How Corporate Repentance Facilitates Ministry Transformation . . .
One of the things our ministry recommends when a church finishes the Healing the Heart of Your Church process is to hold a “Solemn Assembly.” These are always life-changing, church -transforming events, described in detail in Ezra 9 and Nehemiah 8-9. However, I was stunned by the account of a Solemn Assembly I received last month from a church in Michigan. After I read their story and debriefed with their interim pastor, I noted several “signs” that God had indeed done something extraordinary. I want to share three of those “signs” with you from their report as encouragement that God still loves and is working on His Bride.
Humble Transparency
“Church members came to the microphone one after another to confess, repent and ask forgiveness. Several church leaders came to the microphone as well as others. It was an amazing time of healing as hearts were poured out in humble transparency before the gathered church family.”
That phrase, “humble transparency,” captures the spirit of authentic repentance. Humble transparency assumes a willingness to be transformed. A leader or layperson usually won’t risk such transparency unless God has first worked in his or her heart. This is more than saying “We promise never to _______ (fill in the blank) again!” When David cried out, “Create in me a clean heart and restore a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10), he knew the danger as a leader to publicly admit that he had defiled both his heart and spirit. His transparency instructs us. In churches it means that God has drawn near and broken the hearts of His people with their sin, and humble transparency manifests itself.
The Cloud Lifts
“It is hard to describe, but I sensed that, as people began to share their hearts, it was as though this cloud was lifting from the church and love began to flow and, with it, peace and joy in the Lord! It was as though the light of Christ was shining throughout the whole sanctuary and we were basking in that light!”
We’ve commonly heard statements like “it was as though this cloud was lifting from the church.” Sometimes it’s “the burden’s been lifted” or “the spirit of our church changed.” In Haggai 2:9, the prophet describes the peace that would settle on the people of God when they keep God’s priorities instead of their own. It’s like taking a deep breath of fresh air outside after you have been cooped up with a prolonged illness. The sky seems brighter and your spirit seems lighter. That’s what happens when God draws near to cleanse the corporate sin of a church!
Palpable Grace
“I invited the church family to go to each other and share what was on their hearts. The Spirit moved through this time as more tears, hugs, words of forgiveness were shared throughout the church. This continued for a long period of time and I was reluctant to interrupt it to move to Communion. The atmosphere of grace flowing through the body of Christ was palpable!”
We use “saving grace,” “enabling grace,” “the doctrines of grace” and “the means of grace” all the time in church circles, but how many churches experience “palpable grace?” That’s a grace you can feel. It’s an experience of grace that fills the atmosphere, not only in worship but behind the scenes when believers interact. You sense it when the church secretary answers the phone, when the greeter meets you at the door, and even in tough board room discussions. We need a revival of palpable grace!
We rejoice with this church in Michigan. But it also makes my heart ache that we might see God do this in every church! The church in this story did a lot of soul-searching before they held their Solemn Assembly, and they let the Spirit touch and break their hearts. It was a daring, daunting and difficult process, but we see in their humble transparency, in the cloud that lifts from over their fellowship, and from the palpable grace they experienced, the rewards of such courage.
Mark Barnard serves with Blessing Point Ministries which helps healthier churches to bear more fruit and facilitates healing in ministries that have been wounded by painful crises. For more information visit blessingpoint.org or contact mark@blessingpoint.org.