Like a Bad Haircut...Only Much, Much, Much Worse
For about the last year I've been cutting my own hair. The good news is, that at least 60% of the time, you can't tell. I've learned some things along the way, & sacrificed looking my best for few bucks.One of the things I've learned is that right after a fresh cut, in the beginning, I can get away with some pretty major mistakes & it not be noticed. But a few weeks later, after the hair starts to grow back, bad blend jobs, gaps, missed places, all become much more noticeable. If you cut your own hair, you've always got to be willing to shave it - to be ready to go back to square 1 to even everything out...sometimes, it's the only way to fix a hack job.
I think church planting is the same way. If you skip out on some clear teachings on the church in the beginning, you might form a group, you may get a church off the ground, you could even have the appearance of going strong. But if your entire strategy, or essential elements of it, are built in ignorance of the Word, or you look at what the Word says, look at the culture you are trying to reach, & think your idea is better, you're working on a hack job. Some people may like a mo-hawk or a "dumb & dumber" "do", so it is possible to be self-deceived that all is well.
But sooner or later, as things grow, if at the base, the foundation, things aren't on an even scale with the Word of God, even fundamental things like preaching, pastors, male leadership, are explicitly set aside for the wisdom of man, the only way to make it right is to repent & return to the Word. In other words, take the guard off, oil up the blades, & buzz it right down to the base.
