Cornerstone Christian Church

September 7, 2008

A Time for New Beginning

There are seasons in life as there are in nature and often there are seasons in the life of a church. This church has a long and impressive history having survived fire and flood as well as the daily issues of life. Countless lives have been changed because of the ministry of this church.

There are times when a ministry needs a fresh start, a new beginning. I believe that we are at this point as a church. There was a time, just a few years ago, that it seemed impossible for us to even keep the doors open for another few months. Yet, here we are today. We were able to sell some unused property at exactly the right time to maximize our profit. This enabled us to continue moving forward.

However, of the over $1,000,000 we received from the sale of the property, we have spent over $700,000 between necessary repairs and supplementing our monthly budget. At our current rate we are deficit spending approximately $10,000 per month on average. At this rate it becomes apparent that if things do not change dramatically we will inevitably run out of money. Taking this into account, this has caused me and the Governing Board to ask if this is the wisest stewardship of God’s resources.

We have been asking individually and as a leadership board we have been seeking the Lord to determine where He wants us to be and what He wants us to do. With the extremely positive changes that have occurred in District Leadership we felt that now was the right time to approach the District about our present situation. In years past the only solution for a struggling church was to close its doors forever and turn the property over to the district to be placed in the district coffers.

But with new leadership have arisen new opportunities and a fresh vision for the possibilities. When we approached the district they asked us to consider a different model that might allow for a legacy from the present ministry and a rich heritage for the future. What was presented for our consideration was a total church restart. What would that look like?

1. It would mean a fresh start and a new beginning for future ministry here.

2. It would mean that all the finances in the bank and all the property would remain set aside for the restarted church to use to relaunch a new ministry.

3. The present Governing Board would step down and we would turn over leadership for the future of the church to the district. They would appoint an oversight board to help relaunch the ministry.

4. The district would hire pastoral staff to be the ministry team to see the renewed ministry come into being and grow. The district would oversee the ministry for three years or until the ministry becomes self-sufficient (whichever comes first).

5. If the church restart was successful no money or resources would revert back to the district. If the restart did not work, only then would the district step in to decide what to do with the resources.

6. Keep in mind, the ministry would be new and different in significant ways. The purpose would be to reach the lost and build up the church in this area at this time. There would never be a compromise on the message but the music and ministries will be determined based on those whom God is calling the church to minister to now.

7. Everybody is welcome to be a part of the new ministry. We would hope that God would give many a renewed vision and passion for what He wants to do in the days ahead and be willing to align themselves with this vision.

8. One other issue that we need to be clear about. It very well may be in the best interest of the renewed ministry to sell the present property and rent or purchase elsewhere. That would be determined by the district and the ministry team based on what is going to have the best strategic long-term impact.

Some Questions Answered:

Q. Where does this leave Pastor David with Jennifer and the children?

A. Both the church and the district have been very clear that it is their hope and desire that they would be the lead couple to launch this new restart. However, after much prayer and consideration Pastor Dave and Jennifer have sensed the Lord leading them in a different direction. It has been their personal decision to not be a part of this restart ministry.

Q. When would all of this occur?

A. We would vote on the restart proposal on September 21 and we would hold a final Celebration Service on October 5, 2008.

Q. What happens after October 5, 2008 if we agree to the restart?

A. After October 5 we would suspend all official services and ministries of the church. The district would assume responsibility over the finances following the September 21st meeting and make sure that all the resources are used in the restarted church. They would also have stewardship of the finances as that transition occurred between September 21st and October 5th.

Once the pastoral team is in place and a core group is developed then they would launch a preview service and finally begin having full ministries once again. This process could take several months to begin and could be six months or even longer before the preview services begin.

Q. What would happen if we decided to not proceed with the church restart?

A. It was our Governing Board that formally approached the district and expressed a desire to consider a restart rather than just limping along until the doors closed. The district has every expectation that we will proceed with these plans that we have initiated. However, if we do not approve the restart it is unlikely that the district would desire to appoint another pastor for the church. It is quite possible that the district might determine that it is a matter of better stewardship to have the church close. At that point we would most likely loose the possibility of having a church restart here.

Q. Why should we do the church restart?

A. First of all I would say it would be the best legacy we could leave future generations. Also, it gives us a promise that we will continue to have a Christian and Missionary Alliance church here in El Cajon. Third, it is the desire for this restart to be a multiplication center with the possibility of launching other ministries such as Hispanic ministries and ministries to reach the many Middle Eastern people living here. Fourth, a successful church restart could very well become a model for other struggling churches not only in this district but the entire Alliance denomination. Finally, it gives us the best hope and future for this church. We could be the seed to something truly great and our willingness to relinquish our hold could mean a new beginning and a fresh start. It could mean future hundreds or thousands of people in the kingdom through our efforts.

