June 17, 2008
Obstacles
I recently read an article which said that the current thought processes for church growth sees ‘traditional worship styles, theological rigor and denominational distinctives’ as obstacles. So that’s what they think of our needs…they’re only obstacles. According to Webster’s, an obstacle is defined as: something that impedes progress or achievement. If our needs are obstacles to the church, exactly what is being obstructed? Do our needs hold back the Kingdom of God? Has the Gospel been squelched? Have needs undermined the Word? No. The real issue is that man has developed his own method for church growth and he won’t allow anyone or anything to get in the way of his vision. Paul has some thoughts on the subject: “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” (1Cor 3: 6-7 NIV) Sometimes those who focus on church growth have the appearance of holding the keys to the kingdom of heaven. But in reality, their key is nothing more than the same one the janitor has to the building.
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4 comments:
Gail;
-----Whatever happened to the good old days when it was more important to measure a church’s growth in spiritual aspects, while body count was the primary measurement of the battlefield. What are the spiritual aspects of a church? To answer that, we must realize that church does not exist apart from those who believe in Jesus Christ; church is each one of us altogether. Simple body count is precluded from the definition, because first, there is no magic number required, and second, if count were all that were necessary, then an accumulation of Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs would be His church. His church is made of those who have called on His name, cluing us to realize the beliefs of those who come together are the important element of the church, the bodies are just along for the ride.
-----My friends and neighbors have always thought in roughly similar ways. These ways are values not necessarily accepted by everyone, but are collectively recognized and tolerated by all. It is culture. Baseball, football, basketball, and golf are all expected to be seen around here regularly, but not rugby, cricket, or polo. At the market, we expect to see our food packaged safely for us, not quartered and hung by the hoof in the open air of third world dirt streets. And maybe the most ingrained and pervasive tradition any grouping of mankind has is language. While some of us break tradition and learn a second, or even third language, do any of us entirely abandon our first language afterwards? I think it is valuable to note that there are many today who attack our American culture as if it is a blight upon the earth. They give you the feeling that they would eliminate everything you hold dear in a New York instant if only they could. And that is why they are so bothersome to us. We are more than just jostling bodies, we are individuals enjoying a common mindset shared by most others around us. And as long as those others are around, we have company and fellowship. Should they all be removed and replaced by everyone of inner Bulgaria, then we would be faced with relearning a totally new culture, even a new language, or be left lonely. All the things of our lost culture having deep and important meaning to us would be gone. Even though our bodies would fare well if fed and sheltered, mentally and emotionally, we would be detached and adrift in a sea of strangers.
-----So why is it impossible to notice the same principle applies to the church. Worship styles, theological rigor, and denominational distinctions are cultural elements. They are lubricants that help fellowship flow freely, and they are simply the common thoughts and feelings of a group of people. In a real way, they are common property. But most importantly, they are terms through which we have come to express our faith in the Lord, our worship for Him, and our love for one another. The music we make, the theological aspects we find important, and the structuring of our church organizations become like a language between those in the group. On one hand, this is good in its facilitation of interrelationships. Yet, on the other hand, it is a barrier to others not acclimated to our own culture. Overcoming that barrier by teaching and inspiring hospitality would seem the loving and gentle response. But there has come a small army of destroyers who attack the church culture of their brothers and sisters as if it were a blight upon the Lord. We get the feeling they would eliminate everything we hold dear in a New York instant, if only they could. To them we are more than just jostling bodies, we are a herd with a disease to which they hold the cure. To them, our needs hold back the Kingdom of God by requiring the precious attention of their fellowship and efforts, as if fellowship and effort were a rare commodity. And, for the same reason, our needs squelch the gospel. So then, by our needs the Word is undermined, because, by their estimation, the Word is about evangelism only. There is not enough in the body to serve its needs. Their God, evidently, has seriously limited resources. And since, through the spiritual heights of their walk with God, they have received God’s vision for us all, we are left subjected to their rationing of God‘s short supply. Consequently, we are forced into a culture of inner Bulgarians, who somehow forgot to read the term “hospitality” from the Word.
-----Truly, brothers and sisters, theirs is merely a culture of celebration with its own theological rigor and denominational distinction. This truth can not be avoided because it necessarily happens when people gather for the Lord. Yet, even while they ignore this truth about themselves and call us Pharisees for holding dear our tradition and culture, they not only hold dear theirs, but deny that fact when exposed. We must remember, it is only a cultural issue, nothing more. They are precious brothers and sisters of the Lord and of us. The only difference we must recognize and maintain between us and them is that we actually value hospitality; we must acknowledge all who call upon the name of the Lord; we must accommodate their individual relationship with the Lord, and we must hold them all in our hearts with passionate and genuine love. Otherwise, the destruction we would cause the church would be only a bit different than the destruction they have caused the church.
Let love be genuine,
Love one another passionately from the heart,
Steve Corey
Here is another article on church growth or as this preacher calls it church pirating..Interesting that even todays churchs we can see this happening: ALL in the name of God! Here is a link:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=nHc5aFx64Mo
Also the statement on needs is interesting. America so blessed by God has forgotten the difference between needs and wants. Its easy to do and seems to me the American church is much driven by so called needs, when in actuallity they are wants or preferences! Christ called us to scrafice,surrender and suffering, along with joy unspeakable! Let us not forget the brothers around the world that there very life is at stake for accepting Christ! I wonder how they define needs verse wants? Makes my wants or so called needs very insignificant...
Anonymous,
Thanks for your comments. We certainly do put our own spin on ‘needs and wants’.
FYI for other readers, I like to check out links before publishing, however I was unable to connect to this particular link.
Gail
Anonymous;
-----You are right about being careful to separate “needs” from “wants.” In addition to that, we must be careful to only do that between our own needs and wants. I find the inclination of the common Christian to distinguish between a brother’s needs and wants to be quite repulsive. People are certainly individuals who have been given individual relationships with the Lord. I don’t believe it is right for me to diminish what my brother has in the Lord by subjecting him to my system of values. Although we are all subjected to the system of values defined by the Scriptures, we must be doubly careful with it, for biases are tricky and cause different perspectives between everyone. Paul said that we now see dimly as in a mirror, so we must behave towards one another with the same caution we would use when driving a car with very muddy windows.
-----I remember once when I was a sassy little brat of about fifteen. My dad complained to me about a few scraps I had left on my plate, reminding me that there were starving children in China that would love to have my leftovers. So I suggested we box it up and mail it to them. The fact that there were impoverished children sixteen thousand miles around the world didn’t seem like it should turn my need to throw out my scraps into just a want.
-----But it sure wears on my attitudes. Now that I am a sassy big brat of fifty four, I thank God for the electricity at my fingertips, the hot shower at the turn of a knob, and the ability to jump on my scooter and shoot off to town whenever I feel the “need.” And although I do my best to avoid feeling like a liberal, I can’t help but wonder which “feed the starving child” organization might be honest enough to actually feed a hungry child with the money I might save by using a bit less electricity, taking a little shorter shower, and scooting to town less often. Now, I understand that although God has not given my brothers and sisters the right to distinguish between my needs and wants, if their needs that are serviceable by me do not somewhat adjust my needs to wants and free up some resource which I can serve to them, then I have not love. Surely you are right. Surely we live like kings and queens. And still I have failed to find a deliverable address so I can mail off my table scraps.
Love,
Steve Corey
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