What Is Versus What Should Be
As I read and study the Bible, one common thread I’m always looking for is passages that will inform how the church should function. I want to align what we do at church with what Scripture teaches.
Too often, however, our church practice isn’t all that biblical. Instead, we should consider our church priority.
Consider the following:
Converts vs Disciples
The focus at most churches is converts. Yet Jesus never told us to go and make converts. Instead, he told us to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19).
While our church practice is converts, our church priority should be disciples.
Jesus only uses the word convert one time. Interestingly, it’s in criticism to the religious leaders. He calls them hypocrites for the great efforts they go to make one convert. Then they corrupt that person by making him or her even worse than themselves.
We should take Jesus’s stern rebuke of the religious leaders to heart and not focus on converts. Instead, we should focus on making disciples, just as Jesus commanded us to do.
Members vs Missionaries
A related topic is the idea of membership. When churches make converts, they grow their membership rolls. This is another common church practice.
But the Bible never tells us to have members. It doesn’t even allude to church membership. Instead, we should send missionaries. This should be our church priority.
To be fair, the Bible doesn’t mention missionaries either. But it does embrace the concept (Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15-16, and Acts 1:8). We are to go into the world as his witnesses, telling others about Jesus. This is what being a missionary does.
Numbers vs Relationships
Tracking converts and members is a numbers game. It’s easy to tabulate. The larger the number, the greater the pride in our appearance, success, and church size.
Yet Jesus focuses on relationships. We see him model this throughout the four gospel accounts. Relationships are what matters to him, and that’s what should matter to us (Philippians 2:5).
Just as he wants relationship with us (Matthew 12:49 and John 15:8), he wants us to be in relation with one another (John 17:11 and John 17:22). Let’s make relationships be another church priority.
Seating Capacity vs Sending Capacity
Continuing the theme of numerical data, many churches count their weekly attendance. They compare this to their seating capacity. How full is their church?
They reason that the fuller it is, the better. Then when it gets too full, they add services, expand their building, or construct a new facility. This is the common church practice of the day.
Yet the church priority should be on sending capacity and not seating capacity. As we’ve already covered, we need to go out as his witness and tell others about the good news of Jesus (John 4:28-30).
Marketing vs Connections
The next common church practice is marketing. Yes, we must have an inviting facility and make it easy for people to know about us, learn about us, and visit us.
But too often churches get carried away in how they market themselves, just like a business markets its products and services.
Marketing shouldn’t be our main strategy of attraction. The good news of Jesus is what should draw people in.
Consumers vs Committed
As churches excel at marketing, they train attendees to be consumers. Consumers flock to the churches that offer the best preaching, the greatest music, and the most engaging services.
With a consumeristic mindset, they select churches based on what the church will do for them, both on Sunday morning and in their programs throughout the week.
Instead, our church priority should be to make committed followers of Jesus (Mark 8:34 and Luke 14:27).
Going to Church vs Being the Church
The common church practice today is going to church. Yet attendance is only the beginning. Church should serve as a launching pad and not a sanctuary.
Instead of going to church, the church priority is to be the church to the world who desperately needs Jesus and what he has to offer.
Church Priority
As we put these ideas together, may we set aside the church practices of converts, members, numbers, seating, marketing, consumers, and going to church.
Instead let us sharpen our focus—our church priority—on making disciples, sending missionaries, building relationships, sending capacity, forging connections, and encouraging commitment.
Then we can be the church to a lost world.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.
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