Hit a nerve

My post on spending more time on the negative people then the positive people must have hit a nerve as there have been several comments and I have even gotten a few e-mails. I think it is human nature to focus on the negative. For example if I teach a message and one person doesn’t like it, I spend my time thinking about that one person instead of all the people who loved it. Isn’t that stupid?

This is an area I have really made great strides in since starting the church and one that I think other must make strides in for a church to grow.

FACT: There will be disgruntled people.
FACT: They are normally a very small %

I have come to the point where if someone doesn’t like the direction we are going in, they can leave. I am not trying to run someone off but, I am not begging them to stay. I am not calling to find out how we can fix the problem. I am not losing sleep over it. I’m not going out of my way on Sunday morning to shake their hand. In the past I let these people consume me. It made me miserable, stopped the vision of our church, and still didn’t change anything.

As pastors we need to move with those who are on board. Put your attention and your focus on those who buy into your vision. If people want to leave, let them. It hurts, it stinks, and all that, but it will make your church better in the long run.

I have said it so many times here but let me say it again: BE MEAN ABOUT YOUR VISION!

I have found myself lately becoming more and more meaner (which is hard when you are as mean as me) about RSC. Whether it is leaders, staff, or church members, I will not compromise the vision of RSC. I know what I feel God wants it to look spiritually, visually, vision-wise, etc. I refuse to budge on that.

I refuse to seek out those who are not happy. IF (they seldom will) they come to me, I will meet with them but I have no problem telling people this is not the church for them. At one time I did, not anymore.

In order for your church to be all it can be, you are going to have to realize that asking people to leave is part of the job.