Hi all,
I thought I might share something I’ve been excited about that may serve as background context for a kick off of a Collossians discussion. Lately I have been challenged in a leadership class at church lead by our associate pastor to defend why I disagree with such things as corporate business style strategic planning models for church ministry. The assumption here is that drastic change needs to happen in the congregation in order for the church to grow and be successful in its ministry/mission. Committees made up of congregants (not session members) are formed and report to the board which is what the session is called in this planning model. This “frame bending” process is supposed to take 12-18 months to produce results. While much of this is well intended and may get people practically involved I am skeptical about how this will better address what I believe is the every-generational issue of God’s sinful people needing to trust and obey their Good Shepherd and be helped along in that growth in Christ by pastors/elders who are committed to their own personal pursuit of obedience to the Lord. What I am hearing explored and presented for how to fix the spiritual malaise of the church (congregants and leaders) all seems so complicated and secular, does the Lord really mean for us to be so puzzled about how to live out the Christian life?
I have been attending meetings of the Evangelism and Outreach committee recently. The attendees of my leadership training class are also on this committee. One of the elders wives when looking at the presented list of goals for the congregation admitted that she had a real tough time seeing herself as a missionary. This was affirming to me that an outward and vital testimony of the believer has to start from within through an identity and hope which is certain in Christ. The goals of the committee for congregants list conversation etiquette, 30 second gospel presentations, etc, but I have to think that a more vital and natural testimony comes as a result of a life surrendered in obedience to our savior. Or as Collossians 2:6&7 says: “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”
Our associate pastor who leads the evangelism efforts of the committee had asked for some feedback so I sent a short testimony and suggestion for a study/discussion based on either how the ten commandments are fulfilled in Jesus or how they demonstrate the cross as they are intended for our use and testimony/mission. (I had just finished and sent the study outline last weekend when I found out from talking with Dad Brauer that his pastor was beginning a sermon series based on the ten commandments.) The preface to the ten commandments and the ten commandments could be understood to be stated within those two verses Col. 2:6&7. Most New Testament epistles are just that: Here is Jesus, who he is, what he has done, and so now here’s who you are, should be, and do (in Him). I don’t think its enough to appreciate the ten commandments to merely reflect the character of God in general terms, we must if nothing else see them as the way in which God communicates himself as our Savior God, our Redeemer, or Rescuer in order for us to trust and obey. The gospel doesn’t end with our justification. Their is a wonderful life that follows! The law lived out under grace presses Jesus, the cross, or cross-love through us and is then lived out in our lives. This is why or how each one of the ten commandments needs to be seen as so relevant to and practical for imitating our Savior, or picking up our cross and following him as he tells us. Colossians is one of those books that seems to follow this pattern of assuring us that we belong to Jesus and then laying out in positive terms the way we are to live holy lives. Dying to ourselves in all the ways prescribed for us by the commands of God not only puts the saving love of Jesus into practice so that we experience his fellowship, but it also enables us to be witnesses for Him.
I thought I’d send the study outline entitled Evangelism 101 via e mail to Uncle Gary, Dad, Nathan and Seth of whom I am sure I have correct addresses. If anyone else is interested maybe you all could forward as requested. This isn’t meant to side track your study at all Nathan, I thought it might be helpful in “placing” Colossians in a context of greater significance than just itself for the great comfort that can come from marveling in the hugeness of the gospel of which we have been graciously included.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I have been impressed of recent months to look at the Ten Commandments in terms of love. This is one of the points made by Pastor Nichols in his opening sermon two weeks ago, the Ten Commandments revealing God’s loving and righteous character fulfilled in Christ. Christ himself summarizes the commandments in terms of loving God and our fellow man. I also see a simplification to the Christian life in this manner: I love God because He first loved me … and my duty of love (and obedience) is to recognize Him and love Him, and because I am in communion with God I am driven to love my neighbor. I will then seek to serve those in need, visit the orphans and widows, and demonstrate the Kingdom of God.
I just got back from a trip. Just read your documents. Here are some general thoughts:
1. I agree that corporate business style strategic planning models are not what is needed to help churches be more effective.
2. Problems often exist at two levels: the individual and the collective. Sin affects both.
3. The solution at the individual level is individual revival/renewal. This means connecting up what one knows, with what one does and with one’s heart so they are consistent with each other and in line with Christ. Just teaching new information, or new skills, is not sufficient.
4. The solution at the collective level is also revival/renewal. We need a Christ-centered approach to collective issues. This would include examining the assumptions-in-use of the organization and comparing them with the espoused assumptions. The assumptions-in-use can usually be detected be looking at what the church does. It would also include looking at collective actions: the way we do things around here. And thirdly, how the different parts of the church—individuals, departments, groups, leaders/people—are related to each other. These are knowing, doing and being at the collective level.
5. This could include insights from the social sciences. But these would need to be examined from a biblical point of view to identify any hidden idolatries in the assumptions. In other words, if there are worthy insights, they need to be placed within a Christ-centered worldview.
I would be interested in seeing what they see as the problem and what they propose as a solution.
It’s a mess Gary, as I don’t observe the idolatries and failings to be too far under the surface. Where do you start with out ruffling feathers? I see the responsibility falling on the leaders to make the connections between the person and work of Christ and the changes which need to be made in the ministry of the church inwardly and outwardly.
One approach needing some reinvigoration is shepherding towards individual/family revival in order to attain corporate health and function. This requires people to take time to invest in having relationships with each other while raising their own families. I realize this to be a challenge by itself without being exacerbated by so much time spent absorbed in pop culture, sports and entertainment.
S0, there is little interest shown in searching out Christ in his word and applying him in conversation and in study. How are we raising our children in the Lord outside of Sunday school, for example? Even before I sent that letter to the E&O committee I wouldn’t even be greeted in the halls or lobby at church. The irony is that these are couples my age/generation who are on the evangelism and outreach committee! How can we be disengaged from one another and scripture as Christians and then prescribe evangelistic activities?
Thats why I was so excited to share what I had been studying when Nathan expressed an interest in reading Collossians. Nathan, not only are you turning to God’s word but asking for company in that pursuit of hope and fulfillment in Christ. One persons growth in Christ not only salts and lights the world but blesses the fellowship of believers! This is what I see Paul expressing in his prayers for the saints described in the first chapter of Colossians.
What I was relating from the ten commandments had to do with connecting knowing God and calling Jesus our friend (instead of master since he makes his fathers will known) when we obey his commands (John 15). Collossians reiterates these instructions for life in Jesus, walking with him. (It’s fun to find the ten commandments and principles of the cross represented in the text-for example: chapter 3 vs. 5 “covetousness which leads to idolatry” ties the tenth command back to the first, bookends and ties love of neighbor and God together.) We are actually having the law of God explained out in Christ for our lives to be lived in grace.
In the garden Adam and Eve walked with God, sinned and forfeited that closeness for all of us. Except now in Jesus we can walk with God and have that fellowship with him again, more than I think we realize, even while we acknowledge that the best is yet to come when we see him face to face in heaven.
I see a common thread in Adam’s and Nathan’s hearts, a desire for a deeper relationship and walk with God. Considering our culture I find this rare and antithetical.
See Paul – a pastor. Grandpa Tom