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
9 Comments:
Mmm...excellent post, James. You're a wise and insightful man. I couldn't agree with your thoughts more.
Sorry, my post was lonely so I thought I'd answer myself to stroke my own ego.
By
James Hunt, at 9:02 PM
HAHAHAHAHAHA! That is the funniest thing I have seen today.
By
angela, at 5:50 PM
OK...not your post on your page. That wasn't funny. It was "wise and insightful"... Your note to yourself...that was funny...you knew what I meant, right?
By
angela, at 5:53 PM
Yep. Thanks for the laughter...and for stopping by. :)
By
James Hunt, at 7:06 AM
OK, James...now I have a real minute to post. I tried to find the article you referenced on the Founders page, but as I was looking I came across the one about A Plea for Church Discipline. I don't think it was the one you were referencing, but do you have thoughts on it? I thought it was right on.
By
angela, at 1:25 PM
Excellent post James.
The sad reality is that many in The Church (not just ours) really have no idea what you mean by "gospel".
You are doing your part in communicating the richness of the gospel and the beauty of Jesus in your ministry and in this blog.
It's great to have you on the team!
By
Unknown, at 6:22 PM
The Gospel in 8 Words:
"We're all bastards and God loves us anyway."
(quoted from The Ragamuffin Gospel, Brennan Manning, Author).
The Practical Outworking of the Gospel, i.e., what do we do with it?
Bind up the wounds of the sore; take care of widows and orphans; hang out with broken people who act, smell and think differently....
...to the end that the yeast of the influence of Christ in us the hope of glory might be planted in the soil of sinner's hearts and develop into a fruitful harvest.
The Gospel explained further:
*We stunk...reaked of decay and corruption (dead in sin and walked in unrighteousness).
*We still smell as believers...seeping through the pores of our lives is the fragrance of Christ...a pungent fragrance of death to the damned...a bouquet of life to the redeemed.
*The Gospel put one more way:
We're cheap, common-house-hold-everyday-use pots of earth that have been cracked by life and our own sins...yet...through those very cracks shines the most excellent treasure...the knowledge of the glory of Jesus.
Let's live, smell and shine out Jesus to a lost world.
Praise God for His scandalous grace!
By
James Hunt, at 8:22 AM
Angela,
Formative and corrective discipline are both in the mind of God (cf.Hebrews 12:3-11 & James 1:2-4). We're to be actively seeking ways to edify (build up) each other and "spur each other on to love and good deeds." This is preventive discipline (formative). This is the type of discipline employed to help someone develop out in their faith.
Discipline is not to be confused with punishment. God doesn't punish us (believers)...He punished His Son, fully. Jesus drank of the bitter cup...down to the dregs.
Corrective discipline is also a biblical mandate. From the Old Testament record and on through the New accountability is always seen as a vital part of God's community of faith.
I believe that Corrective discipline is that which is employed to turn an erring believer from their sin and back into the path of holiness.
Corrective discipline is ignored by most churches that I've ever personally been a part of. I always find it interesting when an otherwise conservative, Innerantist ignores the clear teaching of scripture on this point.
One clarification. Formative and Corrective discipline are for the believer's growth and the health of the body. It is not code for: Witch-hunt. It is rooted and carried out in a spirit of love and with the hope of growth and restoration, as the case may be.
Thank God we are at a church that obeys this command. Praise God for CRBC!
By
James Hunt, at 8:32 AM
James,
I think you are right on in this post. To use IMB terminology, I believe the "end-vision" of the Great Commission is not just making converts and planting churches, but rather, as Paul says in Eph. 4.11-13 (New Living Translation) "He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ, until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ."
By
David Rogers, at 3:15 AM
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