Church protected Mission ignored! Part-8

 Boasting on experiences than Christ’s mission!

 2 Corinthians 12: 2-7 “I know a man in Christ who was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago…”

Experiences can be misleading when it is preached and forced upon to be a doctrine. Today, in Christendom there are innumerable expressions and each denomination cling on to one which best suits them and make it a mandatory requirement to be part of the Church. It becomes an identity for the Church.  We Christians and Churches are gravely divided over our personal spiritual experiences and vision. Ecumenism is a superficiality in Christendom. Just coming together once in a while and talking about unity is not what Jesus emphasised.

Christians are supposed to be united in the mission; God entrusted us with it. There is one mission given to all and i.e., to go and make disciples. Why are we so choosy over doctrines and mar Christian faith before the world and create an offense which prevents them to stay away from Christ the Savior? I understand that there are many doctrines and cults that prohibit giving glory to God and don’t acknowledge Jesus as only way and the Savior of the world. I am not referring to them.  But dividing over experiences, liturgies, worship & expression of the Holy Spirit are creating a void from the actual mission Christ gave to the Church.

There can be various expressions of happiness, for example, one may jump with joy, another may just be excited without any physical movements. Let me quote few examples, King David was leaping and dancing with joy before the ark of the covenant. It was an expression of extreme happiness and gratitude before God (2 Samuel 6:14,16). Does it mean this experience is the copyright of true worship and that it should pertain to a particular Church denomination? Not at all! Expressions are not a theology.  The Bible says, King David was wearing an ephod made of fine linen consisting of two pieces covering both back and front (Exodus 28:6-8, 31-32) And there are some serious comments referring him to be almost naked. Are we then ready to follow even that? Another example I wish to state about King Saul, which is recorded in 1 Samuel 19:23-24. It says, “So he went to Naioth in Ramah. The spirit of God also came on him and as he walked along, he prophesized until he entered Naioth in Ramah. Saul then removed his clothes and also prophesised before Samuel; he collapsed and lay naked all the day and all that night. That is why they say, Is Saul also among the Prophets?” How do you translate this? Now, can this expression be a standard for prophesying? Stop confusing expressions and experiences to the Biblical mandate entrusted to us.

Today, Churches are fighting over so many doctrines. One major thing is over tongues and prophesying. Though Bible has given a clear parameters over the operation of spiritual gifts, yet there are many who are ambiguous and contradictory over this. How do you bring this all together? Let me take you to Paul’s revelations who at one instance narrates a little on his vision to third heaven. But most importantly want to refer a sentence that he emphasises. 2 Corinthians 12: 2-7 “I know a man in Christ who was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether he was in the body or out of the  body I don’t know God Knows . . . was caught up into paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a human being is not allowed to speak. . . especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore , so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me. . .”.  The most important thing in this for me is when he says this happened fourteen years ago. If it was us today, we would immediately develop a new language, a new doctrine and a new theology with a Church denomination and a training school. For Paul that was a revelation and a personal experience, and he did not tamper with the main mission to spread the gospel.

Church, your mission is not your spiritual experiences and your personal vision, but rather being successful in mobilizing your Church to win souls for Christ. Enough of building frameworks and walls to secure your Church. Let Christ’s mandate, the mission be nurtured and released.

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Church protected Mission ignored! Part-7

 

image by amenic181

John 12:24 “… unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.”.

I recollect my experience working on a social project for a tribe in India. The terrain was not conducive at all for farming due to the extreme unlevelled land. Moreover, this terrain received very less rainfall compared to any other places in the state. Hence, our organization granted funds for levelling the ground and introduced hybrid seeds for a high yield. This initiative brought life among the tribal people because the yield was unimaginably high and helped solve few perennial problems like family migration, school dropouts and other issues. As a sustainability plan, the concept of seed bank was adopted where the seeds were preserved for future sale and use.

I thought I will use this concept of seed bank and draw parallels to unfold the work of the mission through the Church. The seed bank is not a preservation storage cell where the seeds are supposed to remain there forever. There may be variety of seeds, which are preserved in the seed bank, but all seeds are there to be sowed in the field. Unless we just want to have it for a public display, I am sure it is never meant to remain that way.

Seed is life and seed belongs to the field. Every person who finds the Savior and becomes a disciple is a seed to be sowed. This however is downplayed in Christendom, more specifically by the Churches today. Churches preserve the seed in their bank and ensure their yield is converted to money and benefits the Church institution. Let me remind and quote of what Jesus said about the concept of sowing. In John 12:24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.”. If you know the context in which Jesus says, you will notice it was said in response when the gentiles expressed their desire to Philip by saying this, in Verse 21 “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”. If you want to see a desperate life wanting to see Jesus then you should be prepared to sow the seed in the field, there is no other alternative.

