What is holding us back?
I am reading Neil Cole's book Search & Rescue: Becoming A Disciple Who Makes A Difference. So far it's been a good read, and on p. 70-71 he made a statement that has been on my mind since I read it. He says (and there is no footnote, so I don't know where he came up with this),
I have heard that if you took all those who are starting churches in the world and made a composite of the average church planter, she would be eighteen years old, Chinese, having read very few books, and without seminary training. The average American Christian already knows more than this hero who is starting dozens of churches each year. While we emphasize knowledge at the expense of obedience, it isn't what you know; it's what you do with what you know that is important.
Wow. I don't know about you, but that is convicting. Coupled with Fran's comment on the previous post - "Is it not ironic that after decades of the 'church growth movement' we in the western church do not know how to do the thing Jesus gave us as our primary mission?" - it has had me thinking about what our problem might be, and more importantly, what the solution might be.
I think there are some who want to blame our [church] education system, or blame denominations, or... in some way blame anyone other than ourselves. Do you really think it's our systems, or is it just our own sinfulness that holds us back? Because it seems to me that many of the third world church planters would love to get some education and have access to books and things like that... I'm just not convinced that it's always our training, or our credentialing processes, that are what holds us back. I admit to not really knowing how those things work in our denomination, but I can't imagine that someone is saying anyone can 'not' start a church (or a Bible Study; or disciple someone else; or...).
I dunno... I just thought I would throw this out there for discussion. I can't really even say what holds me back - besides maybe laziness, fear, worry, etc. Any ideas or suggestions???
posted by dan at 8:02 AM
4 Comments:
I should have said "I don't think it is JUST our systems... training... processes..."
Do you think the average "person in the pew" in our churches thinks they have any responsibility for making disciples? And should they?
What do you think would happen if it was 'expected' that every person in your church was to start a bible study or prayer group at their place of work or school, or in their neighborhood (even with just 2 or 3 others)? Would such a pastor be nuts to expect this? Would they be supported by the denomination? Is this too high an expectation? Or is this already expected in your church (and how does it work)?
dan, what you describe in your second comment sounds a lot like the campus crusade group i was a part of up at cornell. those guys have a love of solid doctrine, of truth being understood and taught well, Biblically, and theologically sound. at the same time, they want the word out on campus as much as they are capable, and so they have tons of Bible studies around campus, do weekly cold-contact ev times (aside from impromptu ones), and signs all around campus pointing to their weekly large group meeting, as well as constantly encourage people to be relationally involved with non-Christians and talking to their friends about everything, both "spiritual" and not.
one of the keys is having the staff in authority (see previous topic discussion) to approve and send out leaders, and also to invite others constantly to come on board the "open leadership team". the beauty of that is, that younger students are always encouraged to get involved, and are learning right alongside of the older students and staff, while doing mission. they "homegrow" leaders, so to speak. that seems to be the model of the early church, at least in part, as i read the Scriptures.
Dan~
You are sniffing up the right tree- seriously. No, the average person in the pew does not think it is their responsibility to make disciples. But even this, I am convinced, is symptomatic of the deeper issues:
--American Christians have almost no definition of what it means to be the disciple of Jesus (so how could they make more of them?).
--American Christianity does not take seriously the kind of living that the early Christian community and the entire New Testament tells us is possible and instructs us in how we might enter into it ("You will know the truth, and the truth will make you FREE." Really?)
The thing for us to ponder w/ regard to that quote from Search and Rescue is this: It neither a salvation transaction nor merely sound doctrine that people need and also find compelling... it is LIFE. That's what the 18 year old Chinese church planter has found and is giving away: a new way to be and live. She has learned how to enter into the life, and she can show others the way. This is what we must discover.
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