Where the Church has Failed, the World has Failed

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19, 20

In seeking, through much prayer and study, to engage the world in a godly and effective holistic fashion I began to realize that only in turning the world back to Christ can we have any true lasting effect in regards to the humanitarian field or any other. The Word and power of God, once again, has been found to be the truest wisdom and the only power that can break-through the ubiquitous barrier of good-intentions and prove to be the only lasting change. All other heart and strategy will be left wanting, disillusioned, and eventually famished of true lasting effect when it lacks the power of the Cross.


“Humanitarian assistance, particularly in the midst of conflicts and disasters, is not a field for amateurs,” argues Kevin M Cahill, director of Fordham University’s Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs, in Basics of International Humanitarian Missions (2002). “Good intentions are a common but a tragically inadequate substitute for well-planned, efficiently implemented operations that, like a good sentence, must have a beginning, a middle, and an end.”

To put this in context, this also applies to the individual capabilities of each good-intentioned, mission-minded Christian. Let me be clear, this argument is not about training our people to become the next World Vision or Invisible Children. We are not called to go to the ends of the earth to deliver a partial-Gospel. This is a case for the equipping of the saints for the modern world in which we live. War zones are most certainly places of conflict and disaster, but to a similar, yet harder to recognize extent, so is the life of any particular person in any particular city.

Even the “narrow dedication to the immediate relief of suffering has proved unsustainable,” says G. Pascal Zachary in Humanitarian Dilemmas, a piece from the Summer 2008 issue of The Wilson Quarterly, referring to the political role World Vision has taken in Zimbabwe of “maintaining minimal activities in the field and sticking to activities that have little community mobilization”. For the Church regarding her Christ-emulating call to serve the world through the truth of the Gospel, sticking to minimal activities that have little “community mobilization” doesn’t fit the bill. But as World Vision has learned a long with The Red Cross, The World Bank, the IMF and many like them is that humanitarian work alone, and especially the work of humanitarian foreigners or “disaster tourists” as Norbert Mao, the highest elected official in the Gulu District of Northern Uganda puts it, “is not a long-term solution to the root-cause of the issue.” As believers we already know that Christ alone, through the Holy Spirit and the work of His Church, have the only lasting solution to every root-cause. This is not to say that humanitarian work should not be done. It should be apparent that humanitarian work alone is not enough, but rather the work that can render the whole person changed is the key to fixing the root cause of the issues in any given field.

The idea of targeting the root-cause is not merely the opinion of the frustrated local official, but rather a consensus of the intellectual humanitarian body, who, has yet to find the right strategic approach. This truth is reason enough to not only equip our body of believers locally, but also through this, enable them to go and equip others so they may engage their own local issues. Every issue is a local issue somewhere, and thus the church has an opportunity that no other organization can own, the opportunity to see lasting change. The emphasis here is that the people of any local body should be well trained in a holistic fashion in order to facilitate the needs of the world in a Gospel-driven way. Anyone can bring food and wrap wounds, but who can heal hearts and begin true reconciliation? This is the job of the local church.

By not participating, as disciples, in this world arena we have indirectly left the problems of the world to be solved by the world. In this effort, the world strives to be apart of something bigger than themselves. As the believer knows, without Christ the best the world can offer is not bigger than who they are, rather the same as they are. But for a people without Christ, even if they may be a rich people, they are still a broken people. These broken people, rich or poor have no means to be anything other than who they are. Only through Christ can people take part in something bigger than themselves and be truly changed.

The historically typical answers to these issues must be no longer viewed with having a true strategic accuracy. Traditionally the church has engaged “missional” issues by constructing an “outreach” event to facilitate whatever may be the issue or need at hand. But this tradition is a partial mission, that teaches Christians a bent perception on what missions actually is. Because discipleship as described by Christ began with a lifestyle of obedience to His commands, biblical missions, is simply an outpouring into a specific place with regard to the life that is already being lead. So, to put a structure in place that needs the spiritual strength of true disciples in order to hold the weight of the objective, but is instead being supported by mere babes who are now misdirected and further compartmentalized about missions is to merely pay homage to the idea that we can engage the depth of the world non-relationally and without being daily seekers of the breadth of Christ.

Saddle Back Church is breaking from this long tradition and has developed one of the most modern programs by any standard, the P.E.A.C.E. Plan by Rick Warren. The P.E.A.C.E. Plan prescribes that each church involved have an “intentional discipleship system for their church members that involves a strategy and process that moves people – from being unchurched and uncommitted – to a deep level of spiritual maturity and commitment, where they are involved in ministry and living out their God-shaped mission in the world” before engaging in the development of another church using the P.E.A.C.E. Plan. This plan has true local-church driven community mobilization at its core. But this plan will be found useless by those unwilling or uncommitted to the restructuring of their own people’s lives first. In fact, the initial requirement disqualifies most churches from participation.

