The church should stop trying to make converts.

To convert something is to change US dollars to Canadian dollars – but its still money – or take liquid water and freeze it – but its still water. When we attempt to convert someone from Buddhism to Christianity all we’ve done is get them to change religion. 

Our preoccupation with making converts – getting people saved – has grown exponentially to become a serious blind spot. We have allowed the goal of conversion to distract us from real Kingdom work. We’ve become so concerned with getting people saved that we’ve actually forgotten the Great Commission. Jesus did not charge us with converting people; the Holy Spirit is responsible for conviction and regeneration.

Matthew 28:18-20 reads: 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."

We’ve been duped. We piously sit in our church buildings waiting for people who are far from God to come to a service to hear a “gospel” sermon complete with 11 verses of “Just as I Am” for an “invitation hymn” and maybe be converted. We think people are being discipled just because they show up on Sunday morning. We conduct 13 week courses on discipleship and give people certificates of completion: You have been discipled. We who have been duped go right on duping others.

Jesus told us to GO.  Maybe we need fewer church services so we can concentrate on spending time building relationships with people who are far from God. They have to know we are real right along with believing that the God who dwells in us is real.

Then, after we witness the miracle of people deciding to follow Jesus, it’s our responsibility to make disciples. Jesus commanded us to teach these disciples everything He has taught and is teaching us! In other words, discipling is a life-long task.

The basic definition of the word “disciple” is learner. It is our responsibility to learn, to be taught, and then, in turn, to teach others. No 13 week course can produce a disciple because a disciple is never done. To be a disciple is to be a life-long learner who is both being discipled and is discipling others.

We need to make sure our attention is focused on making disciples.

Preaching on Sunday morning does not produce disciples. It may be a piece in the process, but it’s just one of many pieces. Small groups by themselves are not enough. Working in the food pantry does not make someone a disciple. We need a holistic approach for disciple-making that embraces listening, teaching, self-feeding, serving, and group interaction. 

And we must not be afraid of measuring results. We have to learn to use surveys, profiles, group inter-action and personal, one-on-one interviews to determine if people really are moving forward and growing as disciples.

It’s a bit of exaggeration, but let’s adjust our focus: No more converts! Make disciples!

Jesus came to show us the heart of His father; our Father. He came to reveal to us “the only true God” so that we might know Him, the Father. (John 17:1-6) He “made himself nothing . . . he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross.” (Phil 2:7-8)

Jesus knew in advance about the torturous whipping and the thorns cruelly wrapped around his head. He understood the path from the whipping post to Golgotha would sap every ounce of human strength and subject him to the vicious jeers of the crowd. Jesus willingly subjected himself to the brutal pain of spikes driven through his hands and feet and the ferocious ripping of muscles and joints when the cross was sadistically dropped into place.

Can we wrap our minds around the reality that Jesus fully comprehended the glory of the empty tomb and the resurrection and selflessly went to the cross first? Even though He could’ve called legions of angels to the rescue, Jesus suffered for you and me so that we, too, could share in the hope, joy and glory of the Resurrection.

In Matthew 16:24 he says to the disciples and to us: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

We exert tremendous energy and time and resources trying to be safe, reduce hardship, escape discipline, reduce the severity of consequences, and avoid pain altogether. But Jesus, who had all the resources of creation at his command, chose to suffer and says, “Pick up your cross and follow.”

· We run from pain – Jesus embraces suffering.

· We claim it’s our “right” to be comfortable – Jesus willingly allowed himself to be whipped.

· We demand respect – Jesus was mocked with a “crown of thorns.”

· We want everyone to like us – Jesus was hated by the masses.

· We want safety and comfort – Jesus endured hours of excruciating pain.

The Jews expected the Messiah to rout the Romans and re-establish the borders of King David’s Israel and rejected Jesus because, in their eyes, he failed to produce the utopia they thought they deserved. Are we much different?

Be honest! How many times are we disappointed in God because we hit that deer, or lost a job, or went upside-down on a mortgage, or a spouse died from cancer? How much is our relationship with God dependent on feeling comfortable, and safe and having a nice, easy life?

Why is it so hard to hear Jesus say, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”

Ministry is difficult for many these days: attendance is down, finances are tight, and the rumor-mill is running at top speed. Personal agendas and private preferences combine with strangulating traditions and produce untold stress and there’s no immediate relief in sight.

Rejoice! Be strong and courageous! The Resurrection is here! Celebrate the Risen Christ!

