When one minister meets another, a question usually asked is, "How big is your church?" The replies immediately establish the pecking order. The minister with the larger church automatically has the greater status.
Numerous seminars are conducted on church growth, on the latest and greatest way to attract more people into a church, and the programmes that will surely succeed in growing the numbers. When you ask ministers for their God-given vision, usually it will be focused around increasing the numbers of people in their church. Visions range from hundreds to thousands.
Yet the reality is that 90% of churches worldwide that effectively involve the un-churched, point them to Jesus and disciple them, would be humble churches and leaders that have less than 100 members, with the majority having less than 50, according to reliable Missiologists.
The reality is, we do measure success by numbers, because in many cases our visions for our churches are human based and worldly, rather than God based, Biblical and humbly dependent only on what God gives and provides.
What is God's way? What are we really called to? What does the Great Commission actually say?
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20.
It does not say to get everyone in the world into the same constituted church, but to make "disciples", for it is only disciples who will "obey everything Jesus has commanded."
Jesus, although he also spoke to large crowds of people, only attempted to train 12 male leader disciples, and one of them didn't last the distance. He did of course, also train a number of women disciples, but according to the customs of the times, they weren't listed in the NT in the same way as their male counterparts. We simply find them all over the NT doing the job! Much like we find so many ladies in our own churches, humbly doing what really counts, being disciples and making disciples according to Bible-principles, without claiming the glamour and status often associated with holding an office!
The point really is that it is impossible to disciple people in large groups. For developing discipleship is a relational activity. One on one. Or in small groups. This is the most effective way for a minister / pastor, an elder, a small group leader or a women’s fellowship group to 'shepherd' God's people. And shepherding is the true role of a pastor, and of any member in Christ’s church.
God is calling on his church to discard the human based philosophy that 'big is best' and to go back to the relational basis of discipleship that Jesus humbly modelled in his own ministry.
The vast majority of ministers out there whose churches are not growing into 'mega-churches', take courage. The Lord first and foremost desires you to encourage your people to a deeper commitment to the Lord. It is through your pastoral commitment to discipleship that the Lord will say, "Well-done, good and faithful servant'". This vision Jesus gave us through his own example! Let us put aside the ways of man's 'biggest and brightest' philosophy and return to the Biblical pattern of discipleship, of commitment, of submission, of humility and of obedience to God.
Yes, you certainly do find large churches with sound Biblical teaching, with reverence for God, with the humility Jesus required from his followers and a motivation to serve, driven by the promises of grace, rather than by the potential of man. You also find big churches with sound teaching, that host excellent programs that benefit the poor, the seekers and those keen on growing in grace and sanctification.
But then in these cases there will also be true, Christ like shepherding that requires enough ministers, well trained elders and enough group leaders for the development of discipleship.
Remember the warning to the Laodicean church:
15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realise that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. (Revelation 3:15-18)
To those prepared to change their ways and become disciples of Jesus, a wonderful promise is made: 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:19-20)
Ministers, Pastors, Elders, Leaders, Christians: your shepherding / serving role is simply to encourage people to open their doors to Jesus and feast with him every day.
No comments:
Post a Comment