The idea that the unprepared spiritually, and often practically, are sent-out to mend the deafening crack that is the brokenness of the hurt and dying world must be seen with similar validity of the get-rich-quick schemes of late-night television. Preparation, whether practical or spiritual, is never an ingredient that can be ignored when constructing a plan for foreign or domestic assistance. Not to mention this type of band-aid foreign “assistance” is exactly what Norbert Mao is fighting against in Northern Uganda.

Where the Church Prospers, the World Prospers

The intent of this brief argument is to shed light on the actual ability of the church to meet the world where they are. To show that it is not simply the practical preparedness that constitutes whether or not the church can help the world, but yet, the spiritual preparedness that is utmost in order to have any real and lasting effect. To explain that through intense and systematic discipleship, through the Holy Spirit, the current church could make a major shift from its present direction of blurry moral-driven philosophical theology that holds little weight and contains merely the shadow of true change to a place of a God-focused, Kingdom-driven lifestyle that holds Christ supreme. The above paragraphs use social justice and felt needs as the agent or medium to communicate the need for discipleship. Social justice and felt needs are not the intent of the argument themselves.

Our culture must be recognized as a major factor in the psyche of our church, and thus a major force in the construction of our identity. To recognize this but to not contextualize its power in light of how we go about shedding off our old man and putting on the new, seems to put in place a detrimental and reoccurring blind-spot along the journey of sanctification.

The fight we fight is not new, but it is different. The world in which we live is constantly feeding believers new challenges every moment. Thus we must formulate a plan of action to face down these challenges and build the believer up according to biblical principles through a contextualized strategy of discipleship. “The life of God that entered human nature through the Incarnation, is the root in which we are to stand and grow; it is the same almighty power that worked there, at the Cross, and onward to the Resurrection, which works daily in us. It is of the utmost importance that we study to know and trust the life that has been revealed in Christ as the life that is now ours, and waits for our consent to gain possession and mastery of our whole being.” Andrew Murray, Humility

“The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” Rom. 13:12

Before I go on I want to clarify the idea of discipleship through a quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer: “Discipleship is never this or that specific action, rather a decision for or against Jesus Christ.” This call for discipleship is not a call for legalistic methods, 6-month relationships guided by handbooks, or a great sermon series. But rather a desire to form a deep culture made up of people who strive daily to die the death of Christ in order to live the life of Christ. These kind of people are truly the avant-garde of society. These people are lifestyle driven, not just event participants. They are people who will know the breadth of Christ and pour out on this world the nature of our great God and King, rather than follow in the footsteps of their nominal past that is greatly muddied with the identity of darkness. Like learning a new language, immersion is the key. A holistic spiritual formation that leaves no element of life compartmentalized.

“I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Rom. 12:1,2

Regardless if it is direct or indirect, intentional or unintentional, we must change the present course that relays the message that our ministers are employed to do ministry themselves instead of seeing that ministry gets done through the body. This current mode of operation by the Church at-large has made limp the capability of the Body to be ready, in season and out. “The leaders of the church are not only the ones doing the work of service or ministry. The leaders are given to the church for the purpose of preparing every member to do the ministry—to render service to the Lord, to the church, and to the world.” – Ministry, Determining How I Serve, Book 4 of 4 in the Transforming Life Series.

Ephesians 4:11-12 “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”

Biblically, we know all the reasons to make disciples, so what if we looked inward to see what is causing us to say, “not yet.” This is a corporate effort beyond the traditional and into the realm of selling it all, with joy, and buying the field. This effort is one for those willing to strive for exponential growth in a holistic-biblical fashion. Essentially, this is intense discipleship that will enable the local body to reach the world for Christ from next-door to the ends of the earth.

When the true Saints of Christ decide to take-up their cross and follow Christ not only do they find truth and joy, but the world receives a portion of this blessing as well. Who is better equipped to teach the battered child or the AIDS victim about Christ while tending to their needs, the average believer who is passionate about the poor or the trained nurse who is passionate about Christ?
We need an attainable goal, a strategic set of objectives and a plan to meet those objectives. If we don’t have a plan then it becomes too easy to get off track and to lose focus. When focus is lost or never had, then we begin to build programs that lack the foresight and ability to consistently train our people into who they are called to be.

What could our next steps be in order to make real the prospect of an intentional discipleship system for church members that involves a strategy and process that moves people – from being unchurched and uncommitted – to a deep level of spiritual maturity and commitment, where they are involved in ministry and living out their God-shaped mission in the world?

