Living in Union with Christ - a Review

Living in Union with Christ: Paul's Gospel and Christian Moral Identity by Grant Macaskill
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In this excellent little book, the author makes three points very well:

1. Union with Christ.
a. Without arguing for any new doctrine, Macaskill pushes this idea into all our living, using Galatians 2:20 as his touchstone: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” This means that the good that we do we do as those inhabited by Christ and His Spirit. Even secular self-improvement books often point out that how you identify and see yourself has a huge impact on your behavior. When we keep our “Christ-in-me” identity at the forefront of our thoughts, it radically changes the landscape of the fight against ongoing sin, and our view of our good deeds.

b. Also, Macaskill articulates this union in fresh and provocative ways, like this: “an alien reality [is] being inserted into us with transformational effects” (pg 85). This evokes the sci-fi world, where this is always ominous. Yet this union is not “possession,” where our agency is over-ridden. Christ by His Spirit and Word dwelling in us richly trains, persuades, matures, and aids our will to follow His.

c. Two quotes from the very end of the book sum it up well. We must avoid “seeing the Spirit as an independent energy working to make us into better versions of ourselves… [Rather] we see Him as the one working to realize the identity of the Son within us” (142). The final defining reality of our lives and our church is the potent goodness of Jesus Christ” (145).

2. Legalism. Macaskill gives a helpful definition. Legalism is trying to hold and accrue social or spiritual capital with God or others by anything you have done. Legalism isn’t always brazenly thinking you can earn salvation by your deeds, or Pharisaically majoring on minors. The problem is thinking any good we do is “ours” at all. True union with Christ means anything we do that pleases God, Christ has done in us. We can’t use any of it as leverage with God. Union with Christ refutes every shade of legalism completely.

3. New Perspective. This is a good one for the theology wonks. Macaskill interacts a fair bit with NT Wright and Sanders, the main New Perspective (NP) proponents, and I liked his conclusions:

a. NP is right to see that broader themes define the gospel than only forgiveness of sin via imputation of Christ’s righteousness. (The kingdom and victory of God and union with Christ are two of their favorites.)

b. NP is wrong to redefine or reject imputation in favor of those other themes.

c. Union with Christ helps us see the broader themes without losing the classic, orthodox definition of imputation. The latter does not happen without union with Christ, so it need not (SHOULD not) be seen as a cold or impersonal forensic transaction where the contact is momentary – like getting cash out of an ATM to cover your debts.


Although under 150 pages, the writing is quite academic, and light on “street-level,” practical application. There is also one paragraph at the very end where he assumes the LGBT issue is one that should not divide the church, with which I disagreed. But his bigger point is sound, that agreement on everything should not be the basis of Christian unity.

Macaskill exegetes several passages like 1 Cor. 5-6, 10-11, Isa 53, Rom 6-7 very well in light of our union with Christ. Any Christian used to more academic writing would profit from reading this book.

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The Loveliness of Christ - a Review

 

The Loveliness of Christ: Selections from the Letters of Samuel Rutherford by Samuel Rutherford
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A rare five stars.

This is a tiny book, with just short quotes of Rutherford's letters, which can be found more completely at Banner of Truth.

I read them devotionally, 2 pages a day.

The older English is a bit hard to follow at times, but footnotes explain when needed.

Most of these quotes relate to affliction and trouble - I haven't studied Rutherford's history, but am quite sure he had a keen pastoral sense to respond to write to those suffering troubles with the "balm of Gilead."

You won't see this much on social media, but many of Christ's people are hurting, and in need of not just encouragement but also an understanding from God's view of what is happening to them. This little booklet delivers in spades.

Highly recommended.

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On the Civil Magistrate – from Westminster Confession, chapter 23

Note the formatting is uneven in the WCF quotes.  This is not intended to emphasize anything...

1. God, the Supreme Lord and King of all the world, hath ordained civil magistrates to be under him, over the people, for his own glory and the public good, and to this end hath armed them with the power of the sword, for the defense and encouragement of them that are good, and for the punishment of evil-doers.

 

My read:

There is a realm of civil government that is somehow distinct from churchly or familial authority.  It has a legitimate power of force over church and family in certain situations.

 

 

 

2. It is lawful for Christians to accept and execute the office of a magistrate when called thereunto; in the managing whereof, as they ought especially to maintain piety, justice, and peace, according to the wholesome laws of each commonwealth, so, for that end, they may lawfully, now under the New Testament, wage war upon just and necessary occasion.

