in the last entry, I posted some "randoms" from a four-man conversation in a local coffee shop. I'll be doing that from time to time. It's a way of letting supporters and friends in on what kinds of ideas are shaping our heart here.
at the end, you'll find a statement like:
"...making converts has been killing the church..." or something like that. I got a good comment from Justin on it. I want to respond in an entry, as well as the comment I posted in response.
first of all, I admit that statements like that come in the flow of a conversation and aren't the best for public posting... They can cause problems in their roughness and absolutness.
But I stand behind that statement. You see, the meaning of that statement hinges on the term "making converts". Jesus NEVER told us to do so. He spoke in terms of DISCIPLES, all the time. He also told us to BEAR FRUIT! And to LOVE one another... These are all precise, guiding articulation of Jesus' teaching on our purposes here.
Now we do find Nicholas, a convert to Judaism, in Acts 6. He becomes a Christian (after being a convert) and then is a deacon. Church history has some interesting things to say about this Nicholas, but that's not for here...
And Jesus speaks of conversion, too. He uses it in the imperative sense: "Convert, or perish." Repent is a good meaning here. Turn to me! You know?
So the noun form of convert, as well as the verb form, are surely Biblical language. But the PREDOMINANT commands don't say "Make Converts". This would be akin to saying "change people's minds" (which thing we do, since the love of Christ constrains us to convince men 2 Cor 5).
The predominant teaching of Jesus had to do with God, each other, the poor, the sick, prisoners, outcasts, forgiveness, giving away, love, obedience, fearing God, bearing fruit...
Now some say that this fruit is the fruit of "souls" coming into the kingdom, or "converts". This is a view of fruit that gives us a false assurance. There are so many who have a ton of converts--people whose minds are changed by their teaching and whatnot--people who have joined their Christian movements--but they don't have LOVE! They don't touch the poor--physically. They don't have time for kids and stupid people. They avoid the lowly and the needy.
But Jesus is commanding a life that loves (has genuine affection for) the poor, needy, outcast, sinner... a life that GIVES AWAY the stuff of the world and embraces the cross in the little, daily stuff... footwashing, toilet-scrubbing, child loving, homeless-hugging life.
...a life content with obscurity that sees Jesus in the face of every "least of these", His brethren... a life involved, swirling, mingling with the prisoner, the poor, the needy...
the sea of need can close over our heads. Let it. It's a good death.
We aren't here to solve the problem, but to drown in an ocean of loving them. funny thing--when you step out of the boat with this mentality, you FLOAT!
Our key...
Our source of purpose...
Our focus while on this earth...
is not all about propagating the faith.
It's about loving God. Loving God is seeing Jesus and serving Him in our neighbor! It's being His neighbor!
Purpose found in propagation is detrimental to the health of the church... that's because the health of the church is dependent on us seeing that it's "all about". Having a goal, a purpose that is bigger than the "movement", "institution", or any posterity or credit we get...
It's all about PLEASING THE LORD in the way we love each other and the world.
This includes preaching the word at all opps.
In fact, "converts" (rescues, salvations, saved souls) are the result of this love for God and our neighbor. The LOVE is the purpose. This is in contrast to "church growth" and "soul winning" purposes, which are a popular idol...
So, we all know that "church growth", "soul winning", "movements", "institution", "conversion", and "converts" are Biblical language.
But something deeply unspiritual and profoundly hindering has proceeded from this misplaced focus. We need to return to a focus that pleases the Lord. A good look at Romans 12, the whole chapter, will be medicine to heal...
This just a rant,
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Rants are good.
ReplyDeleteSometimes.
I think our disagreement here is one of vocabulary; I use the word "convert" to discribe one who is converted from the stuble satanism of self-worship that define US consumerism to a life of outward focus. But then, that is not the end, for there is a lifetime of discipleship that lays ahead of them; or else "Not everyone who says unto me 'Lord, Lord' will inherit the kingdom of God"{Jesus}
I just always get quite nervous about absolute statments concerning the Christan life. It, on either side, tends to breed a kind of legalism that kills the church. Focus on 'church growth' kills the church becuase it eats people alive in the idolistic drive to get more people in. Focus on 'discipleship within the community' kills the chruch becuase you get a self-centered community that becomes dead.
Of course, real discipleship involves "evangelism" as well, but too often, that aspect is swept under the rug.
Loving them is going to make converts, let it happen, and let us not get too hung on semantics!
-jjs
I would say that "church growth" and "discipleship" are both great...
ReplyDeletein their true form.
fruits on the same Branch of the Vine. The important thing is that they be from the Branch of the Vine! John 15, solid. The things we do must come from abiding in Him...