The Church of
Today VS The World
Maybe
a better title would be: Churchzilla VS
the World Monster. Interestingly, enough, the Church sometimes acts like a
great monstrous creature attempting to destroy a world that hates God and His
people. But in reality, the Church really does work hard at changing
perceptions and stereotypes as well as making an honest attempt to impact the
world fulfilling God’s greater purpose. We see the Church of
today using specific strategies that focus on reaching everyone so they will
hear the message of salvation. Many times the goal is to make the message
suitable and understandable for believers and non-believers alike. Technology, Environment
and Hospitality play a key role in making the Church a welcome and loving place
for all who come. So what is driving all these changes, and is the Church really
effective in reaching people where they are and helping them to embrace the
message of the Gospel? Let’s take a look at what the Church is doing today.
The
Modern Church is now known for its innovative design in building architecture
and the use of the newest and most advanced audio, visual and lighting
equipment available. Many Churches now use their facilities so people can
experience Worship in a new and creative way. Some Churches are even now
calling their Worship Service a “Worship Experience”. (Don’t you want a fog
machine and theatrical lighting to enhance your Sunday morning worship?)
Seriously,
I believe the Church should represent the best when it comes to Music, Art,
Technology, Leadership, Discipleship, and Mission. In the past, the Church was
actually the place to experience the best music and art. Today, many
Churches are spending thousands and thousands of dollars on Technology to
enhance their “Worship Experience” as a strategy to get the "un-churched",
and nonbelievers to come through the doors. The Church can put out a great
program for the folks you know, but are the resources of the Church also being
used to disciple and train those who come and make a decision to follow Jesus?
Are the resources of the Church being used to develop leaders? Are we helping
people become fully devoted followers of Christ? Shouldn’t the Church's
strategy, to get people to come through the doors of the Church to hear the
message of hope and salvation also include helping them to grow spiritually in
order for them make a great impact in this world for kingdom purpose? We need
to be careful not to lose sight of the mission God has given the Church.
Let’s
take a look at the Great Commission for a moment:
Matthew
28:18-29 New International Version
Then
Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been
given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to
obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
The
key here is Jesus is telling us to go out and make disciples. A Disciple is one
who
is a devoted Student or follower of Jesus who adheres to His teachings.
Attributes of a
Disciple: (From Bill Bright)
·
A disciple must have assurance of salvation
·
A disciple walks in the fullness and power of the
Holy Spirit.
·
A disciple demonstrates love for God, his neighbor,
his fellow disciples, and even his enemies.
·
A disciple is one who knows how to read, study,
memorize, and meditate upon the Word of God, to hide its truths in his heart
·
A true disciple of Jesus is a man or woman of
prayer
·
The disciple is one who is obedient, who studies the
Word of God, and obeys the commands of God in a lifestyle that honors the
Lord Jesus Christ.
·
A disciple is one who trusts God and lives a life
of faith.
·
A disciple understands God's grace
·
A disciple is one who witnesses for Christ as a
way of life
·
A true disciple of the Lord Jesus worships God
in the fellowship of his church.
Can
we say as the Church that we are helping people become disciples - fully
devoted to following Jesus?
Take
a look at the Church body. You may see many volunteers who serve in a variety
of Ministry related activities. Research suggests that to the degree that one
serves, is not an indication of one’s level of spiritual maturity or devotion
to God.
(Barna Group
Research) (Use the link below and Read this article!)
Link -
http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/5-barna-update/165-surveys-show-pastors-claim-congregants-are-deeply-committed-to-god-but-congregants-deny-it
Although large
majorities of the public claim to be "deeply spiritual" and say that
their religious faith is "very important" in their life, only 15% of
those who regularly attend a Christian church ranked their relationship with
God as the top priority in their life. As alarming as that finding was, its
significance was magnified by research showing that on average pastors believe
that 70% of the adults in their congregation consider their relationship with
God to be their highest priority in life.
Evaluating
spiritual maturity remains an elusive process for clergy as well as
individuals. Across the nation, the only measure of spiritual health used by at
least half of all pastors was the extent of volunteer activity or ministry
involvement. Adults were no more consistent in their self-examination of their
spirituality.
The question we
should ask ourselves is this:
How do we help our congregations not only become
involved in serving God with their gifts and talents but also continue to grow
in their faith and trust in God?
We should look to God first for the answer and know
that He will provide everything we need to fulfill His calling.
When
it comes to resources, God can and will support and equip a Church to
fulfill its mission.
God’s
Word reinforces the fact that He is Jehovah
Jireh: the Lord will provide
Matthew 6:31-33 New International Version
So
do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What
shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly
Father knows that you need them. But seek first
his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as
well.
Matthew
7:11 New Living Translation
So
if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will
your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.
Philippians
4:19 New International Version
And
my God will meet
all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
2
Corinthians 9:8 New Living Translation
And God will
generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything
you need and plenty left over to share with others.
