Sometimes Christians suck! I know that this might take many people by surprise considering that I am a pastor and have been a passionate Jesus follower and preacher for 20 years now. But, the truth needs to be said even if it hurts. I know people that have no problem with Jesus or His teaching, but they hate those who say they follow Him. I am not writing this out of anger or because of a bad experience with a disgruntled church member. This is a cry to encourage God’s people (who I love) to do better.

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” This is a scathing critique that was as true in his day as it is in ours. The Bible bares the same idea, “Here’s what it says: Because of you, God’s reputation is slandered by those outside the covenant.” Romans 2:24 There are people, I think, that are down on the whole “Jesus thing” because of the sorry actions of Christians. Some might say that I am exposing family business, but lets face it, these are things non-Christians already think and say about those who are supposed to carry the name of Jesus.

So, I give you the 10 things I hate about Christians.

1-Christians are Hypocritical- Jesus himself was frustrated at those who were seemingly religious, but living incongruent lives. They preach that people should be kind while being jerks. They are little angels on Sunday and live like devils Monday through Saturday. Christians can be so judgmental about the sinful lifestyles of others while they are just as sinful, but have managed to keep it quiet.

2-Christians are Ungracious- Grace is the concept that God was good to us even though we were evil. Instead of giving us what we deserved He blessed us. That should make Christians, who have been blessed with grace, gracious to others. They are very mean to people who are flawed. It’s interesting that somehow they want people to be nice to them when their flaws are exposed.

3-Christians are Unloving- How can you say that Jesus is love and refuse to love people? Jesus fed the hungry. He helped those who were hurting. Why don’t people who say they represent Him do the same thing? Love shouldn’t be limited to just friends or the people that agree with you. Jesus taught His followers to love even their enemies; so Christians should be the most loving people anywhere.

4-Christians are Ignorant to what they Believe- There is nothing more frustrating than a person who says they are a Christian, and they don’t read, nor do they know their Bible. It makes sense that so few live up to its teachings. When those who don’t believe what you believe, know more about what you believe than you, do it looks bad. If you believe that the Bible is the word of God then it makes sense that you should know it!

5-Christians are Dishonest- How many people do you meet that talk about how blessed they are, and yet they are so unhappy. Why do they paint smiles on their faces while they are hurting on the inside? If you are going to be honest in one area, shouldn’t you be honest about your feelings? Blessed is not a good answer when you are struggling.

6-Christians are all about their “church”- it seems to me that a Christian should be a representative of their faith when not in the church building. Why do I have to come to your building to hear about this truth you say you believe. Is the pastor the only one good or smart enough to tell someone about God. And why do so many people exalt pastors to demi-god status? Doesn’t that force them on a pedestal that is impossible to remain on? Just saying. Christians seem to be overly concerned with differentiating themselves from other Christians. Aren’t all Christians going to heaven?

7-Christians Talk more about Rules than God- There are so many Christians that try to get people that are not Christians to act like Christians. Why tell people about the rules of Christianity without first helping them get to know Jesus. Isn’t the faith supposed to be more about what God’s goodness than ours? Do you really want people living Christian morality without Christ?

8-Christians are Stingy- if God gave us Jesus, then shouldn’t believers be givers. There are so many churches struggling because church people don’t give. Many will close their doors because their members aren’t generous. Not to mention that there are many churches in communities that have hurting and hungry people, and they don’t help them. Christians are supposed to be generous.

9-Christians are Unforgiving- God forgave you so you are required to forgive others, right? That seems to be central to the Christian’s belief. People in churches stop talking to one another for not being invited to a barbeque. If Christians can get along with other Christians, then why would anyone want to be one?

10-Christians are like Me- The biggest thing I hate about Christians is that I am one of them. I am just as guilty of being a hypocrite, unloving, ungracious, etc. I have told people I was fine and blessed when I was so hurting and lonely on the inside. I am not writing this to say that I am any better than anyone else. The simple truth is that no Christian is perfect, only Jesus.

Even though I am broken and in need of the grace of God, I am expected to live the best life possible. Let’s be honest, no one expects me to be perfect because I don’t pretend to be either. I think if we stopped acting like we were better than others we would be able to have more integrity when we to share with them. Yes, Christians must stand for truth, but that doesn’t mean we step on others in the process. We can’t simply talk about spiritual principles; we must live them out to the best of our ability. We can do better! Others are not necessarily looking for us to get everything right, but we can no longer pretend that we don’t have some wrong. I love Jesus followers, but sometimes I hate the things we do.

