The pride of the Church in any nation is not the number of large Cathedrals, public approval ratings or glamorous political considerations she receives but the number of converts, the growing of disciples and the number of nations she turns from idolatry to faith in Christ Jesus. Sometimes we are so wrapped up in excitement seeing how the church in her diversity is spread across our nation, the opposition of those days disappear and the Church finds increase acceptability. This excites us as we find a sense of satisfaction and achievement. We finally relax and begin to evolve.
A man finely put his thoughts this way:
Hard time produce smart men ➡ Smart men produce good times ➡ Good times produce weak men ➡ weak men produce hard times➡ Hard times produce smart men
If you observe very carefully, the above chart is a never ending circle. This can be said of the Church.
"There is nothing in the world or the Church — except the church's disobedience — to render the evangelization of the world in this generation an impossibility." — Robert Speer, leader in Student Volunteer Movement.
Countries that consider themselves to be well evangelized should show it in their missions engagement to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth, rather than justle each other for space, members or for political favours. Petty fights on ignorable doctrinal differences have sapped so much energy out of the body of Christ that should make her a mighty force on the earth.
On the eve of His departure in Matthew 28:18 "Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing 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.” NIV
From all that Jesus taught and lived in the presence of His disciples as He introduced the Father, taught about the coming kingdom and built His image in them, He did NOT in any way by gesture, implications or direct command make it known to the disciples that one of their responsibilities was to build any buildings or edifices.
His emphasis was always on transforming lives.
He went from village to village, from town to town, from city to city preaching the coming Kingdom. He spent time with the sick, the weak, prostitutes, tax collectors, all of them the lowest and the most despised of society and the Synagogue.
And at every turn of each encounter, His very critics where bewildered at His extraordinary display of compassion, of truth and its transforming power.
I must strike a balance here though, that I am NOT saying building a Cathedral or an edifice for God's work is a futile or unspiritual effort. Such property's chief goal should be to facilitate active evangelism, discipleship and missions. The love for God, the love for the lost, the love for increase, should fill the hearts of men and women who fill those large halls.
Our churches should not just be places for self development, business fine-tunning, polishing of personal pride or a gathering for social class and status. It should not just be a family heritage and pride, neither should it be a place to hide from our fears and insecurities.
When men find Christ they need a faith community where it helps them cut off from old wrong association, find new faith based social connections, where they can be fed, nurtured and equip to go to the far corners of the earth to present and represent Christ.
During Paul's (then, Saul) encounter with Jesus en route Damascus the last thing Jesus said to him was probably the most significant. He said, in Acts 9:5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
Saul was to get up and proceed to the city where he would be told what he must do. He wasn't going to find something on his own or decide the next step that he was comfortable with. He was going to be discipled.
This same Saul turned Paul put these precious words down for us, revealing the passion that enveloped his soul:
1Corinthians 9:19 "Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings." NIV
What is the Purpose of the Church?
The Church has just one debt to the world ~disciple the nations, teaching them what Christ taught her.
What Christ taught the Church while on earth; through the coming of the Holy Spirit; and through the Word of God given to us is superior to any doctrine, fundamentalism, ideology or mystic philosophy.
When Christ gave us the assignment of discipling the nations, He knew that what He has given us was superior to any other thing out there.
Is the light given to us a universal need? It is an emphatic YES! Man, no matter what nationality, race or ethnic background, man is of one nature. The fall of our grandparents Adam and Eve was a universal fall.
And the result of that fall is universal to all.
Romans 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." NIV
Jesus knew that all men from all nations can not only relate to the guilt of sin and the need for salvation but also enjoy the power of love and reconciliation that comes only through the Gospel.
Today, the main focus of the Church, a large portion of our resources and bulk percentage of young people groomed for ministry should be heading to the mission field.
“The command has been to “go,” but we have stayed - in body, gifts, prayer and influence. He has asked us to be witnesses unto the uttermost parts of the earth… but 99% of Christians have kept puttering around in the homeland.” -Robert Savage
We have a debt to pay that we cannot escape or ignore. And God is holding our feet to the fire, to pay that debt NOW.
Get on your feet, get involved today as God will lead.
God bless you with strength and an obedient heart.
David Pam McQuel
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