You Can’t Go Home [Can You?]…

Sunday, February 8, 2009 1:07 AM Posted in Christianity, Church Planting, Life, NOBTS, Theology, Travel

Mobile, AlabamaI’ve been thinking about the old phrase “you can’t go home” a lot lately, especially in light of church planting.  Many of my friends planting churches are, in fact, doing so in their hometowns.  A good number of pastors or ministers I know are on staff at churches in their hometowns.  Because of the phrase, I barely considered planting a church in Mobile.  Granted, I paid no attention to the verses when considering staff positions at established churches in town (I did intern at a local church in college), but the thought of being a pastor there didn’t really cross my mind.  So let’s look at the where the phrase has its biblical root.  Then I need your help examining a few questions.

And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.  [Matthew 13:53-58, ESV]

One might say that Jesus is speaking of only of prophets.  This would exclude pastors, elders, or bishops if one defines prophet at a “foreteller.”  However, my Old Testament professor taught us that a prophet was simply an individual who acted as a “mouthpiece of God.”  Paul, in his letters to the early churches, spoke of the gift of prophecy as something separate from the gift of teaching (while not excluding the possibility that someone could have both gifts).

So I have some questions:

  • Can a pastor plant a church in his own hometown?
  • Should someone plant a church in his hometown?
  • How far from “home” is far enough?
  • What are the obstacles not obvious from the passage quoted above?
  • What are the benefits of planting in your hometown?
  • What do you think Jesus meant by his statement in Matthew 13:57?
  • How broad is the meaning of “prophet” in this context?

Assume for the sake of argument that the call from God is to plant a church, not a call to a particular location.

by Joe Kennedy

7 comments

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February 8, 2009 - 10:21 AM

jdantzlerw - Great post, and interesting questions. As you know, I’ve been called back to my hometown, or at least close to it, and Jennifer and I have considered planting a church in Mobile as well. (And still may some where in the future.) So, maybe I can give a little insight, at least to how I have thought about it.
It seems that going back to your hometown can be very beneficial, at least from some of the evidence we can see from people who have done it, Mark Drisscol stayed in Seatlle, Ed Young in Houston, Andy Stanley in Atlanta, just to name some of the big shots. I think it really comes down to where is God calling you, and if he’s calling you home, go there. But if he’s not, go where he is calling you. Jennifer and I struggled with this, asking ourselves if we just wanted to come back for selfish reasons, or if God was calling us, that is why we never looked for a position here in Mobile. But, one came and we felt led to come, and so far God is showing that it was and is his will.

Now to answer your specific questions:
1. Yes

2. Yes, if that is where God calls him to go.

3. Personally, I don’t think that it is wise to go back to serve in your “home” church
– This may be more inline with what Jesus is saying here. For many of us our hometowns are so large now that we could come back and be serving a very different community than the one we grew up in. This is definitely true of Mobile. Whereas Jesus hometown would have also been the his “home church” so to speak.

4. Personally for me it has been trying to balance family and church obligations. With family so close its hard to see everyone when the want to be seen and when the church wants you around at the same time tough decisions have to be made.

5. You know the culture. You have a support system of family and friends. You may have people that can be part of your core group. You may have peole to be part of the ministerial team. You know the culture.

6. (See 3) When people know you when you were young a dumb (not that Jesus was) sometimes its hard to see them as anything else. The people of Nazareth knew Jesus as a carpenter and for his family relationships, they knew he wasn’t a trained Rabbi, they couldn’t see past this to see who he really was.

7. I think your right on in the post about what a prophet is.

February 8, 2009 - 12:48 PM

Amy Nicholson - I can’t believe I’m doing this right now, but I think you have some great points/questions and why not procrastinate a little longer?

* Can a pastor plant a church in his own hometown? I agree with Justin that “home town” means the community that watched you grow up. But, I think that a church planter can plant a church in one’s home town, even if one is a preaching pastor.

* Should someone plant a church in his hometown? Only if they are called my God there and they are not afraid to be dishonored by those who once knew them. I believe in indigenous leadership and I have been around several pastors who came back to their home communities. Dr. Luter is a wonderful example of success.

* How far from “home” is far enough? See above.

* What are the obstacles not obvious from the passage quoted above? Assuming YOU know everything about THEM. Just as one may not be given honor, it will be difficult to not assume you know everything about the community and the people you’re around. Seek a fresh perspective. Let me explain themselves and show how things have changed for them as they have for you.

* What are the benefits of planting in your hometown? You do know the area so a lot of research and networking is already done intrinsically. There is not as much “you’re not from around here; you don’t know us.” In other words, you are an insider. That can be powerful.

* What do you think Jesus meant by his statement in Matthew 13:57? I think he was referring to himself and other prophets who were not seen as speaking God’s words because people thought they knew all about them and dismissed them. I do NOT think he was talking about church planting in this context necessarily because Jesus told many people to go back to their own communities to share the good news as much as he sent people out. Even in Jesus’ case, His own family eventually understand Him. You just might have to show them over time what you’re really made of.

* How broad is the meaning of “prophet” in this context? I’m pretty sure He was speaking pretty specifically about Himself and others who claim to speak from God. I think that it is wise of you to see what that means for you as one who claims to speak God’s truth.

