In response to the last post about churches, I received an email from a man in South Africa with a concern that also resonates with me. His email was quite long, but I think that I can summarize it. (If you wrote the email and disagree with my summary, please feel free to leave a comment.) The Bible has much to say, but churches as a whole tend to focus on small parts. One of the tendencies of churches today is to focus on inward growth rather than reaching outward to address a dying world with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
That's not only a concern for me in general, it's been something the Lord has been showing me about my own life. When we first moved to our little town, I was so convinced that God was calling me to reach out to my neighbors. Four years into our stay here, I find myself back in the safe and comfortable rut of investing most of my time in church where I am almost literally preaching to the choir.
I'm so grateful that God gave me an opportunity to invite a new friend to church this week. She is already a believer, but like many of us, she has been having trouble finding a church home. It's always interesting to invite someone new to your church. I don't know if anyone else does this, but I always feel like I'm seeing my church through completely new eyes. Yesterday, I have to brag on my church, I felt very proud to have brought my friend. People were warm and welcoming. Everyone (especially in my precious Sunday school class) made a real effort to draw our visitor into our group.
I have to think that some of this has to do with a new emphasis on "Going" that our pastors have been preaching. They too are disturbed at how quickly church can become stale and ingrown. Our pastors are encouraging us to build relationships with neighbors, coworkers and family members with a view to reaching out with the gospel.
It will be interesting to watch how this all transpires in our church. It will require change which is HARD. Time is a limited commodity, and the church will have to give up some of its demands. Instead of church members spending so much time within the walls of the church, it will require that many "programs" that keep us there are release. It will require commitment from the members that time spent outside of church is intentional, not just more time to sleep late or vacation.
All in all, though, I feel hopeful and very inspired. Visiting friend, thank you for coming with me yesterday! Women in my class, I LOVE YOU!! Pastor, you rock!
Monday, April 14, 2008
Reaching Outward
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
2 comments:
Thank you for this necessary reminder. God has used it to really speak to my heart today. Just yesterday I wrote a post on my blog entitled, "Balancing Act", as another new ministry opportunity was being tossed my way. I've been struggling with jumping into another ministry role. Have not felt God leading me to say 'yes'. I think my life needs more reaching out, than reaching in. Thank you for being another confirmation of God's Word to me today.
Blessings,
Joy
Good Day
Once again - the man from South Africa (you can call me Daryl)
Your response is much appreciated, save to say that I would agree with your summary, however I would also like to add saying that there are opportunities out there waiting to happen...and it does not have to happen in the Church.
To attempt an explaination via mail would be difficult, but I will give you the shortened version...here goes.
By way of introduction, I will call it walk across the room - this might sound familiar (if you would like to know more - a certian pastor of a large church in America introduced this to deal with the inward attitude of his church - so in this case it is just a reference point)
My wife has for the last two years been a friend and a counsilor to a young woman who refuses to call herself a christian - she has had a rough time with boyfriends, family etc.
To headline a long story...we truly believe that my wife has become close to her just because of one prayer, and making herself available. This young woman now displays all the atributes of a christian, reads a devotional my wife gave her and believes in the Lord...we are still praying for a miracle in her life - when she really proclaims Jesus, but we wait patiently for this.
Another story pertains to a young male who was going through distress - to headline this story...by making ourselves available, by not Bible Bashing and really trying to let the Holy Spirit lead - we were able to help, later that day he sent us a text to say he has never believed in the Lord as he does now - we have never seen him again - he just crossed our path on that day.
The point I am trying to make here is that God is ready to use those who make themselves available (again I am not trying to preach to the converted, I am only trying to express what has happened to us in the past few months since we really tried to take an attitude of - 'what is the Holy Spirit telling us now')
the church has for a long time created a safe haven for those that just want to do their duty and go home, but what I am trying to say - is get fed good food, and go out and do something about it.
The church has been mistaken for the place that makes us christians, but in many ways it should keep us christians - but this latter point is very much an issue WE must deal with (Romans would be a good place to start, Malachi gives a shocking revelation on becoming complacent)
Isaiah 30 vs 21 - is the place I feel all christians need to be, there needs to be a change, we can't just call ourselves christians (in a certian time the word 'christian' was not a good word) there needs to be evidence to convict us of being a christian - Paul was a great one for this, he got imprisoned for this.
Once again I am not trying to preach to the converted, I am merely trying to express that many of us have been sitting in church far too long, not attemting anything...when we make a move, God makes a massive move. Hebrews 11 vs 6 is the point to this paragraph.
The Lord is Good all the time.
If you disagree with any of the above please comment.
Post a Comment