 

My read:

Christians can be part of this civil government, biblically, even to waging war when it is just.

 

 

 

3. The civil magistrate may not assume to himself the administration of the Word and sacraments; or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven: yet he hath authority, and it is his duty, to take order, that unity and peace be preserved in the Church, that the truth of God be kept pure and entire; that all blasphemies and heresies be suppressed; all corruptions and abuses in worship and discipline prevented or reformed; and all the ordinances of God duly settled, administered, and observed.  For the better effecting whereof, he hath power to call synods, to be present at them, and to provide that whatsoever is transacted in them be according to the mind of God.

 

My read: But civil government cannot usurp the realm of the church.  It can and should promote Christianity in various ways, but not tell church rulers what to do in their sphere of authority.

 

 

American Revision of 1788:

3. (Completely rewritten) Civil magistrates may not assume to themselves the administration of the Word and sacraments; or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven; or, in the least, interfere in matters of faith. Yet, as nursing fathers, it is the duty of civil magistrates to protect the church of our common Lord, without giving the preference to any denomination of Christians above the rest, in such a manner that all ecclesiastical persons whatever shall enjoy the full, free, and unquestioned liberty of discharging every part of their sacred functions, without violence or danger. And, as Jesus Christ hath appointed a regular government and discipline in his church, no law of any commonwealth should interfere with, let, or hinder, the due exercise thereof, among the voluntary members of any denomination of Christians, according to their own profession and belief. It is the duty of civil magistrates to protect the person and good name of all their people, in such an effectual manner as that no person be suffered, either upon pretense of religion or of infidelity, to offer any indignity, violence, abuse, or injury to any other person whatsoever: and to take order, that all religious and ecclesiastical assemblies be held without molestation or disturbance.

 

My read: Note the civil government is still called upon to be a nursing father to the church of Christ, just not establishing any certain denomination as the national church.  It adds the duty to protect the civil rights of all people, regardless of religion – a definite innovation and improvement of civil government in the modern world, I believe.

 

 

4. a. It is the duty of people to pray for magistrates, to honor their persons, to pay them tribute and other dues, to obey their lawful commands, and to be subject to their authority, for conscience’ sake. 

b. Infidelity or difference in religion doth not make void the magistrate’s just and legal authority, nor free the people from their due obedience to him: from which ecclesiastical persons are not exempted; much less hath the Pope any power or jurisdiction over them in their dominions, or over any of their people; and least of all to deprive them of their dominions or lives, if he shall judge them to be heretics, or upon any other pretense whatsoever.

 

My read:

a. Christians must honor the persons in civil office.  (Not just the documents chartering a nation, to the exclusion of the office-holders, as has been recently asserted.)

b. Just because a culture/people becomes atheistic, secular, or equally divided among differing religions doesn’t mean they don’t have a duty to submit to the civil government’s orders.  Church leaders must obey civil rulers, too.  [TO WHAT EXTENT?]  The pope surely doesn’t have authority over foreign civil rulers.

 

 

Conclusion

There must be some middle ground between these two positions:

1.      We must submit to the existing authorities in all things, because God put them there.  Whatever they say, we do, because they are God’s servants and delegates.

2.      We only submit to the civil government when we agree that their policies are in accord with God’s Word.  If we don’t think they are, we disregard them.

Neither of these is right. 

Is there a proper time for the civil government to order the closure of religious services in its area?  YES.  A tornado or hurricane is imminent, e.g.  But when it asserts this authority unreasonably (Covid is still an emergency, 24-36 months on, e.g.), the church can disregard and defy it.

 

Regarding covid-like situations, church leaders are free to set their own health parameters regarding meeting and Communion, following or disregarding guidance or orders from the civil government.  Their default should be to learn from and obey the state, but exceptions must be made if the state is asking people to sin, and MAY be made if the state is calling for unwise things, out of alignment with scriptural patterns of behavior.  Church members should do all they can to submit to church leaders’ policies in such a situation.

