Opinions are like mushrooms ...

Opinions ... everyone has an opinion. Someone very influential in my life used to say, "Opinions are like mushrooms ... and in the country the biggest ones usually grow out of a pile of manure!" I've tried to take that lesson to heart over the years. Especially when I read comments like I am about to share.

There seems to be a growing dissatisfaction with the local church in America even to the point where one man said, "The Church in America sucks!" (Steve Hughes, "The Relevance of Jesus Without all of the Religious Crap." page 83ff). Ouch! So does the Church suck? Let's look at what "suck" means first of all. Wikipedia defines it as "a term of general disparagement, indicating the subject or situation has no redeeming value, qualities or purpose. Indicating that a subject has a particular area of deficiency."

Wow, I have not encountered a church that "has no redeeming qualities," have you? No redeeming qualities? That's a pretty harsh pronouncement on a group of people, don't you think? What does the word "redeeming" mean? Again the online dictionary I just quoted gives insight ... "redeeming - "to change for the better."

Is that not why the Church exists ... to help people and communities change for the better as instructed by our Founder and CEO - Jesus Christ? No doubt every Church could do this better and be more relevant in their effort, but nonetheless, the intention of all Christ centered churches that I have ever known or heard about exists for the good of people, families and communities in general. They feed and clothe the homeless, conduct social/relational educational programming, counsel troubled marriages and families, provide meals for those who are sick and injured, and visit those who are housebound, etc.

I think the Church has many redeeming qualities and seeks to make a positive contribution for the betterment of their community and world. That's my opinion ... what's yours? How do you see the Church contributing to the good of God's mission on earth and for the society? How has it blessed your life?

thanks for stopping by!
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Adrian

Who grows the Church?

The key point from yesterday's blog was that "growing the church" is Christ's work in and through us and we must constantly be looking to Him for direction and definition. That is what Paul had to remind the Corinthians in 3:1-15. They has lost perspective with Jesus and were going about church their own way; viewing it from their own fallen viewpoint and setting their own agenda.

Paul's conviction on church growth seems to rest on human inability. Possibly that is why he said "only God can grow a church" because growth (health)is more than numbers. Only God can impart new life, supernatural life.

If growth was simply just getting people through the doors of the meetinghouse and more coins in the collection plate each year we could grow a church. We could use marketing techniques, the best advertising and hire some "eye candy" entertaining motivational speaker to strum the emotional cords of people each week and we could grow a church much like a successful corporation is grown.

We do not want to "put the cart before the horse" so to speak, because Paul and Jesus both refer to growth as being spiritual in nature first. Focusing on numbers over "heart transformation" can be disastrous for a local fellowship. The power and health of the Church is in knowing Christ.

Knowing Him means obedience, following and honoring His ways. Knowing Him provides unity of purpose, oneness of heart and magnetism to the world. This is an inability of marketing technique, psychological motivation, and all the forms of human persuasion. It's a God thing. What's your thoughts? Thanks for stopping by!
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Adrian

Who builds the Church?

Today I have been working on mid year reports. Our treasurer is the best in the world at keeping track of nickels and noses so a lot of the work is already done ahead of time for me. Where I struggle the most is in determining the "world impact" we are having through WHFC. So much of our ministry to the community is not recorded and tracked annually and yet, in comparison to attendance and money, it too is an important indicator for the health and success of our combined effort.

So what is a healthy church anyway? Is it increasing numbers of nickels and noses or more service to the community? Or maybe a combination of both? Regardless, one of the most important things we can remember is that Jesus is the One who builds it. Jesus said, "I will build My church..." in Matthew 16:18, and we need to hold Him to it.

The key point is that "growing the church" is Christ's work in and through us and we must constantly be looking to Him for direction and definition. That is what Paul had to remind the Corinthians in 3:1-15. They has lost perspective with Jesus and were going about church their own way; viewing it from their own fallen viewpoint and setting their own agenda. I wonder if the American church today is not in the same boat?

Paul's admonition to the Corinthians is summed up in a few direct phrases...words the church today would do well to recall. We are to be "Christ's fellow workers" (3:9); working in "God's field" (3:9). The key to grow is understanding and implementing those two things, I believe. It is Christ who assigns the work of the church (I Cor. 3:5). We must sow and water but it is God who gives the increase( 3:6-7).

So, if we are not to seek growth from business manuals and through marketing savvy and simply to trust in "thea Lord to add to our numbers day by day" as recorded in Acts 2:47 ... does that mean then if our numbers and dollars are not increasing we must not be in the "right field" or doing the "assigned work" of Christ? What say you? Thanks for stopping by!
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Adrian