update from Todd |
| Posted by Bill Orf (billorf) on Feb 08 2008 at 12:47 AM |
A couple of weeks ago, I received a letter from a young man who expressed his discouragement with the church and it's lack of effectiveness. This is what he wrote:
"Many people I have talked to have had a less than excited response about going to church, the impact it is having on their lives and the world around them. I still don't have a clear idea what we do, start a new type of service? start a small group? go camping more? To a certain extent I don't know that the way we perform church these days is sufficient or effective enough. "
For about ten years I have wrestled with these same disappointments with church and I have continually considered what I may be able to do to somehow be a part of the solution. I offer you now my humble suggestions on what I feel like our Father has revealed to me on at least a few of the issues we are faced with.
First of all I need to define what I mean when I say “church”. When I say I am discouraged about how ineffective the Church is, I am talking about the organizations that run the buildings people go to on Sundays. Although there are some beautiful exceptions, the majority of churches are attempting to be the place where people come to get their spiritual fix. Many people believe there is some sort of Holy presence that resides in these buildings that doesn't reside in any other place that two or more are gathered in the name of Jesus. Along with that presumption, many also believe that the people who work in those buildings are the only ones to do the ministry. I compare it to the mentality of the fitness industry in that people go to the gym to workout and have professionals motivate and instruct them. Then they go about their lives as usual until they return for their workout. People go to church and hope that they will learn something that will fix their life. Although most pastors work their guts out and are great communicators, you have to admit that our knowledge doesn't necessarily change our hearts. Don't get me wrong. I am a pastor and I spend a lot of time teaching and I believe that many people are suffering because of their lack of knowledge, so we need knowledge. The problem with this is most people are content having someone else do all the ministry and they are suffering from a serious case of atrophy. It is a stale, lifeless existence that keeps you in a pattern of frustration and defeat. Your life quickly becomes all about you and your personal holiness.
Let me describe it another way. About seven years ago my rodeo career came to an end. It wasn't just the end of a seven year rodeo career, it was the end of twenty-five years of being involved in competition. From the time I was five, I was continually involved in some sort of activity that required me to be physically fit. All that time I had no understanding of people who couldn't stay motivated to work out. Now I know. Since I no longer need to work out, I have no discipline to do so. My college degree is in the health and fitness field so you think the knowledge I have about how important fitness is would be enough to cause me to stay in shape. If the knowledge isn't enough you would think that the experience I have on how good it feels to be in shape would be enough. Well, it's not! So what's the point? I liken this to why so many people in the church have a hard time staying passionate about their spiritual lives. They learn and learn but find no real use for it. This is one of the main ways I see life being sucked out of the church body. We sit every one down and teach them how to fight a battle that is a million miles away. Or in other terms we read them a menu for a meal they will never taste. When your not in the fight, the Bible feels like its just a history book. When your not in the race, all we have is a lofty goal of becoming moral people. Sounds fun to me. What if the pastor of your church stood up one Sunday morning and said:
Let me describe it another way. About seven years ago my rodeo career came to an end. It wasn't just the end of a seven year rodeo career, it was the end of twenty-five years of being involved in competition. From the time I was five, I was continually involved in some sort of activity that required me to be physically fit. All that time I had no understanding of people who couldn't stay motivated to work out. Now I know. Since I no longer need to work out, I have no discipline to do so. My college degree is in the health and fitness field so you think the knowledge I have about how important fitness is would be enough to cause me to stay in shape. If the knowledge isn't enough you would think that the experience I have on how good it feels to be in shape would be enough. Well, it's not! So what's the point? I liken this to why so many people in the church have a hard time staying passionate about their spiritual lives. They learn and learn but find no real use for it. This is one of the main ways I see life being sucked out of the church body. We sit every one down and teach them how to fight a battle that is a million miles away. Or in other terms we read them a menu for a meal they will never taste. When your not in the fight, the Bible feels like its just a history book. When your not in the race, all we have is a lofty goal of becoming moral people. Sounds fun to me. What if the pastor of your church stood up one Sunday morning and said:
"There are millions of people who have been diagnosed with a terminal disease and I have the cure for it. I need every one of you to drop what you’re doing and help distribute the cure. I need people in the schools, factories, office buildings, hospitals, Hollywood, court rooms, and especially the homes. I need every available man, woman and child to take this medicine to their friends and families. There is nothing more important than this mission and I invite you all to be a part of its success. Unless you all do your part, there will be countless millions of souls who will spend eternity separated from our Heavenly Father (hell). I am your pastor and teacher and my job is to equip you all to do the work of the ministry. Who's in?"
I think this is a more accurate depiction of what the great commission really is; To “go into the world and make disciples”. Jesus didn't just teach his men to be moral people, he equipped them to go and do what he did. When you realize that you have been called to play a vital role in God’s plan to bring people to himself. And when you say yes to Christ invitation to follow him and become fishers of men, or realize that God can use you to save that marriage or bring that person out of depression, or to help feed that community. Church now becomes a place of celebration, where a group of people weekly come back together to worship their Father. To receive love, encouragement and instruction. Remember, we are “The Church” and the places we gather together on Sundays is just a building. Our lives are fixed and problems are solved by God, through relationship. But that will have to be for the next time.
Fight the good fight of faith!
Todd