Ephesians
3:20 New Living Translation
Now
all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us,
to accomplish
infinitely more than we might ask or think.
God’s
Word along with the Holy Spirit provide the best way to train us so we can
train others:
2
Timothy 3:16-17 New International Version
All
Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and
training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly
equipped for every good work.
I
have heard many stories about financial provision in ways that can only be
explained through God’s intervention. What seems to be the common factor in provision is that God will
keep His promise to meet our needs and to equip His Church. Another
factor is that God cares about the character
and integrity of the Churches leadership.
If
motivation is important to God, than we should look at our Church strategy and
see if it aligns with God’s purpose. This verse brings to mind a verse from
1
Samuel:
1
Samuel 16:7 New Living Translation
The
Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by
outward appearance, but the Lord looks at
the heart.”
So
God knows the hearts of church leaders and the process by which they operate.
God knows whether or not they are fulfilling His Mission for the Church or
fulfilling their own personal goals, desires and agenda. The Church
becomes unlike the world when our leaders put God and His mission first.
Another
way for the Church to be unlike the World is the Christ-likeness of its leaders and congregation. How do we as a
Church act in accordance to God’s principles when it comes to relationships?
Let’s take a
look at how we are supposed to treat and relate to one another according to
God’s principles:
These commands should not be taken lightly!
Mark
9:50
“....Have
salt in yourselves, and be at peace with
each other.”
John
13:14
“Now
that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should
wash one
another’s feet.”
John
13:34
“A
new command I give you: Love one another.
As I have loved you,
so
you must love one another.”
Romans
12:10
Be devoted to one another
with mutual affection. Honor one
another
above yourselves.
Romans
12:16
Live in harmony with one
another.
Romans
14:13
Therefore
let us stop passing
judgment on one another...
.
Romans
15:7
Accept one
another,
then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
1
Corinthians 12:24-25
...But
God has combined the members of the body and has
given
greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be
no division in the body,
but that its parts should have equal concern
for each other.
Colossians
3:13
Bear with each
other
and forgive
whatever grievances you may have
against
one another..
Galatians
5:13
....But
do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather,
serve one
another in love.
Galatians
6:2
Carry each
other’s burdens,
and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Ephesians
4:32
Be kind and
compassionate
to one another, forgiving
each other, just as in
Christ
God forgave you.
1
Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore
encourage one
another and build
each other up,
just
as in fact you are doing.
Jesus said this
very important statement:
John 13:35 NIV
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
The
love we have for one another will separate us from the rest of the world. No
Technology
or modern Worship Experience can create that in us. Only the work of the Holy
Spirit is powerful enough to transform us from the inside out. So we must
remember what real growth in the church really means. We must remember as
individuals How God has intervened in our lives to develop us spiritually.
Because of Jesus we have salvation. Through the supernatural power of the Holy
Spirit we have been transformed us into a new creation.
2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Character
in a follower of Jesus is important to God. Those who reflect Christ in their
lives will bring Glory to God and be different than those who love the world.
We must remember that as followers of Jesus We must not love what the world
has to offer.
1
John 2:15
NIV
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world,
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world,
the
love of the Father is not in him.
Romans 12:2 NIV
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Jesus said that those whose only desire is for the things of this world will lose their soul.
Matthew 16:26 NIV
What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?
Jesus tells us to free ourselves from our worldly desires in exchange for the blessing of eternal life. The Holy Spirit has the power to transform our minds and our hearts.
John 12:25 NIV
The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
2
Corinthians 3:18 New Living Translation
So
all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the
Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are
changed into his glorious image.
1
Corinthians 3:18-20 New International Version
Do
not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of
this age, he should become a “fool” so that he may become wise. For the wisdom
of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the
wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the
wise are futile.”
1 John 5:19 NIV
We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.
Ephesians
4:22-24 New International Version
You
were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful
desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like
God in true righteousness and holiness.
So with all those verses above we can see how important it is to God that we live in such a way that Christ is reflected in all we do and in how we treat others. We should be very careful to live Spirit filled lives and not get caught up in the trappings of this world. Our obedience to God’s commands shows that we love God. The verses below demonstrate the importance of our obedience.
John 14:21 NIV
Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”
John 14:23 NIV
Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
So let’s always strive to be unlike the world by being excellent in love, character and integrity. When the world sees us in action, they should see that we truly are Jesus’ disciples by the way we act and the way we love.
Again,
read what Jesus said:
John 13:35 NIV
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 4:23 NIV
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
When it comes down to it, all the technology and innovation in this world can’t compare to a person’s heart devoted to God. Even with all the new bells and whistles available to the Church today, we can’t accomplish our mission without God, without Jesus, and without the power of the Holy Spirit.
We need to be the Church of Jesus Christ, not a church that reflects the values of the secular world. Remember in all that we do for God, His Glory should shine the brightest. Our love for the Lord should be the motivation for our sharing our story of faith, our love for others, our desire to disciple others and our service to Him and His Church. To God be the Glory!
Just Sayin........................Dave
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