I have many ideas for what these steps could be, but the purpose of this argument is not to display my ideas, rather to engage the idea that we have the ability, the resources, and the reasons to enter into a place that leaves far behind the idea that a Christian and a disciple of Christ are two different things.

Be Reminded - Press On

"Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory  and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence,  and in your moral excellence, knowledge; and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness; and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For is these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore brethren be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. 

Therefore, I shall always be ready to remind you of these things even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you. And I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder, knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you may be able to call these thing to mind."

- Peter (2 Peter 1:3-15)

Offended

Recently I was apart of a Friday night event at my church called Culture & Theology. On this night the event was centered on the songs of U2. And to get right to the point, this night sparked a change in the way I see people. Listening to the depth of the lyrics Bono writes, sings and on all apparent accounts, lives, my heart was  convicted of sin and burdened for those in the world who are without Christ and whom I found myself having little love for, specifically in cases of when I am being personally offended. I am not a great writer as you will see, but I believe it is important to explore our hearts and so I will open mine for whoever wants to use it to explore their own. 

That Friday night, I realized how conditional my love for people really is. I began to see what my conditions actually are. I was able to see how little grace I actually have for others. Finally, I saw my total lack of humility, and in-turn, my total lack of true Christ-likeness. Below is what I wrote after that night in response to my own heart and ways.  

Take no offense - How to love the world

To be able to be offended one must have at least a neutral standing in the relationship of good and evil or right and wrong. But this neutral stance is not possible with sinful man, so one must be righteous in order to take an offense from evil or wrong. Aside from the grace offered because of Christ's life, death and resurrection, I am justly deemed evil, afflicted, damned. Because of my sin, I am offensive to God. So if I am offensive and unjust how can I take an offense from any other flesh? Is it not my pride that takes the offense? Is it not my sense of justified, self-righteousness that works to set apart my filthy heart from the offender? Is in not a lack of humility that truly causes this offended place in the heart and mind?

In my right, I have no legal, no moral ground to stand to which an offense is allowed to settle. This must cancel my pride and deem it unjust if provoked by others offense. I have no right standing to be offended. It is not a polite gesture to forgive and extend grace to others, but a legal duty to the one justified by Christ. 

So why have I been so offended by the world, when in light of flesh, and outside of Christ, we are together damned? The offense of the world (sin) can only be offensive to God. As a believer I can be (and should be) grieved by sin, but not offended, lest again I be found guilty of self-righteousness, or as God puts it, guilty of offending Him. 

So if to be offended is truly my pride, how well can I love the one who is offending me if I take it as an offense? Not well, in fact, not at all. To take an offense, is to set myself at odds with the offender. How can I love when I am at odds, especially in the light of how I am to love the world. Paul writes that we are to love by serving. Christ the foremost of all servants, humbled himself to become a man. It is explained better nowhere than by Andrew Murray in his work Humility. 

" Humility, the place of entire dependance upon God,  is from the very nature of things the first duty and the highest virtue of His creatures. And so pride-the loss of humility-is the root of every sin and evil... nothing can save us but the restoration of our lost humility, the original and only true relationship of the creature to its God.  And so Jesus came to bring humility back to earth, to make us partakers of it, and by it to save us. In heaven "He humbled himself and became obedient to death" ; His humility gave His death its value, and so became our redemption. And now the salvation He imparts is nothing less and nothing else than a communication of His own life and death. His own disposition and spirit, His own humility, as the ground and root of His relationship with God and His redeeming work. Jesus Christ took the place and fulfilled the destiny of man as a creature by His life of perfect humility. His humility became our salvation. His salvation is our humility. Without this there can be no true abiding in God's presence or experience of His favor and the power of His Holy Spirit; without this no abiding faith or love or joy or strength. Humility is the only soil in which virtue takes root; a lack of humility is the explanation of every defect and failure."

Murray goes on in this passage to say that "the call to humility has been too little regarded in the church because its true nature and importance have been too little understood." I have to agree, as myself the perfect example, I love the Lord and work to kill my flesh and yet little understood the foundation of Christ's Spirit, to which I need and am called to abide in. 

The truth is that I deserve hell. Hell is what I have earned time and time again. It is my very nature and my due karma. No good deed, no action, no desire could overturn that, only the love of God to save me could change that. With great joy and love God predestines, calls, justifies and glorifies. And with great sacrifice Jesus came and lived perfectly, took on great offense, offended only as the Gospel does, loved, was hated, died in love, and was resurrected in power. He is God's offering for our sin. At the very least I can offer humility and extend God's grace to all who are near. At the very least I can extend what Christ extended to me. And to extend this grace through humility I can see no place for pride, no place for offense. It should bring great joy to extend grace, it should bring great humility to know that only through God's great offering, Jesus Christ, that I can partake in His death, and so His life.