We want to sincerely communicate how difficult this decision was for us to make and to recommend to the district and to you as our church family. We have labored in prayer for months and have been in continuous discussions on what might be the best way to proceed forward in reaching this community. We love this church, we love this community, we love the Christian and Missionary Alliance and above all we love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We truly believe that this is the best and most effective way we can make a long-term impact on our community and be the wisest stewards of the property and resources that we have.

If you have any questions concerning this please feel free to contact Pastor David or any of the other Governing Board Members.

We will be formally voting on this in two weeks, on Sunday, September 21, 2008 immediately following the morning service.

Sincerely,

Pastor David Monreal on behalf of the Governing Board

“For [government] is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid.” (Romans 13:4)

Over the last few years both personally and along with the church I have been the victim of theft. Many of you remember when my wallet, wedding ring and belongings were stolen from 24 Hour Fitness as I worked out. Someone went into the locker with a lock cutter and decided to take all my belongings. At the time I said that I am praying for his conversion…through Prison Fellowship. He has since been arrested and convicted of other crimes and I do pray that he repents of his sins and comes to know Christ.

As a church both of our air conditioning units have been stolen at different times as well as our large BBQ that we were using to have hot dog outreaches! Recently I bought something through eBay and the item was not as advertised. It was a fake, an imitation of the real product being pawned off as the real thing. I have pursued it thought eBay but have also contacted the FBI Internet Fraud division to file a report and launch an investigation. I tried to email and call the seller and she knew that what she had done was illegal and immoral but then refused to deal with it. Now she has the fear of a criminal investigation. With almost 2,000 items sold at an average cost of $30 she is definitely likely to be investigated.

Often we are down on politics and government but our passage above reminds us that the principle of government is ordained by God and when functioning properly is a servant or agent of God for good. In fact, in this passage in Romans the Apostle tells us that government is established by God (v. 1), has been given authority by God (v. 2), should praise good behavior and be feared by those who commit evil (v. 3), and are God’s avenger bringing God’s judgment through the lawful means of punishment (v. 4). Because of these good functions we are to be in subjection to government and pay our taxes.

What strikes me from the above illustrations is the fact that each of these people who have stolen has cause to fear. Quite literally they need to look over their shoulder to see if someone is after them, because someone is. For instance, this lady who was selling bogus products on eBay needs to worry every time there is a blocked call on her cell or home phone, if there is an unsolicited knock on the door her heart may race wondering if the law is coming. She needs to worry if the next person who buys from her is actually a government agent that is setting up a sting operation. Because of her dishonesty she has reason to fear.

Paul tells us that we shouldn’t just do what is right out of fear of punishment. For some fear of punishment may be the highest motivation to not do evil but as a believer we have a higher motivation and calling for doing what is right, namely having a clear conscience before God (v. 5).

We can and should debate the political issues that face us. We should take a biblical stand for what is good, right and moral. We should be critical when government does not do what is right or promotes what is evil. However, we must also remember that the concept of human government is God’s and we have a responsibility to live as good citizens.

“For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same.” (Romans 13:3)

Today the California Supreme Court overruled the will of the people and rewrote the law to affirm “gay Marriage” in the state of California.

I will address the moral, ethical and logical problems at another time but today I just want to address a fundamental constitutional issue, namely that it is not within the jurisdiction of the court to make law or to rewrite the state constitution to find rights that were not previously there or intended by the original framers of that constitution.

The purpose and the extent of the authority of the Supreme Court, whether state or federal, is to interpret and apply the laws and to see that those laws are in keeping with the intent of the constitution. The problem arises in that some relativistic judges believe that the constitution is a “living document” that can be reinterpreted for every generation.

Underlying this is a worldview that says that there are no absolutes, that law is about “will to power” and that it is impossible to actually determine original intent so we are free to decide what “something means to me.” They apply this to law by saying that we need to take into account the mores and opinions of the current generation rather than try to discern what the intent was of the framers of the said law or, in this case, the constitution.

From a legal standpoint I have several issues. First, I would argue that it was not within the view of the framers of the California State Constitution to affirm the legality of “Homosexual Marriage.” For us to find that “right” in the constitution is to read into it something that was not there and not intended by the original framers.

Secondly, there was a law passed in 1077 that defined marriage as “a personal relation arising out of a civil contract between a man and a woman.” Beyond that there was a voter initiative passed in 2000 that clarified that further by saying that, “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” This not only bans “gay marriage” but also polygamy.

Finally, related to the second point, the court has overthrown the will of the people. It was the express intent of the people of California to affirm and clarify the law that was already on the books to define what marriage is and is not. That is within the rights of the people and by extension the right of the legislature but it is not within the authority of the courts to decide that.

