Disobedience

Since 1979, when I first experienced the central power of the "Great Commission" to go and make disciples for Jesus, I have heard churches evaluated on a continuum that runs from "growing" to "dying." In the early days, this was a numeric evaluation. At first, growing churches were those that increased in numbers of members, while dying churches had a higher number of members passing away or leaving the congregation for other places of worship. Then we began to understand that having a name on a membership book didn't really mean much, if that didn't correspond to regular attendance and involvement. So we decided that growing churches increased their worship attendance year after year, while dying churches did the opposite. Eventually more people began to talk about the primary importance of a relationship with Jesus. (Imagine that!!) Then we started to say that growing churches had a high number of people who professed their faith in Christ or renewed their faith in Christ each year, while dying congregations tried to depend on people transfering from other churches.

In his book Direct Hit, Paul Borden reframes the entire issue. Instead of relying on the categories of "dying" and "growing," however they are defined, he says the issues are really obedience and disobedience. Rather than thinking only of the quantitative measurements that lean in the direction of assessing institutional maintenance only, he suggests that a missional assessment is in order. Either a church is obeying Jesus' commandment (not "suggestion") to go and make disciples (not to "stay put" and maintain and institution) or it is not. Borden says, "Perhaps the greatest sin of denominations and most congregations is the lack of urgency to bring good news to lost individuals." (Page 56.)

If you are a Jesus-follower and part of a congregation, how is your fellowship doing by the obedience/disobedience measure? I'll see you around the next bend in the river.

No Gifts

The Friday after Thanksgiving my sister called us. Mostly she wanted to check on my wife, who has had health issues for the last two months. In addition, though, she offered a suggestion for Christmas. "We all have more than we need," she said. "Let's not exchange gifts this year. In view of the economy and the troubles people are facing, let's give what we would have spent to local food banks."

That's a great suggestion. Think of the impact that would take place if several hundred or several thousand people did that. American retailers would hate it, of course. As we were reminded after Black Friday, we aren't doing our patriotic duty and spending enough money in preparation for the holidays. But curtailing lavish gift purchasing and boosting beneficial giving could feed the very sacrificial attitude that so desperately needs to replace runaway consumerism.

Beyond that, it would foster a change in habit and priority. Too much discipleship is discipleship in word and concept only. The biblical concept of metanoia (conversion) means more than a change in what we think or say. It means a change in what we do and, as a result, a change in who we are.

My sister is a smart and faithful lady. May her tribe increase. I'll see you around the next bend in the river.