Go Where You Go and Do What You Do- #4
In my last post I levelled some pretty serious charges against what I perceive to be the way many churches function. If that entry was akin to a diagnosis of some of the ills that plague the church, then today will be a modest suggestion of how to make the church stronger and healthier.
Evangelism- Too often evangelism is simply a recruitment method. One of the measures of a healthy church is that it regularly takes in new members by profession of faith instead of merely transfer of membership from another church. We need to focus on evangelism as inviting people into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. This does not mean that we go door to door passing out tracts or asking people on the street if they've "been saved." It does mean that we always have an attentive heart to discern when people we encounter may indeed be searching. It means also being wise to discern when God's prevenient grace may already be drawing someone. Good evangelism requires developing relationships with unbelievers. From genuine trust and relationship come opportunities to share the faith.
Discipleship- Churches must be very intentional about discipleship and think seriously about how they can make disciples. Discipleship does not automatically result from attending church functions. In fact, churches should have the courage to scrap programs and activities that don't fit into its mission. My own denomination's spiritual forefather, John Wesley is a great historical example of discipleship. His good friend George Whitefield was the greatest preacher of his age. An 18th century Billy Graham, he toured up and down the colonies as well as in England drawing large crowds to his gatherings. Like Graham, his inspiring and gifted proclamation drew great numbers of conversions. Wesley was also a gifted preacher, though by most accounts not the equal of Whitefield. Wesley's preaching also produced large numbers of conversions. Whitefield left no spiritual legacy. However, Wesley's ministry created a movement that would become the Methodist Church, the Wesleyan Church, and the Church of the Nazarene and other smaller denominations. What was the difference? It was discipleship. Wherever Wesley went he created small groups called societies that may be the equivalent to house churches. Additionally, these societies were divided into smaller groups called classes or bands that met regularly for prayer, study, and accountability. Churches today that are creating small groups are drawing from the Wesleyan model . Churches should be very intentional about creating small groups that meet for study, prayer, and accountability at times other than Sunday morning. Groups like this cannot be primarily for fellowship and socializing. Fellowship isn't bad, and can be very positive, but it is not the same as discipleship. A necessary part of discipleship is education. This education is partially instruction in the Bible and in the historic doctrines of the church. It can include very practical everyday life application. An important component too often forgotten in church is instruction in how to appropriate the Bible for yourself. Christians should know how to read and begin to understand. Without this they will fall easy prey to all sorts of junk that passes for Bible teaching on the internet, radio, and TV.
Service- Churches should be mission-minded. Just as individuals should be discerning to recognize others to whom God may be speaking, who might be searching; churches should be about the business of seeing where the Lord is at work so they can join in. In my opinion we need to jettison the frequently quoted adage that God has no hands but ours. He doesn't need us, we need him, and it is our privilege to be able to get in the action where the mighty hand of God is working. God's ultimate plan is to recreate the world and it is the church's role be a part of that grand work. Mission is never, ever so that we will receive a blessing by doing it or feel good for having done it. Mission is never, ever for recognition. Both of these are at heart self-serving. Instead, it is always out of obedience to God's command, out of thankfulness for what he's done for us, and of sincere desire to share the love of God without any regard to what we get or don't get out of it. Service must also be aimed at people's spiritual and physical needs. How sincere is it to try to get someone "saved" if we haven't shown any concern for physical needs. The other extreme is potentially worse. We can build houses, feed the hungry, etc. but if there's not a concern for people's spiritual health we are no better than and potentially worse than any of a myriad of philanthropic and governmental agencies.
Okay Church of Jesus Christ- Go where you go and do what you do!
Evangelism- Too often evangelism is simply a recruitment method. One of the measures of a healthy church is that it regularly takes in new members by profession of faith instead of merely transfer of membership from another church. We need to focus on evangelism as inviting people into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. This does not mean that we go door to door passing out tracts or asking people on the street if they've "been saved." It does mean that we always have an attentive heart to discern when people we encounter may indeed be searching. It means also being wise to discern when God's prevenient grace may already be drawing someone. Good evangelism requires developing relationships with unbelievers. From genuine trust and relationship come opportunities to share the faith.
Discipleship- Churches must be very intentional about discipleship and think seriously about how they can make disciples. Discipleship does not automatically result from attending church functions. In fact, churches should have the courage to scrap programs and activities that don't fit into its mission. My own denomination's spiritual forefather, John Wesley is a great historical example of discipleship. His good friend George Whitefield was the greatest preacher of his age. An 18th century Billy Graham, he toured up and down the colonies as well as in England drawing large crowds to his gatherings. Like Graham, his inspiring and gifted proclamation drew great numbers of conversions. Wesley was also a gifted preacher, though by most accounts not the equal of Whitefield. Wesley's preaching also produced large numbers of conversions. Whitefield left no spiritual legacy. However, Wesley's ministry created a movement that would become the Methodist Church, the Wesleyan Church, and the Church of the Nazarene and other smaller denominations. What was the difference? It was discipleship. Wherever Wesley went he created small groups called societies that may be the equivalent to house churches. Additionally, these societies were divided into smaller groups called classes or bands that met regularly for prayer, study, and accountability. Churches today that are creating small groups are drawing from the Wesleyan model . Churches should be very intentional about creating small groups that meet for study, prayer, and accountability at times other than Sunday morning. Groups like this cannot be primarily for fellowship and socializing. Fellowship isn't bad, and can be very positive, but it is not the same as discipleship. A necessary part of discipleship is education. This education is partially instruction in the Bible and in the historic doctrines of the church. It can include very practical everyday life application. An important component too often forgotten in church is instruction in how to appropriate the Bible for yourself. Christians should know how to read and begin to understand. Without this they will fall easy prey to all sorts of junk that passes for Bible teaching on the internet, radio, and TV.
Service- Churches should be mission-minded. Just as individuals should be discerning to recognize others to whom God may be speaking, who might be searching; churches should be about the business of seeing where the Lord is at work so they can join in. In my opinion we need to jettison the frequently quoted adage that God has no hands but ours. He doesn't need us, we need him, and it is our privilege to be able to get in the action where the mighty hand of God is working. God's ultimate plan is to recreate the world and it is the church's role be a part of that grand work. Mission is never, ever so that we will receive a blessing by doing it or feel good for having done it. Mission is never, ever for recognition. Both of these are at heart self-serving. Instead, it is always out of obedience to God's command, out of thankfulness for what he's done for us, and of sincere desire to share the love of God without any regard to what we get or don't get out of it. Service must also be aimed at people's spiritual and physical needs. How sincere is it to try to get someone "saved" if we haven't shown any concern for physical needs. The other extreme is potentially worse. We can build houses, feed the hungry, etc. but if there's not a concern for people's spiritual health we are no better than and potentially worse than any of a myriad of philanthropic and governmental agencies.
Okay Church of Jesus Christ- Go where you go and do what you do!
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