Shrewd Christianity
The Parable of the Shred Manager (Luke 16:1-9)
1There was once a rich man who had a manager. He got reports that the manager had been taking advantage of his position by running up huge personal expenses.
2So he called him in and said, “What’s this I hear about you? You’re fired. And I want a complete audit of your books.”
3The manager said to himself, “What am I going to do? I’ve lost my job as a manager, I’m not strong enough for a laboring job, and I’m too proud to beg.
4Ah, I’ve got a plan. Here’s what I’ll do... then when I’m turned out into the street, people will take me into their houses.”
5Then he went at it. One after another, he called in the people who were in his debt to his master. He said to the first, “How much do you owe my master?”
6He replied, “A hundred jugs of olive oil.” The manager said, “Here, take your bill, sit down here—quick now—and write fifty.”
7To the next he said, “And you, what do you owe?” He answered, “A hundred sacks of wheat.” (The manager) said, “Take your bill, and write in eighty.” (Luke 16:1-7 The Message)
This is a story about a bill collector who works in the accounting division of a wealthy man’s estate. The bill collector (a.k.a. “manager”) has been pulling a scam—hustling his boss’ clients by overcharging them and keeping the difference.
When he finds out that he’s being audited, he scrambles to those clients and offers to “fix” their bills. The clients think that they’re cheating he boss; and they never catch on that they’ve been cheated! This bill collector is brilliant!
When the audit is finished (and everything appears to be in order), his boss shakes his head and sighs: “I don’t know what you were doing, but I know it was shifty. Well, you got away with it. Congratulations, you’re still fired!”
8The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. (Then Jesus said,) “For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. (Luke 16:8-9 NIV)
What does shrewd mean?
Here’s how I’d describe it: Shrewdness is wisdom; wisdom that ran away from home as a child and learned how to survive on the Los Angeles streets. Shrewdness is cunning.
The word shrewd makes me think of a poker player who is so good at the game that there’s almost no element of “gambling” involved. He knows all the statistical angles, and he is able to “read” the other players to perfection. A shrewd poker doesn’t have to cheat to win; in fact, he can probably win even when everybody else is cheating!
After telling the story about the shrewd manager, Jesus said (basically): “If you want to see shrewd, you’re probably going to have to look outside the community of God’s people.”
After all, God’s people are uncertain about shrewdness—it’s like we don’t want to upset God by seeming too smart.
Honestly, I don’t think we need to worry about embarrassing God by outsmarting Him. I don’t think He’s intimidated by our wisdom; I’m quite certain that He’s infuriated by our foolishness:
80% of America’s local churches are not growing. The number of people worshipping God in their services is (at best) level or (at worst) lower from year to year.
19% of America’s local churches are growing in ways that aren’t working. They seem to be growing, but they’re actually just winning a game of “musical chairs” with other local churches.
Only 1% of America’s local churches are growing in a way that works. To put it simply, these churches are increasing because they are attracting lost people into God’s Family.
In other words: 99% of the local churches in the United States are not working! This is not new—these statistics have been checked and rechecked; they’ve been validated by every major denomination in the States. I can imagine God in Heaven looking at His Church in America saying: “Something isn’t adding up. I think we need an audit.”
In one way, the top-level leaders of the American Church (Catholic and Protestant) are like the manager in Jesus’ parable: they’re being dishonest—with themselves. But in another way, however, the top-level leaders in the American Church are not like the manager in Jesus’ parable: they’re not panicking!
When the manager in Jesus’ parable heard that he was going to be audited, he panicked. He got shrewd—he made radical changes to survive. The top-level leaders of the American Church are not panicking. They’re not being shrewd. They don’t understand that their “books” don’t line up with God’s Big Book:
- They’ve got funds in the bank, and
- They’ve got fabulous buildings, but
- They don’t have any fish in the boat!
Our mission is not to raise funds or buildings—our mission is to be “fishers of men (and women).” We’ve organized ourselves into the best-looking, wealthiest “soul-fishing” institution in the human history; but we’re not catching any fish.
Let’s take a closer look at the dishonest manager. At the beginning of the story, he is stealing from people. At the end of the story, he is no longer stealing from people. He repented, “accidentally.”
Obviously, he didn’t repent because he felt that stealing was wrong; he repented because he knew that it was no longer going to work.
I know what you’re thinking: “That kind of repentance doesn’t count!” He didn’t have any kind of moral awakening; there was no contrition or restitution. His selfishness just changed from one form to another.
Imagine, for a moment, that we were able to get this guy on the phone and run his voice through our PA system. We’d point out all the ways that his “repentance” doesn’t count. And then he’d say:
“So my kind of repentance doesn’t count; whatever. Guess what America: your kind of repentance doesn’t work!”
And George Barna would say "Amen!"
Jesus told this story to inform us that religion without results is ridiculous! When you look at the American church, it’s obvious that something is wrong. Jesus is saying: “If you’re too proud to confess that your version of Christianity is all wrong, will you at least consider that it’s not working?”
Jesus would be happy with the “accidental” repentance of America’s churches at this point! If we made radical changes for our survival, He might surprise us with a revival!
John Wesley was born in 1703. He was a well-educated, very refined Oxford student; ordained by the Church of England. Wesley observed that many of the traditional things that “counted” in the high class Church of England didn’t “work” out in society.
When he observed that the Christian religion of his day did not bring about results, Wesley panicked. He started making radical changes in the way he ministered to God’s people:
- If something appeared to “count” but didn’t appear
to “work,” he abandoned it.
- If something appeared to “work” but didn’t appear
to “count,” he applied it anyway.
He abandoned aristocratic religious language, he quit trying to convince the upper classes that God was worth a few moments of their time, and he went “fishing for men (and women).” He netted at least 100,000 folks during his life—which qualifies him for a “Master Angler” in my book!