Jesus knew that the empty tomb was on the other side of the cross and he lived a life of victory and purpose. We, too, understand that a perfect body and perfect life await us in the presence of God where Christ-followers will spend eternity. Let’s live life in such a way that even in the difficulties and challenges, the pain and discouragement, the hope of Resurrection shines through.

Pastor Franklin* was describing a recent and very frustrating conversation. Patty*, whom he and his wife met at the grocery store, was explaining her prolonged absence from church: “I know you think I need to be in church, pastor, but I worship God best when I’m all by myself. Last time I came to church, you told everyone how important it is to have private devotions. You said it pastor, and I’m doing what you said.” (*not their real names)

To another pastor one young man said, “My wife and I cherish our Sunday mornings; breakfast in bed and reading the paper. I think God is pleased that we’re getting some rest and spending time together!”

Individualism. Self-sufficiency. Arrogance. How can one possibly claim that “private time” replaces corporate worship and the fellowship defined as koinonia?

(Some would claim that these “slackers” aren’t really Christians to begin with. But in both cases the pastors shared convincing accounts of conversion experiences and were able to describe many other lifestyle changes as evidence of salvation at work.)

Following Jesus is not a private spiritual journey lived out independent of the fellowship of believers and the needs of others. A clear distinctive of the life of faith is that Jesus calls us into community with God and one another. No one truly comes to Christ only to be left alone.

The continuing work of redemption, sanctification, and reconciliation takes place in community. God’s presence is made real in Koinonia, through the proclamation of the Word; in worship; as we care for each other; and by serving one another in Christ’s name.

We are “members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” (Eph 2:19-22). Christ followers have a deep-seat longing, a yearning of the soul, to belong to the Household of Faith – what the apostle Paul describes as “the Body.”

Scripture, the writings of great men of Faith, and our own experience confirms a deep conviction that God reveals Himself in and through the “Body” as we gather for worship, encouragement, and serving one another. The early Christians knew that “the Most High does not live in houses made by men” (Acts 7:48).

The language used in the Old and New Testaments to describe the presence of God always underscores the community of God’s people. Practicing the presence of God is never a private, solitary experience. Personal devotion is not in isolation from the biblical community. It is no more possible to follow Christ apart from the church than it is to have a shower without getting wet.

How do we teach our people the priority of corporate worship? What can we do to lead them in an understanding that serving one another is a group activity? How are we modeling vibrant Koinonia – the Christ-led fellowship that goes beyond pot-luck dinners and picnics?

Share your responses and check back to join the dialog.

The headline stared back at me. “U.K. Church Leader: ‘Wives, Submit to Your Husbands.’” The article went on to describe the uproar caused when two church leaders actually encouraged women to practice Ephesians 5:22-24.

One woman churchgoer said she was ‘disgusted’ by the sermon, adding: ‘How can they talk that way in the 21st Century?’

Indeed!

The media love to focus on what they refer to as “archaic teachings” and it was no surprise that news organizations chose February 13 – the day before Valentine’s Day – to laugh at people who actually believe the Bible.

However, I find it extremely frustrating that many are seemingly oblivious to the verses that follow Paul’s admonition to wives! Maybe you’re like me and long for a headline like: “Local Pastor Tells Husbands to Die for Their Wives.” Or maybe this one: “Husbands Told to Love Wives As Much As They Love Themselves.”

With all the media attention verses 22-24 get, it would only be fair to shine a spotlight on Ephesians 5:25-33. Husbands all over the world would march in protest. I suppose the macho dudes would start tying nooses for anyone they caught suggesting “husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”

Can you imagine the parody’s and outrage on Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons?

Hank* and Francine* and their children have been attending East Northwest Church* for eight years. Some recent events and personnel changes have made them wonder if they should leave the church and they wrote me asking for advice. Here is my response:

When to change churches is a difficult question. There are so many emotions involved and the impact is immense. First of all, there are reasons that would compel someone to leave a church:

• Heresy that continues even after a Matt 18 confrontation process.
• Immorality within the leadership which is ignored, covered up, or excused.
• Unethical practices in the way finances and business decisions are handled which continues after a Matt 18 confrontation process.

Only rarely do I hear of people leaving a church for the three reasons listed above. Most of the time the justification to leave is based on personal preferences, private agendas, power-plays gone wrong, hurt feelings, and claims of hypocrisy. There are a myriad of other things in the categories of music, youth ministry, greeting, etc, which can be summed up with this question: Is it style or substance? If one contends that the reasons for leaving are substantive, they better fall under the three topics above.

