for these trips, conferences, etc., as well as allowing the gospel to be preached. I’ve asked Pastor David Fredrickson, my pastor friend in Sacramento, to investigate this further. That’s what I call . . . passport!

The point is, the governmental ‘spheres’ are beginning to see that the church has something to contribute also. I believe we’re headed for the day that Jesus talked about in Matt. 12:42: “The Queens of the South will come from afar to hear the wisdom of Solomon.” Solomon is a type of church, the Queen of the South is a type of governmental sphere. It took some time, but she realized there was something Solomon had that she needed. We’re seeing this even now with government funding of faith based ministries, etc. I believe we can have contact and communication without compromising basic Christian core values if we are “as wise as a serpent, and gentle as a dove.” Our hurt and adversarial nature towards ‘governmental spheres’ and each other has to decrease in order that community transformation may increase!

Big People Give to Big Causes

You might be thinking, this is great, but how do we partner churches with other churches (a hard task in itself), and then to partner with governmental spheres (some with very opposite values than the church) for the sake of real, tangible and lasting community transformation and enhancement (most churches aren’t even aware of their communities)? The answer is both simple and complex! Someone has to be a voice with real answers, yet very ‘ambassadorial’. Someone has to initiate a paradigm shift, revelate new core values and a cause that’s higher than the individualistic agendas of both church and ‘governmental spheres’. Someone has to help pastors, leaders, business people, etc. see the BIG PICTURE! Someone has to turn this unfulfilled potential into fulfilled reality!

That’s why NATIONStrategy exists . . . to communicate a specific set of core values that encourages and empowers churches to partner with other churches and organizations (governmental spheres) for the sake of real, tangible and lasting community transformation and enhancement! We’re creating a culture, a new set of core values and a shift in the thinking of church and government. I’ve spent 22 years in ministry mainly in Northwest Phoenix, ministered in over 100 countries, and been a successful businessman. All of the knowledge, wisdom and experience of my life so far is captured in the Intelligent Fire book. As I write it this summer, our finances will go down because I won’t be on the road. I need your help in three ways:

Give to NATIONStrategy - All checks are tax deductible. I’d especially encourage former church members and friends to contribute – this keeps NATIONStrategy going. Also, we need more churches to join in on this effort. Why not support NATIONStrategy from your missions budget?
Prayer – As the Lord brings it to your remembrance, please pray for me, my family (Becky, Matthew, Jonathan, Kristin and Corey) and NATIONStrategy.
Serving – Becky needs help from time to time in typing, mailers, research, etc. If you would like to make yourself available, please call me or Becky at 623-376-6757.

I need some Big People (that’s you!) who will believe in the NATIONStrategy mission and give to it! It’s a great investment for your community and yourself! Remember, the church is a community with a cause . . . which is . . . the community!

Katoomba, Australia—A Real NATIONStrategy Example

On a recent trip to Sydney, Australia, I met with Brian Pickering, the National Prayer Coordinator of Australia. As we began to talk, I could tell that Brian and NATIONStrategy are both on the same wavelength. His heart is for churches to partner with other churches and then to work together for the betterment of the community. His story about a recent event in Katoomba illustrates what can be done when churches and government partner together.

Katoomba is a tourist city in the Australian Blue Mountains just outside of Sydney. It’s famous for its cafes, scenery, great weather, and a mountain formation called the Twin Sisters. When I was in Katoomba, I could hear all kinds of languages spoken by the many international tourists that visit there.

When Katoomba was established as a town, a park was built in the center of town. This park was an important meeting point and, at one time, the pride of the town. Over the years the park was not maintained and became the drug, prostitution, etc. center of the town. The terrible state of the park seemed to attract these types of activities . . . lights were broken, lawns unkempt, and for years the park kept spiraling down in appearance and activity.

Brian told me about a group of churches, pastors and intercessors who became deeply aware and concerned about this problem. It was decided among the churches that this park represented the heart of the town and that the heart was in terrible disrepair. The churches of Katoomba decided to do something about it. Together they decided that they would raise the money, as well as the construction and maintenance workers, to completely renovate the park. Then they went to the City Council to make a request for “the” church in Katoomba to fix the park.

The Major and City Council listened in complete surprise that “the” church in the town would take on this project for the sake of the community, even raising the money and manpower for the job. They were in total shock. It was requested by the City Council that the churches should come back one week later to the next council meeting. When the next meeting arrived, the Council shocked the churches. What the Council suggested was that if the churches would do the physical work on the park, the City would pay for it. Thus, a partnership with a purpose was made. The City Council gave them $50,000 Australian for the project.

Today the park is beautiful . . . back to its original state. As you can imagine, drug trafficking and other such activities have subsided. It was a win-win for the churches, government, and especially the whole community! The governmental spheres and the church (‘kings and priests’ to use bible language) joined together for a reason and a season. The factors of vision and provision intersected and the job got done. Also, as a result, the church has gained influence or ‘passport’ into City Council. The church gained great credibility . . . at least to the City Council of Katoomba.

Frankly, this is a great start into a more ‘inside’ role into the town, city or wherever. Before we can have influence, we must have relationship. In order to have a relationship, “the” church must be credible, unified, and come with a servant heart for the community. Simply said . . . the two factors that “the” church did was 1) partner together first; 2) partner with the ‘governmental sphere’ second. They were looking for a way in . . . Not a way out!

This illustration of Katoomba is what NATIONStrategy is all about. The specific set of core values we teach offers a theologically sound paradigm shift that encourages and empowers churches to partner with other churches and organizations for the sake of the community.