February 8, 2009 - 1:25 PM

Britton - I personally know that God has called me to my home state or “home.” I think the better question to ask in this situation is not “How far from home is far enough?” but rather “How close can I get to the center of God’s will for my life in reaching the lost world? God calls every Christian to reach the world for Him. In reaching the world for Christ, I believe we are placed by God in places that He desires for us. God knows the places that we can best relate and reach people for Him! We cannot question the places God calls each person because only they will truely know where they are called to be by God. What we can do is actually do what God commands and get up and Go! Matt. 28:19-20 Just allow God to do the calling and leading! His “benefits” far exceed any “benefits” that we may think we could understand in any particular setting. God cannot be placed into a box and only by His glory could I ever dare reach one person for Him! I believe we as Christians need to listen more for God’s voice and stop leaning on our own understanding. Prov. 3:5-6 Jesus speaks about a prophet being without honor in his own hometown, but every Christian knows that Jesus ministered everwhere He went! Even if He was not honored , He still preached the Gospel! Nothing in ministry is easy! Most ministers who actually do a work for Christ are not honored anywhere they do a work for Him. That’s simply the lost world in which we live! John 15:20

February 8, 2009 - 2:27 PM

Jack Allen - I’ll cut to your questions.
Can a pastor plant a church in his own hometown?
No. “Pastors” do not plant churches. Church Planters do, and yes, there is a difference.
To say that one cannot plant a church or lead a church in his hometown is idiotic if not blasphemous. God can call any of us wherever he wants us. The examples of successful church planters and Pastors listed above by my extremely intelligent colleagues prove the point.

Should someone plant a church in his hometown?
If they sense a strong leading from the Lord to do so, yes. Church planting is hard anywhere, but having a good emotional and spiritual support system and planting in an area where one already understands the culture can be very helpful.

How far from “home” is far enough?
Irrelevant.

What are the obstacles not obvious from the passage quoted above?
Let’s consider a few things. First, church planters are not (typically) prophetic workers. They’re usually more apostolic or shepherds (I’m working from the list in Eph. 4). So, Jesus’ words may not even apply to Pastors (shepherds) or church planters (apostolic workers).
Second, since when does one plant or lead a church with an idea of gaining honor? Our job is to give honor to Christ alone.
I’ve seen plenty of guys interested in their own honor. Their arrogance usually causes the to fail over time, and they tend to ruin many relationships in the process. They’re also fairly easy to spot: they have a very hard time taking correction!

What are the benefits of planting in your hometown?
Support system and cultural acumen.

What do you think Jesus meant by his statement in Matthew 13:57?
See above.

How broad is the meaning of “prophet” in this context?
Can’t say for sure, but he seems to me to have been talking about himself. I do not, therefore, think that the Scriptures forbid one from starting or leading the hometown church.

Good post Joe. Thanks for keeping us thinking.

February 8, 2009 - 2:58 PM

Gibby Espinoza - I can’t add much more to what the others have said because they are correct. What I will say is that I agree with the specificity that Jack gave about a “Pastor” not being the one who plants churches. That work belongs to the Apostle (Church planter).

The issue here is whether you (Joe) can go back to Mobile to plant a church. Yes you can, but only if that is what God is saying to do. If God says go then go. Focus on the issues of the kingdom and see the people through the eyes of God. Keep Christ at the center and allow yourself to be stretched because many time the familiar culture can lull you and cause you to lose focus.

peace…gibby

February 8, 2009 - 10:27 PM

Billy - Joe, about this time last year I had extensive conversations on this very topic with a good friend of ours. Our friend’s father was discouraging him to return home to plant a church. Over and over again this dad would quote the verse, “a prophet is without honor in his hometown.” Unfortunately, this is where really bad hermeneutics (I think I just misspelled that) hurts in everyday decision making.

If you read the story in Luke 4 of where Jesus offends his hometown it isn’t because he says he is the Messiah. Actually, they seem pretty pumped about that. It’s only when he tells two OT stories of prophets going to gentiles instead of Jewish people to help them. This irritates his audience. They thought Jesus was their Messiah and didn’t want to share him with “the nations”.

But my favorite example is after Jesus heals “Legion”. The dude wants to come and follow Jesus. Which was kinda the thing Jesus told people to do. BUT, Jesus tells old dude to go home and minister there. Where was the toughest place for the guy to go? It had to be home, yet Jesus sent him there.

Anyone who tells you that you either have to go home to be effective or that you can’t go home to be effective is living in legalism. You’re a big boy, listen to God. He’ll clearly tell you where that is and if its Mobile then it has to be from God. Who would chose to live in Mobile on their own? :)

February 8, 2009 - 11:02 PM

Joe Kennedy - Everybody, thanks.

Jack, ponder this: a pastor is the shepherd of the sheep, keeping them together and safe; the planter is the shepherd dog, herding the sheep into one place for the shepherd.

Gibby, this is not about me right now. Yes, I’m considering going home. I don’t really need permission to go home from anybody but my folks, who would help me get there. I just thought about the situation and wanted to see what others had to say. I’m still in Benbrook until May 31st, and have no specific plans to leave, yet.

Billy, great hermeneutics! (Yes, you spelled it right.) I appreciate the biblical insight.

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