Forging the Peninsulas: Michigan is Made

Forging the Peninsulas: Michigan Is Made by David B. McConnell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Local history is a much overlooked subject in education. Everything today has been nationalized – we know way more about what happened today in D.C. or Ukraine than we do across town. This is partly because during the Cold War, our public education shifted to focus on instilling into our pupils a positive national identity. And it drowned out any identity but the American. Local media have been bought up and dominated by national conglomerates. People are quick to move out of state for employment. All this feeds our utter ignorance of the history of our place. We don’t even have a sense of our place, anymore.

Back in the 1st century, when God providentially brought many Gentiles into the New Testament church, they became part of a history they hadn’t known before. Jews came alongside them, and read to them from the Old Testament, saying, “As you are in Christ, this is your story, now.”

So, if you move to a new place, or as you grow up in the same one, parents or mentors should give you resources like “Forging the Peninsulas,” and say, “Since you’re settling here, this is part of your story, now.” 

This is a GREAT textbook, probably for middle schoolers. But I read it and learned a ton, though I’ve lived in Michigan for 30 of my 47 years. It covers the facts and historical trends evenly, both chronologically and ideologically. (As this is a Hillsdale publication I expected nothing less – always excellent work there.)

I’d urge you to find similar works wherever you live. Have your children read them. Read them yourselves. Visit local historical sites and enrich your education by actually being there. There is SO much to learn from our past. Too many assume that since we have had phones for the last 15 years that can Google anything, our forefathers have nothing more to teach us.  What folly!

Most of the wisdom you REALLY need to know in life, you can’t get from Google. It’s gotta come from somewhere and someone closer.

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Wounded by God's People - a review

Wounded by God's People: Discovering How God's Love Heals Our Hearts by Anne Graham Lotz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a very important book for me personally, though it isn’t all that deep or insightful theologically.

The daughter of Billy Graham can write and speak well, drawing on Hagar’s life to show us how to handle hard times, and use them to draw us nearer to the Lord.

She strikes an important balance in this regard: how to name the wounds we have suffered, without falling prey to a victim mentality about them. It’s important to recognize and identify your wounds, to admit you have been wounded, to see how it is affecting your faith and outlook on life. If we don’t see it or deny it is there, that can be just as harmful. But if we only see the wound and look back on our wounder with resentment, or look inward with self-pity, instead of treating it and moving forward with faith in God, we are no better off.

I don’t think Lotz is a Calvinist, but she strikes a strong note of God’s sovereignty in this way: we wouldn’t know God as well as we do, if we didn’t walk through trials and come through them still looking to Him in faith. But as a Graham will do, she also emphasizes our choice and responsibility to respond well or poorly to being wounded.

Anyone struggling in their faith because of hard times, conflict, or negative church experiences, should read this.

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Son of Laughter - a review

The Son of Laughter by Frederick Buechner
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This was my first book by Frederick Buechner, and boy was I thrown. He retells the story of Jacob, the son of Isaac (which means Laughter). But the retelling is deliberately jarring to refined, modern ears. He tries to put us in the ancient world with lots of crude descriptions of various practices surrounding sex and religion, which were often commingled then. This can be quite off putting to most readers.

But if you stick with it there are some nuggets of bronze to be gleaned. Hearing and heeding the voice of God, against all odds. (Perhaps some Karl Barth-like themes, here.) Being faced with hard, pressing life events, and still believing what the Fear (the God of Isaac) tells you instead.

Can’t really recommend to the average reader, but if you’re doing a study of Isaac, Jacob or Joseph, it may be useful for a different take on their life.

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Carry a Big Stick - a review

Carry a Big Stick: The Uncommon Heroism of Theodore Roosevelt by George Grant
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I love George Grant. This book inspires me to be like Teddy. His boundless optimism and energy spur me on to productivity and higher purpose.

But I also noticed this time through a Grant biography that it is basic hagiography – making someone a saint. Since the purpose is to inspire and hold up as estimable, any failing or flaws are drastically minimized or ignored. Grant does better when treating issues (Blood of the Moon; Bringing in the Sheaves).

Each chapter is 3-4 small pages long – probably a blog post or magazine article somewhere else before compiled into this book.

If you need something short, quick, and inspiring, this is the book for you.
To actually learn about TR, you probably need to look elsewhere.

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Leaving Home - a review

 

Leaving Home by Garrison Keillor
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Leaving Home, a Review
Life among the Lutherans, a review

I love Garrison Keillor. He has a real knack for telling a good story, and subtly weaving in ideas. He can make you think about something deep, just by listening to what you thought was plain tale about down-home people or everyday events. Basically he can be a little preachy without it usually coming off as such.

