Today's Church pt 1
Today is the beginning of parts in which I entitle the series "Today's Church"...
All across America, there are dynamic Churches that are rising up radical disciples of Christ who lead the way in establishing a countercultural Church that dares to declare the gospel to an unbelieving nation. Yet a battle has taken place in the Church where the casual bystanders in the pews are getting spoon fed dishonesty and trickery by a world that lives for delighting in their own desires. According to George Barna, in mid-2000, about 95 to 100 million Americans of every age were unevangelized.[1] This has resulted from many contributing factors, but the preponderance of evidence suggests that churches have become ineffective due to the lack of passion for lost people.
Aubrey Malphurs says, “No church can do everything well.”[2] The ideal and perfect Church does not exist. Perfection in human terms is something to strive for, rather than something to achieve. It was not the perfect program that made the early Church grow, nor was it the faultless minister who was fueled with fire that led a revolution against his foes. It was love that turned the world upside down in the time of the Apostles. Love was a trivial idea that led many to oppose the early Christians. It was preposterous to “love your neighbor as yourself” when there was a government that was driven by hate and greed. In that group of Christ-followers, believers loved each other with a fanatic kind of love. They took off their masks of shame and shared their lives with one another. They laughed, cried, prayed, sang and served together in authentic Christian fellowship.[3]
Christians loved people that were unlovable. They helped out the poor and the widows when they endured hardship and poverty. According to Luke in Acts 4:34, he says this about the people’s needs, “There were no needy persons among them.”[4] Rick Warren, senior pastor of Saddleback Community Church says, “But the fastest way to build a bridge to the unchurched is to express interest in them and show that you understand the problems they are facing.”[5] The Gospel speaks to real needs. No one claimed ownership of their possessions, but gave to everyone with the intentions of helping each other out.
There is a biblical model for effective and growing churches in the book of Acts. It serves as a basis for the Church in every generation. The theological foundation laid by Luke calls Christians everywhere to find their identity in the authority of Jesus Christ. Throughout the pages, readers encounter Jews and Gentiles, peasants and Roman officials, males and females, prisoners and their jailers all won by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.[6] Acts points to the heart of evangelism. Salvation was a community experience that was learned and lived among the early believers that started a fresh revolution.
Aubrey Malphurs says, “No church can do everything well.”[2] The ideal and perfect Church does not exist. Perfection in human terms is something to strive for, rather than something to achieve. It was not the perfect program that made the early Church grow, nor was it the faultless minister who was fueled with fire that led a revolution against his foes. It was love that turned the world upside down in the time of the Apostles. Love was a trivial idea that led many to oppose the early Christians. It was preposterous to “love your neighbor as yourself” when there was a government that was driven by hate and greed. In that group of Christ-followers, believers loved each other with a fanatic kind of love. They took off their masks of shame and shared their lives with one another. They laughed, cried, prayed, sang and served together in authentic Christian fellowship.[3]
Christians loved people that were unlovable. They helped out the poor and the widows when they endured hardship and poverty. According to Luke in Acts 4:34, he says this about the people’s needs, “There were no needy persons among them.”[4] Rick Warren, senior pastor of Saddleback Community Church says, “But the fastest way to build a bridge to the unchurched is to express interest in them and show that you understand the problems they are facing.”[5] The Gospel speaks to real needs. No one claimed ownership of their possessions, but gave to everyone with the intentions of helping each other out.
There is a biblical model for effective and growing churches in the book of Acts. It serves as a basis for the Church in every generation. The theological foundation laid by Luke calls Christians everywhere to find their identity in the authority of Jesus Christ. Throughout the pages, readers encounter Jews and Gentiles, peasants and Roman officials, males and females, prisoners and their jailers all won by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.[6] Acts points to the heart of evangelism. Salvation was a community experience that was learned and lived among the early believers that started a fresh revolution.
Paid in Full
[1] George Barna, Grow Your Church From Outside In (Ventura: Regal, 2002), 172.
[2] Aubrey Malphurs, Advanced Strategic Planning: A New Model for Church and Ministry Leaders (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1999), 65.
[3] Bill Hybels, Courageous Leadership (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002), 17.
[4] Acts 4:34, NIV.
[5] Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Church (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995), 40.
[6] Rubel Shelly, Falling in Love with Jesus’ People: Studies in the Book of Acts (Joplin: College Press Publishing Company, 1998), 6.
Great point about salvation. It wasn't about individual salvation, but community salvation. I don't believe many of the early readers of Paul's writings, or the Gospels, or even the Hebrew bible would have read it in individual terms. Yet that's how we read it every day--it's only for me.
I'll look forward to the remaining posts in this series.
Oh, and did you quote Rick Warren. Come on :)
Posted by
Dustin |
9:46 AM