Paul says the same in 2 Corinthians 9:10, “Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, [h]supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness.”.  Notice the words “seed to the sower”. Pastors and Missionaries, if the seeds are supplied to you, it is for a divine grandeur purpose connected with Christ’s mandate, the Great Commission. Do not over-preserve it to make it useless. Many members today are seeds who are and who will never be sown back. They will be taught to stay inside the box and be there faithful all their lives, like fishes in the aquarium. And then we hypocritically and superficially declare we need revival in our churches and in our cities. We Churches and Christians involve in all kinds of prayer, like, intercessory prayer, Esther’s prayer, Nehemiah’s prayer, etc. and plead for souls, but least bothered with the seeds God has already entrusted to us. Are you seeing the deception dear people? I am deeply concerned and mourning over the grave superficiality of Christians today. It is time we repent. We are happy over the Sunday celebrations because it gives us power, adds wealth, and adorns us with status. At the end of the day seeds are wasted away. The members come and go week after week as a ritual. Churches are happy with the numbers because their institutions are preserved. The fertile land is ready, but the seeds are withheld from sowing. Church, since you are the seed bank, preserve it but then soon find ways to sow it back. Preserve the Mission not your Church institution.

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Church protected Mission ignored! Part-6

 “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. ". Luke 10:2 CSB

This article will emphasize the position of Missions today. It states the understanding and misunderstanding of Churches regarding the mission of Christ. Mission is the most misunderstood term in today’s Christendom. Everyone is deriving their own definition to suit their existence. The definition of Mission eventually culminates to one broad field i.e., “Ministry” and it is classified as Church ministry, worship ministry, Music ministry, media ministry, etc. Quickly each ministry gradually is institutionalized and thrives for its own purpose.

Let me remind you the incidence of the Babylon Tower where people came together to build the tallest tower in the city for themselves that would be matchless, reaching the sky. The need to exhibit ultimate power is seen through this incident. We all know how the Lord disrupted the whole thing and brought it to an end. I want to call this the Babel Tower Syndrome. Even today Pastors and leaders are running pillar to post to mobilize people for money so that they can establish their own kingdom and call it a Mission centre. Facility, property, resources, money are constantly shown as the biggest need for Missions. I do accept that these are necessities indeed and that we all wish to have enough resources to do many things pertaining to the Church’s mission. But these are not the actual reason due to which the Great Commission is ignored and has become redundant.

It looks like all have the same reason, the lack of funds to blame for the failed mission. When Jesus pointed out the biggest concern for unfilled mission, it was the lack of laborers (Luke 10:2) and not the lack of funds. It is we who have created and amplified the financial needs as a big problem. Churches and people become the means to achieve the financial target. Today, you see anywhere, Christian leaders and Churches are advertising their financial needs and mobilizing the funds at all costs. Paul comments in 2 Corinthians 2:17 “For we do not market the word of God for profit like so many. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.”. It is unfortunate to see leaders are not hesitant to beg, borrow and steal to establish God’s kingdom. It is a hard observation, yet a stark reality.

If financial need happens to be the roadblock for your ministry to reach out to people, then technically God is to be blamed, not you.  When a mission is given, the resources need to be provided by the one who gave the mission. God cannot be wrong. He did not introduce a ‘Fund model’ for effective ministry but brought in the ‘Disciple model’. We all know it doesn’t always have to be financial stability to share the gospel. All want a mega program where the turnover of money is the goal. We think we should accelerate the gospel work and therefore, we need to accelerate financial mobilization for the same. God never thinks that financial need will pose as a threat to mission rather it is the disobedience to the call. What percentage of your believers are successful in reaching out and leading a new soul to Christ? Based on Jesus' 1-12-72 Model   is your Church excited and equipped enough to reach out to the non-Christians?

Mission is the cooperative act. The ones who are rich with resources have a greater responsibility, to join hands in mission work and spread of the gospel. The Gospel is holistic and therefore the mission approach should be holistic too.  Apostle Paul writes to the church in Corinth in 2 Corinthians 9:13 “.Because of the proof provided by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity  in sharing with them and with everyone.”.  It is required that people demonstrate their obedience to the gospel and with their resources to create a holistic impact. In verse 12 , Apostle Paul acknowledges the ministry of service, which is overflowing in many expressions to reach people with the gospel. Let Christ’s mission flow through each member in your congregation so that the Church is a movement to impact lives and transform communities.

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Church Protected Missions ignored! Part-5

 

Mark 1:17, “Follow me” Jesus told them, I will make you become fishers of men”.

In my last blog the edicts of Jesus, the Great Commission, the Great Commandment, and the Great Compassion was explained. In case you have missed to read the same you may click HERE. Let me unfold what it means to be a disciple of Christ. When Jesus started His ministry preaching repentance and the kingdom of God (Matthew 4:17), He starts connecting with people. The book of Mark records when He met Simon and Andrew. He asked them to follow Him. It says in Mark 1:17, “Follow me” Jesus told them, I will make you become fishers of men”. The commission comes with a responsibility.