I am passionate about making a difference in the world around me. By God’s grace, I made a difference in my high school, college, post-college career, and now as a pastor. One of the saddest things I have seen is a local church that has no impact in their surrounding community. Another mistake is a church so focused on local engagement that forget that it has a responsibility to the world. The mission that Jesus has given us should compel us to reach both right here and over there.

The bible says, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me (Jesus) in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8 These are the words of Jesus desiring us to carry on his mission into the world. The Holy Spirit empowers us in part to fulfill the work that God has for us to do. Jesus is talking to guys who are in Jerusalem so the connotation is to reach the local area, Judea that is a little farther away, and Samaria, which is a far off. All three are necessary. 

One thing I understood early on in our journey to start Vertical Church was the importance of the way we started, because it influenced the way we would continue as a body. So, from the beginning, we were sure to do both local and global outreach. Actually the very first thing we did publically as a church was to serve one of the college campuses in our community. We also were sure to donate financially to a student going on a mission’s trip. Both community and international engagement were right there at the beginning.

Last year, we performed over 2,000 hours of community service. We provided over 2,200 meals to the hungry. We also collected clothes for the naked, and books for a local school, and so much more. We also helped fund church plants around the North America, and one specific team going to Memphis, TN. We gave to help 7 churches get started in Tanzania, most of which were among the Masai people.

This year, we have continued that process. We recently sponsored a community Easter Egg event where we helped feed over 375 people, prayed for community members, provided eggs and games, and shared Christ through entertainment for hundreds of children in the statistically worst community in our city. To add to that, we are sending at least 6 people to Asia on teaching missions this summer. My wife will be joining them to both capture the experience and to encourage them.

Churches can’t ignore the needs around them. Churches can’t ignore the world abroad either. We must impact our immediate community and we must fulfill the mission given to us by Jesus to tell the world about His amazing grace. A church that is only internally focused is not only functioning selfishly; it is failing the mission, no matter its size or status. The mission of Jesus is not only possible, it requires us to impact our immediate surrounding and the world at large. 

I recently had a young man call me and ask me about my experience as a church planter. I realized that I have gained some interesting insights. As this Vertical Church journey continues, there have been some learnings that I have gained that are necessary for new churches to have impact. It is my hope that people who are considering becoming a part of this evangelical effort to start churches, look to these words for wisdom. I have discovered that there are some best practices that will provide guidance for all those who are headed toward this kind of apostolic work.

It is important to note that not all churches or church planters are the same. Everyone faces different challenges regardless if in an urban setting or a rural one. Impact is the main word I want to focus on. What I have discovered is that there are 3 keys to becoming achieving significant impact in any context.

The first key seems simple, but it is critical, Vision with Holes. Vision is one of the first things someone will ask you in Christian circles. Everyone wants to know your vision, or what is God showing you that He wants you to accomplish. The mistake is that we can often too quickly try to fill in gaps or holes that God has not yet given us insights on. We can fall prey to the thought that as a pastor we must have all the answers. The truth is, one of the most spiritual things a new pastor can say is, “I don’t know”. Holes in a vision allows for God’s continued guidance, wisdom, people, etc. It keeps us dependent on what God is doing right now. Things shift based on spiritual attack, a leaders health, team dynamics, and so on. Vision with holes allows for the things that God doesn’t tell us up front. Believe me, there are things that God doesn’t tell us up front!

The second key can more easily be overlooked and that is the planter’s Unique Gifting and Abilities. God calls us to do works that we are wired to do. When God created the church planter, He knew the work ahead. When God brought the planter and his wife together He knew what they could accomplish together. I love how scripture says, “God has made us what we are. He has created us in Christ Jesus to live lives filled with good works that he has prepared for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 God knows not only every hair on our heads, but He also knows the special abilities He has empowered us with. It is nearly impossible to lead a church for which you’re not suited. If a pastor has a bent toward music, leadership, or even something seemingly unspiritual like athletics, God will mostly use how He has created them to give them a specific way to function in ministry.