He also ticked off a lot of people in the Church of England. They accused him of trying to start a new church. He wasn’t. He just wanted to get the old church working. And that’s how the Methodist Movement began; it was rather an accident. I don’t know if “accidental” revivals count; but this one reformed the nation of England and helped form the character of the new nation of America. Whether or not it counted, it worked!
It might be a surprise to learn that Wesley never closed a service with an altar call. Not once in 40,000 sermons. That’s not all.
Wesley prohibited Methodist preachers from coercing people into the faith. He was opposed to fire and brimstone preaching; he refused to “frighten” people into God’s family by preaching about the wrath of God. Here’s a line from a letter he sent to his fellow pastors:
“If you can’t reason…a man into the truth, never attempt to force him. If (your) love will not compel him to come in, leave…” (To Spread the Power, George G. Hunter III, p. 60)
Wesley carried two things in his evangelical toolbox: logic and love.
Wesley was shrewd; he observed that people who were “frightened” into making religious decisions hardly ever grew up into mature Christians. They usually left the church. When they remained in the church, their spiritual immaturity was a horrible discredit to the Gospel.
Wesley preached with love and logic; this usually drew great crowds. When he reached the end of a sermon, he invited people to learn more about God by joining a small group (he called them “class meetings.”)
These small groups were led by ordinary Christians; each class had about twelve members. During these classes, curious people asked honest questions, and ordinary Christians gave simple answers.
These groups were informal; they weren’t organized like a traditional Bible study or prayer meeting. It was a time for people to meet and share conversations. In the church, small social groups are a big spiritual deal.
In the hands of ordinary Christians, small social groups are a big spiritual deal. This is because “ordinary Christians” have more credibility than the ordained clergy. A guy named Herb Miller did some great research:
- When first-time visitors to a local church
receive a “glad you came” visit (or phone call)
within 36 hours, 85% of them will return the
following week.
- If the “glad you came” call is received 36 to 72
hours after their first visit; the percentage
drops to 60%.
These statistics represent the reaction from church visitors who receive a rapid response call by someone other than the pastor. Herb found that something interesting happens when first timers get a quick follow up call from “Mr. Important,” the pastor himself:
- When the “glad you came” call is given by the
pastor—the percentages are cut by 50%!
Giving someone a “glad you came” call does not guarantee that they will return. If you make a quick call, there’s an 85% chance they come back, if I make the call, there’s a 52.5% chance that they won’t!
It’s not about me, personally—it’s about common sense. Visitors know that I’m on the payroll. A call from me is about as special as a call from a telemarketer. They figure I’m just doing my job.
Think of it this way: The Christian life is like a brand new car, and I’m a car salesman. When a car salesman says, “Hey, I just want to help you find a great car because I really care about you,” people think: “Whatever.”
As an “ordinary Christian,” however—you’re like a car owner. People are going to be interested in your opinion; they know that you’re not working on commission.
People don’t choose this church because they like me; people choose this church because they sense that you like them.
Small group socializing “works” because it creates opportunities for spiritually curious people to share conversations with ordinary Christians. Once they sense that you like them, they will feel safe; safe enough to start observing your Christian life and maybe even ask questions about it. Faith is shared through friendships, period.
Or, as it’s been said: Christianity is more caught than taught. We digest the sermons we hear, the books we read, and the thoughts we think by having conversations with Christians who help us sort stuff out. That is why social small groups are such a big spiritual deal. Faith is shared through friendships. When we help people belong, we are ultimately helping them believe.
A lot of churches are consulting with all kinds of experts, trying to figure out how to achieve growth. Shrewd churches have a wiser focus: they endeavor to make their church work. 95% of the “growing” churches don’t work; but each and every “working” church will grow—it’s inevitable!
A growing, non-working church is usually obsessed with trying to force growth in one or two isolated areas: like attendance and finances. A working church is also growth-focused, but in a more balanced way. George G. Hunter III has a shrewd mind after God’s heart; and he has identified four areas of growth that must all occur in a working church:
- Internal Growth: this kind of growth takes place
in the lives of people who are already coming to
the church. When the members of a congregation
are growing closer to God and each other, then
internal growth is taking place.
- External Growth: this kind of growth takes place
when new people are start showing up in the
church. There are three kinds of external growth:
- Biological: people in the church have babies
- Transfer: receiving (not recruiting) people from
other churches.
- Conversion: reaching lost people and bringing
them into God’s family.
- Extension Growth: this kind of growth takes place
when the members of a local congregation reach
into their community. It’s been observed that
Jesus did not tell all the world to go to Church;
He told the Church to go into all the world.”
Extension growth includes: AA, Al-Anon, Kids Hope
USA, and CLC.
- Bridging Growth: this kind of growth occurs when
churches deploy people as “missionaries” to reach
lost people in other cultures. Usually, these
cultures are geographically distant from the
local church. Sometimes, they’re right next
door.
Next week you’ll get a chance to learn about the two-thirds of “our” congregation that don’t meet in this building: they live and worship in Asia. We have a little “sister” church in an isolated part of Central Asia, she is twice our size!
Today’s story illustrates that we can stumble into repentance—even revival—accidentally. Now let’s be clear: Jesus didn’t commend a shrewd man for acting dishonestly; He commended a dishonest man for acting shrewdly.
Shrewd churches are continually sorting things out: they abandon the old things that don’t work and apply new things that will. If we are willing to take assessments and make adaptations, then our church will keep working. And if our church keeps working, it will keep growing.
Now don’t forget, if you see visitors today—give them a call later on. They’d rather hear from you than they would from me! And: don’t forget to party! It doesn’t matter if socializing “counts;” it’s quite obvious that it “works!” It works—(and counts)—because Christianity spreads through our relationships.
