I thought I’d post the February newsletter article on the blog for you. It’s like a sneak peak for those of you who pay attention to the blog. But it’s also a way for me to hear some feed back. Finally, it gives you an idea of what the conference was like that I just returned from. It was a great time to just focus on what it means to be the church and reach out with the message of the Gospel.
Matthew 16:18-19 “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
It was a real blessing to be able to attend the Congress on Evangelism this past January. I usually find that these conferences and seminars are very helpful not only in their teaching, but also in the way they get me thinking. One teaching session that I particularly appreciated was by Dr. Paul Borden, who has been involved in a tremendous turn around in the American Baptist churches in the western part of the United States. He posed a very important question. Dr. Borden said that every church has to look at itself and decide if we are a missional entity, or an organization with a mission statement. He talked about the verses above, where Jesus talks about building his church and also proclaims that the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. In the United States of America roughly 17.7% of the population regularly attends church. Shockingly, those statistics are accurate for our area – which means that it is not just the pagan coasts that are not Christian. It is our neighbors, our families, our friends. Dr. Borden reminded us that the evil one has most of the captives.
The question should hit us. Are we a missional entity or an organization with a mission statement? For a missional entity, everything is about the mission. For the church the mission given by Jesus is to go out and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:16-20). This is to be the center of who we are. It is why we gather and why we exist – that is, if we are a missional entity. Are we willing to risk for the sake of the gospel? Are we willing to sacrifice for the gospel? Are we willing to set aside our agendas and pursue the mission of the church – to make disciples of Jesus Christ? Are we on a mission for God?
If a church is an organization with a mission statement, then the priorities are much different. In that case, things exist for the sake of the organization. The bureaucracy exists to perpetuate the bureaucracy. If the church is simply an organization then history and tradition are a higher priority than the mission. If the church is an organization, then organizational structure and control along with people’s agendas are a higher priority than the mission. Dr. Borden made an interesting and challenging statement. He said that the church does not exist for Christians. It was not created in order that we could all gather for worship and visit with each other. Those things may be a part of our life together, but they are not to be the focus. The focus should be the mission.
I wonder what your response is to these thoughts. It was a reminder to me that we are called to a great and high calling of which we fall short too often. I was reminded that we exist in a time and place where the enemy has the majority of the people held captive. In fact, as another speaker put it, we are in enemy occupied territory and we are surrounded by people who are held captive by forces much more evil and destructive than even the worst dictatorships. Jesus told Peter in the verses above that we are to be the church on the attack, freeing people from their bondage to evil – and the gates of Hades will not withstand that attack. My prayer is that we will be a church on a mission for Jesus Christ. I want to be a part of setting captives free. May we truly be the Body of Christ.
hmm. Good stuff as I prepare my Body of Christ talk I have to have outlined for critique this weekend.
Amen! The test is not to trip and get distracted with the church bureaucracy. While all churches need some type of structure, that structure only exists to motivate, organize and provide resources, approval and accountability for the higher mission, the mission of all, to go, teach, and make disciples of Jesus Christ. The key is having people seated in leadership that share the passion for the mission.
When we trip on the very people who are there to release us to ministry or those on our team, it is the direct opposite of a win/win and Satan scores. There is a high spiritual value and power in being in a room or working in harmony with humble, like minded Christians who bring in no personal agenda.
You wrote: Dr. Borden made an interesting and challenging statement. He said that the church does not exist for Christians. It was not created in order that we could all gather for worship and visit with each other. Those things may be a part of our life together, but they are not to be the focus. The focus should be the mission.
I believe the focus should be the mission, however, there is a reason for the church and I believe it feeds Christians to do what they are called to do, so I am wrestling with this statement as I think it is a part of the whole process. I believe something really special happens in gathering and worshiping together. I think it is an essential thing to feel that corporate worship and the heavy presence of the Holy Spirit. The experience draws us closer to the heart of God as well as challenges us to real looking inside ourselves.
I understand where Dr. Borden is coming from but I have been taught that the commitment to be a part of “church” is not always for ourselves, but maybe the difference we could make in the life of others and in return with that corporate worship, our anointing is replenished. I agree the focus should always be on the mission but in my world, the church is a place to get in spiritual agreement with others, reach out to everyone we can, offer or receive prayer and care, get a “spirit refill” and then… go out (together or individually) and do our best to conquer the mission until and after we meet again. Some of these experiences equip us for the mission field. Regarding captives, the church also helps reach the Christians who are held captive as well. So, maybe it would be fair to say the church serves as essential maintenance for Christians…even though the main purpose is to reach beyond our church walls. (?)
As I am reading, this is coming to me….perhaps he is saying that we go to church with the mission in mind at the top of our to-do lists. That the other things are just fringe benefits but in no way are the mission, nor are they meant to distract us from the mission but to prepare us.
I hope more people take advantage of this discussion. I am looking forward to your sermon post this week. Thanks for sharing!
Till all His nets are full,
Edna
Edna, thanks for you comments and thoughts on this. I appreciate the depth in which you engaged this.
I totally agree with your comments regarding humble Christians working together for a united mission. I think historically this has been an unstoppable force when it is in place.
You wrote:I believe the focus should be the mission, however, there is a reason for the church and I believe it feeds Christians to do what they are called to do, so I am wrestling with this statement as I think it is a part of the whole process.
Here’s where I have had my thinking really stretched in seminary and the like. And I’m not meaning to be picky here. But I don’t think that there was ever supposed to be this division between “church” and Christians the rest of the week. So, church isn’t an event or building, but rather a community. The reason I’m pushing back on this isn’t just semantics, but rather I fear that in our context “church” (or worship) becomes simply another distributer of goods in a capitalistic/market based society. The main problem here is that “church” is separate from “me” who goes to church to get a good and then goes out as a Christian. But if church is the “we” all week long and we gather to worship, then the focus is not primarily on what we receive, but rather the question of, “What is it that God’s people do when they gather?” I wholeheartedly agree that this should be life giving and energy giving, but it may also be sobering or challenging. These are only secondary affects, however. The primary purpose of worship being worship – which means it is God/Jesus focused.
Just some thoughts. I’m curious what your response is, genuinely curious as I’m glad that you engaged in the conversation.
Andy
Pastor Andy,
I enjoyed your reply and have given it some thought. Everything in life is secondary to God. I can see where my perspective may have been zooming in and you are looking at the whole big picture. Bonding the church and the daily walk is a beautiful scene. I can effortlessly view “church equals community.”
Saying the church is not for Christians honestly appears very extreme as a statement alone. But, with your original post, and the missional theme, as well as your follow up post, we are reminded of what we are here for. What we do each and every day of our lives can have a great impact for the kingdom. My prior reply expressed what could be lost if Christians didn’t gather for worship and I agree they are secondary to worship and that worship is God focused.
In conclusion, there is love and warmth to share in this community God created for us to live and attempt to fulfill our mission in and the church is that community. Along with the life giving, energy giving, sobering and challenging secondary affects we spoke about, the greatest of these is the love. And God is love and God is primary (1John 4:8). So, I hope that maybe we are singing the same song, or at least close to it. 🙂 The chorus maybe?
Be blessed and thank you for this exchange,
Edna
Hey Edna,
Sorry for the incredibly delayed response.
So, I hope that maybe we are singing the same song, or at least close to it. 🙂 The chorus maybe?
Yeah, I think so for sure.
How about this: The church wasn’t created for Christians, the church is made up of Christians.