The last key is the Community Context. This component is critical because church planting is like reading the Bible, content without context can lead you to the wrong conclusions. A planter must understand the community in which this church is located. What are the felt needs? (This is what people complain about and usually ask for first.) Then they need to know the real needs like, spiritual looseness, hopelessness, or corruption. It’s nearly impossible to impact a city, town, or area without understanding the spiritual and natural challenges. What is the history of the area? Have there been any spiritual movements there in the past? Who is already doing good work there and how can you work with them? These are the questions that must have answers if a church is going to make a lasting impact.

These 3 components will give you a triangulated approach that will help create impact. Look at the model below to see how these components work together.

If you have 1 or even 2 keys without the other(s), then a church is more likely fail in its mission. The greater issue for me is that there will be churches that exist in communities that will not care about them. This is not about sustaining a healthy church or even growing a church. This is about having a church that matters to the people they are there to serve. The success of a church is based on many factors, but the impact of a church on its surrounding community can be summed up with these 3 keys. Even if a church doesn’t make it, and many don’t, at least a planter can walk away with their heads held high knowing that they made a difference.

It is amazing that it has been a year since we officially launched this project called Vertical Church. My wife and I have laid our money, family, and our very lives on the line to follow God into establishing a new spiritual family in the toughest community in Atlanta. This process has transformed us, and the community for the better. In 12 months times we have accomplished what I hoped we would have in 3-5 years.

Before someone can get a good picture of the work that God has given us to do they must first understand the community in which we exist. We are serving the statistically worst community in the city of Atlanta. We are located in the historical West End and Vine City neighborhood. These areas house the Atlanta University Center, which has the largest amount of Historically Black Colleges, and University in the world. Immediately surrounding the campuses, there are very high incidence of home foreclosure, child sex trafficking, and crime in general.

In our community…

Murder: 10x the national average

Rape: 3x the national average

Robbery: more than 10x the national average

Assault: 7x national average

Burglary: 4.5x national average

The educational system is struggling as well, high schools in the area graduate only
56% general education students.  The numbers are scarier for African-American boys at 45% and in Special Education only in 22.3%. There is a lot of work to do. We don’t necessarily believe that we will be able to “fix” every problem in the area, but through God we will be a part of the solutions that are critical to make a significant impact.

In one year’s time we have been able to become a vital part of the community. We have build relationships with local officials and even been able to welcome one into our church family. We are asked to give voice major issues in the neighborhood. We are also a certified community service agency for both Spelman and Morehouse Colleges. Below is a quick glimpse of what we’ve been able to accomplish.

In one year we have…

Helped sponsor Easter Egg Hunt serving over 200 children with Greater Vine City & English Ave. Association

Co-sponsored Community Wide Back-to-School Event serving 350 children with backpacks and supplies

Participated in Community Back-to-School Vigil and prayed publically for campus police

Blessed 13 local businesses with thank you cards and meaningful gifts for campus police, apartment complex offices, gas stations, restaurants, and a tattoo shop. 

Adopted a local school and donated well over 2000 books for their library and currently cataloging them for immediate use; served their staff; provided a financial gift for library 

Distributed over 1900 meals during community events, worship gatherings and service opportunities

Provided comprehensive support for a single parent family for 12 months (prayer, resume writing, coaching, home care, food)

Provided 20 Thanksgiving meals to college students and community members

Coordinated a Adopt-A-Child Christmas Opportunity and served 21 children at a local school and 2 community organizations 

We have helped start 7 churches in the in Tanzania some among the Masai people

Helped fund new churches around the North America

Yes, we measure our service and this is just the beginning. The simple truth is that God loves us and our response to His love is to serve others. We believe that service is a verb, something to be done, not attended. We have so much more work to do to ensure the kind of impact we believe that God wants to bring about in the area.

We are by no means finished. There is so much more work to be done in the community. There is still a desire to actively participate in key community revitalization efforts. One major desire is to help stop child sex trafficking, which is a major issue locally. We are also turning our eyes toward the world as we are sending roughly 10 people to China this summer on teaching missions. This year we will also continue to help fund the launch of new churches throughout North America. Not bad for a small church, in the roughest area of the city of Atlanta?

You can help us continue this mission of changing the city and world. For our 1 Year Anniversary we are trying to raise funds to continue this amazing work. As you can imagine it is a major challenge financially to lead a church on a college campus in the midst of the urban poor. But it is so worth it!

Visit www.verticalATL.com/giving and making a donation. I hope you can see that your investment into God’s Kingdom via Vertical Church is one that will make a great difference.