The word "disciples" was used to describe believers over 250 times in the Gospels and in Acts. The word Christian is only used 3 times. If these two terminologies - Christian and disciple, exists in the Bible, then probably we need to seriously find out what exactly each means. The word Christian first time appears in Acts 11:26 where it records “the disciples where first called Christians at Antioch”. It was not the other way round. You don’t become a Christian because you are born in a Christian family nor because you go to Church. Maybe Church attendance makes you a Christian, or baptism, or confirmation, or having someone lay hands on your head and speaking in tongues.  However, the Bible does not define that term or establish it as the goal to become a Christian. Everyone seems to be fighting for their type of Christian to be recognized as the true Christian, even if it totally irrelevant!

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines Christian this way, “Christian’s are one’s who professes belief the teaching of Jesus Christ.”. After their training the apostles were commanded by Jesus to make disciples of all nations (Matt 28:19b). Though Christian is first found in Acts 11:26, the word disciple is found much earlier and more frequently in Acts. So, we can safely assume that the word "Christian" was built on the foundation of the word "disciple." Not vice versa. Without a discipleship, those believers would likely never have been called Christians. Today, all true disciples are Christians. But not all Christians are true disciples. Jesus has given the Church a Great Commission. He has clearly told us what we are to do: "Go and make disciples" But, instead we focus on making Christians. The word Christian has no biblical meaning apart from the word disciple. If today's Christianity is based on a foundation other than true biblical discipleship, it is not biblical Christianity.

One Feisty Scottish Pastors says; “The savior is not looking for men and women who will give their spare evenings to Him-or their weekends or their years of retirement. Rather He seeks those who will give Him first place in their lives. –Too often we look on Christianity as an escape of hell and guarantee of heaven. Beyond that we feel that we have every right to enjoy the best that this life has to offer. We know that there are those strong verses on discipleship in the Bible but we have difficulty reconciling them with our ideas of what Christianity should be.”.

Ensure disciples are increasing as recorded in Acts 6:1 “Now in those days when the disciples were increasing in number…”. When disciples increase in number there is revival, growth and impact. But if the members who think they are Christians increase in number probably your offerings may increase but the mission would still be stagnated.

 

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Church protected Mission ignored! Part-4

 

“Go and make disciples..” Matt 28:18-20

 

My last blog was addressing Jesus’ 1-12-72 model which was taken from Luke 8:1, 9:1; Luke 10:1. You may check the same HERE in case you have missed to read the same. The mission is all about sending and reaching out the unreached. If all our activities fail to connect with the Great Commission, then the purpose of our existence and our Church existence is a gross waste. And that can also mean we have created our own purpose for our personal existence and security. Church is the combination of coming together to worship, be nurtured and to go out to the sinners with the gospel which is the outcome of coming together as body of Christ.

The mandate of Christ is that we carefully connect everything to the same. I want to call it as the edicts of Jesus. They are the 1. Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) which is the command to go and make disciples. Along with it comes the supplementary commandment which we find in Acts 1:8, to be witnesses for Him in every place. The Great Commission is not a choice or for selected few, but for every individual who is the follower of Christ. And then we have 2. The Great Commandment (Mark 12:30-31) i.e., to Love God and to love our neighbors. Jesus clarified what it means to love our neighbor in (See Luke 10:29-37). He quotes the example of the ‘good Samaritan’.  Loving our neighbor is reaching out to people in need without expecting things in return. Even this is connected to the gospel. Basically, demonstrating the gospel of love in action. And the third one is 3. The Great Compassion (Matthew 25:31-46) where, in the parable of the Sheep and the Goats, Jesus emphasises the dire need to reach out to the vulnerable. You cannot just obey the Great Commission and downplay the Great Commandment because it costs your money and your time.

Krish Dhanam puts it beautifully, “If you practice Great Commission and share about Christ you are an irritant, and if you practice Great Commandment and talk about the love of Christ you are interesting, but if you do both Great Commission and Great Commandment together you are irresistible.”. Church, is all your activities and programs interwoven with Christ’s mission mandate? What percentage of offerings and resources of your Church are used for mission compared to other activities and programs? What is the Church working towards tirelessly? How mobile is your Church? Has it become stagnant for long that it is slowly becoming a monumental piece? These are some serious questions to ponder upon. Never forget this, the Church isn’t a building to be maintained, it’s people to be mobilized.

The mission is to make disciples of Jesus. Don’t settle for just well-behaved pagans or self-righteous Pharisees. The disciples are the ones who are irresistible. They cannot just be a member of the Church Community and have goals and wishes to grow in the Lord all their life yet never once shared the gospel to their Non-Christian friends.  Leonard Ravenhill has a serious allegation against the people who know God but not His mission. He states this, “Most of our people don’t know God! They know religion. They know formality. They know ritual. They know how to clap and sing.  But really knowing God-hearing his voice, submitting to his voice, submitting to his commandments- is something entirely different.”.

Church there is a huge difference between a Christian and a disciple. The regular attendees of your Church who pay the tithes and offerings, enjoying worshipping together and occasionally takes part in your Church programs yet fails to be a missionary the rest of the week besides Sunday is more a Christian with a brand. Disciples are entirely different. However today, to be a disciple they are required to go through a course on Discipleship to become informed disciples. We will be seeing the actual meaning of Disciples and the work connected with it in the next chapter.

 

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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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