Church Protected, Mission Ignored! Part-3

 “…As the father has sent me, I also send you.”. John 20:21.

 This topic is becoming more and more a favourite of mine, as I keep writing about it. We all believe Church is the only hope for the dying world, and that means the responsibility of the Church is greater than the regular meetings and activities of the Church. Jesus’ mission mandate should need complete attention all the time. Stay with me as I take you through. We are all aware of the goal of Christ coming to this earth which says, He came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10), and to reconcile us to the Father (Colossians 1:19-20). And that means every individual should be given an opportunity to know Jesus is the only true God through whom they find forgiveness of God and find eternal life (John 17:3).

In the same book of John chapter 17, Jesus acknowledges the obedience to the mission His Father entrusted to Him. In verse 18 of John 17, the prayer says, “ As you sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.”.  Jesus had already obeyed the mission for which He came to die on the cross of Calvary and provide salvation to the entire mankind (Philippians 2:8). And then after His resurrection when He meets the disciples in the closed door reemphasizes the mission of sending them to the dying souls. He says, in John 20:21 “…As the father has sent me, I also send you.”. And that is the mission given to the Church and to every individual. The verb poreuomai (“going”) occurs 154 times in the New Testament and conveys the meaning of traveling or journeying — both literally and figuratively (to die, to take a journey into the other world). And finally, Jesus leaves us all with a Great Commission. Mind, it is a commission, an order to the Church and to the disciples of Jesus which says, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

‘Going’, is a serious Church business, which is the mission mandate of our Lord Jesus Christ. In this context, I want to share with you Jesus’ 1-12-72 model. In Luke 8:1 it says, ‘Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him.’. Jesus went Himself to the city, villages and towns. And in Luke 9:1-2, Jesus sends His disciples whom he appointed for that purpose i.e., to train them and to send them. It says, ‘Summoning the Twelve, he gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. ² Then he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.’. Jesus did not end there. He further appointed seventy-two and sent them for the same purpose.  Luke 10:1, “After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two^[a] others, and he sent them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself was about to go.”.

As we are seeing the Church a powerful force to carry out the Mission, it is important to understand the summary of what a Church is.

1.  The Church is primarily the Local rather than the Universal body of believers.

2.  The Church is a Way of Life, not a Weekly event filled with activities.

3. The Church is an Organism, not an Organization.

4. The Church is a Community, not an Institution.

5.   The Church is the Living Stones, not the Buildings.

6. The Church makes Disciples not Programs.

7.     The Church is the Hope for the World, not Focused on itself.

Church can you confidently claim that this ‘1-12-72’ model which I shared is replicated, where the “1” means that you are personally involved in the sharing of the gospel, and the “12” means your leadership team is also committed to the going and sharing the gospel and finally the “72”, that can represent your congregation is also active in carrying the gospel in their sphere of influence. Think on this line. If the mission is protected, the Church will be protected. I am not sure if the same will apply to the building. If your mission is intact with the gospel, your Church will be an unstoppable force.

  To be continued.

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Church Protected, Mission Ignored! Part-2

 

“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church…” Matt 16:18

In the English Bible, the word that we read as “church” is generally a translation of the Greek word ecclesia. In pre-New Testament usage, ecclesia referred to a call or summons for the army to assemble. Later in its development, the word was used to denote popular or general assembly for a civic purpose, or a socio-political gathering, specifically in Athens. Therefore, this word is used carefully not only to just come together but also for a serious business. The word ecclesia occurs 114 times in the New Testament, obviously was not referring to a structure or to a building but referred to the people of the same community who belonged to God. N.T. Wright states, “The church is first and foremost a community, a collection of people who belong to one another because they belong to God.”.

Jesus presented the ecclesia as a dynamic kingdom “community,” an unstoppable spiritual force on earth, and an eschatological agent of transformation.  Matthew 16:18 “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”. This concept of Church was new for the people of those times who were only used to a grandeur structure, the temple. Even though Jesus was with them, the Synagogues were happening, and people were busy in their worship service observing the regular rituals. What on earth the Temple or which is also called as the prayer house was busy worshipping? When people were rejecting Jesus the Messiah and yet busy with the temple rituals and worship, then who were they worshipping and praying to actually? 

Jesus redefined the temple with a concept of Church connecting with the Mission, but people even today want to observe and worship the activities and programs of the Church and most importantly the building and space of the Church as Church. What am I trying to convince you here?  I am certainly not discounting the Church space that is holding the people together, but I am raising a concern over the purpose of the existence of Church today and the connotation which is most often misinterpreted. Is the Church today really existing as an unstoppable spiritual force on earth, and an eschatological agent of transformation?

You need to check on this seriously to know what turned this new kingdom community from just a gathering into the dynamic, unstoppable community. These disciples, after Jesus’ death and resurrection were all confused and perturbed, locked themselves in a space, hiding from the Jews. Suddenly they were filled with amazement when they found Jesus inside the room (see John 20:19). After blessing them Jesus entrusted them again with the same mission that He gave to them while He appointed the twelve. He appointed them and sent them to preach the kingdom of God (Luke 9:1). Now again the same mission was reemphasized and entrusted to them.  “…As the father has sent me, I also send you.”. John 20:21. And they immediately, emerged into a courageous and powerful community — the Church. The power of the Holy Spirit began operating in and through the lives of every member of the ecclesia. The force has a commission to be carried out while they come together and worship together as Church. The going out becomes the outcome of coming in.

Luke made an extensive list of the changes that took place when the early followers of Jesus were empowered to become the church. Some examples include:

 The power of the Holy Spirit filled the new community with agape love, which in turn produced “courage.” The church became an uncompromisingly courageous community. (Acts 2:36; 4:13, 31)

• They developed a high sense of calling and determination. (Acts 5:29)
• Genuine love and deep care for each other were very visible in the way the individuals in the church committed themselves to engage in daily fellowship. (Acts 2:42; 46)
• They demonstrated extreme generosity. Their love informed their actions so that there were no needy people among them. (Acts 2:45; 4:34)
• The hearts and minds of the believers were united. (Acts 4:32)
• Their testimony was confirmed with miraculous signs and wonders. People looked at the church with great respect, awe, and amazement. (Acts 2:7, 43; 3:10; 5:11)
• From day one, the church was a dynamic growing community. (Acts 2:41, 47; 4:4; 6:1,7)

To be continued.

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