I’m not much of a golfer. I’ve played a few dozen times in my life, but I haven’t inherited the natural talent of my grandfather, who I hear was a great one. There are too many things to think about all at the same time — foot position, hand position, head, shoulders, club face. It’s way to much to remember!
Church life seems that way some times. And when it does, it’s time to remember the basics. What is the essence of church life? In this article, I’d like to particularly address those of us who give leadership to church activities. It’s important that as we busy ourselves in the activities of church life, we also keep an eye on the big picture of the purposes of a church.
Understanding the essence of a thing is very important to me. What is the essence of marriage…of education…of the church? I’m uneasy pursuing activity in these areas of life until I have some grip on what its fundamental purpose is. When the Westminster Shorter Catechism states “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him for ever,” it’s making a statement about the essence of life.
I like what Wayne Grudem says about the essential purposes of the church: “We can understand the purposes of the church in terms of ministry to God, ministry to believers, and ministry to the world.” (Systematic Theology, ch 44. C). The problem is, it’s difficult to maintain these ministries in balance as we seek to nurture healthy churches.
Have you noticed how helium-filled latex balloons deflate in a day? They’re the old fashioned balloons that end up floating just above the floor the morning after a party? But it seems like the shiny Mylar balloons last for decades! The church’s ministry toward the world — our calling to reach non-Christians with the gospel — is like the old-fashioned latex balloon — it deflates faster than the other ministries.
How do we keep the outreach balloon inflated? For starters, we must believe that evangelism is as essential to the church as worship and discipleship. And believing that the purposes of a church include evangelism rests on our understanding that mission is first of all God’s mission, and therefore it is the church’s mission. We go into the world because Christ came into our world. We leave our comfort zone just as Jesus did — taking the form of humanity and becoming obedient to the point of death on the cross. The story of history is the story of God’s work of redemption. That’s why it’s the church’s mission.
Given the multitude of barriers to personal evangelism, church leaders must give a disproportionate amount of attention to outreach. Keeping that balloon inflated as fully as the others will require more input. How is your evangelism balloon? Does it need more air? Keeping it inflated will help you maintain the health of your ministries of discipleship and worship.