Abetter Way

A Better Way?
I want to share some conclusions about the most effective way in which to evangelize the world. First though, I have to admit my bias. After 32 years of ministry, I have come to the conclusion that the local church is God’s best plan for reaching into a local area. God’s people gathering together to worship, to fellowship, and to be equipped is a powerful testimony of God’s grace in action. I know that there are those out there who are quick to criticize the church as out of date or ineffective, yet Jesus refers to it as his body and infers that it is his bride. If you believe the Bible is an accurate revelation of God’s heart, you can’t help but see that He cares deeply for His Church, local and universal. I have always believed that the answer to a bad church is a good church, not no church!
Everywhere the early apostles went they established new churches; vibrant communities that were stirred and shaped by the remarkable grace of God. These communities were known for their good works, care for the poor, and their love for one another. They weren’t perfect, yet were loved by God and moved forward by His Spirit. Ephesians 4 states that Christ gave leadership gifts to the church for the equipping of the saints for works of service; encouraging every believer to discover their gifts and calling for the purposes of God. The end result is the building up of the body of Christ and the reaching of those who are outside the faith.
Paul, in writing to the local Corinthian church made a startling statement, “… you are Christ's body, and individually members of it. (1 Cor 12:27-28 NASB )” Each local church is a living representation of Christ in their neighborhood or city. As a leader, I have had to take a hard look at what I am trying to accomplish in leading a local church. The primary reason leadership exists is to get people “into the game”, serving each other and those who are outside if the church. The church is called to make Jesus known throughout the whole world, and yet much of “ministry” today is focused on meeting the needs of Christian consumers. We build bigger buildings and staff more people to meet the perceived needs of those who attend our churches. Leaders feel the pressure to increase numbers, to build programs as the proof of their ministry. All of it looks good in our American mindset, but it seems ineffective at equipping and getting people involved with those who are far from God. I believe there is a better way! Churches in the New Testament invested heavily in planting new churches. Early Christians were scattered by persecution and everywhere they went churches sprung up, communities who were outreaching and madly in love with Christ. The churches they established then in turn planted others.
Church planting offers the same opportunities today. It has been said that in most churches 20% of the people do the work and the other 80% watch. That is not true in a church plant, 80% are working and 20% are checking it out. New churches, by their very nature, need all hands on deck. New churches tend to be out-looking in their attitude for their very survival depends on it. If the goal is to equip and release people into service, church planting is the most effective method of getting people involved. Because the future of the church plant is at stake, people invest their prayers, their time, and their energy to reach out. Their whole ethos is different than the “I go to church to have my needs met” mentality.
Many church plants are more efficient in terms of finances as well. They can meet in schools or other rented space, and can therefore invest in people who are serving in the kingdom instead of buildings which sit idle much of the time. There may be a time when a church needs to have their own space to facilitate ministry and it is appropriate to do so, but not at the expense of reaching out. How much more could be accomplished if a majority of churches in the NW would invest the time, effort, and money to plant a church. Hundreds of believers would be mobilized. Their people would be leaving familiar surroundings, going into new cities, having to make new friends. These transitions force believers out of their shell and into the community.
Church planting can revitalize mature congregations through the faith and effort it takes to launch a new church. It’s time to embrace a new view of what success looks like in our churches. Lets get people in the game!

Grace and Works

Some times exhortations given to live a purpose driven life of good works, seeking to bring glory to God, can seem to fly in the face of the message of grace. Is labor for the Kingdom, or seeking to bring our behaviors in line with Biblical standards works? Some would say yes others it depends on the motivations of the heart.

The Greek word for grace carries the idea of “the divine influence on the human heart." It is God who draws us, rescues us and gives us our standing with Him apart from works. Yet to state that exhortation to live a life of purpose and to make intelligent and reasoned application of the will to that end is works would in my opinion misses the point.

We were created for good works; grace (God's influence) produces that in us. Paul in Ro 12 tells believers to present themselves as a living sacrifice, and them describes that service as reasoned and intelligent service.

Grace invites us to co-labor with the Spirit of God to bring to pass the works that we have been given to do. While I do not believe that ever believer has the same call as, lets say Paul, that said, I do believe that every believe has a specific call and a destiny that sits in God heart for them. For that destiny to be realized takes the cooperation of the believer by responding to God's influence on their heart. I am not talking about salvation; I am talking about how we build on the foundation that grace lays in our life, wood, hay or subtle or precious stones. Jesus states "This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (John 15:8), that is the out working of grace in the believers life. Fruit is the result of being connected to the vine, as Jesus says.

To trust in our works to make us acceptable to God is ludicrous, to respond to that incredible outpouring of mercy from God, putting our trust in the work of the cross leads to a consecrated life committed to the fathers will. We have the choice to give ourselves to the purposes of God or not. God affords us that choice without fear of punishment. I choose to live my life as a slave of God because of the remarkable work of grace. His love and interaction with me leaves me no other sane choice.