What was done today was done under the guise of civil rights. First of all, one would need to argue that marriage must be defined broadly or else it is a violation of rights. However, we are within our rights to define marriage the way it has been done within our country since its founding and the way it has been historically in most cultures from time immemorial.

We pass laws all the time to define what marriage is. We say that a brother and sister may not marry. We have said that an adult may not marry a child. We have said that a person cannot have multiple wives. We have also said that marriage must be between two human beings (therefore you cannot marry your dog).

I’ll address this issue again looking at it from an historical and biblical perspective. But let me reiterate my point here in saying that the state supreme court overstepped their authority in undermining the will of the legislature and the people by redefining the entire concept of marriage.

At this point only a constitutional amendment can override the great travesty that has been done and that is exactly what we intend to do in November unless the activist court tries to block that by judicial fiat as well.

As I was opening my electric bill this morning (actually it comes through my email) and I was once again struck with the fact that it is good to conserve energy and take care of the environment. (I’m not only saying this because it was higher than I expected!) Often as Christians we react against an agenda that we view as “liberal” or “left-wing” and assume that if some groups we disagree with are for something then we should automatically be against it.

Part of the reason that we react against the environmental advocates is the motive and agenda behind their push to be green. The most often heard reason for becoming conscious of the environment is a fear of a global apocalyptic ecological disaster. We are warned that we are running out of fossil fuel, our climate is changing, the polar caps are melting, the hole in the ozone is growing and the temperature is rising. Every bad weather day becomes proof positive of this phenomenon. It might be below zero in Wisconsin but they say that too is a sign of global warming.

Additionally, humans are viewed as parasites and interlopers on this planet and one gets the sense that things would be better off if we weren’t here. This has become the new orthodoxy and any questioning of these premises is heresy and obviously a sign of your mental deficiency.

But let’s suppose that we don’t agree with any of these premises, does this mean that we have a right to not take care of the environment and use as much natural resources as we can? If others tell us to conserve energy and recycle should we use as much as we can and fill every landfill that is available? I don’t think so. We should be conscious of the environment for one simple reason, God gave us stewardship over this earth and we have a responsibility before God to take care of it as a means of glorifying Him.

After God created man and woman in His image He blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:28) We have been given both dominion over and stewardship of the earth. This means that we care for it, protect it and preserve it as God’s agents on this planet.

As stewards we recognize that what we have has been entrusted to us and that we have a responsibility to care for it as the true Owner wants it cared for. By neglecting our environment or engaging in careless excess we treat the world as if we are the ultimate owners to do with it as we wish. This doesn’t mean we must give in to every silly proposal by radical environmental advocates that don’t practice what they preach. But it does mean that we must be conscious of our responsibility before God.

Whether or not we have 50 years worth of fossil fuel or 500 years should not be the motivation to conserve energy. Nor should fear of apocalyptic doom be the reason for caring for the earth. We recognize that God created this world and it is His. He created it with beauty that reflects His beauty and glory.

We also realize that He not only entrusted it to us but to our children, grandchildren and future generations until Jesus returns. This means that we not only have the right to use these resources but the responsibility to preserve as much as we can for future generations. It means we are willing to find a balance between a person’s right to own his own property and urban sprawl that leaves no undeveloped land in some places. This means that although it isn’t wrong to own a Hummer we need to balance our wants with our needs and not use as much as we can because it won’t run out in our lifetime.

As Christians we can bring balance and sanity to this discussion if we don’t just react to bluster of our opponents. Although we may not agree with all the motivations of some and we certainly don’t agree with some of the premises that underlie their worldview, that doesn’t’ mean that we have to take the knee-jerk opposite position on the issues. We care for God’s creation for the simple fact that it is God’s.

A keen philosopher once noted, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Who was the insightful person, Plato, Aristotle, Kant? No, it was Ferris Bueller. This was his closing line in the hit 1980’s movie, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. If you are not a fan of 80’s kitsch high school movies I don’t recommend you add it to your Netflix list or run out to Blockbuster. However, wrapped up in pop-philosophy there is a great point to be made.

My first ministry was among senior citizens at a church nestled in a retirement community. The vast majority of the congregation was in their 70’s, 80’s and even 90’s. As I interacted with them and listened to their stories of childhood and adult life, one thing constantly stuck with me, “Life is short.” These friends could remember the days of their youth with clarity and often they would comment on how quickly it passed.

Our culture moves at a breakneck pace and we value speed and multitasking. We have instant coffee, fast food and we “shop ‘til we drop.” Even on the Internet the idea of “dial-up” is archaic and we view “high-speed” internet as a right. I read an article the other day that India’s high-speed internet was interrupted when a cable snapped underneath the Mediterranean Sea. Businesses were crippled around the world because so many rely on India for customer service and tech support in outsourced jobs. Even in India they need their high-speed!