This can be good or bad, depending on the message. For Keillor it’s a bit of both. Sometimes he’s showing the importance of a small town, and how good it is to be known by those who live around you – something we’ve mostly lost today. But other times, he treats marital affairs and the breakup of families casually, making them feel okay. As long as you can detect and reject the latter, it’s good, lighthearted fun, along the lines of Wodehouse.

This also applies to the church and pastors in the town. They’re shown as a natural and good part of life. As he writes sermons and counsels people, the pastor has his own thoughts and motivations, sometimes aligned with the faith, and other times not. It was easy to recognize myself there. The rivalry between the Catholic and Lutheran church is hilariously caricatured.

But Keillor either doesn’t understand or deliberately misrepresents the faith at many points. Being gracious, he’s trying to explain how and why people of faith fail to live out their beliefs well. But now and then, I noted a darker tone of bitterness against the church. Guilt trips of “perpetual responsibility.” The hypocrisy of insisting on presenting one thing publicly when you live a different way privately.

And salvation was mostly found in the sentiment of fondness for the people in your town, not the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Keillor’s is the faith of Fosdick, Peale, and Schuller, not of Luther.

Still, the social critiques are sometimes justified, and can help church people be self-reflective about their own flaws, without a harsh word given.

So, you’ll find entertaining stories here, which I recommend to the discerning reader. But stay alert to the messages lying beneath.

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Ten Ways to Kill a Pastor - a review

Ten Ways to Kill a Pastor by Christopher Ian Thoma
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Pastor Thoma’s provocative title really means, “Don’t do these things to your pastor.”

In 10 short chapters, he depicts different, dangerous, potentially lethal situations. His wife is not supportive. The leadership doesn’t pay him enough. Members are too demanding of his time. Some of the "better" ways: the church or the pastor himself insisting that his children are picture perfect. And the whisper campaign where one or some members turn others against the pastor behind his back.

It’s beyond the scope of the book, but it could’ve used a section on how the pastor responds. How does he avoid self-pity? A victim mentality? Anger at the flock (think Moses!)? It is easy for the pastor himself to strengthen external attacks like these 10, with his own poor internal responses.

So this is a dangerous book to read, especially by a pastor in the midst of conflict. But it is definitely a helpful book.

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American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

One of the few books I’ve listened to almost completely on audio. I am not an audio fan. Retention and reference are poor. Still, this was a fascinating book. Oppenheimer was a prodigy/genius, naïve at first to the political trends affecting his work. He seemed to have the gift of gab as well as abstract physics acumen – he could wow a grad school seminar, a parlor soiree at his home, and a congressional hearing.

Still, it is difficult to be hounded by the FBI for possible Communist sympathies, and to realize you have made possible the atomic bombing of tens of thousands, as you hear it on the radio. Oppie discovered this fire and opened a Pandora’s box that we still struggle to contain.

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Raspberry Wars

 

Raspberry Wars: My Boyhood through Berries, Bullying, and Bravery by Sherwood De Visser
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

We need more books like this. Personal and local histories written by normal people, describing real life.

I know the author personally. His family story drips with dysfunction, bitterness, injustice, envy, complaint, and malice. So it is astounding to me that he is the happy man he is today through it all.

How do we respond when we are unwanted, rejected, and hurt by those closest to us? Some shrivel and curl up into themselves, nursing the bitterness with pettiness like the “raspberry wars.” Others trust God and look to His goodness, finding joy and life on the other side.

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The Dark Tower - a Little-Known CS Lewis Work

 

The Dark Tower: And Other Stories by C.S. Lewis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I recently discovered a book by CS Lewis I didn’t know existed.

It’s actually a collection of very short stories and a couple of unfinished novels. The main one is “The Dark Tower.”

Lewis depicts well various modern responses to the supernatural, mostly rejecting it in different ways. He gets across the horrifying nature of evil.

If you’re a Lewis fan, look up this little book. The description in the foreword of cleaning up CSL’s papers after his death – saving some from the fire, but not many - was fascinating.

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Living Faith in Life and Pulpit

One of my favorite magazines from years ago is entitled “Credenda/Agenda:"

Things to be believed.  Things to be done.

Christianity is about faith and action, both.

