Primary Purpose

Attending a new church, especially one in which I have no responsibility, has given me such a better perspective on church in general. For so many years I have been in the middle of all things related to church that it has been hard to see the big picture and easy to loose sight of what church is supposed to be all about. For most pastors, ministry becomes so much about meeting the needs of the congregation that we can be fooled into thinking that this is primary purpose of the church. While a noble endeavor, keeping the congregation happy is not the primary purpose of a church. 


So if the purpose of church is not about keeping people happy and keeping them coming back, then what is it all about? Well that is a big question but it actually has a simple answer. And as with any question worth asking, Jesus has given us the answer.


In Matthew 28, Jesus spells out the ongoing work of the disciples right before he leaves the earth and descends into heaven: "Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matt. 28:20


"Go ... to all nations..." Well that doesn't seem to be about church, but it's a good reminder for those of us who think that the role of church is to meet our needs as we sit in our favorite seat week after week. 


"Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..." I can tell you from experience that you don't need a church to baptize people either, if you have enough water you can do that just about anywhere!


So that just leaves making disciples by teaching people to obey everything that God has commanded - that is something you need a church to accomplish, in fact it is the most important thing a church can do - it is the primary purpose for having church in the first place.


Making disciples - that is what church should be all about - that is the mandate from Jesus for the church 2,000 years ago, and for every church today. There are many great things that a church can do, but this is what we should do because it is the very instruction of Christ as to how we should be spending our time, energy and resources. 


The church I attend now, Vine Community Church of Carbondale, has reminded me of this primary purpose. Discipleship is at the heart of everything they do, it is seen in every ministry decision and heard in every message, and it is really refreshing. I can't help but think that if every church was to really focus on the job of making disciples of all people, the church would be so much stronger, more Godly, and greater equipped to take the great news of Christ to the ends of the earth.


Discipleship is a two way street though: There is the role of the church to make disciples, but each individual believer must be a willing participant in that process. I will write more about that side of things next time. But for now, ask yourself if your church is fulfilling it's primary purpose - are you making disciples?

From Expectation to Demand

Don't you wish that you could travel back in time and visit events in the Bible as they happened? I know there are so many amazing moments that I wish I could I witness first hand. If I ever get that time machine, on my list of places and times to visit would be the upper room on the day of Pentecost. This might be an unusual place to choose, but when I read the account of that day in Acts 2 I can sense the anticipation in the hearts and prayers of the believers. Can you imagine the expectation in the room as they prayed in total unity? Jesus had promised them that something very important was going to happen in that room if they would wait and pray. This gift was so important that Jesus said it was better for him to leave so the promise could come! That promise was the Holy Spirit and he came in a dramatic demonstration of power and glory at Pentecost. This moment was life-changing for all who were there, and it was the very moment that the New Testament Church was born.


The disciples and followers of Jesus had great expectation of what God was going to do, and they experienced something amazing! However, I wonder how long it was before that expectation turned to demand.


There are only a couple of times mentioned in Acts when the Holy Spirit came with that kind of power and visual evidence. So I wonder what happened at the other meetings where people were praying for the Holy Spirit and there was no rushing wind and no tongues of fire as in the upper room. How long did it take before people began to pray "God send the Holy Spirit in fire and wind as you did in the upper room"? And how long before people began to complain because the Holy Spirit wasn't cooperating with them and doing what they wanted him to do? I know human nature, so I don't think it took very long for any of that to happen.


As followers of Christ we must always remember that, while we pray for God to move, we do not get to tell him how he should do it. We don't get to give the Holy Spirit directions on how, where, and when he should show up. We are followers of Christ, not leaders. We pray and he responds to our prayers in the way that he knows best.


There can be a fine line between expectation and demand, but that line is crossed in our hearts and minds when we start telling God what to do. 


How many times have you left a service disappointed because God didn't show up in the way you wanted him to? Could it be that did show up, he just  didn't do it according to your plan but his? 


It is great to expect God to do great things, and to pray for exactly that, we just need to be careful that our expectation does not turn into demand. Since God knows you better than you know yourself, you can always expect him to move in the way you need him to the most. Just enjoy it!