But the reminder from Ferris Bueller should not be lost. Life is short and if we are not careful we can become so busy that we never stop to take the time and enjoy it. Even in ministry there is a danger of becoming so busy that we miss life. In a telling comment in the book of Mark we read Jesus’ comments to His disciples, “And He said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.’ (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.) They went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves.” (Mark 6:31-32)

Of course we know that this rest was short lived as the crowds followed them and Jesus again ministered to the people. The narrative concludes with the feeding of the 5,000. But following that Jesus sent the disciples on ahead and “left for the mountain to pray.” (Verse 46)

Rest helps us to focus on God and put things back in perspective. In my early days in ministry here in El Cajon I would often slip away for a drive up to the mountains or down by the ocean. As I would sit on a bench overlooking the Pacific Ocean I would quietly read my Bible and pray. Or when I would go up to the mountains and walk the Pacific Crest Trail I would look at the mountains to the west and the expanse of desert in the valley to the east. The grand, majestic views would remind me of how big this world is and how immeasurably bigger the God who created them truly is. This would put my small problems in perspective.

Jesus said much the same thing when talking about worry in Matthew 6. He told His disciples to look at the birds of the air or the lilies of the field and see how God provides for them. He then gently reminds us that we are so much more valuable to God as His children and He will definitely meet our needs. (Verses 26, 28)

Not only do we miss life when we go non-stop at breakneck speed but we lose perspective about the blessed life that God has given us. “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

Are you really going to tell me how to vote? Isn’t there a separation of Church and state? I thought if you endorse a candidate or party you will lose your tax-exempt status as a church? Don’t worry, I haven’t gone off the deep end, at least not yet. I am not going to tell you which candidate or party to vote for. In fact, I would encourage you to not vote based solely on party affiliation or name recognition. Look at the candidates and consider the positions they take on important moral issues facing our country. I would like to share with you five “non-negotiable” moral issues that should guide your voting.¹

1. Abortion – Abortion is the intentional taking of a human life due to the “choice” of the parent or pressure by the extended family. The Bible is clear that life begins at conception. The Bible reveals to us that an unborn child has the image of God, is fully human and therefore deserves all the rights and protection afforded any other human being. To abort a baby for the convenience of the mother is murder (Exodus 20:13).

2. Euthanasia – Again we must recognize that the taking of another human life is murder. We do not have the right to determine the quality of life or the extent of life. God alone is the author of life. Often these murders are called “mercy killing,” because it is said they alleviate the physical suffering of the individual. However, we must not allow our emotions to miss the reality that we are taking another human life. In spite of the medical, emotional or physical situation a person is in we are not allowed to hasten a person’s death.

3. Embryonic Stem Cell Research – This is often couched in sympathetic terms of helping an Alzheimer or Parkinson’s patient. However, we must recognize that a human embryo is a human being. It is immoral and unethical to kill a human life in order to harvest the parts to help another person regardless of how small that person being killed is. These embryos are unborn children and we must take a stand for the defenseless. Furthermore, most major strides in stem cell research have been achieved through adult stem cell research which harms no humans.

4. Human Cloning – God alone is the author of life and it was His intention of creation to reproduce humanity through the means of procreation by a husband and wife. There are two aspects to consider; first some suggest cloning for the purpose of replacement parts for the body of the person being cloned. The organs will inherently be an exact match. Secondly there are some who want to clone in order to have a genetically identical offspring. Again, God’s intention was to have two biological parents and every child conceived to come to birth. In the area of cloning we assume the role and prerogative of God.

5. Homosexual “Marriage” – Marriage was designed for the welfare of society and the structuring of the human family in order to have a stable environment to bring up future generations. God designed sexual intercourse only within the bounds of marriage and He designed marriage to be between complementary between one man and one woman for life (Gen. 2:24). Further, marriage has been recognized by every society and every major religion throughout recorded history. Marriage is more than a legal recognition; it is part of the created order and the fabric of a society that honors God.

Each of these issues is a “non-negotiable” for any faithful Christian who desires to honor God with his or her vote. Each of us needs to learn what the positions are on these issues and vote for the candidates accordingly. What should you do if you cannot find a candidate who has a biblical position on one or more of these issues? You have two options at that point. First, you may choose to vote for the candidate who has the fewest positions in contradiction to these “non-negotiable” or is less likely to push the agenda forward. In this case your vote is tolerating a lesser evil in order to avoid a greater evil.

If you cannot in good conscience vote for any candidate because of his or her positions then your other option is to abstain for voting for that particular office. However, this does not mean that you shouldn’t vote for the other offices where acceptable candidates are running for office. Keep in mind your lack of voting for the lesser of the two evils may allow the greater evil to occur. Your vote does not mean you support the candidate but instead you disapprove of him or her less than the other option.

¹ I am indebted to the Voter’s Guide for Serious Christians for the outline of this article.