I had occasion today to review the first questions of the Westminster (WSC) and Heidelberg (HC) Catechisms, and I found this summarized neatly there.  Our only comfort is in believing gospel truths (HC 1), and we have to know (HC 2) and do things in response (HC 86-129!).  The Scriptures teach us what to believe about God, and what God requires us to DO (WSC 3).

My main point here, is how hard it is to keep the right balance of these, both in our relationship to God personally, and in our delivering and receiving the preached Word on Sundays.  We tend toward faith OR works, trust OR requirements, and usually neglect important things on the other side.  It's a false choice, and we need to pursue both credenda and agenda.

Take our personal piety.

One side emphasizes the atonement and forgiveness of sin, based on God's free grace.  So "Let go and let God."  You are forgiven so forget about it.  And this can wind up saying, "If you're trying so hard to obey God, you're not receiving grace."  But the Bible doesn't describe the Christian life as a casual and easy walk in the park, just because it's (truly) all of grace.

The other side says, "We need to act out our faith in gratitude to God for His saving us."  True.  We remain under a moral obligation to obey His will, after we have received His forgiveness for past sins.  But this can quickly wind up in ongoing, false, condemning guilt for not obeying enough.  If I don't read my Bible every day, if I haven't presented someone with the Gospel evangelistically this week, God is up there shaking His head at me.

The first side we call antinomianism (against the law).  The second is a form of legalism.

------------

As a preacher for the last 20 years, I know the constant struggle to balance credenda and agenda in the sermon.  As a newcomer to the pew for a bit now, receiving the word, I have a newfound respect for the importance to get the balance right.  When it's there, it's extremely satisfying and I hear the Good Shepherd's voice giving me healing balm and a kick in the pants, both.  When it's lop-sided, it's either casual grace or condemning law.

Again most preachers or denominations emphasize one or the other side.

Groups like Ligonier Ministries, which I highly respect, emphasize the first side.  I was steeped in this in high school and college and am thankful for the Gospel foundation it gave me.  And it isn't that they get the second side wrong.  But they talk about it less, and in less detail than people need today.  (A Christian newlywed couple today probably needs far more instruction in how to live and relate to each other than 40-50 years ago.)

Other groups spring up in reaction to this with lots of specific solutions on what to DO as a Christian.  Some of those I've been exposed to over the years have been parenting techniques, family worship, leadership and submission in marriage, worship service structure, how to be a Christian man, how to think about cultural trends.

Now, none of these are bad things to address.  They SHOULD be brought up, in the pulpit.  But when done so untethered from the first Gospel side, they tend toward a legalism that places too much reliance on the technique being pressed, to "get the job done."  And that last phrase is key.  If you get the baby to go down for the night with the technique, then God favors you.  If you lobby or pray hard enough, or understand your worldview thoroughly enough so the culture changes for the better (the one I've been most exposed to), then God favors you.  No.

Preachers, I urge you to find a way to articulate this Ephesians 2:8-10 balance in every sermon, whatever the passage.  Keep Jesus and His grace the root from which every branch/point of your message flows.  He isn't a diving board to jump off to wherever else you want to go.

You're not being legalistic if you get too specific, as long as you can show it from Scripture, and it flows from the Gospel.

You're not being antinomian if you ground every call to action in Gospel grace, if you're repeating the basic Gospel of forgiveness every Sunday.  As long as that's not ALL you're doing.

Give us both credenda and agenda.

Atomic Habits - a Review

 

Some common sense, common grace wisdom for improving your life habits.

 

Clear has been on the New York Times bestseller list for months, and it’s easy to see why.

 

He makes self-improvement easy.  Just do small things, little things, one thing, at a time.  Add a good habit to any routine you already have.  Even the chapters are very short to make for easy reading.

 

Sometimes I think this is genius – other times it feels totally gimmicky.  Most of the book’s techniques are disconnected from your desire and motivations.  But he does address identity well – it’s more fundamental than action.  Define yourself as a non-smoker effectively and you’ll stop smoking, without the hamster wheel of trying to stop.  I also liked the emphasis on your system over goal-setting.  Goal setting is good to do now and then, but what you do every day, every hour is what really has an effect on your life.

 

Not a necessary read, but helpful.  3 stars.

