A few years back I was invited to visit a neighbor Church as they were in the process of looking for a new pastor. As I sat with the leaders of the Church over lunch, they asked me what my philosophy of ministry consisted of, and what the Church really needed in our postmodern generation. If memory serves my response was something like this; “What Churches and Pastors need today is what they have needed for the past 2000 years. Not “new” feel good teaching about how to be a better X, but sound, consistent doctrinal teaching directly from the Word of God.” The response both confused and concerned me; “Well, we don’t need doctrine here, because we just want folks to be comfortable and experience God and feel welcome. Doctrine just divides people” Their response had a sanctimonious ring to it. After all, who would take issue with someone wanting to experience God in comfy seats in a welcome environment? That should certainly be a subordinate goal for our Church, experiencing God and ensuring visitors feel welcome. However, that should not be our primary mission.
This conversation opened my eyes to what I consider a significant threat to gospel ministry in New England. Today, studies tell us that most folks identify themselves as spiritual. (Barna, Pew Forum) In our postmodern culture you are less likely to find an atheist then you would find someone with a vague, quasi-Christian spiritual belief. Many of these spiritual folks are taking residence in the pews and pulpits of once Biblically-based teaching ministries. This quasi-Christian spirituality ultimately waters down, dilutes and removes the power of the Gospel in the lives of its proponents and their communities. If I could boil this all down I would say this; there is a growing trend of willful biblical ignorance.
How did we get here and how then should we live? I suspect that if you ask several experts, you will get several good answers. Paul instructs us in Romans “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” If we bend the Church to be accommodating the world, we are then being conformed to the world. Instead of impacting the culture, we will emulate the culture and be a comfy place for folks. While I understand this is an attempt at evangelism, it is not evangelism. If we emulate the culture, we then become a sub-culture. A sub-culture will not impact the culture, but remain subordinate to it. That is not the great commission. Proclaim boldly the truth of the Word, stand fast in your true convictions and share Christ without fear. If you lead a person to Christ, disciple him until one of you is taken home to Glory. If you are a pastor or elder, devote yourself to the Word, prayer and service. If you sit in the pew; subject yourself to Godly authority, know your Bible and be a prayer warrior. Serve Christ as he calls you.
Our Lord gave us his “great commission” to go into all the world, to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit. Discipleship, the art and method of making disciples has been lost in some Christian circles. We should invest in the life of a young man or woman who needs spiritual guidance and a kick in the pants every now and then. The alternative is entertain spiritual discussions about silly secondary issues, or the benefits of the latest end times novel. Without biblical discipleship; prayer meetings turn into forty five minutes of gossip and five minutes of prayer. Bible studies will turn into silly discussions about small, non-essential “stuff”. These fruitless relationships lead to broken communion within the body, and a diluted gospel impact in our communities. In his article “Organized Religion is Dying”, Tyler Jones succinctly states; “Churches that live, teach, and believe the Gospel are prevailing; not even the gates of Hell can stand against gospel-centered churches!” If we teach the full counsel of scripture and don’t skip the “naughty” parts, nothing can stop God from turning a town upside down.
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