So, is the gospel for the lost...only? Is our main focus to be primarily on the lost? What is to be our center-focus...the lost or the Christ who saves the lost? And what do we "win" people to?
It seems to me that it is human nature to be "either / or" in focus and priority. In all this talk about becoming Missional, church members are labeled negatively as "club-members". This is as opposed to Missional members...those whose focus is on those outside.
Perhaps a more biblically accurate approach would be like the one proposed to Timothy by Paul. In the context of much instruction concerning the priority of leading the Bride of Christ into health and maturity he adds this instruction in 2 Tim. 4:5, " ...do the work of an evangelist."
Church health must be a priority. "Preach the word", Paul instructed, for the maturity of the church...but also, "do the work of an evangelist."
Thankfully, we have Rick’s vision of both maturing the church as well as reaching out to the lost. It’s both/and, not either/or in priority. We are to seek to build up and equip the Saints as well as reach out to lost Souls. One doesn’t have greater merit than the other. It is not a waste of time to pray with the Saints, to meet the needs of hurting Saints, to focus on binding up the wounds of the Saints, to live in Community and love on the Saints. Time spent on...and with the Saints should not be viewed as secondary. After all, the passion of Jesus as seen in the Bride/Groom picture in Ephesians 6 is for His Bride's health, purity and preparation for the great Wedding Celebration. We should seek to make the Bride so beautiful that she is attractive to those perishing. She should be something that the lost wish to be a part of.
Building up the Saints is not only to the end that they reach out...rather, it is to the end that as they reach up - pressing into Jesus and seeking His glory that they also reach out to bring others with them.
What follows is a link for the whole article by Tom Ascoll, from which I lift the subsequent quote:
http://www.founders.org/blog/
"But, if I could design the future of the SBC, I would make it Christ exalting and Gospel saturated in every expression of its existence. I know that everyone who would dare to offer an opinion on this kind of speculation would say the same, or least not deny what I have said. I am not suggesting otherwise. Rather, what I am saying is that I believe we desperately need to get back to the centrality of the Gospel in our churches and relationships. The Gospel is not merely for unbelievers. It is for the church, as well. We do not merely enter into the kingdom by the Gospel, we live in that kingdom the same way. Every relationship, every responsibility, every challenge and choice is to be rooted in the Gospel of God's grace. [emphasis italicized mine]
Local churches would be given to orderly membership and conduct. Both formative and corrective discipline would be practiced. Our message of salvation would be backed up by congregations that are characterized by the grace that we profess and preach. The priority of the local church in the kingdom purposes of God would be recognized and honored."
It seems to me that it is human nature to be "either / or" in focus and priority. In all this talk about becoming Missional, church members are labeled negatively as "club-members". This is as opposed to Missional members...those whose focus is on those outside.
Perhaps a more biblically accurate approach would be like the one proposed to Timothy by Paul. In the context of much instruction concerning the priority of leading the Bride of Christ into health and maturity he adds this instruction in 2 Tim. 4:5, " ...do the work of an evangelist."
Church health must be a priority. "Preach the word", Paul instructed, for the maturity of the church...but also, "do the work of an evangelist."
Thankfully, we have Rick’s vision of both maturing the church as well as reaching out to the lost. It’s both/and, not either/or in priority. We are to seek to build up and equip the Saints as well as reach out to lost Souls. One doesn’t have greater merit than the other. It is not a waste of time to pray with the Saints, to meet the needs of hurting Saints, to focus on binding up the wounds of the Saints, to live in Community and love on the Saints. Time spent on...and with the Saints should not be viewed as secondary. After all, the passion of Jesus as seen in the Bride/Groom picture in Ephesians 6 is for His Bride's health, purity and preparation for the great Wedding Celebration. We should seek to make the Bride so beautiful that she is attractive to those perishing. She should be something that the lost wish to be a part of.
Building up the Saints is not only to the end that they reach out...rather, it is to the end that as they reach up - pressing into Jesus and seeking His glory that they also reach out to bring others with them.
What follows is a link for the whole article by Tom Ascoll, from which I lift the subsequent quote:
http://www.founders.org/blog/
"But, if I could design the future of the SBC, I would make it Christ exalting and Gospel saturated in every expression of its existence. I know that everyone who would dare to offer an opinion on this kind of speculation would say the same, or least not deny what I have said. I am not suggesting otherwise. Rather, what I am saying is that I believe we desperately need to get back to the centrality of the Gospel in our churches and relationships. The Gospel is not merely for unbelievers. It is for the church, as well. We do not merely enter into the kingdom by the Gospel, we live in that kingdom the same way. Every relationship, every responsibility, every challenge and choice is to be rooted in the Gospel of God's grace. [emphasis italicized mine]
Local churches would be given to orderly membership and conduct. Both formative and corrective discipline would be practiced. Our message of salvation would be backed up by congregations that are characterized by the grace that we profess and preach. The priority of the local church in the kingdom purposes of God would be recognized and honored."
posted by James Hunt at
8:50 AM
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