In 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Paul makes it very clear that the body – the local church, the household of faith – is not to be treated with a consumer mentality but with respect and honor. We cannot choose to leave because we’re unhappy, don’t feel good about the worship, or claim we’re not being “fed.” “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you.’” (1Cor 12:21)

Does this mean people can’t leave a church? No, of course not, but such decisions must be treated with the utmost seriousness, much prayer, and a great deal of patience. Church hopping is not a game and those who move from place-to-place risk grave consequences. After all, how does a hand which is not attached to a body survive?

Proceed with caution:

• Have you followed the confrontation procedure outlined in Matt 18 to get answers?
• Have you listened to both sides with an open mind?
• Is it possible the leadership has information they are choosing not to make public?
• If the leadership has lost your respect, have you thought about what they might do to earn that respect back?
• Are there written job descriptions and regular performance evaluations for both paid staff and volunteers? Is there documentation of corrective action, second chances?

If you are still seriously considering leaving, prayerfully approach the possibility that God might be asking you to stay. Sometimes God directs us into difficulty because it is in those times that we are most teachable.

Josh Harris recently posted this on his blog:

• Don’t love the church because of what it does for you. Because sooner or later it won’t do enough.
• Don’t love the church because of a leader. Because human leaders are fallible and will let you down.
• Don’t love the church because of a program or a building or activities because all those things get old.
• Don’t love the church because of a certain group of friends because friendships change and people move.

Love the church because of who shed his blood to obtain the church. Love the church because of who the church belongs to. Love the church because of who the church worships. Love the church because you love Jesus Christ and his glory. Love the church because Jesus is worthy and faithful and true. Love the church because Jesus loves the church.

*Names and church name have been changed

The New Year. It’s time for goal setting, resolutions and evaluations; for determining schedules, marking calendars and setting priorities. We make plans for family, work, budgets, church, vacations – and if we’re honest we do all this based on emotions, logic, and money. The lists and decisions are calculated to fulfill what I want; what’s important for me.

My expectations, my hopes, my choices seem so important to me. Even for the Christ-follower the temptation is to list objectives and set schedules that are all about the little trinity – me, myself, and I.

This year is all new – more so than ever for me. It’s the first time I’ve attempted planning for a new year without Lois since 1974 – the year we met – and I’m reminded again how much I relied on her. So I stepped back from the process to pray and think and read; to inspect, repair and prepare the foundation so decisions and plans will be based on God’s Word and the prompting of the Holy Spirit. This is what I’m learning:

1. Looking back on the past year I recognize that many of my plans were blown away like sand but the ones that survived were formed through prayer, the Word, and trusted advisors. Psalm 33:11 says. “But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.”

2. I am testing all goals, objectives and schedules with God’s Word based on Proverbs 16:9, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” I need to make sure God is in the center – not me.

3. When working on those items which are personal, I keep coming back to Galatians 5:22-26, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” It seems ridiculously obvious that if this fruit is evident in my character, the result will be humility, faithfulness, and obedience. The focus is God’s plans for me not my plans for God.

4. My major job description is to serve as a pastor to pastors and church leaders. Instead of trying to compile a list of tasks on my own, I am turning to Acts 2:42:47 which lists the primary qualities of a Christ-led, authentic household of Faith: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

How does this get fleshed out for ministry?

– Preach the Word – the whole counsel of God from Genesis to Revelation. In most churches 99% of the people who come through the front door are already Believers but 99% of the messages are presentations of salvation. We must preach the Word.

– Model and encourage New Testament fellowship; not just eating a meal together or having pie after the service. Koinonia takes place when we drop our masks, quit playing politics, and actually begin caring for one another.

– Embrace the full experience of celebrating the Lord’s Table. Slow down. Contemplate. Plan at least one entire service centered on Communion.

– Pray; not just for health concerns but for souls, and spiritual direction and discernment. Pray.

– Talk about what God has done in the past month and is doing right in the local church. If those stories don’t move the soul and fill people with awe, some serious examination and tough work needs to be done.

– Practice generosity. First, take care of the pastor and if there is anything left in the bank account give it away. The “rainy day” is here – people in the community are homeless and hungry.

– Go where the people are. Don’t schedule non-worship services at the church building.

– Small group gatherings are essential and while small groups don’t guarantee personal growth there are no documented cases of personal growth without small groups.

Let’s be careful and purposeful in making Christ the center. Practically, this means we look for how to join what God is already doing; participate in His plans and resist the temptation to ask God to bless our plans.