First of all I truly love the church. And I’m willing to do what is necessary to see the church grow and advance the gospel. Yet these past few weeks I’ve been driving myself (and everyone around me) nuts with so many questions and or concerns like:
1. Why do we struggle with reaching those far from God?
Most churches struggle with really taking the gospel outside the buildings and programs and into the highways and byways of the world, why?
2. How we (the church) use our resources:
I’m not opposed to paying pastors or buildings etc. But what I am opposed to is knowing that less then 1% of the churches resources goes to reaching the Middle-East, which is one of the highest unchurched regions in the world.
I’m also opposed to the fact that 30,000 people die daily because they lack proper food and nutrition.
I just read yesterday that the poorest places in America is located in the Bible-belt. How is that possible? Should that not concern us?
Jeff and I are in serious talks about trying something different. Not sure what…But their has to be a better way that is more efficient.
3. How we spend our time:
How many debates, conferences, books, sermons and meetings do we really need? How do we stop talking/reading about the mission and start working on doing the mission? It’s not like we don’t know what we are suppose to do! While in Africa I remember Steven telling me how little he cares about all the conversations he used to have about church and culture while he was church planting in NC, Why? IMHO he is now DOING the mission. (many Church Planters are also doing the mission)
Some quick-thoughts for now. Next week I will dive-deeper into these questions:
1. Are we more focused on our dreams then the gospel’s dreams? More people, big buildings, cool titles, write books, speak at conferences, etc.
2. Are we to scared to take risks and live like Jesus?
3. Dealing with messy people stinks-so maybe we subversively avoid those people and their messes?
4. We really don’t care about the lost and the poor. They become and inconvenience to our daily lives and church rhythms and budgets.
5. Could the one thing that is standing in the way of the gospel be the church of Jesus?
I wonder if we (church) really understand the responsibility we have as partners in the gospel with Jesus? If we fail to use God’s wisdom in a way that focuses on the true essence of the gospel and mission, then we damage the potential of the church and squander the ability to maximize our talents. Are we hiding our talents or multiply them? The Master gave us a ton of responsibility.
I know these thoughts are provocative and it’s quite hard to answer clearly. This is not me being a cynic for the sake cynicism. These are serious questions that I’m asking. I love the church and different forms of church. Heck, I could even hangout with Mark Driscoll and Brian Mclaren and not go AWOL. Yet I deeply feel like God wants to do something greater…So I will at least ask the question.
1. Keep bugging people. Some people will never voluntarily move beyond their comfort zone, so make them squirm a little while they’re sitting there.
2. I have felt for a long time that the true work of the church goes on outside of the United States. The best thing our churches here can do is support that somehow. Your church may not have the Midd. East in their giving budget, but you can easily support ministries like Gospel for Asia for very litte, or just by giving away their material. Remember that the church in America is not exclusivly “the church.” The Christian church is alive and well… in other places.
3. I don’t want to come off an a synic, but if you’re bothered by how much the church does (or doesn’t do) what are YOU doing personally to reach others with the gospel? You’re answer can’t be blogging either, becasue let’s face it: 95% of your blog readers are probably other Christians (like myself). Just some thoughts.