The Source, Review

The Source by James A. Michener
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’m pretty sure I’ve reviewed this before, as I’ve read this book several times.
I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Written in the heyday of 1960-70s liberalism, there’s a heavy dose of evolutionary thought throughout, especially in the first chapter or two. But Michener’s historical sense, his ability to understand and paint a picture of how people believed and lived from century to century is superb. It is critical to understanding the Bible in its historical context.

His description of the Baal worship fertility cult, Josephus, the Crusades, and the persecution of Jews in Medieval Europe are especially compelling.

Michener makes it a story, so don’t be turned off by the 1000 page length. He gets into the mind of the average person’s way of thinking about God, worship, worldview, etc.

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Three Things to Look for in a Church

Using the same three points from my last post, here are three things to look for in a church.

1. Doctrinal orthodoxy

In our day, if a church isn't "out and proud" about its adherence to the historic Christian faith and the infallible Word of God, it's at least a yellow flag.  Many mainstream evangelical churches want to downplay this, out of a fear of not looking "with it," or scaring people away with too much "doctrine."  Of course, ultra-conservative churches can careen too far the other way and focus ONLY on doctrine, or be self-righteous about being more orthodox than anyone else.

Meta observations are important, here.  What is being assumed by how the Word is preached, how the service is conducted, and how the music is led?  If we take God seriously, we'll take His word and its preaching seriously.  Meeting with Him should be a mix of joyful reverence.  

Key questions to ask:

 - do you believe Scripture is infallible and inerrant, each (verbal) and every (plenary) original word inspired by God?

 - do you adhere to the Apostles' and Nicene Creeds?

 - what other confessions do you adhere to, if any?  (Westminster, Heidelberg, London Baptist, etc.)

 - Do you sense in the announcements or music time that leadership is catering or pandering to your feelings or natural wants?

 - Is the music always and only upbeat, when God's songbook (the Psalms) includes lament and even imprecation?

 - Is there an over-display of emotional affect, implying that we are always happy here?  Or that our emotions are driving what we believe?  

 - If your best friend died 3 days before, would it still make sense to go to church here the next Sunday?  Or would the emotional disconnect be too great?

2. Connectedness

This relates to the first point of my last post (historical/familial churches).  Many churches are either resting on historical relationships too much, or focus on programs to the detriment of relationships.  What you want is a place where you experience people who are intentional about getting to know you - not just hearing it said from leadership but people actually doing this.  You know it when you see hurting people getting attention, care and help.  Programs might be able to foster this more, and give a place for it to happen.  But just going to a class isn't being connected.

Some people are more reserved, and some leadership makes the mistake of pressing people to open up too much and too soon.  But members of the body of Christ need to give and receive from other members to function properly.

Key questions to ask:

 - Is someone at church praying for you for a specific thing right now / this week?  

 - Are you praying for someone at that church?

 - Have you had a longish conversation with anyone recently that got beyond "How are you?"

3. Organization

The last point above was more about the people at the church.  This one is more about the leadership.  

I went through a fairly long phase as a church leader where I thought putting on any program or class was inherently artificial and worked against an organic and connected church body.  I don't believe this any more.

Any group of people needs some level of formal structure, like a body needs a skeleton.  Say the leaders see a need to put evangelism or education or anything specific in front of its people for them to grow in.  They need to not just talk about it, but give them some ways to act on it.

When God created the world He started by forming spaces: heaven and earth, sea and land.  Then He filled them with things.  The leaders' job of organizing is to form spaces and times for their members to do things they are calling for, then trust the Spirit to fill those spaces with people learning and growing.

Many small churches have little organization, and that is fine - IF it's due to smallness.  You can't put on 3 Sunday School classes at once if you have total attendance of 40 people at the Sunday morning worship service.  But often leaders of small churches overlook the guidance they still need to give people:

 - "Who's counting the money, and how?"  

 - "That new member has a passion for prayer, and we could use that to start or beef up our prayer meetings."  

 - "Do we really want Mrs X doing that every week, even if that's what she's always done?"

Finally, it's important to know how the leadership itself is organized.  Most can tell you on paper, but sometimes it is different in actual practice, and that can be hard or impossible to discern.  Three quick but important principles are that a church should have (1) multiple leaders, not just one; (2) accountable in some tangible way to each other (regardless of who's up front most of the time), and (3) to an outside body that oversees them.

Key questions to ask of leaders:

 - how do I get involved if I'm interested in this or that area?

 - who are the leaders and what is their relationship to each other?