Concentrate On The Maturing of Christians
When I was growing up we always had church three times a week. We had Sunday morning Worship Service. We had Wednesday evening Prayer Meeting. We also had Sunday evening Evangelistic Service. This was all a little confusing. The Sunday morning "worship" service was basically two or three hymns, a few prayers, offering and announcements, and a salvation sermon followed by an altar call aimed at getting people saved. The Wednesday evening "prayer meeting" was basically two or three hymns, a few prayers, offering and announcements, and a salvation sermon followed by and altar call aimed at getting people saved. The Sunday evening "evangelistic" service made a little more sense because it was basically two or three hymns, a few prayers, offering and announcements, and a salvation sermon followed by and altar call aimed at getting people saved. The only problem was that there were rarely any sinners present because sinners (at least those who cared to come out of the closet) did not go to church on Sunday night. It was kind of like fishing in a bathtub, with no fish present.
I don't mean to be critical of those who went before. They did the best they could and many, I'm sure, did better than I do. But the conventional wisdom with which I was raised was that the work of the Church was all about saving the lost. That conventional wisdom is still a pretty formidable sacred cow. Who can argue with saving the lost? Certainly I can't. Ah, but I'm afraid that this is not the primary purpose of the church. As I read the Scripture saving the lost is one of the primary functions of the Holy Spirit and He tends to do His best work when we don't try to do it for Him.
In John 16:8 Jesus tells us that it is the Holy Spirit who will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment. In John 6:44 Jesus tells us that no one can come to Him unless the Father draws them. How does the Father "draw" them? (See John 16:8) Who planned the evangelistic crusade Peter preached on the day of Pentecost? (Acts 2) The Holy Spirit. Peter had no idea what was going to happen that day. The Holy Spirit did the advertising, inspired the preaching, and did the drawing. Who planned the conversion of the gentiles at the home of Cornelius? (Acts 10) Uh, let's see... that would be the Holy Spirit. Am I saying that we should not plan for evangelism? No. We should plan for evangelism under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit; however, that is not the main work of the church.
What about the "Great Commission"? Matthew 28:19-20? That's exactly what I'm talking about. We are instructed to "make disciples" and "teach them to obey" what Christ has taught. Somehow we have morphed that clear instruction into making the church mostly about having spiritual babies. Since that is mostly what we are about the result is that's what we mostly are - babies.
The clear work of the ministry is spelled out in Ephesians 4:11-16 in the instructions concerning the "gifts" Christ has given to His church. These gifts are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. This is their job:
- ...to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
- Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Imagine if the church did this job and fit this description from Ephesians 4. Wow. The sinners would be chasing after us instead of us chasing after them.
Yes, we live in a fallen world and reaching the whole measure of the fullness of Christ is a pretty tall order, but at least we need to be aiming for the right target. When people come into the church they need to be taught by word and (more importantly) by example what it means to become mature in Christ. Love. Forbearance. Humility. Sacrifice. Service. We need to learn to not be manipulated, not cut and run, to do away with our consumer mentality, to not wear our feelings on our sleeve, to turn outward instead of inward. I could go on and on, but you get the point.
This is important. It's in the top seven and tied for third in the list of things a church should be.
2 comments:
Pastor, In an effort to return the encouragement I am receiving by reading the words of widsom God has given through you, THANK YOU! This is such a wonderful reminder of who we are and what we are called to do as a church. And it is such a pleasure to be able to see your heart. Thank you for listening and allowing God to flow through you as He does.
I knew that I liked you for some reason. I think this is it.
I was just talking with someone last month who was a member with us at a "windy" church that recently dissolved. Our conversation led to the topic of "fruit" which reminded me of something that the former pastor would say, "...judge it by its fruit".
This made me ponder; "What is fruit then?" I know this pastor's idea of fruit was more salvations, more members, a bigger church, more tithes and offerings. My belief is that fruit is the changed man, (Gal 5:24) "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires."
Enjoying "Brethren, Hang Loose"
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