This blog https://liferedefined4god.blogspot.com/?m=1is
committed to ignite Churches and the good believers to move from their safe
comfort zone and be where they are supposed to be. If you carefully notice you
would find that we are often a good Church believer but a failed disciple
maker. The reason I keep emphasising on this topic on mission is because the
Great Commission, the mandate of Christ has been successfully substituted with
“good” programs that has the potential to build spiritual life, ensure active
participation in the Churches and build financial security as the result of
people’s participation. The Church is happening but the going out never gained
momentum at all and in most cases stagnated, and worst polluted. Probably some
of the below mentioned reasons can help the people to move from the common
spiritual fallacies.
The world of the Church members is the Church and
Christian Circle: Every attention of the Church member is
Church focused and limited to Christian association only. Is it bad? Not
at all, but what has happened is that they failed to see the world around them.
Either they are misled or hijacked. The world is among us – as our
neighbours, our co-workers, friends, and relatives – but we fail to see them as
sheep without a shepherd (Matt. 9:36). Somehow, we hear the
words of the Great Commission without recognizing the opportunities around us
to develop gospel-centred friendship.
Pastors fail to model the Great Commission task: Leaders
whose ministries are built on the Bible often do proclaim the mandate. Unless a
pastor bleeds for his neighbours and the nations to know Christ, the church he
leads will not live out this burden. Most often the Sunday 2 to 3 hours Church
Service depending on your Church Culture and denomination becomes the priority.
The success of the Church, meetings are only gauged by the attendance,
participation, and offerings, which is the ABC model i.e., Attendance, Building
and Cash. How can one expect their Church members to reach out in their sphere
of influence? Failure to see the passion in their Pastors and Church leaders
for soul have doused their hunger for souls.
Churches tell them to go, without teaching them
how. My
experience in working closely with Churches and leaders from around the world I
have noticed this, though many churches tell the people to share the gospel
with their neighbours but seldom train them to do so. People are challenged to
go to the nations without adequately assuring them of training and support.
When we tell without teaching, we shouldn’t be surprised when our churches only
talk about the Great Commission.
When people are seen as asset and source of income. As
hard as this statement sounds, it is true. The believers are seen as income
source that is why if a believer especially a big giver stops attending his
usual Church, they are sought in all possible manner to ensure they are back.
The false ideology that if he has stopped coming to his Church and goes to
other fellowships they are seen as lost and will never make it to eternal home.
The Church is regretting because the person is probably a major income source.
These are bitter truths but is a common spectacle. This is not a problem
for the Mega Church. Here, people find the Church for affiliation and identity.
You can come anytime and can choose to stay anonymous and may even stop
anytime. You will never be noticed.
Today, sharing the gospel has become a matter of
convenience and the last priority for many, in general. Hardly people are
thinking about it. In such situations it forces me to question their encounter
with Christ they claim in the first place. One cannot experience the gift of
salvation and not talk about it. Something is seriously amiss, don’t you think so?
Peter and John in the worst situation when they were threatened and warned to
not speak about Christ said this, "for we are unable to stop
speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:20 CSB. This is
the language of the disciple. Probably if I must rephrase in today's context then it would go like
this, "we are unable to stop speaking about what we have
experienced and what the Bible tells us to do". The Early Church
had one top priority and that is to share Christ. What is your Church priority?
How many people are active in sharing the gospel in your Church today? You have
all programs to build them spiritually. But what does that mean if he/she has
not been able to lead one person to Christ. Think about it!
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